Gardendaze

Yes, we are getting closer to the holidays. Thanksgiving in the United States is next week–it’s later this year–and between that and pandemic induced stress, some people have just jumped right over Thanksgiving into our biggest retail holiday, Christmas.

Of course, many will argue that “Christmas creep” gets earlier every year–but let’s keep that out of gardening. I am more interested in showing plants that will work for you that are not poinsettias.

There is nothing wrong with poinsettias, mind you. It’s just that many people choose not to grow them. Personally, I have trouble with them in my cold house. They are native to Mexico. They don’t do well in a house in New England kept at 62 degrees.

But the lovely stromanthes, above, has no trouble with my cooler home. I have read that they are finicky but this plant has proven very trouble free for me. I keep it in a western exposure indoors and take it outside to a shaded eastern exposure for the summer.

It’s only been re-potted twice probably in 10 years, so it’s a slow grower for me. It’s never had an insect issue.

And, while I am not one of those who posts videos, I will tell you that its leaves do move in relationship to light. I can hear them, and then I will look over and see them settling. So that’s just a neat aside.

This is a close-up of the leaves. They are just lovely. The back sides are solid maroon.

This plant would make a nice, untraditional holiday plant. And unlike a poinsettia, you will not mind having it around the rest of the year.