Pre-shaped rosemary plant
Norfolk pine but can be very charming when decorated with miniature ornaments , bows , or even some of the ultra-mini lights that are available for decorating miniature Christmas villages . The benefit of these trees is that they not only look good but smell good when the leaves are squeezed . They also make an excellent herb addition to so many dishes in the kitchen .
Keeping your rosemary well-watered and in a sunny spot are the keys to a healthy and long-lived plant . Stick the plant in the sink each morning and water it until the water runs out of the drainage holes . Give the pot a little shake and place it on a saucer . Rosemary , while hating to have its roots sit in water , will die if the roots dry out .
If you have a small yard or balcony , you may consider growing evergreens as living Christmas trees . Many nurseries or garden centres sell Colorado blue spruce , eastern white pine , Scotch pine , and other varieties of evergreens as living Christmas trees . One of my favourites is the dwarf Alberta spruce that has soft needles and a very full look to it . These living trees are usually available as seedlings or one-year-old stock . There are some available in sizes up to one metre in height . These trees are easily cared for as houseplants during their stay indoors .
Keep them away from heat sources such as furnace vents that will dry out the trees and cause needle loss , and keep them well-watered without allowing the roots to sit in water . The tree should be in a cooler room in the order of 17-18 C and in full , indirect light . Keep the tree indoors until the spring when it can be planted as regular nursery stock or kept as a container plant and trained , with judicious pruning , to maintain its small size and used again the following Christmas season . When choosing the trees , make sure you look for trees that have healthy green leaves or needles . Avoid any that have browning tips . I look for trees that don ’ t have a lot of
Potted spruce tree
dead needles in the pot . The needles should also be full , firm , and not easily pulled out .
Your living Christmas tree is limited only by your imagination . If you have a Chinese evergreen , a rubber tree , or even a palm , who says that can ’ t be your Christmas tree ? I have seen some Kentia palms decorated that would put any Christmas tree to shame . Don ’ t be afraid to experiment and don ’ t be afraid that it will look silly . ’ Tis the season to have fun .
Gerald Filipski , the gardening columnist for the Edmonton Journal and active on X ( formerly known as Twitter ) @ justaskjerry01 , likes to end his columns with a quote — sometimes they make him laugh out loud as well as give him food for thought . Jerry quotes Jim Bugg this time : “ I thought I was pretty cool until I realized plants can eat the sun and poop out air .” news & views WINTER 2023 | 35