Plants for the holiday season

Along with greenery and poinsettias that are hallmarks of the holiday season, many gardeners enjoy starting bulbs indoors, with some perhaps timed for Christmas blooming.

Right now is a good time to begin planting amaryllis bulbs if you haven?t done so already. Stagger their ?start times? to increase the chance of blooms right when you want them. Choosing varieties will present a pleasant challenge. Many gardeners love a single red such as Floris Hecker but you will also find pinks, whites, doubles, stripes and much more.

Plant each amaryllis bulb in a ?tight? pot, only an inch greater in circumference than the bulb. Keep 25 percent of the bulb above the potting soil to prevent water pooling around the sprout. Tamp down soil, water with tepid water and apply bottom heat. Water very lightly until a stem appears.

After you have enjoyed each bulb?s period of bloom, deadhead the flowers. Fertilize and water through mid-July. Then store pots in a dark area on their sides to prevent accidental watering. In late October, bring pots into the light, cut off dead foliage, refresh soil and water to start a new growing cycle.

Other favorites for winter bloom include paperwhites. They may be potted in either of two ways: in pebbles and water in a shallow, watertight container, with two-thirds of each bulb covered or in soil with good drainage and bulbs covered fully. In either case, space bulbs one inch apart. Water regularly and move from indirect light to a sunny spot once foliage is 3-4 inches tall. Topdress paperwhites in soil with stones to help hold them in place.

You may also be counting on a holiday cactus to bloom. Keep your cactus cool and dry through the fall; try to choose a spot with bright light during the day but no artificial light at night. Water only every 7-10 days. Not every holiday cactus is ?set? for Christmas bloom, so enjoy yours whenever it flowers.

Right now: Continue raking and handling leaves responsibly. Composting or digging them into cleared garden areas are ideal approaches.

Cut and clear most plants from perennial borders. However, leave ornamental grasses, along with other plants that have winter interest ? for example, coneflowers, Russian sage and any sedums that have not toppled over.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs after the first killing frost.

Drain and clean rain barrels in preparation for winter storage.

If there?s an area of turfgrass that you hope to convert to garden space next year, try this: layer big pieces of cardboard over the area, cover with lots of fallen leaves, and leave alone over the winter. You should be able to dig in the area fairly easily next spring, which definitely beats sodbusting!