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Wednesday, December 6, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
HEALTHY
&
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Give charming winter-blooming
After shopping, stop by and re-energize with our
delicious baked goods and nutritious smoothies!
plants as holiday gifts
By Kym Pokorny, Oregon State University Extension Service
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CORVALLIS — Winter-blooming indoor feeding them for several weeks. When it’s
plants are a welcome way to take the edge off time, use a houseplant fertilizer high in phos-
the chill and gloom of winter and many are phorous (the middle number on the label), the
ready to give as holiday gifts.
element that helps them bloom.
The choices go beyond traditional poinset-
“When it comes to watering, more people
tias and amaryllis. Colorful African violets, overwater than underwater,” Edmunds said.
gloxinia, cyclamen, orchids, ornamental pep- “Check to see if the plant needs water by stick-
pers and Christmas cactus are blooming and ing your finger two inches into the soil. If it’s
readily available. Dress them up with bows dry, go ahead and water.”
and cellophane or combine a few in a basket
The foliage of some plants, such as African
with store-bought or garden-harvested moss violets, can be damaged if water gets on the
and some decorations and present them as leaves. They also get root rot easily. Avoid that
party gifts or to a plant lover on your list.
by watering from below. Or carefully water
Before you buy, though, consider some key from above, let it drain and then empty the
care tips, including how to get them home, saucer it sits in. Also, steer clear of misting,
said Brooke Edmunds, a horticulturist with which can promote foliar disease.
Oregon State University Extension Service.
Keep plants away from drafts, in bright
She advises taking a cardboard box along with light and in temperatures of 70 degrees or
you to the store and then covering the plant above during the day and 55 or above at night.
after getting it into the car.
“It’s a nice idea to write down instructions
“You want to keep them protected from on a pretty card to include with the plant,”
drafts and mimic the conditions of being in a Edmunds suggested.
warm situation,” she said. “Use something that
Don’t be concerned if gloxinia or cyclamen
won’t crush the plant but protects it against die down after blooming. That’s normal. You
cold shock. Avoid putting them in the trunk can either discard the plant and buy a new one
where it gets colder.”
next year or let it go dormant for a few months
Once you get them home, check to see if until foliage reappears. Then grow it like you
they are badly rootbound and need to be repot- would any houseplant.
ted up one container size. If so, be sure to use
Look for plants — particularly orchids
a well-draining potting soil with perlite or peat and Christmas cactus — that have some tight
moss in the mix. If the plant comes wrapped buds as well as open flowers in order to extend
in foil or cellophane, be sure to cut holes in bloom. Orchids can be difficult to rebloom
the bottom so
unless you have
water drains
a greenhouse or
through. Most
can mimic the
plants will
warm, moist
rot if left sit-
conditions.
ting in water,
Colorful
Edmunds said.
ornamental
P o t t e d
peppers may
plants are
look delicious,
well fertil-
but are often
ized before
extremely hot,
being shipped
so keep them
to stores, so
off your taste
let the recipi-
buds and up
ent know they
where kids
don’t have to
and pets can’t
PHOTO BY DEB ZAVESON, OSU EXTENSION SERVICE
worry about Christmas cactus bloom.
access them.
Food 4 Less
• Locally owned and operated
• Large natural & organic selection
• Meat cut & ground fresh daily
• Huge bulk-foods department
• Only 20 minutes from Sisters
Located in the Cascade Village
Shopping Center, Bend
Open every day, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Food 4 Less is locally owned and oper-
ated and has been serving folks from
Sisters since 1985. It’s a great place to
shop for your holiday entertaining this
year. Their produce section is second to
none, with an ever-expanding selection of
organic choices.
In fact, the whole store is full of natu-
ral and organic choices — thousands of
items across every department of the store.
The meat is cut or ground fresh daily.
Food 4 Less employs 50 people and offers exceptional prices. It feels like your hometown
market, but offers the widest range of selections at fantastic prices. So if you’re looking to
find just the right items for your Christmas feast at prices that will leave plenty left in Santa’s
budget, head to Food 4 Less, just 20 minutes away at Cascade Village Shopping Center
in Bend.
