Material prepared
Maria Revina
Plants
one small fir trees in pots
On the eve of the New Year holidays, small spruces in pots appear in flower shops. Usually it is a Konik spruce with soft needles, up to half a meter high. It is presented as a more environmentally friendly replacement for a cut live or purchased plastic Christmas tree. In fact, truly homemade firs do not exist. They do not like the climate in the apartment, where it is warm and the air is dry because of the batteries. Therefore, the Konik spruce bought in early December, most likely, will not survive even until spring, when it could be transplanted in the garden in the country.
What to replace
Oddly enough, cut spruce bought from official sellers, which is handed over to a recycling center after the holidays, is the most environmentally friendly solution. Growing such spruces differs little from growing vegetables. An artificial Christmas tree is also a good idea, especially if it’s made from recycled plastic and you’re buying it with the expectation of using it for many years. If you want the most realistic version, look for models marked «real touch» — their needles are difficult to distinguish from the real one. The last option is spruce paws and wreaths from them. They take up little space, and their use is harmless to nature.
2 poinsettia
Another popular Christmas plant is the poinsettia. She has two shortcomings. The first is poisonous juice, which causes severe irritation when it gets on the skin: it is dangerous for children and pets. The second is that she, too, can hardly bear the content in the apartment. In winter, during flowering, she needs a temperature of no more than 16-17 ° C. Otherwise, it will begin to wither and throw off the leaves. In addition, the poinsettia does not tolerate dry climates (it is a tropical flower), so it will have to be sprayed with a spray bottle twice a day. Putting a pot with it in the back of the room will also not work — you need an abundance of sunlight.
What to replace
If you want to definitely decorate the interior with a plant with festive bright red leaves, it is better to choose an artificial flower. He will stand anywhere in the apartment and will delight for several years, differing little from a living specimen. It can also be removed in the off-season along with New Year’s decorations and used only during the festive period.
3 blooming orchids
Buying an orchid in cold weather is a dubious decision. A delicate flower does not respond well to temperature changes. Therefore, with a high probability it will suffer if you take it out of a warm store into the cold, put it in a warm car, take it out into the cold again and then bring it into the apartment. But during flowering, this is an even greater risk: all the forces are spent on the release of buds, so the plant simply does not have the resources to acclimatize.
What to replace
If you want to start something flowering in December, pay attention to less whimsical plants. For example, cacti, even during flowering, normally tolerate moving. Wrap them in paper and cover with a cloth on top, and then the pot can be carried down the street.
four Azalea
Azalea is another tropical flower that requires difficult care in winter, but stubbornly appears on the shelves of flower shops and supermarkets. A prerequisite for azaleas in the cold season is good lighting. Most likely, you will even have to put a phytolamp. Regular spraying and a temperature strictly no more than 18 ° C are also important. Usually, in an apartment, few people spend time and energy on caring for an azalea, and it dies after the holidays.
What to replace
If you want a beautiful flowering plant, try sprouting bulbous flowers. Hyacinths, crocuses, irises — they all ask only for watering and warmth in order to hatch and bloom.
5 Any fruit trees
In winter, it is strange to expect fruits from citrus and other indoor plants, even if they are decorative and not edible. Similar trees that can be found in stores have most likely been treated with growth stimulants. In the long term, such a violation of natural rhythms does not promise anything good for the plant. It will be just another temporary decoration that will not survive even a transplant.
What to replace
If you want to harvest in the winter, consider hardy plants for your kitchen. Usually these are herbs like basil or even lettuce leaves. Such landings look beautiful in rectangular pots and delight with their taste. Much better!
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