Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Just don’t overdo it, and remember to bring ‘em back alive! In the meantime, here’s how to keep your holiday houseplants going and growing throughout the year.

Holiday Houseplant Tonic
To keep your holiday houseplants chipper long after the holidays are gone, feed ‘em with this power-packed potion.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup of beer
1/2 tbsp. of unflavored gelatin
1/2 tbsp. of fish emulsion
1/2 tbsp. of vitamin B1 plant starter
1/2 tbsp. of ammonia
1/2 tbsp. of instant tea granules
1 gal. of water
Instructions:
Mix these ingredients together in a watering can, and use the solution every time you water your holiday plants to help keep them lush and lovely.

Don’t Get Foiled
If you were lucky enough to receive a beautiful potted plant as a holiday gift, keep in mind that the colorful foil wrapping that covers the pot is just for display. It can actually be harmful if it’s left on too long, so remove it after several days to prevent problems. In the meantime, poke your finger through the foil on the bottom of the pot; otherwise, excess water will have no way to drain out, and your plant will drown!

Q. How often should I water the potted plant I received as a gift during the holidays?
A. Most potted gift plants are as easy to water as common houseplants—water them well until the soil feels dry to the touch, then don’t water again until the soil feels dry. The exceptions are mums, cinerarias, and hydrangeas, all of which require a daily drink. Quench their thirst by filling a bucket about half full of tepid water and submerging the entire pot in the water. Let it sit for a few minutes, then remove and drain before returning the plant to its window seat.