Plants for Christmas

Orange_King

I know it is a long way off but can anyone suggest what plants I would be able to grow to give as Christmas presents? They would be in an unheated greenhouse, the garage or the great outdoors so they'd need to be nothing too exotic!

Is there much of a choice or just the Christmas ponsettia (sp?) and cactus etc?

:beer:

morg_monster

I have heard poinsettias are quite hard to grow and to bring on the red flowers at the right time (think it is to do with the amount of light they have?). Also it is definitely exotic, they come from mexico, no way would it survive a british winter outside! Wiki says it will die if nighttime temps get below 10C.

Kay_Peel

There is nothing like receiving a spectacular, sweet smelling hyancinth. The perfume fills the house. Last year, you could buy 4 bulbs for 99p at my local garden centre. I had compost and pots already. I potted them up in October, watered them and then put them in a dark, cool garage until the middle of December. I then moved them to an east facing porch - because they weren't growing fast enough! Within 2 weeks of moving they are produced blooms and were ready as gifts.

They were far better, more fragrant, sturdier and longer-lasting than the ones that you get in a supermarket.

alys_fowler

i am always given and i also give amarylis's at christmas

izzwizz_2

Kay_Peel wrote: »

There is nothing like receiving a spectacular, sweet smelling hyancinth. The perfume fills the house. Last year, you could buy 4 bulbs for 99p at my local garden centre. I had compost and pots already. I potted them up in October, watered them and then put them in a dark, cool garage until the middle of December. I then moved them to an east facing porch - because they weren't growing fast enough! Within 2 weeks of moving they are produced blooms and were ready as gifts.

They were far better, more fragrant, sturdier and longer-lasting than the ones that you get in a supermarket.

They do look lovely and I hate to be a spoilsport, but please don't give these to anyone with asthma.

Instead of plants, how about making some homemade jams, pickles, etc. from your produce?

Otherwise, there are quite a few herbs that will survive in an unheated greenhouse, including mint, sage, thyme.