Plant of the Month
Schlumbergera x buckleyi
Christmas Cactus, Zygos
We love the bright and colorful Zygos around the holidays. In nature these cacti live on trees like orchids so they desire a rich and porous soil with regular feeding during growth and bloom. To get them to bloom for Christmas they like cool night temps in the low 50’s and 12 to 14 hours of darkness during the month of November. They can be grown outside in San Francisco but here we need to protect from frost so they are better suited as an indoor plant in the winter. They need bright indirect light or part shade if outdoors in the good weather.
If happy they can bear hundreds of multi-petaled tubular flowers. Rosy purple is the common color but you can find them in colors ranging from white, light orange, pink, scarlet, red and fuchsia pink.
We have lots of Zygos to chose from and they are all 25% off regular price in December!
December Specials Thru December 24th
DOES NOT INCLUDE EVERGREEN (CHRISTMAS) TREES, WREATHS OR GARLAND
25% OFF
- LINER POTS OF FIGS, BLUEBERRIES AND POMEGRANITES
- ALL INDOOR PLANTS INCLUDING POINTS, CYCLAMEN AND ZYGOS
- ALL DRY GOODS-SPRAYS, FERTILIZERS, SOILS, BARKS, TIES, STAKES, ETC.
- GENTLE SPIRIT WINDCHIMES, TERRACOTTA POTS
- GIFT CERTIFICATES
50% OFF
- MOST OF OUR OUTDOOR PLANTS- THIS MEANS TREES, SHRUBS, ROSES, ANNUALS, PERENNIALS AND BULBS
- IRON BENCHES, ARCHES, TRELLIS’ GLAZED POTTERY
- GARDEN ART-METAL, POLYSTONE, ETC.
Star Gardens December 2012 Newsletter
Happy holidays everyone. I hope everyone has a wonderful year end and good new year. Here at the nursery we are winding down one year and preparing for 2013 at the same time. Next years selection of figs, blueberries and pomegranates in liner pots have already arrived. Our potting area has been cleaned up in preparation for our annual bulk soil to containerize our bare root roses and trees. A lot of our spring orders have been placed. Many of our deciduous shrubs and trees have lost their leaves and although we have some beautiful fall color still happening, it could all be gone after this series of storms with wind and heavy rainfall.
We have had a small glitch with our living (Christmas) tree order. Normally they are here by now but there has been a delay with shipping
logistics. (Breaking news-They are in transit as I write this.) Eric and I plan on picking up the cut trees in time to have them by the 1st of December. We will have wreaths and garland too. We have plenty of Poinsettias, Christmas Cactus and Cyclamen for indoor decoration.
We will not have a newsletter in January as the nursery traditionally closes for the 4 weeks after Christmas. We will reopen for regular winter hours on Jan 19th. With that in mind I will remind everyone of a few tips for winter. Use anti-transpirant on your citrus, oleander and other plants that suffer cold damage. Anti-transpirant also prolongs your cut evergreens like your wreaths and holiday trees. We sell Wilt-Stop in concentrate and ready to use form. We also recommend the N-Sulate cloth cover for your citrus for added protection. I have covered my winter vegetable containers in our lightweight row cover cloth called Plant and Seed Blanket to keep them warmer but also because my local flock of wild birds were feasting on my peas and kale.
If we have a dry spell do not forget to water as dry plants are more prone to cold damage than hydrated ones. Do not forget to water those containers that do not get the winter rains. A dry spell is also a good time for your dormant spraying.
Look for the posting of the new rose and tree list on the website sometime in January. I will have them up before we re-open.
Thank-you to all our customers who have supported Star Gardens over the past year. Once again in appreciation we will be having our big year end sale.
Peace and Prosperity,
Tanya