Christmas in the tropics isn’t the same as it is on the mainland. In Hawaii, we often see the same activities we might see in July. The surf and beach are still the big attraction. Folks might even take the holidays to catch up on plant projects.
Some folks miss the snow and bite of frost in the air. They miss the cold, dark days when all life is dormant. They long for the coziness of an open fireplace and the smell of yummies cooking in the kitchen.
Most of the customs now associated with Christmas have little to do with the real meaning. In fact, the very day we celebrate is probably not the actual birth date of Christ. In Europe, this particular date was celebrated long before Christ was born. The celebration was associated with the winter solstice, or the shortest day of the year, and that the days were getting longer.
Most of the customs now associated with Christmas go back thousands of years when people worshiped pagan gods. The use of the Christmas tree is believed to have originated in Germany. During the eighth century, a missionary, St. Boniface, was trying to stamp out the rite of sacrificing people to the oak tree. He led these tree-worshiping people into the forest in the dead of winter to show them the only tree with no cursing stain of blood upon it. This was the evergreen fir, which lives and grows when Earth is darkest. The missionary showed them the tree pointed upward toward the Christ Child. He told them to take this tree into their homes as a symbol of their new found faith.
Now let’s look at other plants we associate with this special holiday.
The holly for thousands of years has had all manner of mystical charms and qualities attributed to it. The use of holly at Christmas was likely to have come from the Teutonic custom of hanging holly in their houses. They did this so the tree sprites might have a warm, safe shelter from winter storms.
The mistletoe originally had nothing to do with Christmas, it was considered sacred by those same tree worshipers because it grew on oaks. To this day in Europe amulets and rings of mistletoe are worn as an antidote against sickness.
Even neophytes claim yields after planting the license-to-kiss greenery. Planting techniques are unimportant. It’s the harvest that counts, they say. By the way, planting mistletoe over the threshold — known as yuletide gardening — will be the top activity for many self-styled farmers through the holidays.
Since there is little chance the threshold project will thrive longer than the holiday season, let’s turn our attention to other indoor plantings.
What to plant depends on conditions under which the plants grow. “Cast-iron” plants that will withstand abuse and adverse conditions such as low light intensity and warm, dry rooms include Aglaonema, Aspidistra, Bromeliads, Dracaena, Monstera, Pandanus, Peperomia, Philodendron bipinnatifolium, Sansevieria and Scindapsus.
Plants that will grow under adverse conditions but need more light and humidity than those just mentioned are Dieffenbachia, ficus, palms, Syngonium and Philodendrons cordatum, hastatum, panduraeforme and selloum.
A few of the many other plants that will thrive indoors are African violets, Chinese evergreen, Aspidistra, Norfolk Island pine, Rex begonia, Fittonia, wandering jew, jade plant and Asparagus plumosus.
Chances are even the veteran gardener may have some trouble with indoor plants. Now is a good time to check your plants and make corrections. Here are a few tips in diagnosing some common plant ailments.
Brown tips or burned margins of leaves could mean too much fertilizer, plant roots allowed to dry out temporarily or wind-burn. Yellowing and dropping of leaves hint overwatering or poor drainage and aeration may be the trouble.
Small leaves indicate tight or heavy soil, lack of fertilizer or dry soil. Weak growth or light green to yellow color of leaves may mean either too intense light, lack of fertilizer, root rot or possibly root injury. Yellow, wilting or soft growth could come from too much heat or from root injury. Small leaves, long internodes could be from too little light or too high temperatures.
Adding as little water and fertilizer as possible to keep the plants healthy and growing contributes to the success of indoor plants. During cool, dark days, plants absorb much less fertilizer than during warm, sunny weather. Adjust fertilizer applications to the season of the year.
This information is supplied by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. For more information, contact the nearest office.