Indoor fireworks

Forty may not seem old in human years, but when it applies to a Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) then it deserves a special note.

This particular specimen spent the summer in a shaded part of the patio and demanded very little attention.

The pot was placed in a saucer out of direct sunshine and it rarely required any more water than natural rainfall.

Direct sun is a no-no, although it enjoyed the occasional liquid feed with Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food.

It was taken indoors early in October when it looked lush, green and plump, ready to provide its mid-winter firework display on a kitchen windowsill.

It’s worth remembering that once positioned indoors, it pays to not move the plant or twist it round, as this can encourage the buds to drop before flowering.

It’s now also time to pot up hippeastrum (Amaryllis) bulbs in a decent-sized pot ready for early spring blooming.

It’s always best to use a good potting compost such as Miracle-Gro Moisture Control that will feed steadily and surely for up to six months.

Although the bulb already contains a miniature flower stem for this winter’s display, this long-term feeding will help the bulb regenerate that flower during the summer months when leaves are replenishing the strength of the bulb.

And while we’re on about winter colour, many garden centres will now have on display hyacinth bulbs grown in individual plastic plant pots with plump flower buds bursting from the top.

To make three of these into a beautiful Christmas gift, select a decorative bowl and repot them together using any compost you have left over. Store them in a cool, but well-lit spot until present-giving time.

And when the bulbs have finished blooming, you can either pop them into the compost bin or plant them out in the garden; they may flower again, but if they don’t, you’ve not really lost anything by trying.