Christmas Cactus

Caring for Christmas Cactus

Christmas Cacti are easy to grow. When they bloom, they produce colorful tubular flowers in pink or lilac colors.  They bloom a long time indoors and they are low-maintenance houseplants, which makes them popular. We’ll bet someone in your family has a Christmas Cactus!
Despite their name, Christmas cacti are not desert cacti.  Their natural habit is one of an epiphyte living in tree branches in the rain forest of Brazil!  In others, they prefer a humid climate, not a dry one. It’s important to water these cacti! (See more detail below.)
Also, note that there are several types of Holiday Cacti:  Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. They bloom closest to the holiday of their name. Christmas cacti have flattened leaves with rounded teeth on the margins as opposed to the Thanksgiving cactus that has pointed teeth. Easter cacti have pointed teeth with fibrous hairs in the leaf joints.
To confuse matters further, most of the Christmas cactus sold are actually Thanksgiving cactus. If you find your Christmas cactus blooming near Thanksgiving, guess what?

Planting

Christmas cacti grow in most container soils. Ensure the soil drains well and your pots have drainage holes.
Plants should be kept in bright, indirect light.
A daytime temperature of 70 degrees F and an evening temperature of 60 to 65 degrees F is preferred.
In the summer, Christmas cacti can be placed in a shady spot in the garden or in an unheated porch until temperatures get below 50 degrees.

Care

• As soon as the top inch of soil in the container feels dry to the touch, soak the soil until water runs through the pot’s drainage holes; discard water in the tray so the plant doesn’t sit in water. It’s especially important to water well during flowers.
• From spring through early fall, feed every 2 weeks with a complete houseplant fertilizer. During the fall and winter feed the cactus monthly
• Once flowers fade, continue to grow the plant as a houseplant.
• Prune plants in June to encourage branching and more flowers. Simply cut off a few sections of each stem. Of you wish, root the cut-off pieces in moist vermiculite to make more plants. 
• If your cactus is not blooming, it may due to amount of daylight or temperature. Flowers will only form when the temperature is between a cool 50 to 55 degrees F.
• Nights need to be at least 14 hours long and daylight periods are between 8 to 10 hours for 6 weeks—for six weeks. If you have strong indoor lighting, you may need to cover your cacti at night.
• If the cacti sheds its buds in a winter, it will bloom the following year.

Pests/Diseases

If your Christmas Cacti is exposed to any type of stress, the plant will drop its blossoms.  This could be related to amount of light, or a sudden change in temperature, as discussed in above plant care section. Also, ensure that your soil doesn’t get too dry.
The plant may be susceptible to mealy bugs and, if over-watered, root rot. If you have problems, cut out infected areas and repot in clean soil.

Recommended Varieties

Thanksgiving cactus or holiday cactus.

Wit & Wisdom

• When the buds of a Christmas cactus look as if they’re about to open, make sure you water the plant regularly and keep it cool.
• Late spring is the best time to propagate cuttings because most cacti emerge from their winter rest and initiate new growth.https://www.almanac.com/plant/christmas-cactus?trk_msg=JIBH2UE57LV454A1RFF978CUG4&trk_contact=EEBLFVJ2I0VAQT9EM5JFVJAK9O&trk_sid=7A11LP23HU35CK4ATASDIG7RE4&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Christmas+Cactus+(read+more)&utm_campaign=Companion+Daily

Year of the Rose: Best Types of Roses

Best Types of Roses and Rose Care Tips

‘Rainbow Happy Trails’ by Brecks.com.

‘Peace’ rose, a popular hybrid tea rose variety. Photo from Wikipedia.

‘Fourth of July’ rose from WeeksRoses.com.

  https://www.almanac.com/content/year-rose-best-types-roses?trk_msg=2VSRIHU5GLG4VCTE58SQ2T4LRK&trk_contact=EEBLFVJ2I0VAQT9EM5JFVJAK9O&trk_sid=E88F86PTM63JKVEF64IUB53FK0&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Year+of+the+Rose%3a+Best+Types+of+Roses+(read+more)&utm_campaign=Companion+Daily

In honor of the rose’s long and colorful history, as well as its place in gardens, the National Garden Bureau named 2017 the “Year of the Rose.” In celebration of the close of this rosaceous annum, let’s take a closer look at “the queen of flowers.” Here are some of the best rose varieties to grow in your garden!

Today, roses are enjoying new popularity. During the past 20 years, rose breeders, including Weeks Roses in Wasco, California, have been developing and introducing roses that require less maintenance and are more disease-resistant and fragrant. “Modern rosebushes are both beautiful and tough in a wide range of growing conditions, so they are easier to grow than ever before,” says Christian Bédard, research director for Weeks Roses.
One of the biggest challenges for gardeners can be knowing how to use roses, based on their growing habit. An understanding of the types of roses eliminates any woes.

The Origin of the Rose

It is believed that the cultivation of roses began about 5,000 years ago in China. During the Roman Empire, rose gardens were established in the Middle East. In the 17th century, kings and queens considered roses legal tender for purchases.
The era of the modern rose began in 1867, when French breeder Jean-Baptiste André Guillot introduced the first hybrid tea rose. The elegantly shaped buds soon became the standard look for a proper rose flower—a tradition that continues today.
Learn more about the history of roses and about some classic rose varieties.

Types of Roses

• When most people think of roses, a hybrid tea rose comes to mind. Known for their long stems, these are ideal cut flowers. Hybrid tea rosebushes have a generally upright shape, and the plants reach 3 to 6 feet tall. Popular varieties of hybrid tea roses include ‘Pretty Lady Rose’, ‘Mr. Lincoln’, ‘Peace’, ‘Neil Diamond’, and ‘Marilyn Monroe’.
  • New in 2017 from Weeks Roses was a variety of hybrid tea rose called ‘All My Loving’, developed in England by Gareth Fryer. The 4- to 5-inch dark pink flowers sit atop long cutting stems and have 30 to 40 petals. ‘All My Loving’ performs particularly well in hot, sunny climates.
• The floribunda rose, by contrast, generally blooms in clusters of smaller flowers. Popular floribunda varieties include ‘Iceberg’, ‘Julia Child’, ‘Ketchup & Mustard’, and ‘Angel Face’. A new variety of floribunda rose called ‘Easy to Please’ brings the added benefit of increased disease resistance. This variety, part of the Easy-to-Love collection from Weeks Roses, grows well in a wide range of climates and conditions. 
• Climbing roses are the largest of the rosebushes. The canes of a full-size climbing rose can rise 10 to 12 feet tall. These plants do well when grown on a trellis, fence, or wall; regular pruning may be required. Some popular varieties of climbing roses include ‘Fourth of July’, ‘Above All’, and ‘Stormy Weather’. ‘Tropical Lightning’, also new from Weeks Roses, features blooms that mix sunset orange and smoky purple, with cream-color stripes. ‘Tropical Lightning’ also has improved disease resistance that makes it lower-maintenance.
• Shrub roses are good choices for large landscapes or gardens. Their rounded growth habit can result in roses that are 3 to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Shrub roses are vigorous, with large clusters of blooms. Popular varieties include ‘Home Run’, ‘Edith’s Darling’, and ‘Children’s Hope’. A new shrub rose variety called ‘Watercolors Home Run’ does not set seeds; all of the plant’s energy goes into producing flowers—its clusters of pink flowers with bright yellow centers just keep coming! ‘Watercolors Home Run’ is highly disease-free and has self-cleaning petals (meaning no deadheading required), making it a nearly maintenance-free plant.
  • Shrub roses that have low-growing and wide-spreading habits are called ground cover roses. Two new ground cover roses are ‘Rainbow Happy Trails’, which flowers with pink outer petals and golden centers, and ‘Sunshine Happy Trails’, with a profusion of sunny yellow flowers. 

Learn about the best disease-resistant roses.

Carefree Care

Roses have a reputation for requiring complicated care, but this needn’t be so, according to Christian Bédard. “You don’t need to do much to get the best new roses to grow well,” he says. “Newer varieties of roses are much more vigorous and disease resistant than older varieties. New roses such as ‘Watercolors Home Run’ and ‘All My Loving’ can thrive in most climates with no spraying and basic pruning at the beginning of the growing season.”
Learn about the easiest rose varieties to grow for beginners.

How to Grow Roses

Rosebushes—whether new varieties or heirloom varieties that have been available for decades—grow best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.

• Light: For the best show of flowers and healthiest plants, rosebushes need to receive 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. In especially hot climates, roses do best when they are protected from the hot afternoon sun. In colder climates, planting a rosebush next to a south- or west-facing fence or wall can help to minimize winter freeze damage.
  • Select a sunny spot that will allow enough room for a mature plant. If planting several rosebushes together, space them at least 3 feet apart. Dig a hole deep and wide enough to accommodate the plant’s roots.
• Soil: Roses thrive best in soils that retain water without becoming waterlogged. Amend the soil as needed: If your soil is heavy clay, mix in compost, peat moss, and other organic matter to improve drainage. Adding compost to lean, sandy soils helps to retain moisture near the plant’s roots.
• Water: Water thoroughly. Then mound up loose soil around the canes to protect the rose while it acclimates to its new site. For best results, plant rosebushes on a calm, cloudy day. Planting on a hot, sunny day can stress a rose (or any type of plant).
  • Give the rose the equivalent of 1 inch of rainfall per week during the growing season. Water at the soil level to avoid getting the foliage wet; wet leaves can encourage diseases such as black spot and downy mildew.

See our Rose Growing Guide for more information on planting, growing, and caring for roses!

Best Rose Varieties by Climate

• Hot and dry climates (U.S. Southern California and the Southwest): ‘Pretty Lady Rose’, ‘Neil Diamond’, ‘Doris Day’, ‘Tropical Lightning’, ‘Coretta Scott King’
• Cool and wet climates (Pacific Northwest): ‘Violet’s Pride’, ‘Sparkle & Shine’, ‘Pretty Lady Rose’, ‘Oh My!’
• Hot and humid climates (U.S. Southeast): ‘Watercolors Home Run’, ‘Home Run’, ‘Julia Child’, ‘Take It Easy’, ‘Easy to Please’
• Cold-winter climates (Northeast and U.S. Midwest): ‘Watercolors Home Run’, ‘Cape Diamond’, ‘Party Hardy’, ‘Julia Child’, ‘Children’s Hope’, ‘Easy to Please’

Pumpkin Streusel Cake

Pumpkin Streusel Cake

Author: Melanie~www.thesisterscafe.com

 

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ tsp. of cinnamon
• ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. ginger
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ¾ tsp. salt
• 1 cup butter , at room temperature
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 cup chocolate chips

For the streusel:

• ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• 6 Tbsp. cold butter , cut into small chunks
• ½ cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking soda, and salt, whisk together. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugars until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well. Add the pumpkin puree and continue mixing until blended in. Reduce speed to low, and add the flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan.
4. To make the streusel, in a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add in the butter, and mix using 2 table knives, a pastry blender or your hands. Continue mixing until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. (You can also do this in a food processors. Just give it a few pulses.) Sprinkle streusel evenly over the top of the cake. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the cake.
5. Bake for about 35-40 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE! (You want a few moist crumbs on the toothpick you insert.) Place cake on a wire rack and cool completely.

Joe Licata’s Best-Ever Coconut Cream Pie

“Joe is my brother-in-law and a connoisseur of New Jersey diner desserts. He says that this is the best he’s ever had and I believe him.” –The Old Farmer’s Almanac Everyday Baking Cookbook

Photo Credit: 

Becky Luigart-Stayner

For Crust:

Instructions

The Almond Crumb Crust goes great with this filling. Prepare and prebake the crust as directed. Set aside.

For Filling:

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar

3-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups whole milk

3 large egg yolks

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon coconut extract

1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Instructions

Whisk the sugar, cornstarch, and salt together in a medium-size heavy saucepan, preferably nonstick. Whisk in the milk and yolks. Place over medium heat and cook, whisking until the mixture thickens and starts to boil—about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, one piece at a time. Whisk in the vanilla, coconut extract, and coconut.
Pour the filling into the pie shell and smooth the top with a spoon. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the filling and smooth with your fingers to remove any air gaps. (The plastic keeps a “skin” from forming.) Transfer the pie to a rack and cool thoroughly. Refrigerate overnight.

For Topping:

Ingredients

1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

3/4 cup cold heavy cream or whipping cream

3 tablespoons sifted confectioners’ sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Put the coconut into a skillet over moderate heat and toast, stirring constantly, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Immediately transfer to a plate. About 10 minutes before you plan to serve the pie, chill a bowl and your electric mixer’s beaters for 5 minutes. Beat the cream until it holds soft peaks, then beat in the confectioners’ sugar. Add the vanilla and beat until the cream is stiff but not grainy. Spread the cream over the pie and sprinkle with toasted coconut.

Yield: 

Makes 8 servings.

Credit: 

The Old Farmer's Almanac Everyday Baking cookbook

Source

• Best Home Baking

Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Featuring Popular Pie Recipes

 

Grandma’s Pecan Pie

This delicious pecan pie is sweetened naturally with maple syrup. Gran’s pie recipes are the best!
 https://www.almanac.com/blog/almanac/everything/thanksgiving-dessert-recipes?trk_msg=AEGHGL2C9RRK17T4H1SMK7RGCS&trk_contact=EEBLFVJ2I0VAQT9EM5JFVJAK9O&trk_sid=31LAGH6NBQENUUPLTNFK55LQAG&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Thanksgiving+Dessert+Recipes+(title)&utm_campaign=Companion+Daily

Nov 13, 2017

Seasonal Crafts: How to Make a Nut Wreath

Decorate for the holidays this season with this festive homemade nut wreath!

A wide variety of nuts is sold at holiday time. Fashion them into this charming decoration especially suitable for Thanksgiving.

Materials needed:

• 1 straw or grapevine wreath form (10 to 12 inches)
• an assortment of unshelled walnuts, chestnuts, filberts (hazelnuts), almonds, and brazil nuts
• acrylic varnish
• brush
• wire
• glue gun
• pine sprigs, ivy, or small grape leaves (optional)
• ribbon

Directions:

• To give the wreath a special sheen, paint the filberts and chestnuts with varnish and set them on a wire rack to dry.
• Attach a loop of wire to the back of the wreath form for hanging it when complete.
• Glue on the nuts, working slowly around the wreath, making sure they are all secured. Start with the largest nuts—walnuts, chestnuts, and Brazil nuts, and use the smaller filberts and almonds to fill in around them.
• Using a glue gun, attach the greens or leaves to the wreath form in between the nuts.
• Tie the ribbon into a bow and secure it to the wreath with glue or wire.https://www.almanac.com/content/seasonal-crafts-how-make-nut-wreath?trk_msg=VNN5EVSK7RT450DOBAFIJBN46K&trk_contact=EEBLFVJ2I0VAQT9EM5JFVJAK9O&trk_sid=RS64FFI876B9C1O65OLCTT6020&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Seasonal+Crafts%3a+How+to+Make+a+Nut+Wreath+(read+more)&utm_campaign=Companion+Daily

How to Get Rid of Bad Smells

Natural Remedies for Bad Odors in the Home

Oct 13, 2017

 

There are many ways to mask bad smells in your home, but how do you truly get rid of them? Here’s how to get rid of bad smells once and for all!

Neuroscientists say humans can distinguish 10,000 scents, though we don’t have names for a lot of them.
Our sense of smell—the olfactory sense—brings depth and emotional richness to daily life. Think about the feelings and memories that flow when you catch a whiff of fresh-cut grass or lilacs in bloom, bury your face in a sun-dried bed sheet just off the line, or enter the kitchen just as a cinnamon-rich apple pie emerges from the oven.
Our olfactory system also alerts us to potential dangers: spoiled food, rot and decay, harmful molds. Most American homes contain a variety of sprays, plug-ins, stick-ons, scented candles, and other products designed to mask or remove bad odors. However, many people suffer allergic reactions to the fragrances in some of these products, and some air fresheners even contain toxins.
Yet a few inexpensive household essentials you probably have on hand already—vinegar, salt, coffee, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide—will neutralize most noxious odors around your home and in your vehicles.

How to Get Rid of Bad Smells

• During nice weather, just open the windows! Let fresh air blow through.
• To perfume the air naturally, cut a lemon in half and set the cut halves in an inconspicuous place, or rub a bit of vanilla on a light bulb
• Most folks know that keeping an open box of plain baking soda in the refrigerator will neutralize bad odors. Sprinkle some into the bottom of the trash can and into the trash bag itself for similar results.
• Half a cup of baking soda in two quarts of water and a soft cloth or brush also work well for cleaning the fridge, as well as scrubbing down and freshening the tub, tiles, sinks, drains, trash cans, and toilet bowls. For stronger disinfecting properties, scrub with a strong vinegar solution.
• Fresh or leftover coffee grounds will also absorb unpleasant odors in a fridge, microwave, or cupboard. They’ll also sweeten the air inside your car or its trunk. For use in the car, place the grounds in a covered plastic container with holes punched in the lid.https://www.almanac.com/blog/home-health/natural-living/how-get-rid-bad-smells?trk_msg=9FQH3OC02COKF91VJ942DU9TDG&trk_contact=EEBLFVJ2I0VAQT9EM5JFVJAK9O&trk_sid=DUOEL16731P3NL9A7LCHSVAJUS&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=How+to+Get+Rid+of+Bad+Smells+(read+more)&utm_campaign=Companion+Daily