Plant
Doctor,^
Bruce Williams Ph.D.
Your poinsettia can
blossom for months
By Bruce Williams, Ph.D.
Brunswick County
Cooperative Extension Service
Dear Plant Doctor:
This year I have received several
beautiful Poinsettias. They are
beautiful plants but I can find
little information about them.
How do I best take care of Poinset
tias?
Answer: Poinsettias (Euphorbia
pulcherrima) are the floral symbol
of the Christmas season. The bright
ly colored bracts and the dark green
foliage add beauty and vitality to the
festive setting of any home. The
time that a Poinsettia will stay beau
tiful is directly related to the care
and environment to which the plant
is exposed. With proper care,
Poinsettias will stay in bloom for
two or three months.
The Poinsettia bract or leaf is the
colorful and decorative portion of
the plant. The true flowers are the
tiny yellow structures in the center
of the colorful bracts. Poinsettia
flowers will usually drop off in two
Home Is
Where
The Heart Is...
Thanks for making us
feel at home!
We're so proud
to be a part of
this fine
community.
Merry Christmas and
sincere best wishes.
Hwy. 211 & Beach Rd.
Southport
17
to four weeks but the bracts will
remain for several months.
Contrary to popular belief,
Poinsettias are not poisonous. How
ever, I am sure that the consumption
of the leaves or bracts would have
some undesirable effects on the di
gestive system.
Place plants in a room with plenty
of natural sunlight Poinsettias do
best under a moderate to high indoor
light intensity. Optimum day
temperatures range from 70 to 75F.
Cooler night temperatures (55 to
65F.) favor extended Poinsettia
flowering.
Proper watering is crucial to the
long life of your plant. Water your
Poinsettia when the soil mix is dry
to the touch. Be sure to apply suffi
cient water to thoroughly wet all the
soil in the container. Often plants
are marketed in water-tight plastic
or aluminum coverings, if this is the
case, be sure this wrap is removed
and your plant has good drainage. It
is critical that excess water be al
lowed to drain because root and
stem rots are major killers of
Poinsettias. A light feeding with a
soluble fertilizer mix in the water is
helpful after several weeks to
maintain color and plant vigor.
There is nothing like a Poinsettia
to remind us of the beauty of Christ
mas.
Looking for some Smilax? Sarah
McNeil of Southport writes that
Woodlanders, Inc. (1128 Colleton
Avenue, Aiken, SC 29801; tele
phone 803-648-7522) carry Smilax
smallii.
Looking for or trying to kill
moss? Loretta H. of Fayetteville
tells me that she wants to get more
involved with moss culture for her
Japanese garden. Contact the firm
Mostly Moss (130 Sandy Drive,
Stockbridge, GA 30281; telephone
404-474-5820) for a wide selection
of biyophytes.
If you are trying to kill moss, then
send me a SASE. I will enclose a
publication by Dr. Art Bruneau that
details the best procedures for moss
control for lawns.
Are you having a difficult time
growing your lawn in shady areas?
A new publication by the N. C. State
Cooperative Extension Service titled
"Selecting and Managing Lawn
Grasses for Shade" details the best
management practices for shady
lawns. This publication can be ob
tained through your cooperative ex
tension office or by sending me a
SASE.
Send your gardening questions or
comments to The Plant Doctor, P.
O. Box 109, Bolivia. NC 28422.
A holiday pet parade at Yuletide Harbor on Satur
day gave animals a chance to dress in their finest so
they could be admired by their favorite boys and
girls.
by Jim Hinkson
The holidays are party times, and party
planning means stocking the bar. You
want to be sure to have enough, without
sending your budget overboard. But do
buy extras; it's embarrassing to run out
and the leftover wine will "keep" better
after the party than leftover food.
As a general rule you can expect to
serve about four drinks per person for
any evening party. Plan to serve about
five glasses of wine from a standard,
750ml bottle, 20 from a three-liter jug.
(There are about 22 liquor drinks in a
liter bottle).
Set up bars with plenty of room for
people to circulate. Make sure you have
plenty of mixers and a selection of good
non-alcoholic drinks.
Make your own unique wine chillers.
Set an empty wine bottle in the center of
a larger container and pour some water
in the space in-between. Freeze. Con
tinue to make ice layers incorporating
attractive shells, flowers or novelties.
Remove form to serve.
Some hosts get around the what to
serve question with a punch. Bggnog is
a classic. Use a prepared mix, or 8 eggs
(beat voiks and whites separately, then
fold) 1/2 pound sugar, 2 juggers rum and
a bottle of Bourbon, a pint of heavy
cream and a quart of milk. Grate nutmeg
on top.
You’ll find lots of good party ideas at...
Beverage Barn
6235 E. Oak Island Dr„ Long Beach
Anchor Club asks
safety this holiday
South Brunswick High School’s
Anchor Club chapter once again
reminds students, teachers and
parents to have a safe holiday sea
son by offering a few easy steps to
prevent disabling head injuries.
One thousand red-and-green notes
placed on car antennas list ways to
stay healthy. Among them are buck
ling up when driving or riding in a
vehicle, using designated drivers if
indulging in holiday drinking, using
child restraint seats, following safe
and defensive driving rules, prevent
ing home injuries, practicing healthy
habits and avoiding abuses.
The 20-mcmber Anchor Club, led
by president Kristie King, vice
president Lcann Eagles, treasurer
Christie Hale and secretary Bath
sheba Walker, has been busy this
School year. For the holidays, mem
bers collected food to be distributed
Seniors meet
Town Creek Senior Citizens will
meet at 9 a.m. Thursday, January 7,
at the Sea Captain Restaurant in
Southport.
A tour of Carolina Power & Light
Co. will follow breakfast.
New club officers are Jack Ogden,
president; Lena Beachum, vice
president; Evelyn Moore, treasurer;
and Marie Young, secretary.
Pets of the week...
An adult male chocolate Labrador retriever is now available for adoption
at the Brunswick County Animal Control Center. He is said to be a beauti
ful dog and very good-natured. The adoption fee is $15 and the fee for a
rabies vaccination is $7.
Two "fuzzy and playful" mixed shepherd puppies are also up for adop
tion. They are about ten weeks old and are said to be very affectionate. The
adoption fee is $5 per puppy, and the fee for a rabies vaccination is S7.
Finally, a female "cocker-poo"" — part cocker spaniel and part poodle —
needs a "very loving home." She is five years old, she has been spayed and
she is house-broken. The adoption fee is $15 and the fee for a rabies vac
cination is $7.
For more information persons should contact the animal control center at
754-8204 or call toll-free 1-800-233-2169.
Italian Cuisine • Quick Take Out
122 E. Moor© Street Southport
to needy families through the
Volunteer and Information Center,
adopted a family through VIC and
mailed 200 Christmas cards to resi
dents in area nursing homes.
, The club also sponsored a powder
puff football game during
homecoming, maintains Cougar
Drive through the Adopt-a-Highway
program and recognizes a teacher as
"professional of the month".
Anchor is sponsored by the Pilot
Club of South Brunswick Islands.
Nellie Westbrook is the adviser.
/WAKE UP SPECIAL
Regular Size
Coffee
250
Limited Time Only
Highway 211 & Beach Road
Southport Location
“'Tis theseason
to eat
sandwiches.”
I'ht most popular guest at any
holiday party is the ftxxl. So invite a
Subway Party Platter and let your friends
shake hands with a great sandwich.
(Advance Notice Needed)
tSUBumv^
) 1992 Doctor s Associates. Inc
River Run Shopping Center
Southport, 457-5848
The Best Package
Under The Tree
Treat yourself to a "holiday gift"! The
Omni Hotel at CNN Center is offering
an exciting City'scapes Holiday package
for $89.*
Relax...shop...dine and see the sights of
the city. At the Omni Hotel you will
experience the exceptional service you
deserve during this festive season.
Your City'scapes package also includes a
complimentary' gift and gift wrapping
from Macy's Peachtree.
Omni ©Hotel
AT CNN CENTER
100 CNN Center, Atlanta, GA 30515
(404) 659-0000
1 - 8 0 0 - T H E - 0 M N 1
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* Per room, per night based on double occupancy. Limited naans available at this rate. Not
applicable to groups, conventions or special tate and/or discount offers, $89 Rate it based on
availibility thru Ifecemher JO, 1992.
'.r
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