Hello !
Ilex aquifolium
This plants prefer to live in cold climates.There are lots of types of Ilex.Some have spiky leaves,some have variegated leaves,and most have beautiful red shiny berries. It is also called Holy Tree. I think this plant is just perfect for Christmas decorations.
Ilex give red berries at the end of december. Probably they are the most showy plants in the garden during this time of the year. They are evergreens and the leaves are dark shiny and spiky. They attract birds.Can be used as a decorative hedging plant. They like to be in the full sun. The best place to grow them is Uzumlu i think,considering they like cold. Can grow up to 3-20 m.Likes drained moist earth.
Poinsettia
This plants is called ATATURK plant in Turkey because Ataturk has encouraged the producers to grow them in Turkey. The dark green leaves are big and at the bottom of the plants and the dark red leaves are on top of the plant.Most people thinks that those red leaves actually flowers but its wrong.They are leaves which has turned in to red by staying 13-15 hours without light. Some propagators are using dark rooms to produce them really quickly.But in december the days are very short so thats why the plants leaves is turning into red naturally. I think this plants is a classic during christmas time. The red-green combination is lovely very decorative. Can ve also bought as a present i think... Also white and pink colours are available. Easy to look after.They just dont like to be in a very hot place.
Christmas cacti
This plant is known as YILBASI CICEGI in turkish which means christmas cacti. They are one of the plants which flower in shorter days like pointsettia. Flowering starts in december till the end of january.Very short time but worth it. The leaves are like juicy like succulents but dont even think about not watering them because they are cacties... They need watering as much as a normal plant. They are naturally parasites living on trees. During growing they like to be in fresh air. Likes to be in a half shady spot. You can grow them in the balcony or inside the house. But when they are inside they flower quicker than they do outside. You can take them into a bigger pot every year after the flowerinf period finsihes.
Happy christmas!
Melis Duman
