Houseplant can double as live Christmas tree, with the proper decorations

Q: In our new home we have very little room for a cut Christmas tree. We want one for sure, just don’t really have the space. We do own a Norfolk pine tree houseplant that has been growing really well for us for two years now. It sits on a short stool, so it’s about four foot tall and easily three feet wide. Our question is, could we hang Christmas lights on it without doing the Norfolk any harm? — J.E.S., Albuquerque

A: I believe that, yes, you could light Norfolk on one condition.

Nowadays, you can find strands of the tiniest battery-operated lights that weigh practically nothing. That is my main concern when thinking about lighting a treasured plant you have in your home. The light strands should not be very heavy.

You also don’t want the lights to create a lot of heat. Heavy light strands and heat-creating bulbs would not be a nice thing to do to the Norfolk pine, period. Consider twining the wee lights just around the trunk upwards, not aiming to light each branch.

Be extra cautious about the weight of any ornaments you’d want to hang on the tree. Again, lightweight things should be your aim. Also, be sure to remove decorations promptly. You don’t want to leave the lights and ornaments on for an extended period of time.

Mostly, just be nice to your Norfolk. It’s been gracing your home for two years now, so please don’t go whole hog weighing it down, heating it up, and expecting it to like the process.

Oh, and remember to never leave the lights on when you’re not home.

Enjoy using the treasured Norfolk pine as your Christmas tree, you’ll just want to be thoughtful about the process.

Q: Our neighbor has an oleander shrub in her front yard that needed trimming badly. While we were pruning up the oleander I thought some of the longer branches, since they are so pliable, would be great to use as garland this holiday season. My neighbor forbade me from taking them since she was taught that they are poisonous. Is this true? — N.K., Albuquerque

A: Your neighbor is so very correct! Every part of an oleander shrub is poisonous.

I will never suggest that you bring oleander into your home. I understand the look of the foliage is attractive, and like you said the long branches are quite pliable, it’s just why invite trouble?

Ever since learning that oleander is poisonous, I would never bring it into my home and am so glad your neighbor cautioned you about it.

Q: I want to give away a couple of amaryllis bulbs that I found and need to know if they need to be chilled before they would be grown indoors? — A.I., Albuquerque

A: The amaryllis bulbs you found, were they sold in an area that was offering lots of other bulbs to force? Most retailers this time of year have amaryllis bulbs that are ready to force.

You might find a few stragglers from this past spring and summer offerings still available, but I’m going to believe that any you find available now are ready to put on their show. If you are going to offer the bulb as a present, and don’t want to pot it first, remember to package it in plain paper bag with a few air slits, so the bulb doesn’t get moldy. Tie up a plain brown bag with a festive ribbon and for any gardener on your list, receiving a ready to grow amaryllis would be great.

I’ll bet you’ve found ready to grow amaryllis bulbs that don’t need to be chilled or triggered this time of year.

Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.