By Tamara Galbraith

We all know somebody with the notorious Black Thumb. These poor souls can't grow stuff to save their (or their plant's) lives, but gosh, they try. And they love plants. So what do you give such a person as a holiday gift?

How about Zamioculcas zamiifolia, a.k.a. the ZZ Plant? This jade-like houseplant hardly needs any water and doesn't require much light, making it perfect for the low-lit home or office cubicle environment.

Of course, folks afflicted with Black Thumb usually find a way to kill stuff, and overwatering a ZZ will do just that. The plant's large tuber serves as sort of an underground camel hump in that it stores water for dry times. The ZZ's thick rubbery leaves and stems store water as well, so watering every three weeks is sufficient. Fertilize only occasionally (maybe every two months) with fish emulsion. We recommend you use Gro-Power Liquid Fertilizer.

Other than the threat of overwatering, ZZ's are pretty much foolproof, which is a big reason why the species was awarded Foliage Plant of the Year in 2002. Stick a bow on one, give it to your favorite Black Thumb, and hope for the best.

What looks like a butterfly, but is really a plant?

In winter, many of our plants are sleeping--except the Christmas cactus, with its profusion of butterfly-like flowers. Native to mountainous tropical rainforests, it must not be treated like an ordinary cactus. Christmas cactus likes cool weather, indirect light and a regular watering regimen.

Because it doesn't need direct sunlight, it makes a great indoor plant. It can even adapt to low light conditions but you will get more blooms if you put it in a brighter area. Direct sunlight may cause leaf burn, so keep it indirect.

With colors such as fuchsia, metallic rose, purple, apricot, white, gold, or red, the Christmas cactus will give you beautiful butterfly flowers indoors — especially in winter.

Although many cymbidiums start to flower in December, some bloom as early as November. Most bloom between February and May, a few in May and June, and just one or two bloom year round. Choose wisely, and you can have these exotic orchids decorating your home, patio, and garden for six months or more. Protect cymbidiums' bloom spikes from snails when they are outside. Stake the spike to avoid breakage, but allow each spray to maintain its natural arching form. Allow miniatures in hanging baskets to cascade naturally. Continue to feed the plants for bloom with a fertilizer rich in bloom ingredients, like Grow More Orchid Food, until buds open. Once they bloom, stop feeding the plants; keep them damp but not soggy. For longer-lasting flowers, move blooming plants into more shade and keep away from bees if they are outside. (The flowers "blush" and fade after pollination.)

Once cymbidium spikes have set buds, you can force some into bloom for holiday decoration ahead of their natural schedule. Wait until the buds on the bloom spikes are full size and look fat and ready to open. Then place the plant in a warm area with bright light. The warmth plus the longer "day" will open the buds quickly. Move back into a lower-light area for longer lasting blooms. There's one drawback to forcing--plants you force into bloom early won't perform as well next year. You'll get a few spikes but not as many. This is also a factor to consider when buying new varieties. Some may have been forced into bloom, and you won't get as many spikes the following year. Wait for the third year and they'll be loaded with blooms.

By Tamara Galbraith

Fresh or dried, herbs can make wonderful gifts for both the craft-lovers and cooks on your holiday list.

Rosemary is especially popular at this time of year, as many nurseries carry plants which have been clipped, topiary-style, into a Christmas tree shape. If you give this marvelous-smelling herb as a present, encourage the recipient to not only plant it in the ground, but to frequently take cuttings to cook with. After all, nothing wakes up a holiday chicken or turkey better than a nice rub of chopped fresh rosemary.

Lavender makes a fabulous gift as just a bunch of cut flower stems tied together with a pretty bow or sewn into a sachet. The lavender will eventually dry, but maintains its wonderful fragrance for a very long time.

A few culinary herbs that stay relatively small, like sage, fennel and cilantro, placed together in a decorative planter can make a great present for anybody who enjoys cooking.

Dried herb mixes in jars and wrapped with a nice ribbon are fantastic gifts too. Share your personalized BBQ rub, creole soup spice or poultry seasoning, with instructions and recipes printed on an accompanying card.

As for presentation, there are loads of great spice containers in all shapes and sizes to pick from. Glass jars with a sealed screw top and a removable plastic sifter are best. "Flapper" tops -- those with a sifter on one side and an open hole for pouring -- are good too.

Use your imagination with herbs, and remember...Emeril's got nothin' on you!

If you've been subjecting a potted poinsettia to fourteen hours of darkness nightly since October, it should be in full bloom now. Stop fertilizing it for now, and display it where you can enjoy it.

Buy more potted poinsettias early this month, if you want to give them as gifts or use them to decorate your home or entryway. The best plants are usually sold early. Wherever you purchase your plant, be selective. Choose a plant that hasn't been abused. Exposure to extremes of temperature and over- or underwatering can occur before you take your plant home, and these things can make the green leaves fall off prematurely, a common problem with poinsettias. The colorful bracts should look healthy, not wilted, and the leaves should be green and firmly attached to the stalk. If several have fallen off, that's a bad sign. Also inspect the flowers, the tiny little buttons in the center of the colorful bracts. Make sure they're fresh looking and not brown or mildewy.

When you get your poinsettia home, give it the location, light, and other conditions that will help it last. Place your poinsettias out of drafts and in bright light, such as 18 inches to 2 feet below an electric light source, but away from direct sunlight. This should provide the required temperatures: 70 degrees F in the daytime, and 60-65 degrees F at night are ideal. One of the worst places to keep a poinsettia is on top of the TV. If you leave the foil on the plant don't allow it to collect water at the bottom; tear holes in the foil so water doesn't collect in it. The best way to water is to put your plant in the kitchen sink, water it thoroughly, and let it drain before putting it back on display.

By Tamara Galbraith

That holiday superstar, the poinsettia, actually has its own holiday. By an Act of Congress, December 12 was set aside as National Poinsettia Day.

The date marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who is credited with introducing the native Mexican plant to the United States. During Poinsett's appointment in Mexico, he wandered the countryside looking for new plant species. In 1828, he discovered a beautiful shrub with large red bracts growing next to a road. He took cuttings from the plant and brought them back to his greenhouse in South Carolina.

Years later, William Prescott, a historian and horticulturist, was asked to give 'Euphorbia pulcherrima' a new name as it became more popular. At that time Mr. Prescott had just published a book called The Conquest of Mexico in which he detailed Joel Poinsett's discovery of the plant. So, Prescott named the plant the poinsettia in honor of Joel Poinsett's discovery.

We're not sure what Mr. Poinsett would think of the latest trend in painting the colored bracts of his beloved plants with various shades of blue and layers of sparkles, but holiday shoppers certainly seem to dig them. Whatever the case, Poinsett's introduction is now a tradition that brightens the holidays every year.