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A kiss under the mistletoe!

By Debby Looney, gardening expert
Almost as evocative of Christmas as the Poinsettia is the Christmas cactus, or the Schlumbergera truncata and with its flat, succulent, jointed leaves and colourful flowers, which brings cheer to any room.
These plants are indigenous to the Brazilian rainforest and are actually epiphytic, meaning they live high up in the tree canopy, nestled in the limbs of great trees. They therefore enjoy moisture, and relatively cool temperatures. Buds and flowers will drop off if the plant dries out completely, or if it is over or near a radiator or other heat source.
This is a plant which will survive for generations, there are some over a hundred years old handed down like heirlooms in families!
The trick for getting them to flower at the right time is to have them in a room where they get up to 16 hours of darkness in every 24 hour period, as well as giving them more water with a very small amount of feed added. It is important that there is absolute darkness, not even an occasional switching on of a light. When the buds appear you may move them to a different place. During summer months, keep them out of direct sunlight, as they scorch easily, causing the leaves to redden. Keeping in mind the fact that they are rainforest natives helps when taking care of them!
Mistletoe
Another epiphytic and parasitic tree dweller, equally synonymous with Christmas, is mistletoe. Popular for the tradition of kissing beneath a bunch of it, many gardeners ask me how they might grow their own. We are a romantic bunch! Mistletoe grows on host trees, such as apples, poplar, hawthorn, lime and many others. The berries are sticky and white, favoured by many birds. It is possible to grow it. You will need some fresh berries, preferably picked in March when they are ripe and a tree at least 15-years-old.
Those sold at Christmas are not ripe yet and will not germinate. Any younger and it will suffer due to the parasitic nature of the mistletoe. Simply take a good branch, make a little slice under the bark and insert the berries, maybe three or four together. Wrap with hessian or moss to prevent them falling out, and wait... About one in five should germinate, but the first year you will see nothing as it is only a root and a hypocotyl which grows. The second year you will see a small sprig, and after about five years you will be able to cut some for the house. It is a bit of a wait, but hopefully that kiss will be worth it!
I would like to wish all gardeners and readers of this column a Happy Christmas, and many thanks for all the positive and beautiful comments over the past year!
News
Strong connections made at tourism tradeshow
Many significant business deals were signed at this year’s Meitheal – Ireland’s largest and most important trade event for the tourism industry. Held in the INEC, 450 Irish businesses pitched to over 230 international […]

Many significant business deals were signed at this year’s Meitheal – Ireland’s largest and most important trade event for the tourism industry.
Held in the INEC, 450 Irish businesses pitched to over 230 international buyers from 17 countries at Fáilte Ireland’s flagship trade event.
Running since 1975, Meitheal is organised in partnership with Tourism Ireland to provide Irish tourism businesses with the opportunity to sell directly to top international buyers and tour operators.
The best of what is on offer across Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, Ireland’s Ancient East, the Wild Atlantic Way and Dublin, were showcased with the aim of being scheduled on the itineraries of the global tour operators.
Key themes and trends emerging this year are sustainable travel options, immersive outdoor experiences and festivals.
Speaking about the importance of developing a future pipeline of tourism business, Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, said that “creating a strong pipeline of future business is key for the recovery of tourism”.
“Seeing the demand for the Irish tourism product with international buyers at Meitheal is fantastic. Each international buyer represents tens of thousands of possible visitors to Ireland, and their business will be hugely important for tourism and hospitality businesses, communities, and destination Ireland as we continue to work towards recovery,” he said.
News
Outdoor dining area officially opens in town
A new outdoor dining space at Kenmare Place was officially opened today (Wednesday). The project, which was supported with €605,000 in funding from Fáilte Ireland under the Local Authority Weatherproofing and […]

A new outdoor dining space at Kenmare Place was officially opened today (Wednesday).
The project, which was supported with €605,000 in funding from Fáilte Ireland under the Local Authority Weatherproofing and Outdoor Dining Infrastructure Scheme, provides an attractive outdoor dining option for locals and visitors to Killarney.
“This is a really wonderful addition to Killarney’s tourism infrastructure and will prove a great asset throughout the year and particularly during the forthcoming tourist season,” said Cllr Kelleher, Cathaoirleach of the Killarney Municipal District, who did the honours.
“One of the effects of the recent pandemic was the need to utilise and maximise outdoor dining options and this infrastructure shows what can be achieved in an imaginative way. It will greatly enhance Killarney’s reputation as a destination for top quality tourism experiences.”
The project has been operational since last October but the official opening was timed to coincide with the Meitheal 2023 tourism industry showcase that was organised by Fáilte Ireland at the INEC this week.
“It is fantastic to see Killarney’s outdoor dining infrastructure being so well received by trade and visitors alike,” Miriam Kennedy, Head of Wild Atlantic Way at Fáilte Ireland, said.
Councillors in the Killarney Municipal District approved planning permission for the infrastructure which was completed by Daniel Canty Construction.