• Short days and cloudy weather typical this time of year significantly reduce the amount of light houseplants receive.  Take time to clean the surface of your houseplants’ leaves and stems.  A layer of dust on the foliage filters light, limiting the amount available for photosynthesis.  Wipe stems and leaves, top and bottom, with a clean wet rag rinsed periodically in barely soapy water.
• Gardening books make great holiday gifts for your gardening friends and relatives.  Be sure they’re written for northern climates, though.  Other welcome gifts include next year’s Minnesota Gardening Calendar, or a gift certificate for a favorite garden center.
• Take time to check stored dahlia tubers, canna bulbs, and produce such as potatoes or winter squash.  Look for shriveling, soft spots, mold and other signs of trouble.  Often rotting is a sign the bulbs were wounded when they were dug up, or the storage temperatures are too high or there’s insufficient air circulation.
• Choose a fresh Christmas tree that meets your needs.  Balsam fir is most fragrant.  Norway pine has stiff branches and needles that will hold heavy ornaments, while white pine has fragrant needles that are softer and longer – more appropriate for lightweight ornaments. 
• Take time to relax and read a good gardening book! 

Becker County Master Gardeners