"Don't smother each other. No one can grow in the shade" - Leo Buscaglia
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| Photo courtesy Mosaic36 via Compfight |
The holidays always bring a lot of parties, too much food, candy, and drink. This is the time of year that we seem to crave and encourage excess in every way. My kids seem to have this view. Lately, I hear a lot of "I want that!" We pile gifts into stockings, under the tree, hopefully give to those who need it, and desks across the country are a clutter of goodies and gift bags. Sometimes too much of a good thing at once can be toxic.
Homemade baked goods, fine wines, and holiday plants are favorite for giving to friends on holiday visits. Normally, the plants survive the longest after the tree is packed up and gone and the presents are long forgotten. Sometimes. Houseplants can be a challenge to care for. For them, living inside is foreign territory as most originate from tropical regions. Many of us literally kill houseplants with too much love and attention.
I have a secret. I'm a Master Gardener however, I'm an expert at killing indoor plants. I unintentionally give them too much abuse in the guise of love. I am to the point where I avoid them unless they are a cactus or snake plant - which no one can kill. Are you killing with too much attention?
How to kill your holiday houseplants:
- Over water them. Just because plants look dry, they aren't. It's probably from the dry winter air. Stick your finger into the dirt. If it's moist at all - don't water.
- Provide low humidity. Remember, these plants are usually from tropical regions where the air is humid. Put your pots on saucers with pebbles and water in them. Don't let the pot sit in water. Doing this will increase the humidity around the plant.
- Assume they don't need light. Next time you are in a dark romantic restaurant with plants adorning the room - look close. They are probably fake. Plants DO need light every day. A southern exposure is best and turning the plant a few times a week makes a big difference. Here in the Midwest we don't seem to get any sun during winter months so this is a challenge!
- Over fertilize. By fertilizing during the winter you may think that you are loving your plants.Wrong. Plants don't get much light during the winter months so they aren't photosynthesizing. They aren't growing so the fertilizer can damage the plant. If you feel the need to fertilize, do it once a month with water diluted fertilizer.
- Keep them in a drafty or warm area. Houseplants like consistent warmth and steady moist air. They will dry out quickly by heat sources such as vents and they won't appreciate cool drafts in any form.
- Ignore pests. Bugs are my biggest beef with indoor plants. They seem to appear by magic and they spread like wildfire. Pests can sneak in on plant leaves or in the dirt. With no predators to eat them, they thrive. Mealy bugs, Aphids, and White flies are most common. As soon as you spot them spray with mild soap and water or horticultural spray.
- Let them become root bound. You don't like it when your clothes get too snug or burst at the seams. Your plants don't either. If you pull them out of their pot and the roots are intertwined and thick, replant them into a larger pot. Generally, this is necessary once a year. You don't like gasping for air, your plant's roots don't either.
- Using the wrong soil. Certain plants have very picky soil needs. Find out what they are. Cactus don't need or like rich black soil. Neither do Orchids. Giving them the wrong soil is a surefire way of killing them.
Leaders smother employees with too much attention too!
In many companies, the holiday season is a time of year where there's attention sprinkled on employees and they are given many thanks for the impact that they had in the past year. There are parties, a constant flow of candy and cookies, bonuses, employee gifts, etc. Desks and lunchrooms are full of food in every form. All of the attention and appreciation can be downright overwhelming.
I ask this - "In some companies, why do we seem to only appreciate and thank our people during one time every year?"
As team members we all want to have fun and appreciate each other during the holidays at work. Yet as leaders, we should instead let them know how much we appreciate our people throughout the year. Every month. Every week. Don't tell people what they do best, how they make a difference, how they have such a vital purpose within the company just one time. Shame on you if you have fallen into the habit of doing so.
Pretend that the holidays last all year. Do this for your people:
- Tell them thank you throughout the year. Tell them why.
- Stop micromanaging people. Let them lead with their strengths and create.
- Trust your people. Show them your level of trust.
- People want to know their purpose - let them know how they fit in. Help them find it.
- Give people interesting work.
- Update them monthly on company achievements. Don't wait until year end.
- Give people small treats and rewards throughout the year.
- Have holidays in July with all the fun and food!
- Give opportunities to everyone. They will step up.
- Acknowledge the uniqueness in others.
- Catch people doing things right. Let others see it.
- Celebrate success as much as possible. At all levels.
- Be genuine in your thanks.
- Make recognition and thanks genuine.
- Hold all employee events throughout the year.
- Give to charities and give as a group regularly. Pick charities that make a difference to your people.
- Give employees the gift of free project time to work on things that matter to them - you never know what will flourish and develop.
- Be spontaneous. Have cubical decorating contests. Make a big deal about birthdays by decorating office spaces.
- Use social networks to thank and recognize.
- Send spouses or parents cards thanking them for your special employee. Detail successes.
- Have fun and dress up or add to casual days.
In short.... Ignite the holiday spirit all month, all year. Be unique. Make a difference to your people.
Happy holidays!! How will you step up and make the holiday spirit last all year in your area or company?????
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| Photo courtesy of Opensourceway via Compfight |