Mistletoe, the ultimate Christmas plant

Within a few days time it will be Christmas. I have taken the mistletoe - which has been hanging for some weeks outside on the rose arch already - inside. I have something special with mistletoe. I do not know whether it is the colour of the berries or the kissing aspect, but for me mistletoe is the ultimate Christmas plant.

The other day I found on the Internet that it is possible to 'sow' mistletoe to apple trees. To investigate this I squeezed out a mistletoe berry. From the berry comes a white sticky ball. Inside this sticky ball you will find a miniature mistletoe plant. You might say it looks like a small embryo.

The 'seeding', or should I say 'planting' of the mistletoe works as follows:

Pick a sturdy branch of an apple tree that gets lots of sunshine.

Squeeze the seed out of the berry and smear the sticky seedling against the bark of the apple tree. The best time to do this is late February until March. Please be aware that the berries are poisonous!

Because of the small chance of success, smear at least 10 seedlings at the same branch. Then you will have to wait patiently for at least a year.

If you are lucky you will have your own mistletoe in the tree.

This web wisdom instantly raised me a dilemma. Once placed inside the house for decoration the berries will dry out quickly and are useless for sowing. So I will have to decide. Lovely mistletoe inside during this Christmas or the chance of having my own mistletoe in the apple tree for all years to come….. I have no made up my mind yet.

I will have to think it over it little bit more.

For now, I wish all you blog readers a Merry Christmas!

                                                  romantic rose garden

Mistletoe outside hanging on the rose arch.

Mistletoe berries are beautiful

Mistletoe berries close up

Inside the house for decoration.

Together with some candle light.

It looks fantastic I think.

Mistletoe, like a small tree. 

Seeding Mistletoe. Squeeze out the berry.

Inside the berrie is a little sticky ball.

Smear it at the branch and wait patiently for a year to see it grow!