Dreaming of a 'green' Christmas? Try mini Christmas trees this season

Think green is just the traditional color of the holidays? Think again! This season, it's more than a color. It's the hippest way to decorate while giving back to both your family and Mother Earth.

And the easiest, most festive way to be an Earth-friendly elf is to decorate with a living Norfolk Island pine. No live trees to cut down, no dead needles to clean up, and no discarded tree to drag to the curb and overload the landfills.

Since Christmas trees are one of the most popular traditions of the season, these miniature living trees present a variety of decorating and gift-giving options along with many green benefits.

Gardening

But think small. According to Lynn Long from "Southern Living," large, living trees are "high-maintenance affairs, but these miniature versions are fun to decorate and have some definite advantages over their big, tall look-alikes."

Easy to grow, Norfolk Island pines make cheerful centerpieces during your holiday feast and add eco-flair to your home's decor. The soft, compact needles and naturally symmetrical shape of this South Pacific native provide a charming backdrop for all your seasonal celebrations.

Small enough for a tabletop display or large enough to be the focal point of any room, the trees tuck nicely into tight spaces in apartments, dorm rooms, patios or cozy corners. After the holidays, remove the trimmings, place the tree in a pretty pot and use as a house plant. With just a little care, your Norfolk Island pine will reward you for many Christmases to come.

Place the Norfolk Island pine in an open, bright location such as on countertops, tabletops or in an office, but not in full sun. They prefer to be near a window but away from direct heat. Keep the soil moist, but don't let it dry out or stand in water. Feed with a complete balanced fertilizer every month.

As a house plant, the Norfolk Island pine naturally filters the air and adds much-needed moisture to a room, especially needed during the winter. It also absorbs and breaks down harmful pollutants, giving you and your family an extra Christmas gift - a healthier, greener environment.

If you live where the temperature stays above 60 degrees, your Norfolk Island pine tree can be planted in the landscape and loved for many years.

Available at neighborhood retailers, 14- or 22-inch Norfolk Island pines come fully decorated and ready for the party, or select the larger 44-inch tree and custom decorate it with your favorite ornaments.

This year go "green" with a living Norfolk Island pine and create lasting memories for yourself and your family.

Courtesy of ARAcontent