Q: We've purchased our first living Christmas tree. How should we care for it to make sure it survives as a lasting reminder of our 2011 Christmas?

A: You need to care for your living tree properly or it will be a short-lived memory. Before you bring it in to the house, find a snug, watertight container to put it in that will protect your floors and hold the tree upright. When you move it indoors, keep the root ball constantly moist and make sure the temperature in the house never goes above 70 degrees. Keep the tree in the house for only seven to 10 days.

Extended or overly warm conditions could cause the tree to break dormancy and start growing in the house. If that happens, you've got yourself a big houseplant because if you try to plant it outside before temperatures warm up in spring, it won't survive.

If the tree is still dormant when you bring it out of the house, plant it as soon as possible in a sunny well-drained location unless freezing weather is forecast. If that's the case, store it in an unheated garage and plant it as soon as milder conditions return.

Q: Hummingbirds are still feeding on the remnants of summer blooming plants in my garden. I travel so I'm not around all winter to keep a feeder full. What can I plant that will keep the hummingbirds happy in winter?

A: The Anna hummingbirds will stay here all winter if they have a food source. Mahonia media is an evergreen relative of Oregon grape that flowers practically all winter long and is available at most quality nurseries this time of year.

These relatives of Oregon grape feature upright sculptural form and holly-like foliage that often turns beautiful shades of red in winter. The attractive, spiky yellow flowers produce copious amount of rich nectar that keeps winter feeding Anna's hummingbirds fat and happy. Hardy to zero degrees, these shrubs prefer shade, and once established will thrive in dry conditions. There are lots of varieties to choose from and each grows to a different size.

At about 5 foot tall and wide, the smallest growing Mahonia is 'Winter Sun.' 'Hope' and 'Lionel Fortescue' grow only slightly larger, reaching about 6 feet high and wide, while 'Arthur Menzies' tops out at 8 to 12 feet tall and wide.

If you've got room for a honker, plant 'Charity.' This one towers to over 15 feet tall and about 12 feet wide. Pruning is rarely needed on these architectural plants, but you may cut a few tall branches back to the ground to promote new growth from the base.

Q: How should I care for a florist cyclamen that my daughter gave me? I love it but I have a black thumb.

A: Cyclamen persicum is one of the most popular holiday gift plants for good reason. The swept back flowers come in dazzling colors and the patterned silver and green foliage is almost as showy as the blooms. With the proper care, your cyclamen will bloom indoors for several months, but they're picky plants and if you can't give them the special conditions they need, they'll quickly end up in the compost bin.

Place your cyclamen in a cool (55 to 65 degrees) brightly lit spot, out of direct sunlight. A north-facing windowsill is ideal. Water only when the soil surface feels dry and take care to avoid wetting the central tuber to prevent it from rotting.

High humidity is a must, so stand the pot on a pebble tray and mist often. Finally, as much as you'll want to show off your beautiful cyclamen, bring the plant into a warm room for display only for short durations.

In spring, the plant will begin to drop its leaves and appear to be dying. It's actually only going dormant. Try storing it by turning the pot on its side in a cool dry spot until August. Then repot the tubers at the same depth and begin watering and feeding. If it grows and blooms again, consider yourself a bona fide green thumb!

Ciscoe Morris: ciscoe@ciscoe.com; "Gardening with Ciscoe" airs at 10 a.m. Saturdays on KING-TV