Holiday plants are a great way to bring meaning to our homes during the holiday season. They also add color to winter days, when the grey of overcast skies and the white of snow dominate.
Many of these plants have beautiful flowers that are long-lasting as long as proper care is given. In fact, some of these plants can blossom for years if in the right environment and with the right conditions. Not all plants will actually flower again after they finish blooming, but some can be transferred to the garden, since they will find an environment more closely related to their natural one.
Here’s how to make sure your holiday greenery will still look great after Santa comes down the chimney as well as which plants are worth the effort and which ones are not.
1. Poinsettia
Poinsettias are undoubtedly the most popular holiday plants, and with some care they can last for quite a while after the holiday season. When picking up your vase at the flower shop make sure you choose ones that have several tiny yellow flowers in the center of the red leaves. This will ensure that they are at its prime and will last past December.
Care tips:
Since these plants are very sensitive to temperature shifts, make sure you take them directly into the house after purchasing them. Avoid leaving them in the car, for example.
Watering properly is another thing you have to be very careful about. If you overwater you will most likely make their roots rot and therefore kill them. Once you take them home, unwrap them, put them in a sunny place where the temperature is pleasant (55°F-75°F) and let any water dry.
Then water in a frugal manner when the plant is dry to the touch. One great way to ensure they will look great at Christmas time is to take them to an unlit room during the night. When the plant has stopped flowering and the leaves start to fall off, it’s time to take it to the garden. It’s up to you to decide, however, because they won’t start blooming again before one year.
Christmas Cactus
This is a very strong plant that can last for years. They are very searched for during both Thanksgiving and Christmas (a time which they actually bloom), and it’s a plant that you can keep for many holidays to come. These beauties are originally from the coastal mountains of Brazil but have become very popular in the United States.
Care Tips
These plants aren’t actually cacti, but they are very easy to take care of. Just make sure that the temperature is not too high before they form flower buds. Until then water very little. After buds are formed you can place them in a warmer room and you can water more frequently. If you overwater they can get too soft and squishy.
They are a keeper! Just take them outdoors after the holidays unless the temperature falls below 40°F. They actually like to be in the pot so there’s no rush planting them in the garden until they grow too big.
3. Amaryllis
These beauties are only distantly related to lilies, yet they have become a favorite for table centerpieces for the holidays. They bloom about a month after the bulb is planted, so if you buy them, ask how long have them being grown.
Care tips
Keep them where they get a lot of light. Turn them around every other day so it grows upright. Keep them consistently moist but don’t overwater them.
After blooming. grow them as a foliage up to the point when the leaves get yellowish. When they start to grow again, repot them. They are definitely a plant worth keeping and having fun watching their full cycle again.
4. Rosemary Tree
Rosemaries are popular at Christmas because they make pretty, tiny Christmas trees. They have a delicious scent that help bring the holiday spirit home.
These plants are a great for those who live in a small apartment are very resilient, and they can be kept after Christmas or even planted in your herb garden. If you’re not a big fan of rosemary, since it’s scent is very unique, you can use greek myrtle or bay laurel to get the same effect.
No matter what you plant you choose, always be sure that you keep the away from pets and children, even those that aren’t considered toxic.
- Poinsettias have a bad reputation as a toxic plant for pets but in fact it is only mildly toxic.
- Christmas Cacti aren’t toxic at all.
- Amaryllis are toxic and they may cause vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia and tremors.
- Rosemary isn’t toxic to dogs or cats.
Given that all the precautions are taken, nothing should prevent you from decorating your home to celebrate the holidays.
Share with us what plants you use as holiday decoration and if you have any doubts or questions. Do so in the comments below or through our Facebook page.
