These Christmas plants will warm both your heart and your home with their beauty!
Who loves Christmas? I hope all of you! It’s a dear celebration to my heart because it allows me to see all my family members who aren’t living in the country. We gather around the table, eat some of the best family recipes our grandma taught us to make, exchange gifts, enjoy each other’s company, and tell stories until midnight. It’s a cozy feeling that fills my heart with pure joy!
But hey, we’re on the Gardeners and Plants, and we’re supposed to talk about plants too, right? That’s why I am here for fellow green thumbers. As winter draws near, besides all the gift-chasing and festive decorations, remember that combining live plants into your holiday décor is a great way to bring the fresh vibes and aesthetics of nature indoors.
Despite being the traditional holiday flower, poinsettias are poisonous to pets and aren’t for everyone. The good news is that many winter houseplants, like a rosemary bush or a rubber fig, aren’t quite so pretentious.
You can find a lot of Christmas-themed plants in the article, such as candy cane sorrel, holly, and a Christmas cactus, if you want to deck out your living room. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so let’s begin the list with some of the cutest Christmas plants you can bring to your nest this season.
Christmas cactus
This thornless succulent, which is one of the Christmas plants native to South America, is easily found in the United States, especially during the holiday season. The Christmas cactus, which is related to the Thanksgiving cactus but has a later bloom period, will keep blooming into the new year. Plant stem segment cuttings to make cactus presents for loved ones.
If you never had one before, don’t worry because it’s pretty easy to take care of it. Just keep it in a room that is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit and make sure it receives bright, indirect light. One important thing to keep in mind is to wait until the soil is completely dry before watering!
Amaryllis
There’s no better way to welcome the New Year and celebrate the holiday season than to make one of these massive flower bulbs bloom. After flowering, amaryllis bulbs should be properly cared for so they can be made again the following fall.
If you want to keep the flower indoors, I’d recommend placing it in a sunny and warm spot in the room. Water your amaryllis generously once a week, especially if it’s warm in the room. The soil should stay wet for the plant to be hydrated properly. To avoid the stem from reaching for the light and possibly becoming top-heavy as it grows, turn the pot periodically to keep it straight.
For Christmas, pick a white variety or use red amaryllis to highlight all of your home’s decorations or your table.
Poinsettia
The poinsettia is probably the most popular among Christmas plants; almost everyone has it in their home. But do you know its story? In the 1920s, one creative florist managed to transform this gangly weed into a festive favorite. His family business turned it into a seasonal staple by delivering free poinsettias to TV stations in December. Interesting, right?
Poinsettia has many different colors, so if you don’t feel like going for the classic red, you can choose from pure white to different shades of pink. If you receive a Poinsettia in a pot as a gift for the holidays, get rid of the decorative foil before watering it. Its pot must have drainage holes, so if it doesn’t move it to a new one that has.
Not sure where to get some good-quality pots with drainage holes? No worries fellas, I am here to help. How do you feel about this six-piece set? On Amazon, they are only $12. Choose your favorite color, but keep in mind that prices may vary depending on the hue.
Christmas rose
This isn’t your typical red rose, as you can see in the picture above. Hellebores are actually not members of the Rose family. Then what’s the deal with this plant, you might ask? Well, there is a nice European legend that emphasizes the story behind this magnificent Christmas flower.
The story says that a shepherdess named Madelon found the Christmas rose. Madelon saw the shepherds and Wise Men march past her with presents for the Christ Child on a chilly, icy night. With nothing to give the baby, she broke down in tears. The delicate Christmas rose was hidden beneath the snow when an angel suddenly materialized and brushed the snow away. Madelon picked all the Christmas roses to give to the Christ Child as a gift.
With this in mind, we grow Christmas roses to honor Christ’s name and to fill our homes with joy and beauty. Those who want to have a Christmas rose must know that this plant thrives in moist, well-drained soil and partial to complete shade. For best results, plant them in a protected spot away from the drying winter winds. Once established, they can withstand drought.
Kalanchoe
A gorgeous pot of vibrant Kalanchoe is the ideal “piece de résistance” for welcoming the New Year! Kalanchoe is one of the Christmas plants that will look great in any room decor. I typically arrange them on the table alongside other seasonal decorations.
To make sure your Kalanchoe lives happily ever after, place the pot in a sunny spot in your room. Hold off on watering them until the top few centimeters have dried out. You can observe that just by touching it.
Holly
Holly doesn’t belong indoors, but it is one of those Christmas plants that can pep up our home. I usually use tiny branches of it to make cute wreaths and hang them on the door for the holidays. Holly is an evergreen shrub that bears red berries, tiny white flowers, and glossy green leaves with pointy edges. Christians say that the red berries stand in for Christ’s blood while the luscious green leaves are the symbol of eternal life.
Taking care of the holly shrub isn’t that hard, but depending on the area you reside, it may need to winterize, especially if the temperatures in the winter go below 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ornamental peppers
This isn’t exactly one of the Christmas plants, but it is a unique ornamental plant that will bring a bit of rainbow vibes into your home for the holidays. What I like the most about it is that a single pepper plant may have multiple colors as it ripens. The peppers can be red, purple, yellow, orange, black, or white, and the fruit can be any of these shades.
Whatever you do, don’t let the kids munch on them! They’re super spicy! But the adults can indulge in them with the stake or any other dish from the Christmas dinner. I’m really excited to add some ornamental peppers to the table this year! I can’t wait to see our guests picking the tiny colorful peppers right from the plant. It’s going to be so much fun!
Lemon Cypress
Last but not least is the one that we know as the Grinch’s Christmas tree, the lemon cypress. These cuties come in two sizes, small and smaller, so they can be held both indoors and outdoors. To have it happy and healthy indoors, place it somewhere near a window but never near the heater since they don’t do well in warmth. Give them plenty of water, as they prefer moist soil.
Sometimes I use the tiny lemon cypress as the focal point of the table. Just wrap it lightly in a ribbon with a couple of cute star decorations, and voila, you have a mini Christmas tree.
Which of these Christmas plants is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!
…psst! Here’s another winter-related article that you may be interested in reading Your Garden CAN Look Magical This Winter – Here’s How.
