There are a few houseplants that are only offered during this time of year, thus are pinned as the holiday houseplants. Their natural appeal enlivens an indoor space and adds beauty to the holiday season. They also make wonderful gifts!
Holiday houseplants can be found in many shapes, sizes, and colors that can fit any home aesthetic and experience level. We carry a broad selection of common holiday and blooming houseplants in-store. Availability can be found on our website or by calling us 541-929-3524.
Some holiday houseplants can be unique in their care requirements, but there are simple tips and tricks to keep them beautiful all season long, and even into the New Year.
Poinsettias
One of the most iconic holiday plants that can come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and can also be ‘enhanced.’ Poinsettias are native to Mexico, and in the euphorbia family. They are slightly toxic if ingested and white latex sap can be irritating to skin and eyes. The colorful parts of the plant are actually modified leaves called bracts, and the flowers are the small yellow center in the middle of the bracts.
Display, Gifts & Uses
Use small poinsettias as centerpieces, accents, and small gifts. Large poinsettias can be great floor plants, and they make stunning holiday gifts. Massing or placing a large amount together in a church, commercial, or house space can make a beautiful statement piece. With many colors and styles, they can fit in any space and color scheme.
Selection: Choose a fresh-looking plant with tight yellow flowers in center rather than ones with flowers fully open. If you want to trim the bracts off after the holidays, this can give them a more normal green look. Trimming also encourages new growth and branching to give the plant a more uniform shape.
Light & Location: Bright light is ideal, especially for long term care in poinsettias. Avoid drafts and extreme temperature swings. Poinsettias can be sensitive to any big changes. It is suggested that you take them home right after purchase to cause as little stress as possible.
Water: Poinsettias like to get close to drying out but not go completely dry, or they will wilt which can cut the bloom life short. If your plant is in a decorative foil or plastic sleeve, it is best to remove the sleeve when watering and replace it once the soil has fully drained. Also try to avoid getting the foliage wet as water droplets may cause discoloration.
Soil, Repotting and Maintenance: Removing dead leaves and branches, checking for pests, and trimming are all part of regular maintenance for poinsettias. Repotting can take place in early spring along with most houseplants. Use a well-draining all-purpose potting soil.
Aftercare: Poinsettias can be difficult to get to rebloom in a home setting. Some people are lucky, but these plants generally require a cycle of 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness to bloom. Even one night where a light is flashed on them for a couple minutes can cause them not to bloom. Honestly, it’s not very practical and we’d prefer it if you just bought new ones each year.
Bulbs – Paperwhites and Amaryllis
Another fun way to bring color into your home for the holidays are bulbs like paperwhites (narcissus) and amaryllis.
They can be purchased already potted or as bulbs that you pot yourself. They may take around 6-8 weeks from bulb to bloom so planning is important if you want flowers on a specific day. The large bulb size and rapid growth of amaryllis make them exciting to grow for gardeners of all ages.
Amaryllis can be found in many colors while paperwhites are that classic creamy white. Paperwhites also have a slight fragrance. Both are considered toxic to pets and should be placed out of reach for safe keeping.
Display, Gifts & Uses
Bulbs in glass containers make interesting and eye-catching centerpieces and accent decor. Potted bulbs also do well as accents in a home setting.
Light: these plants like bright light but can be kept in lower light for short periods of time. If grown in lower light, the leaves will flop over in time.
Water: Evenly water the soil when the plant is close to drying out. If the plant is in rocks and water, do not fill the water above where the roots come out of the bulb, or you risk rotting the bulb.
Soil, Repotting, and Maintenance: These plants can be displayed potted like most outdoor bulbs, or for a more unique look, in a glass with rocks and water. This can be fun for the holiday season, and then they can be planted out later.
Aftercare: These plants like a lot of fertilizer throughout the growing season, and they also have a dormancy period in late summer through winter. They should be placed in a cool dry place with no water from mid-September through mid-November
Bloomers – Zygocactus and Kalanchoe
Zygocactus, also known as Christmas cacti, are another very iconic holiday houseplant. If you have concerns about pets eating your plants, Christmas cactus are a non-toxic option.
Zygocactus are very easy to grow. Most have a relaxed, semi-trailing or trailing habit and very interesting, unique flowers. These come in a variety of colors like red, white, pink, purple, cream/gold, and orange.
Kalanchoes are common during the holiday season, though can be found year-round. Kalanchoe come in red, white, yellow, orange, and more.
These plants are great after the holiday season as houseplants.
Display, Gifts & Uses
Christmas cactus and Kalanchoe make great gifts and long-term house plants due to their easy care and their willingness to rebloom. Most Christmas cactus sold in retail settings are generally smaller sizes, but they can grow to be beautiful large specimens.
Light: Christmas cactus are rainforest cacti; they like bright light, and can handle a little morning sun. Kalanchoe are succulents and do well in bright light as well.
Water: Both plants are drought tolerant, but are happiest with watering when they are approaching dryness or have just dried out.
Soil, Repotting, and Maintenance: Soil for Christmas cactus and kalanchoe should be a well-draining potting soil, to prevent the roots from staying too wet for extended periods of time.
Aftercare: Once the blooms are spent, they will fall off for zygocactus. Spent kalanchoe spikes should be trimmed at the base. These plants can be placed outside in the summer in a protected area until fall. Once temperatures begin to drop into the lower 40s, this plant can be brought inside which will help stimulate blooms for the upcoming season. Feed with an all-purpose houseplant or cactus fertilizer throughout the growing season.
Norfolk Island Pines
Norfolk Island pines are a great Christmas tree replacement or a great mini tree to have throughout the holiday season. They are tropical conifers native to Australia, New Zealand and surrounding areas.
Display, Gifts & Uses
Norfolks make amazing living Christmas trees. Since they a long-lasting indoor plant, you can decorate yours every holiday season with little ornaments and lights. They come in a variety of sizes so they fit in a variety of spaces. They are great if you are looking for a small living tree, fresh greenery in the house, or even and large living Christmas tree.
Light: These trees are also a bright light plant, but can handle periods of lower light temporarily.
Water: These conifers like to have evenly moist soil, but should never sit in water.
Soil, Repotting, Maintenance: Norfolk pines prefer an all-purpose potting soil and some fertilizer throughout the growing season. Repotting should be done in early spring if possible, and the plant should be upsized according to growth from the previous season, but not more than 2 inches in diameter at a time. These plants occasionally drop needles and branches can die, so trimming is occasionally necessary.
Aftercare: Place Norfolk Island pines in an area that will receive bright light throughout the growing season. Keep evenly moist like previously stated and use a slow-release fertilizer and a liquid fertilizer for fast strong growth
Anthuriums and Bromeliads
Anthuriums and bromeliads are usually available throughout the year, but can be a great houseplant for the holidays. With festively colored blooms, these plants can brighten any spot for the season.
Display, Gifts & Uses
Anthuriums and Bromeliads make great gifts as they can bloom year-round, have long lasting blooms and aren’t necessarily associated with the holidays directly. Easy care and beautiful blooms make these plants easy to love! They also make great centerpieces.
Light: Most flowering plants prefer bright light and these are no exception. While anthuriums and bromeliads can handle low light spaces for short periods of time, they prefer bright light for maximum growth and flowers.
Water: Anthuriums and bromeliads like to approach dryness in between waterings, but not fully dry out. Bromeliads grow from what is called a crown which can collect rainwater in the wild. When these plants flower in a home, sitting water should not be left in the crown as this can rot the bloom and shorten its flowering time.
Soil, Repotting, and Maintenance: Both anthuriums and bromeliads can be kept in an all-purpose potting soil, with some extra perlite and/or orchid bark added for drainage and air flow. Repotting should be done in early spring or after blooms have dropped. Like most houseplants, they should be upsized in intervals and no more than two inches in diameter at a time. Trimming spent blooms and dead leaves is sometimes necessary with these plants
Aftercare: After the holidays, plant care for these plants is the same for the rest of the year in regards to watering and light. Fertilizer and bright light will help keep these plants blooming. Bromeliads grow in clusters and once one ‘pup’ blooms, it will never bloom again and eventually die off. New pups will grow every year and this is where new bracts will form. Spent crowns can be divided out in repotting or cut out after they die.
Cyclamen
Florist cyclamen are a great way to add color indoors and outdoors during the holiday season. They are considered hardy to zone 9, so they need to be protected for longevity in cooler temperatures.
Display, Gifts & Uses
Cyclamen make great accent flowers for the house and nice smaller gifts. Their cheery colors and interesting foliage make these applicable in many spaces as accents and centerpieces
Light: Bright indirect light like any of our houseplants is great for cyclamen long term.
Water: Cyclamen grow from tubers and these tubers can be prone to rot. They like to be watered once they approach dryness, and they will wilt if you miss a watering.
Soil, Repotting and Maintenance: These plants grow in clumps and should be re-potted as the clump grows larger. They like well-draining potting soil as they are prone to root rot.
Aftercare: These plants will happily grow outside as the temperatures begin to warm and the danger of frost has passed in spring or they can be kept inside year-round. They are prone to powdery mildew in wet conditions and a copper fungicide, or keeping them in a dryer location, will prevent the spread of fungus. Deadheading and trimming spent leaves are all a part of normal maintenance for this plant.
Tillandsia
At first glance, tillandsia or air plants might not be seen as a holiday plant. However, tillandsia can be displayed in a variety of ways including, wreaths, centerpieces, terrariums, stand alone, and more.
Display, Gifts & Uses
Tillandsia are often overlooked in holiday displays but these plants make great living indoor wreaths and small centerpieces. They can be paired with fresh greens, massed in groups or left to stand alone in things like terrariums or custom holders.
Light: Tillandsias are epiphytes, meaning they grow on trees. They like bright filtered light long term but can tolerate lower light for a temporary situation.
Water: The best way to water tillandsia is to soak them once a week for 15 minutes, then place them upside down until they are dry or mostly dry. This allows for maximum water uptake through the leaves, and prevents crown rot.
Soil, Repotting and Maintenance: These plants do not grow in soil and are closely related to bromeliads. They require very little maintenance as they hold their leaves for very long periods of time.
Aftercare: Watering should continue weekly for the growing season. They are very versatile and make great easy-care houseplants. They are also non-toxic to pets if that is a concern.
Pests and Treatment
Common pests include spider mites, mealy bugs, aphids, scale, fungus gnats, and thrips. Healthy plants in ideal conditions are less likely to develop pest issues than stressed plants. For example, fungus gnats tend to develop in plants that are overwatered.
We have oil-based sprays for most pests and systemics can be helpful, especially during spring when growth is more active. Be aware that oil sprays may stain household surfaces; place plants in a bathtub or large plastic garbage bag for treatment (or even outside if temperatures allow).
Note on Lighting – Grow lights can open up more growing spaces in your home and to more kinds of plants. They can also be used to supplement light and keep your plants growing in the winter here in Oregon. We sell a couple different options for grow lights in store.
Information is from our Holiday Houseplant Care class by Patrick Urbanski.
Holiday Houseplant Care – Class Recording
Class Recording from November 19th, 2023
Presented by Patrick Urbanski, decorating a space for the holidays isn’t complete without beautiful flowering indoor plants. Take a deeper dive into this care information and learn how to care for these beautiful plants for the season and into the New Year. Plants discussed are poinsettias, amaryllis, paper whites, Christmas cactus, and Norfolk Island pines.