Beautiful Christmas Plants Brighten Your Home

Christmas Plants

I just bought my Christmas poinsettias for this year (2012) and got a great deal at Home Depot. A nice, full, six inch pot for less than $5.00 and a very full planter of poinsettias plus variegated ivy for less than $15.00.

Home Depot also had Christmas cactus, which I thought about getting… but decided I wanted to wait until later.

I wrote this original article in 2012, but now that it is 2025 Poinsettias still have a role to play in the Christmas decor of my home. I like the bright red ones best, now, because they contrast so nicely with the light, bright white walls of my Southern home.

Poinsettias

The poinsettias are a brilliant seasonal display. The flower effect is produced by colored bracts surrounding the real flowers, those insignificant  yellow berries  in the center, called “cyathiafalse flowers forming the inflorescence of plants in the genus Euphorbia .” The petal-like bracts are modified leaves located at the junction of the flower stalks and main stem. In November and December, these turn vivid shades of red in response to the longer nights.

Water needs:

Water thoroughly when the soil is dry to the touch. Poke some holes in the fancy wrappers to allow excess water to drain. Fertilizer isn’t needed now.

Two Problems to Avoid

• Soggy roots from standing in water will definitely cause poinsettias to drop their leaves and bracts.
• A chilled plant will drop its leaves.

Warmth and no drafts:

Poinsettias require warmth. The temperature range that keeps them happiest is about 72-75 degrees during the day and 65 degrees at night.

Christmas Floral Trivia

Joel Roberts Poinsett was a botanist, who during 1828 found a beautiful shrub with large red flowers in Mexico.  He brought cuttings to the U.S. and introduced the plant here. It is now named for him.

A family started growing theme in California in the 1900’s. Now the Ecke family is known as the leading producer of these plants.

Aztecs had them brought into Mexico City area. They did not grow in the high altitudes there, and had to be imported.

Cut Flower Bouquets

I couldn’t resist the cut flower bouquet at Whole Foods Market, and brought home a very Christmas-y red, green, and white combination. It had pure white carnations that smelled lovely, dainty red roses, greenery, white stock, dark red chrysanthemums, some pink alstroemerias, and one flowering kale for good measure. I arranged them in a large, vintage, green glass vase.

I will probably buy another bouquet of flowers closer to Christmas day, for making a dining room centerpiece. I think that Whole Foods Markets, and Costco have the freshest flowers in the best available flowers for the money.

Costco has been consistent in quality, and this is where I purchased my GIGANTIC poinsettia plant, this year. I almost wish I had waited to buy the Christmas tree, since they had high quality selections at a fraction of what I paid at Home Depot ( which was still fairly reasonable… in today’s prices)

For greenery we shopped at Whole Foods Markets again (you can tell how much I love that store!). There was a bundle deal of tree, wreath, and garland – so we went for it. Not every WFM will have the same vendors and deals, but if you are in the Columbus, Ohio area, check it out (I don’t know how long it lasts). I also like Sam’s club for fresh wreaths, check to see if they have good ones this year.

You get uneven quality at Lowes, but they did have some unique greenery, like kissing balls, and porch planters.

Don’t forget Trader Joes as a possible source for holiday plants and flowers.

Christmas Cactus

Popular winter holiday plants that are fairly easy to grow .

Hope you are enjoying the season as much as I am.

Christmas roses on my windowsill

Christmas Plants Bloom

Christmas plants are a big part of the holiday for most of us. Whether it is decking the halls with bright poinsettias, or making special table centerpieces for a holiday meal, there are opportunities to use these special accents in creative ways throughout the season.

Maybe that is one reason why giving a Christmas plant is popular. I have to admit to gifting myself  with Christmas season plants!

I love Rosemary “trees”, and even found my favorite Hellebores (which went into my garden the following spring) during a lucky shopping foray into the grocery store holiday gift plant department. Rosemary trees are often available at plant nurseries.

Unique Ways to use a Holiday Plant

If you have small burlap bags or Christmas stockings that aren’t too deep, add an Eastern white pine sapling in a plastic bag (with damp cheesecloth wrapped around the roots). Or use a plant with succulent type leaves like the Christmas cactus; wrap the root ball in the dampened cheesecloth.

Tiny Tannenbaums

I often see miniature sized evergreens sold in many grocery stores, nurseries, and even Walmarts. Use a group of them to create a winter vignette on a shelf , window sill, or side table.

On the Web

I have collected a number of plant articles that cover the topic of Christmas plants, from bloomers to living Christmas trees to help you make the most of your Christmas season greenery and flowers.

There are several articles on my garden website, Ilona’s Garden, on the topic of Christmas bloomers and living plants:

Christmas Roses | Living Christmas Trees | Christmas Plants

Ilona’s Garden Journal, now home Garden Companion, reports on some seasonal Christmas plants:

Paperwhites and Narcissus | Hellebore Happiness