Christmas is fast approaching and if you want to give or receive a beautiful plant to decorate your home, here are some essential Christmas plants.
Winter gardening can be difficult, but there are several plants you can grow at home. Christmas plants and flowers are not only beautiful but also decorative, as they bring a very special touch of warmth to your home, especially at this time of year.
Let’s find out how to grow and keep Christmas plants and flowers alive, healthy, and beautiful.
Christmas Star – Source: spm
1. The Christmas Star
The poinsettia, whose botanical name is Euphorbia Pulcherrima, is one of the classics of the Christmas holidays. It is characterized by its large, fleshy, bright red leaves, but there are also other varieties with beige or spotted leaves. You must remember that it is very delicate and suffers from temperature changes.
Remember to water it only when the soil feels dry to the touch, as too much water can be harmful. To encourage poinsettia blooming, place it near a window so that it receives the right amount of light it needs. After winter, be sure to remove all green leaves, i.e. older ones, and cut off all bare branches. In summer, apply fertilizer every two weeks.
Christmas Cactus – Source: spm
2. The Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus is a typical winter plant for the end of the year. It is a robust and rustic species that can bloom at different times of the year. There are a few types of Christmas cacti that also bloom in spring or fall. To take care of it, our advice is to place the plant near a window and water it when the soil is dry, without leaving waterlogging that can create problems, since it is a plant whose roots can suffer from excess moisture.
To get the flowers to bloom the following year, take the plant outdoors for about three weeks from late summer to early fall and bring it indoors before temperatures drop too low.
Spruce – Source: spm
3. Spruce
The quintessential symbol of Christmas is the fir tree, which you can grow in a pot at home, but how do you care for it? The first thing we must do is keep it away from heat sources and keep it well hydrated. The best place to place a tree is the brightest and coolest part of the house.
To prevent the needles from falling out continuously, it is recommended to frequently spray the entire crown with cold water, especially if it is in a dry environment. Pay attention to temperature variations, which our Christmas trees do not easily tolerate. Once the Christmas period is over, you can move your tree to the garden.
Christmas Rose – Source: spm
4. Christmas roses or hellebores
Hellebore, also known as Christmas rose, is a winter-hardy plant that requires little maintenance. There are several species, which are distinguished by the colors of their flowers, ranging from pink to white to deep purple. For it to grow properly it is necessary to water it sparingly, possibly place it in the light and the soil must be well drained.
Le Sélaginelle – Source: spm
5. Seaweed
Selaginelle is a member of the botanical family Selaginellaceae. It is an evergreen plant that is often used as an ornamental plant. Selaginella is characterized by its small scaly leaves whose white tips look like snow, so it is mainly marketed during the Christmas period. It is easy to grow in pots, as it does not require special care or attention.
The simplest way to care for this plant is to keep the soil evenly moist, place it in a sunny location but away from direct sunlight, and use fertilizer at least once a month.
Holly – Source: spm
6. Mistletoe
Mistletoe is, like fir trees, one of the symbols of Christmas. If you want to grow it in a pot, you should know that it needs light, so we recommend placing it in a bright environment. It is a delicate plant that needs to be nurtured by other plants. If you grow your baby in an apartment, you’ll need to provide food in the form of a substrate.
Ilex – Source: spm
7. Holm oak
The holm oak, also known as butcher’s broom, is a hardy and rustic plant; Even if grown in a pot, it can be placed on a balcony or terrace as it tolerates colder temperatures well. To grow holly in a container, you should choose a medium to large sized container and place a layer of expanded clay at the bottom to drain the soil. The soil should be slightly acidic.
Avoid areas that are too sunny, it is preferable to prefer a cool and shady place. As for watering, holly needs little water, about twice a month in winter and twice a week in the warmer months.
Hippeastrum – Source: spm
8. The Hippopotamus
Hippeastrum is also known as Amayllis. It is an exotic-looking plant that flowers four to six weeks after planting the bulb.
To grow it in an apartment, consider placing it in a very bright environment and keeping the soil evenly moist, avoiding overwatering. Once the flowers have wilted, cut off the stem but keep the leaves to help replenish the bulb’s nutrients. After winter, and when the frost period is over, you can also move the plant outside, always paying attention to temperature changes.