Think outside the poinsettia for holiday plants
Flowering holiday plants and bulbs are decorating the shelves at local nurseries, floral shops and garden centers. Traditional holiday plants include poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) and Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera spp.), while holiday flowering bulbs include amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) and paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus).
Your friends have already successfully grown and rebloomed last year’s poinsettia. Their Christmas cacti are in full bloom, and their amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus bulbs are sprouting or in the garden awaiting spring. What new holiday plants do you offer as gifts to friends and family who have mastered these traditional beauties?
Here are a few suggestions for festive indoor blooming and nonblooming plants that will delight the recipients while providing them with a new challenge for the coming year.
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is native to Madagascar. This plant is a succulent, bearing dark green, thick, waxy leaves with scalloped edges. The clustered blooms of tiny, four-petaled flowers sit above the foliage and last for a long time. Kalanchoe is available year-round, but during the holidays, bloom colors available are typically red, magenta and white.
Purchase kalanchoe with slightly damp soil, plump leaves and flowers that are open or budding. Keep kalanchoe in bright light, let the soil dry slightly between waterings, and fertilize lightly in the winter. They prefer temperatures of 50 to 70 degrees. As does poinsettia, kalanchoe requires a consistent period of light and dark transitions to rebloom, a plant response called photoperiodism. Because kalanchoe can be toxic if ingested, place plants out of the reach of children and pets.
Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) is another holiday-inspired flowering plant. Cyclamen tubers are native to the Mediterranean region. Holiday cyclamen sport red, white, pink or purple blooms and green leaves mottled with silvery gray. Like Christmas cacti, they prefer cool temperatures, 55 to 68 degrees. Temperatures above 68 degrees will cause the leaves to yellow and the flowers to fade.
Select cyclamen plants with blooms and buds in pots with moist soil, and look for leaves and stems that are upright with a healthy color. When watering, avoid wetting the leaves and stems to prevent crown rot, and drain away excess water afterward. Remove faded flowers and leaves. New leaves and blooms may appear during the blooming cycle. Fertilize every other month with a light fertilizer.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) topiaries shaped like a Christmas tree add both interest and fragrance to the home. While rosemary is tricky to grow indoors, keeping this topiary alive until spring may be worth the challenge. Rosemary plants are native to the Mediterranean region and thrive in harsh conditions. Select a rosemary tree that is symmetrical in shape and shows signs of new growth. The grayish-green leaves should be firm and pliable, not brown or brittle.
Make sure the soil is moist. Once at home, place the pot in a tray with small pebbles covered with water to maintain the humidity level that rosemary prefers. To water, place the pot in a container and add water to the container. Leave the rosemary in the water for about an hour, then remove the plant and let the water drain out. Return the rosemary to its pebble tray.
Keep the topiary in bright, indirect light in cool temperatures (65 to 75 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night). Snip the sprigs to keep the tree’s shape, and use the cut sprigs for cooking.
For an exotic holiday plant, look for anthurium (Anthurium spp.). These tropical plants are native to the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Commonly available anthurium plants have glossy, waxy, heart-shaped, green leaves. Red, pink and white blooms adorn anthurium sold at the holidays. Their distinctive flowers consist of a shiny, leathery bract — the spathe — that surrounds a floral spike — the spadix.
Anthuriums prefer bright, indirect sunlight, moist well-drained soil, and warm, humid conditions. Water when the soil is dry to the touch and keep them in room temperatures from 65 to 85 degrees.
After purchasing a holiday plant, remove the decorative foil cover and set the pot in a saucer. Water the plant and place it in the best location to sustain growth. Monitor the plant for signs of overwatering and pests.
Penn State Extension offers information on caring for traditional holiday plants such as poinsettias and Christmas cactus (https://extension.psu.edu/poinsettia-and-christmas-cactus-care); kalanchoe and cyclamen (https://extension.psu.edu/care-of-holiday-plants); paperwhite narcissus (https://extension.psu.edu/enjoying-paperwhite-narcissus-in-winter); and amaryllis (https://extension.psu.edu/forcing-flowering-bulbs-for-indoor-beauty).
Celebrate the holiday season with beautiful houseplants and bulbs! If you have questions about holiday plants, call the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.
Lisa Marie Bernardo is a Penn State Extension Butler County Master Gardener.
