3 Stunning Examples Of Beautiful Holiday Plants

3 Stunning Examples Of Beautiful Holiday Plants
By Joanne A Shaw

During the holiday season I am sure your garden is the last thing on your mind. However, there are a variety of plants available at this time of year to enhance your holiday decorating or to put on your gift giving list.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis Bulbs and kits can be found almost everywhere as soon as the pumpkins are out of the grocery stores and nurseries. They are one of the easiest bulbs to bring to bloom and the large showy flower is well worth it! They would make a great gift for beginning gardeners or for people with young children. Once the plants start to grow kids really love waking up each morning to see how tall they have gotten.

They come in a nice variety of vibrant colours and sold usually in convenient kits that include the pot, bulb and potting mix. Once planted, place the potted bulb in a warm place with direct light. Water sparingly until stem appears then increase as bud and leaves appear. The blooms will last for several weeks.

You can also find Amaryllis as cut flowers around Christmas time in your local florist.

Christmas Cactus

In my opinion this a great plant for a keen gardener or plant person as its needs change throughout the year in order to enjoy blooms throughout December and January. Despite its name, the Christmas Cactus is not as popular as the Poinsettia but it still puts on a nice show this time of year as well as makes a nice gift especially because it can last for years. It is not a true cactus but is a succulent that stores water in its leaves. The plant needs medium light and soil should not dry out. Its flowering during the season has to do with day length and night time temperatures.

Here's a handy little guide:

- November to January: Flowering

- February to March: Resting, infrequent watering, 55 degrees

- April to May: Water well when plant dries out

- June to August: Place outdoors in a shady spot

- September to October: Plant prepares to flower, reduce daylight hours, keep drier and in a cool spot 55 degrees until buds form then you can gradually increase water and temperature

Norfolk Pine

While this evergreen is not really a pine, it is a nice Christmas tree shape plant that would make a great gift or accent in your home. Some things to keep in mind; these trees are NOT cold hardy and should be kept away from cold drafts. Also keep this in mind when shopping for one. Do not leave it in the car while you continue shopping. Since they are actually a tropical plant they also require humidity, especially in the winter months but this can be easily achieved by placing pot on a tray of pebbles or misting the plant with water. Norfolk Pines also require bright light and can even tolerate direct light. It grows slowly so buy the size accordingly. They would make a great gift for someone with a large sunny kitchen or even someone in a condo or apartment.

I know I have left off the ever popular Poinsettia from this list but I have written about it in the past.

I hope this article helps with your gift giving during the holiday season!

Joanne Shaw is the owner and operator of Down2Earth Landscape Design. A graduate of Ryerson University in Landscape Design, Joanne has over 15 years experience in designing gardens and more than a decade in landscape and related business, both for her own clientele and established local nurseries. Sign up here http://www.down2earth.ca/ to receive Joanne's free report "Seasonal Landscaping Tips" and as an added bonus you'll receive her monthly newsletter, "Down the Garden Path", providing useful tips and tricks for keeping your garden as low maintenance as possible.

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