Partner Post: How to Incorporate Plants in Your Holiday Decor
Think of poinsettias and the holidays instantly come to mind. This cheery plant, seen almost exclusively between November and the end of January, graces homes across the country (and landscapes in frost-free areas, too!). It's easy to dress up your home or office with poinsettias and other holiday plants. Here's how.
Mantlescaping
While hanging stockings from the mantle, don't forget to top it with easy-care, air-purifying holiday plants! Poinsettia's rich red color fits right in with the traditional seasonal color scheme. Looking for something a little different or more understated? Go for white or soft pink varieties. And for a more flamboyant feature, add Jingle Bells varieties - they offer rich red bracts playfully splashed with white.
Tip: Be sure the temperature of your mantle is hospitable to plants. If you run your fireplace, it may get too hot. If you live in a cold climate, be sure it's not too drafty.
Stunning Centerpieces
Deck out your holiday table or buffet with the living beauty of live plants. Norfolk Island pine is one of the finest. A tropical tree from the South Pacific, it features needle-like leaves (that don't fall on the ground to make a mess!) and a nature well-suited to growing indoors. Individually they're adorable, but you can create a fun foresty look by grouping several together. Norfolk Island pine is fabulously versatile. It looks right at home with the rustic look (we love it with birch bark accents, for instance), but it brings elegance and grace to a space when potted in a sleek gold or silver container.
Tip: Be sure to keep Norfolk Island pine and other holiday plants away from any candles if you incorporate them in your décor. The heat of candle flames can burn plant leaves; if you want to get the look, go with a battery-powered candle.
Tabletop Treasures
Take your décor to the next level with the beauty and elegance of a pure white Phalaenopsis orchid. Amazingly easy to grow (treat it like any other houseplant), you can enjoy this orchid’s blooms for months – long after the holidays pass. Place your orchid on a side table for instant impact right before your holiday party.
Tip: If you don’t like the look of bare soil in the plant pot, use a pot topper, such as small Christmas ornaments, little pine cones, or artificial berries.
Whimsical Windowsills
A bright windowsill is the ideal place to display a Christmas cactus so you can enjoy its beauty indoors or out! This native of tropical rainforests features flat leaves and eye-catching tube-shaped flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, red, and yellow. Long-lived and easy to care for, it shows off its holiday spirit all on its own with no special care.
Tip: If you live in an area with freezing temperatures, be sure plant leaves don’t touch the glass; if they get too cold, leaves may start to turn yellow or show unsightly spots.