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If you get one of these blooming beauties consider yourself lucky – if you need a gift to give, you can’t go wrong these top 10 holiday plants. They’ll bring wonderful color and cheer even if the weather is otherwise.
1. African Violets –African violets stay rather small and don’t mind low light conditions. Just watch watering. Water when soil feels dry to the touch, never use cold water and be sure to keep water off foliage.
And here’s a tip, if you pinch off early blooms, you’ll end up with more blooms in the long run.
2. Begonias are another great flowering houseplant there are many “houseplant” begonias. Begonias grow best in bright light. Keep soil evenly moist and water as soil just begins to dry. Never let plant sit in water. And be sure to fertilize with a diluted strength (50%) liquid fertilizer every other week. Pinching out the tips of the branches will create a bushier plant.
3. Cyclamen thrives in cool, humid conditions (cooler than most of us keep our homes). Water when dry and avoid getting water on the crown of the plant. Stop watering, when blossoms fade. Resume watering when new growth appears, about 2-3 months. Feed with a low-nitrogen fertilizer every couple of weeks.
5. Azaleas prefer cool conditions – so place in the coldest room in the house where daytime temperatures remain around 60-65 degrees F. Avoid full sun while plant is flowering. Keep soil moist, but not wet. Water by submerging the pot in a bucket or sink full of water and wait until air bubbles disappear. Allow excess water to drain completely. Feed with water soluble fertilizer once every 2 weeks after flowering is finished
6. Orchids like bright light during winter months and high humidity. They resent wet feet but resent drying out even more. Because they don’t grow in typical potting soil, watering every day is helpful. Be sure to allow water to drain completely (water that is softened with salt should not be used on orchids). Orchids need to be fed every couple of weeks. Use a fertilizer specific to orchids and follow directions for usage.
7. Kalanchoe thrives in conditions completely opposite of orchids. Place it in a sunny dry location with daytime temperatures in the 70’s. Water when soil begins to feel dry. When watering, allow the water drain completely from the plants – they don’t like soggy soil. And it’s important to fertilize every 2 weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer, high in phosphorous.
8. Christmas Cactus is a tropical plant and unlike its desert cousins prefers cooler temperatures and likes soil on the moist side. Fertilize with a well-balanced houseplant fertilizer when plants are blooming. Christmas cactus will grow in low light conditions, however the more light they get, the more blooms they’ll produce. Treated well, these plants will give you 20+ years of enjoyment.
9. Azaleas - give them some light, water once a week and be sure to stake them. Give them at least 4 hours of indirect light, water once a week and have a stake handy. As these beauties grow they can become top heavy in no time.
10. Poinsettias are tropical so give them bright light and temperatures around 70-72 degrees F. Water when dry and allow the water to drain from pot – poinsettias hate wet feet (if it has a foil cover, remove cover when watering). And if you’re worried about poinsettias being poisonous – Don’t! Poinsettias are NOT poisonous.
When the cold north winds blow nothing is better than sitting down to a warm bowl of soup try this wonderful bowl of goodness. Try my Silky Butternut Squash Soup that is dreamy with a touch of decadence! It’s easy and so healthy!
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