Bright and blooming holiday plants can bring cheer to the season and fill our homes with joy. With just a few simple strategies, keeping these plants healthy and flourishing is a breeze. Read on to discover tips for caring for holiday plants in our Texas climate.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Perhaps the most common and popular plant, the poinsettia is native to Mexico, where it is called nochebuena in a nod to its inclusion inChristmas festivities. This plant was brought to America in the 1820s by President John Quincy Adams’ ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, an amateur botanist. While the colorful upper part of the plant is commonly thought to be the flower, the poinsettia flowers are the tiny yellow structures in the center of the plant. Because of a common plant myth, poinsettias are often regarded as poisonous. Scientific research has proven this myth to be false, although some people may be slightly allergic to the white latex that emerges when a stem is cut. With vibrant red bracts, large green leaves, and splashes of yellow, the poinsettia is a perfect color-coordinating addition to your holiday décor.
To care for potted poinsettias, follow the guidelines below from the University of Florida Extension Department:
- Place in a location with indirect sunlight for at least 6 hours a day and a temperature of 65-70 degrees.
- Fertilize every 4-6 weeks and water thoroughly only when soil is dry to the touch.
- Poinsettias can be planted out in the landscape in early spring after the danger of has passed
- Cut the plant back in April when leaves and bracts begin to fall off, leaving 4 -6 inches of the stem on each branch.
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.)
Amaryllis plants are native to South and Central America and the Caribbean. The perennial bulbs produce large, showy flowers in many colors and patterns. One amaryllis bulb will produce flower stalks that grow one to three feet tall, and the larger the bulb, the more stems and flowers the bulb will produce. There are over 90 species and hundreds of hybrids, so you are sure to find a stunning coloring or unique shape to add a festive pop to your home this winter.
For growing instructions, check this information from Longfield Gardens and watch this short video on how to grow amaryllis indoors, or purchase a kit. Discover inspiration for gifting and decorating with amaryllis with these posts.
Amaryllis bulbs may be started in soil, water, or purchased waxed.
After the holidays are over, amaryllis can be planted outdoors, either in the soil or in pots; however being from a warm, tropical climate, they are sensitive to frost. Their normal outdoor bloom time is late spring to early summer, and some will bloom again in the fall. See this post from the McLennan County Master Gardeners for tips on how to enjoy amaryllis for many seasons. Note that all parts of amaryllis plants are poisonous to humans and pets – particularly the bulb – although large amounts would need to be consumed.
Paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus)
The flower bulb commonly termed “paperwhite” is a cultivar of the narcissus family, which includes daffodils and other similar plants. Paperwhites do not need pre-chilling to bloom because of their warm, native climate throughout the Mediterranean and grow easily in soil, pebbles, or water.
There are several types of paperwhite bulbs:
- Ziva—pure white with a strong, musky fragrance (the most commonly available)
- Inbal—white, mildly scented (perfect for those who object to the fragrance of Ziva)
- Ariel—relatively new variety with mild, spicy fragrance
- Nir—very mild fragrance
With proper care, paperwhites can be a year-round indoor plant. To learn more about growing paperwhites, explore this publication and view this fascinating time-lapse video. Create innovative gifts or displays for your own home with these imaginative ideas!
Florist Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
In the early 17th century, cyclamen were brought to Western Europe from their native home in the Mediterranean. The popularity of the cyclamen has increased in the United States since the mid-19th century when the breeding of cultivars increased the varieties, and it is now a common plant used for outdoor winter color in the southeastern states.
Cyclamen grows from a tuber and flowers during the cooler months. The plant has a mounded form with distinctive heart-shaped foliage mottled with silver. The blooms come in a variety of shapes and colors, each making a beautiful addition to your home.
Whether indoors or outdoors, cyclamen prefer daytime temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees. Temperatures above 70 degrees will cause bud drop. Bright, indirect light is best for these shade-loving plants. The most common problem encountered with cyclamen is over-watering – keep the soil moist but not soggy. To keep the tuber from rotting, apply water along the edge of the pot or from below. Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms to develop.
How to Rebloom Cyclamen
Cyclamen naturally go dormant in the summer after blooming through the winter and spring, and you’ll notice the leaves yellow and fall off.Often, the plants are discarded during this period, but with a little effort, you can get the tuber to bloom again. Follow these steps:
- Keep the soil slightly moist
- Place the pot in a shaded location until new leaves emerge
- When new leaves are visible, usually in mid-September, move the plant to a sunnier location
- Water thoroughly and regularly
- Add liquid fertilizer monthly
- For best success, keep plant in a location with a daytime temperature of 60-65 degrees and nighttime temperature of about 50 degrees
Under these conditions, the cyclamen will bloom again in mid-winter. Bexar County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent David Rodriguez provides outdoor planting tips for adding colorful cyclamen to the winter landscape.
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesi)
The Christmas cactus and its close relatives, the Thanksgiving and Easter cactus, are natives of coastal Brazil. In nature, these beautiful plants thrive in the forks of jungle tree limbs. Each specific plant blooms near the date of the holiday that reflects its common name, so Christmas cactus is a great choice for the winter. To identify between these plants, take a look at the shape of the flattened, modified stems and flowers if they are present. See the helpful graphic below courtesy of Garden Gate to see if your plant is a Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter cactus.
Here’s a simple “how to” care guide for Christmas cactus – cool evenings and long nights prompt these plants to put on flower buds. In our plant hardiness zone 9a and 9b climate, all three cacti thrive outdoors in a partially shaded area during spring and summer, but bring them in when temperatures dip into the 40s. With proper care, these plants can live to be 100 years old!
With these helpful tips, your holiday plants can become year-round features of your home and garden. We are happy to help you garden successfully! Call Environmental Services at 281-210-3800 or email enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.
