‘TIS (ALMOST) THE SEASON...
Plants are such a big part of Christmas, whether it’s a holly wreath on the door or mistletoe at the office party – and they make great gifts too
DECK the halls – and kitchens and bathrooms – with houseplants for real Christmas cheer.
Plants will bring colour and joy into our homes this festive season, plus they make thoughtful presents. Shops and garden centres are stocking up already, so here is my indoor magnificent seven.
POINSETTIA
THE poinsettia is synonymous with Christmas. Originating from Mexico, it’s named after US politician Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was wowed by its blazing display and brought samples back to his greenhouse.
It’s now found its heart in our homes throughout the festive period.
The bracts are red– the little yellow centres are actually the flowers.
You can buy them in an array of colours – red, white, pinks and even multicoloured too.
They’re a bit sensitive to the cold so, if you are getting one from a garden centre, make sure you wrap it up in a protective sleeve while you carry it to your car.
Never leave it on a draughty windowsill or above a radiator. Placing them in the perfect spot is key to keeping them alive over Christmas.
Poinsettia make great kitchen and bathroom plants, where humidity is quite high and rooms typically remain warm.
CYCLAMEN
THESE have beautiful marbled silver and green foliage with erect, almost flag-like, swept-back flowers.
Cyclamens give a whole amount of colour and seasonal lift. Buy them in purples, pinks and warming reds in either indoor or outdoor varieties. Tell them apart in garden centres – if they’re in the home section, they are best suited to indoor conditions. Those outdoors are hardier.
Cyclamen have played a great part on windowsills in many homes. You can buy small ones in 9cm pots, or larger 13cm ones that are less likely to dry out so easier to care for.
Outdoor tubs bursting with cyclamens are equally as charming, greeting you with a little colour by the front door as you get home.
CHRISTMAS CACTUS
THESE are a little bit different from the normal spiky ones we know. There are two types out there – desert cactus and forest cactus, which have a tendency to grow in more humid climes.
There are few plants that can give such vibrant colour of flower – they can really cheer up rooms.
It is also one of the longest-lasting plants you can get your hands on.
Place them in a cool area in a porch or conservatory and they will keep on growing, year in, year out, with flowers becoming more prolific.
SOLANUM (WINTER CHERRY)
THIS isn’t actually a cherry at all but has perfect, marble-sized bright orange berries. They are not edible but they are extremely ornamental.
The fruits from winter cherry plants
are posionous, so place them where kids or pets can’t get hold of them.
They work particularly well in basket arrangements decorated with tinsel and holly.
They don’t last too long but the berries do bring a blast of Christmas, somewhat akin to Rudolph’s red nose.
AZALEA
USUALLY these are grown as houseplants as they are out of season in the garden but they give colour indoors to great effect now.
They can be forced into flower for Mother’s Day but the red varieties look special for Christmas, making excellent gifts.
They are marvellous plants but extremely thirsty. It is a good idea to leave them in a saucer of water – the root system is so fibrous that they need a regular supply.
KALANCHOE
ALSO known as flaming Katy, this little plant comes in a whole host of colours and it’s great for kids as it is completely safe.
Slightly bushy in habit, it works well on a windowsill and will just keep on flowering. Kalanchoe are fairly low maintenance, too – the fleshy leaf gives it a high tolerance if you forget to water it.
ORCHIDS
THE final favourite of mine is the orchid – it has become one of the biggest sellers over Christmas.
The moth orchid, phalaenopsis, which means “moth-like” in Greek, has disc flowers that run up a single flower stem with leaves underneath. They are truly stunning.
You can buy them in a whole host of colours to match your Christmas display needs but they are best suited to kitchens or bathrooms as they do love a bit of humidity.