It’s a growing unpopular opinion that poinsettias aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Many individuals suffer from a unique allergy to the protein in their sap, which can cause severe skin irritations, rhinitis, or conjunctivitis. In addition, they are challenging to produce, which makes them relatively expensive. These cons left holiday lovers looking for other options for their mantles and centerpieces.
Fear not; many bright, cheerful plants offer endless blooms and thrive indoors under the right conditions. Better yet, many of them are known to bloom around the holidays, and some receive their namesake because of this.
Keep reading to learn about nine fabulous houseplants that can serve as your seasonal decor instead of poinsettias.
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Amaryllis
This flowering bulb is a December staple and makes the perfect party host gift and poinsettia alternative. Once brought indoors, its bulb begins to unfurl, and in a few weeks, giant, delicate flowers will bloom.
Keep the potted plant in a sunny window away from drafts. While indoor Amaryllis plants don’t require a cold period of dormancy, you should plant them in time for holiday blooming. Most cultivars should be planted in October for blooms near the end of December.
Breeding of Amaryllis bulbs began in 1799 in England, and they are hardy in zones 8 to 10. Select ‘Christmas Gift’ or ‘White Christmas’ for crisp white flowers, ‘Red Lion’ for a dark red delight, or ‘Monte Carlo’ for a candy-cane-like red and white pinstripe.
Holly
This prickly shrub isn’t just for creating backyard privacy hedges; you can bring it indoors for the holidays! Its glossy, pointed leaves are evergreen, and its berries are nature’s ornaments in the perfect shade of holiday red. Take a cutting from a large outdoor plant and pot it up for indoor living, or purchase one at your local nursery.
As with most indoor houseplants, don’t overwater when growth slows down. Monitor the soil’s moisture every few days; don’t let it become bone dry, and mist the leaves daily. Ensure it has proper sunlight, and don’t allow pets or children to consume the poisonous berries. If you don’t want to bring Holly indoors due to the risk, throw some holiday string lights on the outdoor plant, add a star, and call it a day.
If you’re in growing zones 6 to 9, consider adding ‘Nellie Stevens’ to your landscape to enjoy the festive look of holly all year. Its abundant berry production is crucial to local wildlife, especially foraging birds.
Anthurium
This Caribbean perennial is a popular indoor plant, adored for its long bloom times and bold reds and pinks. It prefers well-draining potting soil and indirect bright light. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between watering. Staking may be necessary.
Anthurium offers a bright red that shouts holiday cheer that houseplant enthusiasts love. Their growth rate is slow, but you’ll sing their praises once you have one.
Regular fertilization, deadheading, and high humidity levels will encourage more blooms. This plant is toxic to pets and humans, so exercise caution in homes with curious children and pets.
Miniature Norfolk Island Pine
This tropical evergreen can grow to 200 feet in the wild but is gaining popularity as a houseplant. You can train it to remain three to ten feet in a container, allowing its roots to grow deep and properly pruned.
Norfolk Island pines are related to the monkey puzzle tree and need lots of sunlight. They prefer to get a little root-bound, so don’t re-pot it too often. If your home is particularly dry, mist it in the winter or run a nearby humidifier to keep levels up.
Throw some LED string lights and glitter ball ornaments on this guy and throw him in a sunny corner. Consider adding a festive tree skirt and placing gifts underneath it for a down-sized celebration that will make a significant impact.
Rosemary
Rosemary makes the perfect holiday decor or host gift. It smells incredible, is long-lasting, and resembles a miniature Christmas tree. Bonus: recipients of your thoughtful gift can plant it in the garden next season, take cuttings from it, and gift it to someone else in future years, or dry it throughout the season to use in holiday wreaths. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
This fragrant, herbaceous plant is versatile in the kitchen and adds an earthy element to a fireplace mantle. Set it on top of a crystal serving dish surrounded by family heirloom ornaments and a few candlesticks for a unique centerpiece. You can even prune your rosemary plant to shape it like a pine tree for a complete holiday effect.
Mist your rosemary plant through the winter, and let the soil remain slightly dry. Depending on your growing zone, transition it outdoors when spring or summer weather permits, and plant it in the ground if you wish. Rosemary can remain in a pot or fabric grow bag indefinitely if properly cared for.
Christmas Cactus
My Gran always said about her Christmas cactus around the holidays, “How does it know that it’s Christmas?” As an adult, I laugh when I consider her question, realizing the plant’s name likely comes from its bloom period.
Native to Brazil, Schlumbergera x buckleyi isn’t a true cactus but a succulent type that likes high humidity levels, warm conditions, and dappled light. It blooms in bright magentas, its finger-like fleshy leaves spilling over its pots’ edge in a weeping willow fashion, just in time for the holidays.
One of the most enjoyable parts of these holiday cacti is that they return each year around the same time, delighting holiday gatherers of all ages. Water your Christmas cactus every few weeks, only if it feels dry. Keep it out of direct sunlight in a cooler part of your home where it gets below 50°F (10°C) for best results.
Cyclamens
This exciting plant will surely bring cheer to your home all winter. It’s known for its bold, showy colors and low-maintenance attitude. These plants will reliably delight as indoor plants. Choose from clean white, bright pink, salmon, magenta, red, or soothing lavender.
Cyclamens thrive in Goldilocks conditions: not too much sun and not too cold. Follow these simple rules, keep conditions stable and humid, and you may see blooms from the holiday season through April!
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more growth and additional blooms. Scout often for mites and aphids, which cyclamens are prone to. Feed a low-nitrogen fertilizer bi-monthly, but cease fertilization as your plant transitions to dormancy. Take caution when re-potting as they don’t love their roots disturbed.
Monstera
The sheer presence of a large potted Monstera plant brings the outdoors in, but don’t shy away from incorporating it into your holiday decorations. Take advantage of its magnitude by placing it front and center, surrounding it with gifts, or adding ornaments to the strong stems.
It does best in bright, indirect light with temperatures between 65 and 85°F (18 and 29°C). Place the pot in the shower about once a month and wipe down its large leaves to remove dust while scouting for pets.
Spring and summer pruning will encourage new growth. Monstera plants are easy to take cuttings from, surviving just fine in water for months. Provide a well-balanced fertilizer occasionally to keep them healthy. Gift them to a friend or new homeowner to spread the holiday cheer.
ZZ Plant
ZZ plants are one of my favorite and most straightforward to care for. Their bright green new growth makes quite an entrance, contrasting with their dark purple, almost black, mature leaves.
Pot ZZ plants in a crisp white pot to add to the dramatic effect or something red for a holiday vibe, using a succulent potting mix. Wipe their waxy leaves down every few weeks with a microfiber towel to keep them clean. They only require monthly watering sessions and prefer their soil slightly dry.
Keep your beloved ZZ plant out of cold areas of your home and re-pot it every two to three years. It’s easy to split them and share them with friends.
