Christmas plants come in a variety of shapes and colors. Of course, any plant can be given as a gift and become a Christmas gift plant. I have chosen six plants that seem popular for holiday giving and supplied a bit of information about their care.
This is "The Christmas Plant" with its cheery red and green colors. (And check out the newer varieties that come in colors ranging from white to pink to gold and combinations of colors.) Those are not colored leaves, by the way. Nor are they flowers. They are called bracts. The poinsettia has a rather insignificant flower that appears at the top of the plant and often goes unnoticed.
This plant needs a rich soil, lots of water with good drainage, and a bright room. However, don't put your poinsettia in full sun in a south window and keep it away from cold drafts and the hot air that blows from a heat duct.
With proper care and after a period of dormancy, your poinsettia can be carried forward to produce its colorful bracts another year. However, the key words here are "proper care." Beginning in October, the plant needs alternating periods of light and darkness, usually twelve hours of each. If this procedure isn't followed, your plant won't produce its colorful bracts. Unless you have lots of time and patience, I would advise you to let the old plant go, and begin afresh the following year.
Are poinsettias poisonous? Check out Poisonous Houseplants for more information.
Almost as popular as the poinsettia, the Christmas Cactus with its dainty pink, white, red or variegated blossoms, is an easy plant to grow. It needs a light soil. Don't allow it to dry out, but don't drown it, either. It does like long nights and short days, so maybe pop it into a dark room for the evening hours.
I couldn't find anything on the toxicity of this plant. But why take chances? Keep this and all plants out of the reach of children and pets.
Azaleas are dwarf members of the Rhododendron family. These plants are beautiful with large blooms ranging in color from pure white to radiant red. Alas, they are not easy to grow. They need lots of water, an acidic soil and rather cool temperatures, especially at night. Place your azalea in bright light but not direct sun. It will appreciate occasional light misting during the flowering season.
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