Martha’s Holiday Houseplant Picks and Display Tips. When it comes to selecting houseplants for the holiday season, the choices extend far beyond the familiar realm of poinsettias. In Martha’s home, a botanical tapestry unfolds, featuring an array of enchanting options ranging from blooming paperwhites to meticulously crafted small evergreens transformed into beautiful topiaries. These plants, often nurtured from the early stages of growth before finding their place indoors, elegantly grace every corner of Martha’s residence during the festive Christmas season.
The traditional poinsettia, while a classic choice, is just the starting point in Martha’s diverse collection of holiday houseplants. Paperwhites, with their delicate blooms, add a touch of fragrant elegance to the seasonal decor. Meanwhile, small evergreens, expertly shaped into topiaries, emerge as a timeless and visually captivating alternative, bringing the essence of an indoor christmas tree in miniature form.
These carefully chosen and cultivated houseplants don’t confine themselves to a single space; rather, they weave their way through Martha’s home, making appearances on the front porch to welcome guests and gracing the dining room table to enhance the holiday ambiance. The intentional placement of these botanical wonders transforms the living spaces into vibrant, green sanctuaries that complement the joyous spirit of the season.
In Martha’s world, the holiday houseplant selection is a celebration of diversity and creativity, showcasing the myriad ways in which nature’s beauty can be incorporated into festive decorations. From the subtle fragrance of paperwhites to the timeless charm of small evergreen topiaries, each plant becomes an integral part of the holiday tableau, creating an enchanting and immersive atmosphere that goes beyond convention.
Embracing the Festive Charm of Paperwhites: A Delightful Holiday Houseplant
Paperwhites hold a special place as a beloved holiday houseplant, cherished for several enchanting qualities.
Their aromatic essence, coupled with the emergence of seasonally fitting white blossoms, contributes to their popularity. What adds to their allure is the ability to manipulate their bloom time.
Martha and I, for instance, opt to plant paperwhites in bowls, nurturing them in the greenhouse as their foliage flourishes. It’s a carefully orchestrated process – we bring them indoors precisely when the blooms start to unfurl, creating a captivating indoor display.
While the bulbs of paperwhites can certainly be nestled in soil, a more common and visually appealing practice involves showcasing them in bowls or pots filled with gravel.
In this method, water is added to the base of the bulb, fostering their growth and enhancing the overall aesthetic. This not only highlights their beauty but also provides an opportunity for mindful cultivation, making paperwhites an exquisite addition to the holiday ambiance in your home.
Reviving Elegance: The Resurgence of Amaryllis as a Holiday Houseplant
Amaryllis, once a classic holiday adornment, is experiencing a resurgence with a contemporary twist.
Gone are the days when these enchanting blooms were limited to traditional red hues or occasionally a white-and-pink bicolor palette. The current market offers a plethora of options, boasting dozens of colors, captivating combinations, varied flower sizes, and unique flower shapes.
This diversity allows you to handpick the perfect amaryllis variety to complement any holiday theme.
Martha and I, in our pursuit of botanical splendor, embark on the cultivation of amaryllis using decorative, robust containers.
The choice of heavyweight vessels is crucial, given amaryllis’s propensity to be top-heavy. To achieve a visually stunning effect, we often plant them in groups of three bulbs within the same pot, ensuring a lush and vibrant display.
Subsequently, these potted treasures find a New Home in Martha’s servery or the kitchen, strategically placed in areas with warmth and optimal overhead light. This strategic relocation not only ensures the plants remain upright but also allows their blossoms to flourish, creating a captivating spectacle that adds a touch of botanical grandeur to our holiday celebrations.
Christmas Cactus: A Unique and Enduring Addition to Your Holiday Décor
For those seeking a departure from the usual holiday houseplants, the Christmas cactus stands out as a delightful choice.
Unlike its counterparts, such as paperwhites and amaryllis, that require early initiation for holiday bloom, the Christmas cactus effortlessly adorns itself with blossoms during the festive season.
It’s important to note the distinctions among holiday cacti—Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus.
While visually similar, each aligns its bloom time with the holiday it is named after. Interestingly, many cacti labeled as Christmas cactus in stores are often Thanksgiving cacti, blooming somewhere between the two holidays.
In our gardening endeavors at Martha’s, we introduce Christmas cacti indoors at various stages, ranging from the first hints of color in the buds to the full splendor of bloom.
While they grace our patio with their presence, we exercise caution indoors, as the fallen flowers can leave stains on carpets if inadvertently stepped on.
This plant, known for its beginner-friendly nature, thrives in medium-bright light, well-draining soil, and a modest dose of fertilizer every week or two, particularly when budding and blooming.
Despite its cactus classification, it has a surprising need for more water than one might assume. Striking the right balance is crucial; the soil should be kept damp but not saturated to prevent the onset of root rot.
What sets the Christmas cactus apart is its remarkable longevity.
Families have been known to pass these botanical treasures down through generations, and the plant readily lends itself to propagation through cuttings, ensuring its legacy lives on. With its unique charm and enduring qualities, the Christmas cactus offers a timeless touch to your holiday décor.
Enchanting Miniatures: Small Evergreens for a Festive Touch
Small evergreens, a charming ensemble of greenery plants including cypress, junipers, and rosemary, offer a delightful alternative to the traditional indoor Christmas tree.
Their miniature stature brings the allure of the holiday tree into every nook and cranny of your home. Martha, with her keen eye for aesthetics, often plants these miniature wonders in elegant Guy Wolff pots, strategically placing them throughout her residence to infuse spaces with bursts of vibrant greenery.
From the porch to the servery, brown room, and even the dinner table, these small evergreens create a festive ambiance.
While caring for these diminutive wonders may vary depending on the specific type of evergreen, most thrive with average watering and light.
A slow-release fertilizer in the soil, accompanied by occasional water-soluble feedings, provides the nourishment they need to flourish. Notably, small evergreens sculpted into topiary shapes may require a bit more water, given their reduced leaf surface area.
These small evergreens stand out as a fantastic low-maintenance option, gracing your space well beyond the holiday season.
However, it’s worth noting that as they grow, many will eventually need to find a permanent home outdoors. Nevertheless, their enduring charm and the ease of caring for them make these mini evergreens a delightful addition to your festive décor, bringing a touch of nature’s elegance to your home.
*The information is for reference only.
