Eight fascinating indoor Christmas plants to purchase for this festive season
As we approach the holiday season, many of us are looking for ways to make our celebrations more eco-friendly. One area where this can be achieved is in our choice of indoor plants. Here are eight sustainable Christmas plants that not only add a touch of seasonal charm but also require minimal care and are pet-friendly.
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera spp.)
The Christmas Cactus is a low-maintenance plant that blooms with vibrant pink, red, or white tubular flowers right around the holidays. It thrives in bright, indirect sunlight and needs watering when the top third of the soil dries out, especially during flowering.
This plant is easy to propagate from cuttings, making it sustainable for sharing or gifting. It's also pet-friendly, making it a great choice for households with furry friends.
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
The Parlor Palm, with its elegant fronds, is known for its resilience and ability to thrive in low light conditions. It's non-toxic to pets and improves air quality, adding to indoor sustainability. It requires watering every 1-2 weeks, making it a low-water option.
Neon Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
The Neon Prayer Plant is a slow-growing plant with decorative leaves that open and close daily. It's low-light tolerant, helping it thrive in less sunny spots. It's also pet-friendly and requires watering only every two weeks, promoting sustainability through low water use.
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.)
Although more for year-round decor, these orchids offer long-lasting blooms resembling festive flowers and are non-toxic for pets. They prefer indirect light and careful watering, supporting sustainable indoor gardening if well maintained.
Nordmann Fir Christmas Tree
The Nordmann Fir is a British-grown Christmas tree that is suitable for indoor decoration. It has impressive needle retention and an attractive symmetrical shape. It can be placed on a tabletop or porch with outdoor Christmas lights. In January, it can be re-potted in a larger container or planted in the garden to keep it alive.
Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger)
The Christmas Rose flowers from December to March and looks lovely on windowsills and tabletops. It has snowy white petals and warm yellow stamens, adding a touch of winter wonderland to your home. It can also survive in shady garden borders.
Red Amaryllis (Hippeastrum)
The Red Amaryllis has red, trumpet-shaped flowers and starts flowering a few weeks after delivery. It's a sustainable gift option as it can flower year after year. However, it's harmful if eaten, so keep it away from pets. The red amaryllis bulbs flower around eight weeks after planting.
Cyclamen persicum
The Cyclamen persicum is a highly popular indoor Christmas plant and comes in a vibrant red variety. It has flowers that last for weeks and pretty marbled foliage.
Poinsettia ('Christmas Star')
The poinsettia, also known as a 'Christmas Star', has striking bracts and pointed leaves, making it ideal for festive displays. It thrives in warm temperatures and can last for months or even years with the right care. For poinsettias, a liquid plant food high in potassium, such as tomato food, would be ideal.
To ensure sustainability, prioritize plants that are low-water, pet-safe, and easy to propagate or maintain long-term indoors. Avoid toxic plants if you have pets. These plants also help improve indoor air quality, contributing to a healthier home environment during the festive season.
Plants like Lucky Bamboo, while good for air purification, are toxic to pets and less ideal for sustainability in pet households. Small flowering cacti such as the Christmas Cactus also add color and a festive touch sustainably.
Happy sustainable Christmas plant shopping!
- The Christmas Cactus, a low-maintenance plant, blooms vibrant flowers around the holidays, thriving in bright, indirect sunlight, and requires watering when the top third of the soil dries out, making it a suitable choice for home-and-garden decor and lifestyle.
- Parlor Palms, with their elegant fronds, are known for their resilience, thriving in low light conditions and improving air quality, making them a sustainable addition to indoor gardens.
- The Neon Prayer Plant, with decorative, low-light tolerant leaves, is a pet-friendly plant that requires watering only every two weeks, promoting sustainability through low water use.
- The Nordmann Fir Christmas Tree, a British-grown tree with impressive needle retention, is suitable for indoor decoration and can be re-potted or planted in the garden after the holiday season, adding to the sustainability of home landscaping.
