Honoring Holiday Houseplants

“Every plant is a teacher, and every gift is a lesson in love.” unknown

The holidays bring joy, celebration, and gifts. If we are fortunate, many of those gifts are plants that offer us the opportunity to engage with nature and admire the beauty and wisdom of the botanical world. When the holidays are over, what do we do with that stunning poinsettia, Christmas cactus, bromeliad, or anthurium? With just a little care, these holiday plants will continue to brighten our spaces long after the season has ended.

For all plants, including living trees, the first task is to remove the decorative foil from around the pot. If the plant is small enough to go into a sink, give your gift a good drink. Remove any dead or dying stems and place them in a decorative container with drainage that will enhance your home’s décor. For trees, take them out to a patio or balcony. You can determine if you wish to plant your tree in the spring or save it for the next holiday. Keep in mind that if your tree is a conifer (pine, fir, redwood, cedar, etc.), it will grow to be a very tall and wide specimen.

When my children were young, we bought twelve tiny, decorated pine trees in a gallon container for a dollar a piece, believing that after using them for holiday decor, we would create our own Christmas tree farm. When the new year arrived, we removed the tinsel and ornaments and, in the spring, planted our treasures as planned. For a few years, we shaped and pruned the growing trees, cutting a few as our Christmas showpiece. Eventually, the trees grew so tall to become a small forest. Some fell naturally; others had to be cut down. The initial twelve dollars spent to grow a Christmas tree farm, in the following years, cost hundreds of dollars more than just buying a tree from a favorite lot. Plant your trees with caution!

For smaller green companions, here’s how to nurture your growing gifts to thrive and enjoy throughout the year.

Poinsettias

Poinsettias are synonymous with Christmas, with their vibrant red, pink, or white bracts shining brightly. This year, my sister gifted me a sparkling purple poinsettia. It was obviously painted this color and was sprinkled with glitter. I loved it. Most people toss their poinsettias, but they can last for months or years if given the proper care. Allow the leaves to drop naturally and then prune the plant back to reduce watering until spring. Poinsettias like their soil to be moist, but not soggy. When the top inch of the soil feels dry, it’s time to offer a drink. Like most plants, make sure you have good drainage to avoid root rot. When it comes to light, place your poinsettia in a location that receives bright, indirect light. Too much light will scorch the leaves. Too little light will make the plant lose its color. Keep the plant away from fireplaces and furnaces as well as cold drafts. Poinsettias are happiest in temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. With a little care, you can encourage your poinsettia to bloom next Christmas.

Christmas Cactus

Hallelujah! For the first time in years, my four potted Christmas cacti plants actually started blooming in December and are still blooming. The Christmas cactus is known for its beautiful tubular flowers in shades of pink, red, or white. Native to Brazil, and unlike other cacti, Schlumbergera thrives in a humid environment and doesn’t require full sun; in fact, it prefers filtered light. This makes it an excellent indoor plant. Watering is like poinsettias, and overwatering will lead to yellow leaves. Keep your Christmas cactus in a cool spot of around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Many people keep the plant in a dark room for several weeks before the holidays to encourage it to bloom, although I just keep mine on my patio and balcony. My plants always bloom, but until this year, they chose their own month.

Bromeliads

I’m a huge fan of bromeliads with their colorful bracts and tropical flair. They make terrific gifts because they thrive in most conditions while being ignored. Water bromeliads in their “cup” formed by leaves and keep them in a bright location with indirect sunlight. Since they love humidity, they are a perfect plant for bathrooms. If the air is too dry, they may not bloom. You can use a humidifier to keep the air moist. Bromeliads only boast one flower before dying. But don’t despair, as the “mother” dies, offshoots called “pups” appear, restarting the cycle. When the pups are large enough, they can be transplanted to another container.

Anthuriums

Another personal houseplant favorite, anthuriums are known for their long-lasting red, white, or pink spathes, which look like flowers but are modified leaves. Like the other plant gifts mentioned, these striking specimens can last year-round with easy care. Prune away spent flowers to encourage new growth. Anthuriums enjoy slightly moist soil, but not soggy, and prefer bright, indirect light. Too much direct sunlight will scorch the spathes, and too little light will stunt their growth. Keep the plants away from drafts and in a warm location where the temperature remains between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Like Goldilocks, anthuriums want temperatures to be “just right.” Feed the plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every eight weeks in spring and summer.

Amaryllis Bulb

If you read my December 2025 column, you saw a photo of a waxed amaryllis bulb I was gifted. Since it required no water and no soil to grow, I placed it in a sunny spot and have been watching it grow. Soon it will have two blooms. If you are growing amaryllis in a pot, make sure it has adequate drainage and is placed in indirect light. After it has finished blooming, cut the flower stalks but leave the foliage. Reduce or stop watering and move it to a dark space. Resting is essential for it to rebloom next season.

Honoring our houseplants is a wonderful way to influence our well-being. Plants improve our moods, reduce stress, and enhance our focus. These eco-friendly gifts symbolize growth, renewal, patience, and relationships that bloom over time. By nurturing these vibrant plants, you’ll be reminded of the season’s joy and pleasure each time you water, prune, fertilize, and admire their beauty. These gifts of plants are a lesson in love.

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing. Happy New Year!

Cynthia Brian’s January Goddess Garden Guide

üPARTICIPATE in the FREE online summit, Wellness from the Inside Out for Home & School Life. beginning on January 19th. https://www.deborahmyerswellness.com/cynthia

ü RECYCLE your Christmas tree. Make sure to remove all decorations, stands, lights, and tinsel. Check your local curbside service for pickup dates.

ü CREATE a dry creek that can be utilized as a running creek when it rains.

ü FORCE bulbs of narcissus, hyacinth, or tulips for an indoor garden that will brighten winter days.

ü HEAVY PRUNE roses by one-third to one-half in January or February. Remove dead, damaged, and diseased canes as well as inward-growing canes. Make sure to wear gloves and use a sharp pruner.

ü MIST plants when they seem droopy. Heaters zap moisture out of plants just like it dries your skin. Misting in the morning and evening provides relief.

ü PICK persimmons to add to salads and desserts.

ü REFRAIN from mowing lawns when it is raining, as mowers can get clogged and the grass can be damaged. Deep ruts will occur and compact the soil, encouraging poor lawn health.

ü BUY your bare-root roses locally for a better selection. Your nursery will be able to advise you on the latest best buys.

ü SOAK bare-root fruit trees, roses, and vines in a bucket of water for a full day before planting. Anything in a cardboard box must be removed to spread out the roots. Cut off any damaged or broken roots.

For more seasonal gardening tips and inspiration, grab a copy of Growing with the Goddess Gardener at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books.

Raised in Napa County vineyards, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3, https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at https://www.StarStyleRadio.com. Her best-selling children’s series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures, is available at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store.

Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com https://www.CynthiaBrian.com

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