Switch up your festive décor with some fresh foliage this Christmas. Here are four of our favourite Christmas plants, guaranteed to give your decorative theme a green-thumbed twist.
Poinsettia
A perennial favourite, the Poinsettia, with its festive bright red hue, is the ultimate Christmas adornment. They’re not difficult to care for either. Place in bright, indirect light. Allow the soil to dry moderately in between watering — only water when dry to the touch; overwatering is the most common way to kill them.
Then, once Christmas is over, use as a cut flower, or you can try to get your poinsettia to bloom again for the following year.
Cyclamen
These whimsical snowy blooms also come in pink, purple and red, but it's the white snowdrops and crimson hues that add that extra holiday cheer. They like plenty of natural light, so place in a well-lit, cool but draught- free spot – preferably with an hour or two of sunlight each morning, although keep it away from strong sunlight.
These plants dislike hot, stuffy environments, so take your indoor cyclamen outside at night to a well-ventilated area. Water soil sparingly, they often benefit from a dry spell, and try to avoid watering the flowers or foliage. They also grow well in covered outdoor environments like balconies and patios.
Christmas Cactus
Give it bright indirect light during the day, and water frequently. The soil must be kept slightly moist during its active growth spurt in spring and summer, but make sure it’s dry in between waterings. Feed with Grow Concentrate other week to encourage colourful foliage and flower growth. It’s super easy to propagate too — plant a cutting in slightly sandy soil. They look fab draped as hanging baskets for an extra festive touch.
Rosemary
If you don’t have the room (or the patience) to care for a giant 6-foot fir, a potted herb tree could well be the next best thing. To keep Rosemary fresh, place next to a window that gets bright light. The more the light the better, or it starts to drop leaves.
Let the soil dry out between watering, and add Support Pellets to the soil. Use a few sprigs for your Christmas spread — its piney, aromatic scent makes a great addition to roast veg, meats and salads. And it’s fairly easy to keep growing once Christmas is over. Use Grow Concentrate every fortnight, and let it grow naturally in full sun.