The festive season has arrived and many people will be hosting celebrations in their home. Although re-decorating the garden is often a challenge for people living in flats or compact townhouses, decorating with indoor pot plants at Christmas offers the perfect solution.
The following plants make stunning additions to the Christmas décor – why not select one of these as a Christmas gift for a plant-loving friend?
POINSETTIAS
Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are popular Christmas plants and these are specially grown to flower at this time of the year. They are indigenous to the humid mountain areas of Central America and Mexico.
Although poinsettias are available in pink and white, the stunning large red bloom varieties are favourite Christmas plants. A potted poinsettia makes a great lasting gift that will continue to grow if well looked after.
A poinsettia grows well indoors in a position where it receives a lot of bright light but avoid placing it in direct sunlight. Because of their tropical origins, these festive plants thrive in high humidity. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Mist spray the foliage bracts during very hot weather to maintain humidity. To keep the flowers vibrant and blooming, fertilise the plants every two weeks with an indoor plant food.
LUCKY BAMBOO
This Dracaena cultivar is low maintenance and easy to grow. The plant is associated with Feng Shui, an Eastern practice that brings the natural elements of water, fire, earth, wood and metal into balance within the environment.
The number of stalks carries symbolic meaning, for example, three stalks for happiness; five stalks for wealth; six stalks for health. However, four stalks are always avoided since the word “four” in Chinese sounds too similar to the Chinese word for “death”.
Lucky bamboo is a stunning container subject and well suited for indoor use. Lucky bamboo plants thrive in 2cm of water, in bright but not direct sunlight – just make sure that you change the water weekly. Keep the water levels a couple of centimetres away from the base of the canes.
Add an occasional mild solution of African violet fertiliser to the water to keep the plant alive. If your plant is subjected to too much direct sunlight, or if the water contains high levels of salts, its leaves will become yellow.
AMARYLLIS
The beautiful plant commonly known as amaryllis is a cross breed of more than 80 Hippeastrum species. They are originally from South America, Central America and the West Indies. The large blooms of this ornamental plant will always command attention. Now is the time to purchase one of these beauties in bloom – they make gorgeous container subjects.
Amaryllis bulbs are specifically planted to allow their attractive large blooms to flower profusely during December. They are available in a range of colours ranging from deep red to various tones of pink and white.
Amaryllis grows well in a warm area that receives enough light, and in soil that allows sufficient drainage. To maintain the moisture in the soil, water plants every three days during the growing season and fertilise once a month with an indoor plant food.
They die back during the winter when you can stop feeding and watering. - Saturday Star