Choose a holiday plant for year-round enjoyment

The holiday season is fast approaching, and stores are breaking at the seams with holiday decorations. As you are bustling about making purchases, don’t forget your holiday plants. 

As with most holiday purchases, shop early to ensure the best selection and getting the plant of your choice. Purchase clean, healthy plants that are properly identified. Plants should have dark green foliage and lots of unopened flower buds or fruit. Avoid subjecting plants to freezing temperatures by carefully wrapping plants before transporting them outside. 

Poinsettias are the most popular holiday plant sold in the United States. In addition to the traditional red bracts, or modified leaves, they are available with white, pink, peach, yellow, marbled, and speckled bracts. The actual flowers of the poinsettia are the small, yellow blossoms in the center of the colorful bract. To ensure long-lasting beauty, select plants with an abundance of dark green foliage all the way down the stem. Look for stiff stems and good bract and leaf retention. The leaves and bracts should not be dropping. For more information on the history and care of poinsettias, visit the University of Illinois Extension Poinsettia website.

While poinsettias are the number one choice, here are a few other plant choices you might consider:

• While not a flowering plant, Norfolk Island Pines make a great year-round houseplant in a medium to bright light location. This tropical evergreen tree can reach 200 feet in height in their native habitat, but will probably only grow to 6 feet tall indoors. Avoid the mess of pine needles by decorating Norfolk Island pines with lightweight ornaments and miniature lights. 
• Azaleas should be purchased with most flowers still in bud. Plants with all flower buds open may be more attractive but will not provide you with as much enjoyment. Flowers will last longer if plants are kept in a cool spot. Do not allow azaleas to wilt or dry out.  Florist azaleas are not winter hardy here and are tough to keep year after year. 
• Cyclamen enjoy cool, bright, and moist conditions. The leaves are heart-shaped and dark green with silver marbling.  Flower colors are white, red, or pink. Care after the holiday season is challenging and often difficult to grow under average household conditions.
• Christmas Cactus (scalloped leaf edges) and Thanksgiving Cactus (toothed leaf edges) are some of the most durable flowering potted plants. They are available with pink, white, red, violet, or orange flowers. Plants should be kept evenly moist while in flower. High temperatures or excessively dry soil will cause the flowers to wilt and drop off. These cacti are easy to rebloom in following years.

With proper care, most holiday plants will provide you with several weeks to months of enjoyment.