Whether you have green fingers or not, plants are very much part of the festive season.
They can be dressed up with tinsel, glitter and sparkles, or just left to parade their beauty. Here’s how to have some fun with your plants.
Go red!
Ho, Ho, Ho, what does Santa Claus have in his sack this year? A red kalanchoe? Or maybe a begonia, anthurium, rose or even an ornamental chilli? Any of them would fit snugly into his sack, and make a lasting, beautiful gift for Christmas and beyond. This Santa is a pretty cool dude and easy enough to make if you are deft with crafty stuff.
Festive firepower
Ornamental chillies like Capsicum Acapulco are gorgeous, glossy and irresistible. Use them as Christmas decorations with a difference – on the patio and as the centrepiece on Christmas day. They are also a super gift. The ornamental chillies are safe for children because the fruit does not burn and is edible, but just not very tasty. This dwarf chilli only grows up to 25cm, bear loads of multicoloured fruit and is a compact, attractive plant. After Christmas plant in the garden among the flowers.
Petite powerhouse
There is now a whole range of mini-flowered anthuriums, from Santa Claus red through to shades of pink, orange, creamy green and white. These red mini’s come into their own at Christmas as table top décor, around the Christms tree or on the patio. Why not dress them up with a little glitter.
These tough little plants like medium to bright light, water once a week and a spritz of water to bring out the glossiness of their flowers and leaves.
Sassy succulents
Succulents are just so appealing. They come in a range of perfect shapes, sizes and textures, each like a mini-sculpture, whether spiky or an impeccable little rosette. Its easy to give them the festive look with ribbons and fancy wrap.
The best thing about them is that they survive periods of drought because they hold the water in their leaves and should only be watered when the soil has almost dried out. They grow slowly and do best with bright light and even filtered sunlight.
Say it with flowers
For the person who insists that they don’t want more ‘stuff,’ spoil them with flowers. Poinsettia are in a class of their own, but also consider begonias, pot hydrangeas (aka Christmas roses), orchids, and amaryllis. All are decorative plants that give pleasure long after Christmas is over.
Poinsettia is the plant most associated with Christmas. As an indoor plant, it likes a warm room in a position that receives good indirect light but no direct sunlight. Plants prefer moist soil but not sodden. Allow the water to drain into a saucer and discard excess water. If the soil remains wet the plant can wilt, and root rot can set in. To keep it going past the holiday season, feed it with a houseplant fertiliser once a month. Do not fertilise when it is in bloom.
Tuberous begonias are a living flower arrangement and come in an array of brilliant colours, although red is clearly the best for this time of year. Buy a couple of plants and use their frilly appearance to create a festive table-top wreath of flowers. Plants need good light in a bright room, but not direct sunlight and moist, but not soggy soil. Give each pot half a cup of water twice a week but don’t let the plants stand in water.
Try this
Get creative with a combo of indoor plants in a beautiful container. Don’t forget the centrepiece – champagne of course! This combo of white plants is quite simple; a peace lily, white calandiva still in bud and a green and white leafy Fittonia. All three like bright indirect light, moist by not soggy soil and liquid fertiliser once a month to keep the leaves green and healthy.
Christmas trees
All these Christmas trees are looking for good homes! The pot conifer (Cupressus macrocarpa) is a candle-shaped tree with bright lime-green foliage. If only small trees are available, buy five or six, dress them up in Christmas lights and make a window or patio display. They like moist soil and bright, indirect light. After Christmas plant the trees in containers as garden or patio features.
For more info, visit LVG Plants
Text & images: Alice Coetzee
