'Tis the season when indoor display tables at garden centers and nurseries are decked with gift plants bearing colorful flowers, fruits, or foliage. Here's a rundown on the most common gift plants and how to maintain them indoors after the holidays.

Bulbs
Amaryllis, florists' cyclamen, and paper white narcissus are forced into bloom for the holidays. You can grow these bulbs indoors indefinitely, although they may not bloom at Christmastime again like they did this year.

For amaryllis, allow the bulbs to dry out from mid-August through mid-November, then water and feed to promote bloom.

For cyclamen, which grow from tuberous roots, cut back on watering after they finish flowering. When leaves die, stop watering completely and put the plant in a cool (65°) place for about three months, then water and feed.

For paper white narcissus, let the bulbs dry out from the time the leaves die back in spring through early fall, then start watering and feeding.

Cactus
Christmas cactus will grow for decades with only moderate light. To get bloom at Christmas again, keep the plant in an indoor area where it will be cool (50° to 55°) and will get 12 to 14 hours of darkness during November.

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After florists' chrysanthemums finish blooming, keep them in a frost-free place to transplant into the garden when the ground warms up.

Ornamental fruits
Jerusalem cherries and ornamental peppers are tender tropical plants. When they start looking shabby, consign them to the trash.


Poinsettias
After they start shedding flowerlike bracts and leaves, discard them.

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