Tillandsia
Whether you add these air plants to wreaths, tuck them into a running garland, or hang them as ornaments, Tillandsia are a versatile addition to any holiday decoration. We love the silver-blue varieties at this time of year—the color stands out against the traditional deep greens of many conifers. Another fun option? Hang them from a dry branch wrapped in sparkling white lights. Growing Conditions: Winter homes can be particularly dry. Dunk your air plants into a sink full of water for a few hours every 2 or 3 days. Let them dry completely, then return them to their home—ideally a bright and sunny spot that’s clear of moisture-sucking fireplaces, furnaces, and heating vents.
Bromeliad
For a pop of color that will guarantee a break from gray, overcast days, try another tropical houseplant favorite: bromeliads. Long-lasting blooms come in a variety of colors, including hot pink, sunshine yellow, and scarlet red. The foliage is no slouch either, ranging from a deep holiday green to glossy leaves with flecks of purple, creamy stripes, or magenta splashes. Growing Conditions: Specific care instructions depend on the variety you choose, but here are some general rules of thumb: avoid direct light, water sparingly, and remove stagnant water from flower cups about once a month.
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Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi)
For most of the year, this low-maintenance tropical native is as unassuming as it gets. Flat, scallop-edged, and spineless foliage is always a vibrant green, but come the holidays it bursts with a show of attractive red or pink flowers. Growing Conditions: All Schlumbergera like humid conditions and hate wet feet—give your Christmas cactus a rich, porous soil mix and a pebble tray. During its prime growing season (spring through fall), provide bright light conditions and water and fertilize weekly. Come November, ensure cool night temperatures and 12-14 hours per day of total darkness—that means no sun or artificial light—to encourage healthy and prolific December blooms.
Skyscraper Senecio (Senecio ficoides Skyscraper)
Meet the latest addition to the Sunset Western Garden Collection. A crowd-pleasing succulent that’s happy indoors or out, this tall upright grower with dapper blue-green foliage (pictured at left) reaches 2 to 3 feet without any staking. Feel free to buy a small specimen, as it’s a fast-grower that will reach its maximum height quickly. Growing Conditions: As a houseplant, this senecio needs bright, indirect light and good drainage. Water sparingly—it can handle some neglect and it’s fine if the soil dries out a bit between watering. Learn more and find a distributor near you at sunsetwesterngardencollection.com.
Paperwhite (Narcissus tazetta)
Bring some spring cheer to gloomy winter days with paperwhites. With gleaming white flowers and a rich fragrance, they’re a pleasant reminder that warmer days are just around the corner. Bulbs make great gifts and many nurseries sell simple kits with all you need to grow them. Growing Conditions: Force paperwhites to bloom for the holidays by nestling bulbs in soil or a shallow bowl of pebbles, but either way give them bright light and leave the top third of the bulb exposed. Prevent flopping by giving them water alone for the first week, then a mixture of seven parts water and one part 80 proof distilled gin, vodka, or whiskey. The alcohol stunts the growth of their stems by about a third without any harm to the flowers.
Staghorn Fern
For all the restless gardeners out there, mounting a staghorn fern is a simple DIY project that will put those twiddling green thumbs to work. The materials are inexpensive, the steps are easy to follow (big thanks to houseplant specialist Jesse Waldman of Portland’s Pistils Nursery), and the finished product is a handsome gift for friends and family—or living decor for your own space. DIY Steps and Growing Conditions: First, choose a specimen in a 4-inch pot—Platycerium bifurcatum, P. ‘Netherlands’, and P. veitchii are all great options. Give it some water, slip the staghorn fern out of its pot, and carefully remove most of the soil from its roots. Next, wrap the fern’s exposed roots in moist sphagnum moss and cover with a pouch of breathable plastic mesh. Using a staple gun, secure the bundle to a cedar board and for a more finished look, affix burlap over the plastic-mesh pouch. On a wall that gets bright, indirect light, hang the entire piece from a picture hook with a simple wire loop. Keep away from any heat sources and soak in the sink whenever the planting medium is dry to the touch.
Norfolk Island Pine (Auraucaria heterophylia)
Native to the South Pacific, this easy-going evergreen is a popular alternative to a classic Christmas tree. There’s no need to cut one down and bring it inside each December, as it lives happily as a houseplant year-round. For a festive look, tuck a few presents beneath its feathery branches and decorate with a string of lights or your favorite ornaments. Growing Conditions: Bright light is ideal for the tropical Norfolk Island pine, but it can handle dimmer conditions during the winter months—just be sure to place in full sun during the spring and summer. Water whenever the top inch of soil is dry to the touch, avoid fertilizing during its dormant season, and provide a soil mix that’s suitable for acid-loving plants. Containers will stunt its growth, but if planted outdoors and in-ground in a temperate climate, watch out—it can reach 100 feet.
‘Twinkle’ Orchid (Oncidium ‘Twinkle’)
Like all orchids, ‘Twinkle’ can be a little finicky, but with the proper care you’ll be rewarded with a splash of star-shaped blossoms from late fall through the winter. Not to mention the mini yellow-white flowers emit a delicious sweet vanilla scent. Growing Conditions: Orchids need a porous planting mix in order to thrive. Try a mixture of fir bark and peat moss in a small 3-inch plastic pot with slits for good drainage and air circulation. (Don’t worry—you can slip the slotted pot into a more attractive container.) Keep out of direct sun, avoid temperatures below 57 degrees, and water in the sink whenever the base of the plant feels dry.
Tricolor Prayer Plant (Magenta triostar)
For a tropical twist on traditional holiday color, look no further than this mid-sized prayer plant that tops out around 1.5 feet. Shiny, variegated leaves include shades of cream, green, and burgundy-pink, plus the active foliage unfurls during the day and closes up at night. It’s also a great natural air purifier for inside the home. Growing Conditions: Mist often and water weekly, or whenever the leaves begin to droop. Place in a shady to medium-light spot and keep away from hot and sunny windows where the leaves will fry.
