You don’t have to have a green thumb to enjoy these five most popular blooming holiday plants. Amaryllis and Paperwhite bulbs, as well as, Poinsettia, Christmas Cactus, Kalanchoe, Cyclamen, and Floral Mum are the most popular holiday plants for gifting. Give a living and breathing holiday gift that will bloom on long after the holiday season is over. In the dull-drums of winter, anyone can enjoy these wonderful winter-blooming houseplants. Blooming holiday plants are great last-minute gift for the holiday party hostess, parents and grandparents, the Christmas table centerpiece; not to mention, it’s a great way to decorate quickly and inexpensively for the holidays without the hassle.
Don’t sweat the green stuff; these blooming holiday plant gifts can not only grow, thrive, and bloom, but also repeat the growing cycle and bloom next winter, and even years to come. Here are the top selling holiday plant gifts that are readily available at your local grocery store, hardware store, garden nursery, and home improvement store.
Amaryllis Bulbs – One of the easiest bulbs to grow indoors, Amaryllis will keep on growing and blooming long after the holiday presents are opened, and they can re-bloom year after year. Amaryllis are grown in a variety of colors such as red, white, peach, apricot, orange, and yellow-green. They’re also available with ruffled blooms and double blooms, as well as, in pink and white or red and white striped combinations. New varieties and colors are being produced each year. An amaryllis bulb is easy to plant, and can be planted anytime from September through January. To find out more and see a slideshow of the Amaryllis bulb, click here.
Chia Pet - Salvia Hispanica Seeds - Almost everyone remembers the Ch Ch Ch Chia Pet’s classic jingle. Chia pets are manufactured by Joseph Enterprises of San Francisco, a gadget company that also makes The Clapper. The Chia pet became popular in the 1980’s. Once you plant; within 1-2 weeks, the Chia will have a full head of hair, or a full coat of animal fir; it’s easy. The line has now been expanded to the Chia Pet herb garden; the American Series, which is a special edition that features Chia Obama, Washington, Lincoln, the Statue of Liberty, as well as the famous Chia Pet series, which includes cartoon characters such as Chia SpongeBob, as well as, Garfield, Homer and Bart Simpson, Shrek, Shaggy, Scooby Doo, Tweety bird, and a host of others. To find out more about the Chia Pet, click here.
Christmas Cactus – Tropical Succulent Plant - While most cactus are thought of as hot, dry, and desert growing; these holiday cactus are tropical plants that will keep their blooms, and they can grow and bloom for up to 15 years, if grown in the right conditions. This winter-blooming houseplant will bloom every year and is available in the colors of red, hot pink, salmon, fuchsia, purple, white, and sometimes combined colors on one plant. To find out more about the Christmas cactus, click here.
Cyclamen - Tuber - The cyclamen for sale in the garden nurseries is most likely the Cyclamen persicum. Cyclamen is in the same family of primrose, shooting stars, and loosestrife (Lysimachia). There so many varieties of cyclamen that a gardener could have a cyclamen in bloom every month of the year. Greenhouse cyclamen are usually forced to bloom for the holiday season. Cyclamen can bloom from November through April if they stay moist and cool enough. The most basic requirement for growing Cyclamen is cool temperatures and moisture. To find out more about the Cyclamen, click here.
Floral Mum – Annual Chrysanthemum - They're bold and beautiful, but don't mistake them for the hardy perennial chrysanthemum; these are annual chrysanthemums, usually called florist mums. They are considered an annual here in Philadelphia and the Northeast, and they’re basically used for cut flowers, gifts, and indoor decorating. Other than the rose; florist mums are the most popular cut flower in the world. Their flowers comes in many shapes, colors, and sizes, including single or double blooms and shapes like daisies, buttons, pompons, and even spoon shapes. To see a slideshow and learn more about the Floral Mums, click here.
Kalanchoe – Kalanchoe, pronounced calen-cowee, is an awesome bright-blooming succulent houseplant that keeps on going and going, with blooms that seem to last forever. This beauty is a relative of the Jade plant. This ornamental houseplant is easy to grow with beautiful long-lasting tiny blooms that form large bold clusters. Kalanchoe is available in red, white, pink, orange, and yellow; and will bloom summer through fall. To find out more about Kalanchoe, click here.
Paperwhite bulbs – Paperwhite bulbs (Narcissus papyraceus) are another easy bulb to grow indoors. These bulbs are a member of the Narcissus family and cousin to the ever-popular Daffodil. Paperwhite bulbs are a smaller daffodil bulb; but don’t let the small size fool you, good things come in small packages. This bulb has a smell that’s ‘heaven scent.’ These spring flowering bulbs can be grown indoors as a blooming houseplant anytime in the winter. Paperwhites are easy to grow, and will invite springtime into the home in the dead of winter. To find out more about Paperwhites, click here.
Poinsettia - The traditional holiday Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), also known as Christmas Star or Mexican Flame Leaf flower has over 100 varieties. By placing just a few poinsettias around the house, one can instantly create a holiday home makeover. Although the most popular Poinsettia sold is the common red Poinsettia; it’s also available in avariety of colors such as white, pink, plum, red, dark red, and variegated, as well as, a mix of colors on the same plant. For slideshow and more about the Poinsettia, click here.
These plant gifts are easy to find at any garden center, home improvement store, grocery or hardware store today and tomorrow. Whether giving a gift to the avid gardener, or for the person who can kill a cactus, this plant gift is extremely easy to grow, as well as, fun to watch. To observe a seed or bulb sprout and grow into something beautiful is not only therapeutic, but it also connects a person with nature and gives one a sense of success and accomplishment. When nothing else seems to be growing or blooming in winter; plant gifts that can grow indoors and will keep on growing and blooming long after the holiday presents are opened.
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