So many plant choices to brighten up your home for the holidays! What may work for you, may not work for someone else. It's always a good idea to learn about the plant before purchasing it for yourself or as a gift, so everyone is successful.

One of the first things to remember is that the pot cover that often is on the pot to make it look festive should come off. This doesn’t allow for proper drainage for the plant. If giving a plant as a gift, put it in a more decorative pot. No need to plant it, just place it in a pot with drainage and a saucer under it for best care. Or, once the holidays are over, and the flowers have faded, consider planting them in another pot with drainage.

A few common flowering houseplants that are found around the holidays include cyclamen, Christmas (or holiday) cactus, amaryllis, Norfolk Island pine, and the poinsettia. Here are some tips on keeping these plants healthy during and after the holidays.

Cyclamen is a winter flowering plant and not the easiest to grow, but certainly is rewarding to see bloom all through the winter months. It’s important to remember that a cyclamen grows best in cool temperatures and likes plenty of indirect sunlight. A cool sunny window (like an east facing window) in a cool room is best. Temperatures should be between 60E – 68E F during the day. And, if possible, about 10E lower at night. Watering the cyclamen can be tricky. Be careful not to over water; this will cause roots to rot. Water when the soil is dry to the touch. Be sure to discard the excess water that drains into the saucer about 15 minutes after watering.

The cyclamen will bloom from October through April. When the temperatures become warmer, the plant stops producing flower buds. As the summer progresses, often times cyclamen will go into a state of dormancy. The plant will stop growing leaves, and often appear to be dying. Continue to water the plant as needed through the summer months, keeping it as cool as you can, and giving it plenty of sunlight inside. When the fall months approach and the nighttime temperatures begin to drop, you will see an improvement in your plant's behavior. Its leaves will perk up and it will begin to produce flower buds again. Before you know it, the plant will be back to its old self and ready to perform during the winter months!

Christmas cactus, also referred to as holiday cactus or thanksgiving cactus, is enjoyed by many over the holiday season. It also prefers a good sunny and cool location. It requires a dryer soil than many houseplants. In order to get this plant to re-bloom, it requires a cold period in the fall. The plant can be set outside during the summer in a shady location. After a few cool nights (temperatures dropping to 40E - 50EF) in the fall, bring it back inside and put it in a sunny location. It needs the cool temperatures to trigger the flower buds to set. Before you know it, the Christmas cactus will be blooming for you again and again!

Amaryllis is another popular holiday plant. There are different ways you can receive this bulb. Sometimes it's just the bulb, other times it's in a pot. It could be in a pot with soil, and it could be dipped in wax. The container that you choose should be large enough to support the root system and the bulb. Be sure the container has good drainage and uses an average houseplant potting soil.

When planting the bulb, allow for about 1/3 of the top to be above the soil level. Water the bulb after it is planted and continue to water as you would any other houseplant. Give it a sunny window, and the cooler the location, the less top heavy the plant will get. Before you know it, you'll see a flower spike, buds, then blooms!

After it's finished blooming, cut the flower stem back to the top of the bulb. Continue watering. Leaves will grow quite long. Don't cut them. After blooming, fertilize these bulbs as they are heavy feeders. Use a slow-release complete fertilizer that lasts a few months or a complete liquid fertilizer a few times per month.

Continue to care for the bulb as you would any other houseplant. After the danger of frost is over in the spring, the bulb can be planted outside or continue growing it in a container. When the leaves begin to yellow, when nighttime temperatures drop in the fall, it's time to give the bulb a rest. Cut off the leaves. Dig up the bulb if you planted it outside, brush off the dirt and store it in a cool, dry place for about 6 weeks. If you keep it in its container, let the soil dry out, and store it in a cool, dry location.

After about six weeks, repot the bulb and begin to water again. Before you know it, you'll be enjoying the flowers of the amaryllis for another holiday season!

If you have a bulb that was dipped in wax, just set it in a sunny window and watch it bloom. After it’s finished flowering, you’ll find that the bulb decreases in size after flowering. To keep the bulb, peel off the wax and any dead material that would be under the wax, plant the bulb in a pot as you would any other amaryllis bulb, water and fertilize it. It may take a few years to get it to blooming size again, but with proper care, you’ll be able to enjoy the flower again.

Norfolk Island pine is a tropical plant that is often affiliated with the holidays. When I worked in a retail garden center, we always got lots of these plants in all sizes for the holidays. We would decorate them for customers to pick up and take as gifts.

The Norfolk pine is an easy plant to grow. It tolerates most temperatures, if it’s above 40EF. Keep it in a south or east window and away from any heating source. Water it regularly, keeping soil evenly moist.

If you decide to decorate the plant for the holidays, the little battery powered lights look great on them, add some small ornaments, and you’re good to go. Be careful not to injure the branches while decorating.

And, of course, the most common holiday plant is the poinsettia. When returning home with your new plant, be sure to place it away from cold and drafty places. Hot spots, such as by a fireplace, near a heater, or above appliances are areas that should be avoided. Poinsettias like the sun, so lots of light is a must for the plant’s health and survival. Near a window that is not drafty is the best location for your plant. Water your plant well when the soil is dry to the touch. Be sure not to over-water the plants. If there is any water in the saucer 15 minutes after watering, empty the saucer as the excess water can cause rotting of the roots.

These are just five of the common holiday plants seen in garden centers and box stores. Just remember to research the care of whatever plant you choose and enjoy the colors of the holidays!

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