When looking for a unique holiday tree this season, consider adding a plant you can enjoy now and throughout the year. Select a larger specimen to use as a floor plant, adding dramatic scale to your indoor décor. Smaller plants can be placed on tabletops throughout the house to add a bit of extra cheer in any room.
Transform a weeping fig, rubber tree or fiddleleaf fig into a holiday tree with a few lights, garland and ornaments. All three of these make great additions to an indoor garden, and their tree-like appearance makes them a perfect substitute for more traditional Christmas trees.
Grow them in bright, indirect light with evenly moist but not soggy wet soil. Water thoroughly and pour off any excess water that collects in the saucer. Or place pebbles in the saucer to elevate the pot above the water, creating a gravel tray. The excess water will evaporate, increasing humidity around the plant. Avoid drafts of hot and cold air and be prepared for some leaf drop on the weeping fig with a change in the seasons or growing conditions. It will survive and eventually send out new leaves.
Consider a Norfolk Island pine when looking for something that looks more like a pine tree. You will often find them decorated and sold for the holidays in garden centers and floral shops. Or add your own decorations for the festive look you prefer.
Grow Norfolk Island pine in a cool, well-lit location that’s free of drafts of hot and cold air. Regularly turn the plant to encourage even growth. Avoid dry air and keep the soil evenly moist to retain green, flexible and healthy needles and branches. Boost the humidity around this and other plants while reducing maintenance by using a gravel tray.
Purchase rosemary wreaths and tree topiaries for a festive as well as fragrant and edible addition to the holidays. Just pet the leaves to enjoy the fragrance as it boosts your spirits. Pluck a sprig or two to add flavor to your winter meals and beverages.
Growing rosemary indoors can be challenging, so don’t let past failures stop you from trying. Experiment until you find the location and maintenance routine that keeps your plant thriving. Grow it in a sunny window or under artificial lights and water thoroughly as the soil begins to dry. If the plant turns brown, move it out of sight to the back of your indoor garden. It still smells good when you give it a pet and only you will know.
Lemon cypress makes a great miniature holiday tree, centerpiece or gift for a friend. The fragrant chartreuse foliage of this dwarf evergreen continues to brighten your winter décor long after the holidays are over. Grow it in a sunny window and turn it occasionally to encourage even growth. You’ll have the best results if you keep it in a cool location free from cold and hot air drafts.
Investing in one of these plants is sure to brighten your spirits and holiday décor. With proper care you can continue to enjoy them year-round and for next year’s holiday celebrations.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including “The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, Second Edition” and “Small Space Gardening.” She hosts “The Great Courses’” “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally-syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” TV and radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. For more, visit here. https://www.melindamyers.com.
