Christmas Plants

I just have a quick question!
Is there any other christmas plant other than poinsettias and holly cacti? (christmas trees don't count)
Thanks

There are Christmas Cactus.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1510/

There are also Amarylis.

This message was edited Nov 11, 2009 9:13 AM

Also mistletoe.

And here's an article that suggests a few additional ones:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1216/is_n6_v183/ai_8147525/

I saw Norfold Island Pine at the store today, in nice christmas pots, but they make a nice indoor plant year round.

Thanks to each of your answers!!

Hey, I was just potting up some caladiums that have sprouted, and thinking how lovely for Christmas. It would be non-traditional, but what a show :).

There is also cyclamen (although they are wintery and not Christmas)

There are Rosemary topiaries, Decorative red, mini-hot Peppers. Deco mini Norfolk Island Pines. Paperwhite bulbs sold to force any time you want. They bloom 5-6 weeks from planting--pebbles in water or in soil.
Just go to a "Big Box" store and look around....Many ploants are already there--but AFTER Thanksgiving. You will see plenty!

kwanjin--although we all call the Zygo cactus "Christmas Cactus", it is actually a "Thanksgiving Cactus".
Oh, the Growers can force anything to bloom any time they want, and we DO see these in bloom around the Holidays, but if you have one in the house--it will, naturally, bloom around Thanksgiving. Mine are just getting to a full-bloom stage.

There IS a true "Christmas Cactus". The "leaves" are different--more rounded, without those spikey points. The bloom is also a bit different....At first glance--you would not notice the difference....

My fasvorite to bring in the house for the Holidays are fresh, green trimmings from Christmas trees. The smell so nice! And if you want to REALLY perfume your house, take a small twig, and CAREFULLY, over a plate, hold a candle under it. The needles will first smolder and then start burning. Lots of oils in them.....
When they are all burning--quickly blow out the flames and let the smoke filter into the air.....Heaven!
NOT for kids to do--mind you!!!!

I know at HD the trimmings are free for the taking where they trim the bottoms off of the trees. Just go look!

Gita

Christmas cactus and Thanksgiving cactus are both Zygocactus (or Schlumbergera, I'm not sure which genus name is the most current) Unless Plant Files has the common names incorrect (which is of course possible), the one that kwanjin linked to is the species that's generally known as Christmas cactus. Thanksgiving cactus is more often used for Schlumbergera/Zygocactus truncata http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=thanksgiving+cactus&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&searcher%5Bgrex%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

Thanks for each of your answers.
Gitagal, I have in mind the idea of the tree trimmings, thanks
3jsmom31, I simply love caladiums; mine are all dying for some reason. I have to check on them but hey they do look nice for christmas. thanks

They go dormant. I have some growing out now, though. I think they require like 6 weeks or so dormancy.

caladiums go dormant in winter, even in florida and it's important if they are potted especially, not to keep watering them in the dormant stage or they will rot.

Thanks for the info; I didn't know that!!!!

you're welcome. most of mine are in the ground but the potted ones i've already cut to the soil line and moved under the eaves of the house. they won't be touched until spring when they start to pop up, then i will start watering again and move them to a brighter location.

I actually ordered mine for Christmas. The grower had them dried but ready to plant, so I created a warm season to get them for Christmas. I'll watch for signs of them needing dormancy, just in case, but my hope is that I can just grow them on through the summer and then dry them next fall. I think it will be an adorable gift. :)

One of the signs of dormancy time is leaves dying back. Don't water if this is happening. If you can find some tubers to force for Christmas, you could put them outside in the spring :). I thought of it like forcing tulips. The caladiums sure are pretty.

Here's another seasonal plant for Christmas: Solanum pseudocapsicum, which also goes by the common names Winter/Christmas/Jerusalem Cherry. What a beautiful fruiting plant. The young "cherries" (they are not edible) start out green, then turn orange before ripening to red. The plant does need cool indoor temperatures, and a fair amount of humidity. Kevin www.agardenforthehouse.com