Houseplants bring a festive touch to any indoor space, and many continue to lend their good looks to your home all year long. Living décor can be especially effective during the holidays when most of our time is spent indoors.

The reasons to grow houseplants are endless. Plants are scientifically documented to remove harmful toxins from indoor air, as well as improve our physical and mental health.

Smaller houseplants, including nerve plant, rex begonia and earth star add a colorful touch to desks and tabletops. And best of all, they come in the seasonal colors of red and green. Incorporate them with other décor such as sleighs and reindeer figurines – they’ll fit right in. And be sure to use them as a delightful centerpiece or accent on your holiday buffet table.

Medium-sized houseplants, such as Red Aglaonema, red Madagascar dragon tree and orchids are stunning displayed on mantles, bureaus, and other areas where you can enjoy them as a living focal point. They’re fabulous on their own, but ideal for a one-of-a-kind display when you group different varieties together.

If you’re more interested in the traditional look, you can’t go wrong with plants like poinsettias, Christmas cactus and Norfolk Island pine. Use these plants in entryways, on shelves in your living room or den, or in well-lit bathrooms to ensure every room of your home hosts the holiday feel. While they’re cheerful on their own, don’t be afraid to bring them up a notch by swapping out their planters for something more seasonally appropriate, such as a candy dish, tin, or box decked out in festive wrapping paper.

Other easy ways to make your houseplants more festive are to sprinkle colorful Christmas ornaments or pinecones over the soil as a pot topper; wrapping larger specimens in Christmas lights; and incorporating them in garland or hanging baskets.

Best of all, these plants fit in with traditional holiday décor because of their colors, but when you put the rest of your seasonal items away, they continue to add beauty to your home without feeling out of place.

About the Author

Justin Hancock, Costa Farms garden expert, is passionate about plants! A lover of houseplants, tropicals, annuals, and perennials, Justin has a wealth of experience gardening all the way from Northern Minnesota to Miami, Florida, where he currently gardens now.

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