This time of the year heralds decorations, good cheer and holiday plants.

Grocery stores, nurseries and floral shops beckon us with colorful displays of flowering plants such as poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima), Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera spp.) and cyclamens (Cyclamen persicum), plus nonflowering plants like frosty ferns (Selaginella kraussiana ‘Variegata’) and Ellwood trees (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’).

Blooming and nonblooming plants require the same draft-free indoor conditions, including moist potting mix and bright, indirect light. With care and attention, your holiday plants can last through the holiday season.

Poinsettia

Native to Mexico, poinsettias are commercially produced in the United States. New hybridized varieties reward customers with interesting leaf shapes, colors and sizes. The colored parts of the poinsettia are not technically the flowers but are bracts (modified leaves). The poinsettia flowers are the small, yellow cyathia found in the center of the bracts.

Purchase well-watered poinsettias with sturdy stems and tight cyathia free of pollen. Bracts sprayed with glitter or flocked material may not last as long as natural ones. After purchase, remove the plastic or foil pot cover (or punch drainage holes) and place a saucer under the plant. Keep the poinsettia away from drafts and heating vents.

While poinsettias are not poisonous, their leaves and sap can cause an allergic reaction in individuals with latex allergies. Wash your hands after handling broken stems or leaves. Place poinsettias out of reach of pets and children, as ingesting several poinsettia leaves might cause an upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhea.

Christmas cactus

Another holiday-themed houseplant is the Christmas cactus. Native to Brazil, Christmas cacti are epiphytes that grow on the surface of another plant. They have flat, jointed, leafless stems. Each stem segment is about 2 inches long with rounded teeth on the edges.

Tubular blooms of pink, red, scarlet, orange, gold, cream or white are borne on the tips of the stems. Individual flowers may have different shades of the same color. Purchase Christmas cacti that have buds and open blooms, are in moist potting mix, and are free of pests.

Remove the foil from your cactus and place a saucer under the pot. Christmas cacti prefer a well-drained potting mix and bright, indirect light. An ambient temperature of 70 degrees during the day and 60 to 65 degrees during the evening are best. Remove spent blooms by pinching or snipping them from the leaves.

Cyclamen

While available year-round, cyclamens are another holiday-inspired flowering plant. Cyclamen tubers are native to the Mediterranean region. Cyclamens have brilliantly colored red, white, pink or purple blooms with green- and silver-mottled leaves.

Like Christmas cacti, they prefer cool temperatures, 55 degrees to 68 degrees. Temperatures above 68 degrees will cause the leaves to yellow and the flowers to fade.

Select cyclamen with blooms and buds and with a moist potting mix. Look for leaves and stems that are upright, not wilted, and a healthy color. Once home, remove the foil cover and place a saucer under the pot. Avoid wetting the leaves and stems to prevent crown rot, and drain away excess water when watering. Remove faded flowers and leaves. New leaves and blooms may appear during the blooming cycle. Fertilize every other month.

Frosty fern

The frosty fern is not an actual fern but a spike moss. This plant’s name describes the fern-like appearance of its golden-white leaves, which get brighter as winter approaches. While believed to be native to Africa, frosty ferns have naturalized in Europe and New Zealand, where they are considered invasive. Frosty ferns are used in the United States as houseplants.

Select frosty fern plants that have a moist potting mix and soft leaves. Because they are native to tropical areas, frosty ferns prefer moist potting mix, part shade, high humidity (at least 70%) and warm ambient temperatures.

For a festive look, place your frosty fern under a cloche or in a terrarium to increase humidity levels.

Ellwood tree

The Ellwood tree is a cultivar of an evergreen cypress native to the Pacific Northwest. Also known as the Lawson cypress, it is often used as an indoor tabletop Christmas tree or an outdoor planter tree.

As the plant grows, prune it to any desired shape. Ellwood trees prefer moist but well-drained potting mix in bright light conditions. Remove the foil wrapping and place the pot on a saucer. If a decorative container is preferred for display, remove the tree in its production pot from the container, water thoroughly, let the excess water drain out, and then place the tree in its pot in the decorative container.

With some care, you can enjoy your holiday plants into the new year. Penn State Extension offers information on selecting and caring for your holiday plants.

√ extension.psu.edu/poinsettias-whats-new-with-this-old-plant

√ extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/susquehanna/penn-state-master-gardener-articles/poinsettias-to-rebloom-or-compost

√ extension.psu.edu/poinsettia-and-christmas-cactus-care

√ extension.psu.edu/cyclamen-diseases

If you have questions about holiday houseplants and other gardening practices, call the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County at the Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.

Lisa Marie Bernardo is a Penn State Extension Butler County Master Gardener.