Festive holiday plants bring much-needed life to indoor spaces during a season when, in many places, the outside world looks dormant and bleak. But how do we keep those beautiful plants happy and healthy throughout the holidays? With proper care, Christmas cacti, Norfolk Island pines, and even poinsettias can decorate our homes for months and even years to come.
How to Care for Poinsettias During the Holidays and Beyond
Though commonly purchased as disposable Christmas decorations, poinsettias are tropical shrubs that can be grown as house plants year-round. Bright, indirect sunlight and proper watering keep poinsettias happy though the holidays. And a little extra care, such as repotting and pruning, will help you enjoy the vibrant bracts next December too.
Learn more about how to care for poinsettias.
Are Poinsettias Poisonous to Cats?
Curious cats like to sniff, scratch, rub against, and even nibble new objects — including plants like poinsettias — to learn more about them. But will such interactions with poinsettias harm cats? Poinsettias might not be deadly, as many believe them to be, but they are considered mildly toxic to felines.
Take a moment to read more about poinsettia toxicity and what to do if your cat plays with or eats a poinsettia.
Norfolk Island Pine — Care Tips for the Christmas Tree House Plant
Norfolk Island pines are lovely indoor trees all year round, though at Christmastime they can be decorated with lights and ornaments to serve as a sustainable Christmas tree. Whether you buy a little one in a foil-wrapped pot to set on the table or have a large one to decorate, knowing how to provide the proper humidity and sunlight will help keep your Norfolk Island pine lush and green for many years.
Are Christmas Trees Poisonous to Cats?
Cats are infamous for climbing Christmas trees and knocking off ornaments. Whether you find this endearing or annoying, live Christmas trees are actually toxic for cats, and decorated Christmas trees in general pose other safety hazards as well.
Learn what these are and how to keep your cat safe this holiday season by learning more about feline Christmas tree dangers.
Proper Christmas Cactus Care for Festive Holiday Flowers
Like many succulents, a Christmas cactus requires little care and is easily propagated, making it wonderfully giftable. It likes indirect light and regular watering (but not too much!), and may benefit from an annual pruning.
To keep your Christmas cactus happy all year and ensure holiday blooms, take a look at this Christmas cactus care guide.
How to Prune a Christmas Cactus
Although pruning isn’t strictly required for Christmas cacti, an occasional trim can keep them looking tidy and full. Pruning can also help reinvigorate a poorly-blooming plant. It is easily done with pruners or even just your bare hands, but you’d best do it at the proper time to avoid stressing the plant. And when you’re done, you can root the segments for new cacti!
Check out this guide to easily prune a Christmas cactus.
Is Christmas Cactus Poisonous to Cats?
If you’re looking for a feline-friendly holiday plant, you’re in luck! Christmas cacti are not, in fact, poisonous to cats. However, a Christmas cactus can still pose a few minor safety concerns for our feline friends.
Learn more about what these are and how to keep a Christmas cactus out of reach of cats (for both the plant’s and the cat’s sake) in this article on Christmas cactus and cats.