When the twinkle lights come down, the leftovers have been tucked into the fridge, and the extended family has headed home, many folks wonder what to do now with those beautiful Christmas plants they just received.
Whether it is a Poinsettia hostess gift, a last-minute Amaryllis stocking stuffer, a cheerful Christmas Cactus, or that Norfolk Island Pine you picked up to make things feel extra festive, winter care matters. This is especially true for Nature Hills live nursery plants, evergreen trees, shrubs, and dormant landscaping plants that truly believe it is winter and need special handling to stay healthy and happy through the season. Learning proper Indoor Plant Care During Winter makes all the difference.
These seasonal favorites are very much alive and full of promise. Thoughtful post-Christmas plant care helps protect roots, preserve energy, and prepare plants for their next big moment in spring or year-round enjoyment indoors.
- Poinsettia: Keeping the Holiday Star Shining
- Christmas Cactus: Blooming on Its Own Schedule
- Forcing Bulbs: How to Create Winter Blooms on Purpose
- Succulents: Holiday Cute, Year-Round Tough
- Norfolk Island Pine: A Living Christmas Tree
- Live Evergreen Trees and Shrubs
- Dormant Landscaping Plants: Let Them Sleep
- Preparing for Spring Success
- From Holiday Decor to Garden Glory
Top Christmas Plants and Their Post-Holiday Care
Knowing how to care for Christmas plants indoors, how to keep dormant plants dormant, and when to transition live landscaping plants outdoors is the secret sauce. Treat them right now, and Ma Nature will reward you with stronger roots, better blooms, and smoother garden transitions.
Poinsettia: Keeping the Holiday Star Shining
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Poinsettia means "most beautiful," and those bold red, white, or pink bracts absolutely live up to the name. These plants are tropical shrubs at heart and far from disposable!
After-Christmas Care
- Place in bright, indirect light near a sunny window
- Keep temperatures steady and away from cold drafts or heat vents
- Water when the top inch of soil is dry, never soggy
Long-Term Plan
Once spring arrives and frost danger passes, Poinsettia can move outdoors in warm climates - in fact, they are used as foundation shrubs and accent bushes in frost-free zones. Prune back leggy stems to encourage bushy growth. With patience and proper light control in the fall, reblooming for next Christmas is absolutely possible.
Christmas Cactus: Blooming on Its Own Schedule
Zygocactus
Christmas Cactus breaks the rules in the best way, blooming when days are short and spirits are high. Its segmented, arching stems drape like green ribbons while storing moisture and energy.
Care Tips
- Bright, indirect light
- Water when the soil is mostly dry
- Cool nights help extend bloom time
Post-Bloom Rest
After flowering, reduce watering slightly and keep the plant in a cooler room. This quiet rest helps set buds for the next bloom cycle. These are indoor houseplants that won't mind spending some time on the partly-shaded porch for the summer.
Forcing Bulbs: How to Create Winter Blooms on Purpose
Forcing bulbs is one of Ma Nature's best little magic tricks. You are simply convincing spring-blooming bulbs like Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Amaryllis that winter has passed. For a deeper dive, forcing bulbs indoors is a fun way to stretch the growing season.
Step-by-Step: How to Force Hardy Spring Bulbs
Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocus
- Choose large, firm bulbs with no soft spots
- Pot bulbs in well-drained soil with tips just above the soil line
- Water thoroughly after planting
- Place pots in a dark, cold space at 35 to 45 degrees F
- Keep soil barely moist, never soggy
Once shoots reach 1 to 2 inches tall, move pots into bright, indirect light. Blooms usually follow in 2 to 4 weeks. After flowering, many of these bulbs can be moved outdoors permanently in the spring once the ground thaws.
Forcing Amaryllis Bulbs Indoors
Amaryllis plays by different rules and does not require chilling.
- Plant the bulb with the top third exposed
- Place in bright light and warm temperatures
- Water lightly until growth appears
- Rotate the pot to keep stems growing straight
Succulents: Holiday Cute, Year-Round Tough
Succulents often sneak into holiday decor and gift planters. These fleshy little survivors store water in their leaves, stems, and roots, making them surprisingly tough and forgiving. These great houseplants work well on desks at work, in bright bathrooms, and as wall decor!
Post-Holiday Succulent Care Indoors
- Place in the brightest window available
- Water only when the soil is completely dry
- Use fast-draining soil and containers with drainage holes
- Keep away from cold windows and drafts
Norfolk Island Pine: A Living Christmas Tree
Araucaria heterophylla
This soft-needled evergreen delivers cozy forest vibes indoors without shedding needles. Not suited for outdoor climates year-round unless you live in USDA zones 10-11, but do work as summer porch and patio plants.
- Bright light near a window
- Even moisture, never bone dry or soaked
- Higher humidity - mist or create a more humid environment around them
- Rotate weekly for balanced growth
Live Evergreen Trees and Shrubs
Live, nursery-grade Christmas trees and evergreen shrubs are future landscape legends. If you plan to keep them long term, understanding how Evergreen Shrubs establish helps set them up for success. Remember, these plants arrived from the outdoor nursery, where it is cold, and they are dormant, thinking it is still winter.
- Keep root balls moist but not wet
- Store outdoors in a sheltered, shaded area
- Protect roots with mulch when in containers
Dormant Landscaping Plants: Let Them Sleep
Dormant trees, shrubs, and Perennials are resting, not dead. Keeping them dormant is key. Learning how to overwinter dormant container plants prevents early wakeups and winter stress.
- Store in an unheated garage or protected outdoor area
- Keep soil slightly moist
- Avoid warmth and bright indoor light
Preparing for Spring Success
As days lengthen, gradually reintroduce light, warmth, and water. When it is time to plant outdoors, following proper techniques for Planting Perennials helps roots establish quickly and reduces transplant stress.
From Holiday Decor to Garden Glory
Your Christmas plants are not just decorations. They are living reminders that growth never really stops. Treat them right now, let dormancy do its thing, and spring will reward you in a big way.
Happy Planting!