Christmas is a magical time that fills our homes with joy and warmth. As well as the classic Christmas decorations, plants can play a key role in festive decorating.

Today, I’d like to tell you about five plants that are ideal for decorating your home over Christmas and that you can also use at the start of the New Year to oxygenate your rooms, but we’ll tell you more about that later.

 1 Howea forsteriana o Kentia 

The Kentia is a very elegant and majestic palm that will add an exotic touch to your Christmas decorations. Its large, dark green palms blend in perfectly with today’s colour palette.

It needs a spot with plenty of room for its leaves to grow, as it can reach 2.5 or 3 metres.

It’s hardy and easy to look after, and these few tips will help you enjoy it for a long time to come:

•  Place the plant in a well-lit spot, away from direct sunlight.
•  Water regularly, but always keep an eye on the top layer of substrate to prevent it becoming waterlogged.
•  Keep it away from air conditioning and direct heating. It should not be subjected to sudden changes in temperature.

2 Dracaena lemon lime

This plant is perfect for small spaces because its leaves don’t take up much space. It is produced with one or more trunks of varying heights. The tallest trunk generally measures 1.20 m.

Its attractive yellow and green leaves give it a fresh appearance. To look after it, remember :

– Place it in an area with plenty of indirect light.

– Water moderately to avoid root problems.

– Spray its leaves with water from time to time.

– Take care to keep it away from hot and cold draughts.

 3 Ficus shape

Our growers work this ficus with its spiral trunks to bring a touch of Zen, calm and balance to any room.

What I like most about this ficus is that it helps to develop the creative side of the person looking after it. With a little patience and love, you can prune it into any shape you like. Its rapid growth will be a strong point.

Care and maintenance:

•  Place it in a bright spot with indirect light. Try to give it a few hours of sun, but not the strongest hours, so that it retains its green colour.
•  Water it when the top layer of substrate is dry.
•  As with all plants, beware of draughts, hot or cold, and sudden changes in temperature.

4 Cariota mitis or Fishtail Palm

I love this palm! Its dark green, shiny, serrated leaves, resembling the tail of a fish, will fill your Christmas with exoticism.

It generally flowers outdoors, but can’t take the cold and frost. Take care of them:

– Look for a spot where it gets plenty of indirect light and, if you can, try to give it a few hours of sunshine.

– Spray its leaves with water from time to time.

– Water it constantly to keep the peat moist but not soggy.

– Keep it away from draughts and heating.

5 Strelitzia augusta

If there’s one thing that sets this plant apart, it’s its hardiness, resilience, luxuriance and adaptability. Its leaves remind me of Musas (banana trees), and although it has always been used as an outdoor plant for gardens, in recent years it has become fashionable for decorating interiors, as it adapts very well and creates very cool atmospheres.

It’s also very easy to care for:

•  Place it near a window, with direct light and a few hours of sun if possible.
•  Water it when the surface of the peat is dry, but don’t allow the root ball to dry out completely.
•  Try to maintain a stable temperature, not falling below 10ºC.
•  It loves humidity, so spray its leaves with water from time to time and you’ll have a guaranteed orchard.

I hope my suggestions will inspire you to enjoy the plants in your home, your loved ones and the good times at Christmas.