If you don’t have a green thumb, the Christmas Cactus is the holiday plant for you.  They prefer diffused light, and it’s best to let the soil dry red_pointacompletely between watering.  Avoid overwatering.  While you don’t have to worry too much about the temperature, 70 degrees is suitable.  Try to avoid drafts by keeping them away from frequently opened doors.  Pruning lightly after flowering re-energizes the plant.  Once summer arrives, the cactus can be put outside in indirect light. This encourages it to set buds and bloom more heavily the following holiday.

The Poinsettia requires more care.  These tropical plants love sunlight, so place it near a sunny window — the more direct sunlight, the better.   If you want to keep the poinsettia in bloom as long as possible, try and maintain a temperature of 65-75 degrees during the day.  It can go down to about 60 degrees at night.  Avoid drafts and temperature shifts; this will injure the leaves and cause premature leaf drop.  The plant should be watered when it feels dry to the touch.  Allow the water to drain out the bottom, but avoid letting the plant sit in water.

Cut Holly is best suited in a cooler location or outside. You’ll find that it dries out quickly; once that happens, the berries drop and the leaves become brittle and sharp. Keep the holly branches in water and soak wreathes or swags overnight before displaying to make them last a bit longer.  You can treat most potted hollies as annuals, but it’s best to keep them indoors until they can be planted in the spring.