Start these beautiful Christmas houseplants in summer to enjoy festive blooms, lush foliage, and holiday hues indoors by winter!
Most people shop for Christmas houseplants in December, but the best time to start growing many of them is actually during summer. Warm temperatures and longer days help young plants establish healthy roots and put on plenty of growth before winter arrives. With a little planning now, you’ll have fuller, healthier plants ready to brighten your home throughout the holiday season.
Christmas Houseplants You Can Plant in Summer
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1. Poinsettia
Botanical Name: Euphorbia pulcherrima
No Christmas houseplant is more recognizable than the poinsettia. Starting with a young plant or rooted cutting in summer gives it plenty of time to develop into a full, healthy plant before the holidays.
Just keep it in bright, indirect light and water when the top inch of soil feels dry. As autumn arrives, longer nights help trigger the colorful bracts that make this plant a holiday favorite!
Pro Tip: Turn off nearby lamps and avoid streetlight exposure at night during fall. Even small amounts of light can interrupt the plant’s color-changing process.
2. Christmas Cactus
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera × buckleyi
Summer is the perfect time to propagate or pot up a Christmas cactus. The extra growing time allows it to produce more stems, giving you a fuller display of flowers in winter.
Unlike desert cacti, it prefers bright, indirect light and evenly moist soil. And as the days grow shorter and temperatures cool, it naturally begins setting buds for its holiday bloom. Here is a complete care guide for a young Christmas cactus.
A well-draining cactus and succulent potting mix is your best choice to prevent excess moisture around the Christmas cactus’ roots.
3. Norfolk Island Pine
Botanical Name: Araucaria heterophylla
If you want a living Christmas tree that you can enjoy year after year, Norfolk Island pine is an excellent choice. Bringing one home in summer gives it time to adjust to indoor conditions before the holiday season.
You should place it in a bright spot away from heat vents, keep the soil lightly moist, and you’ll have a healthy evergreen that’s ready for lights and miniature ornaments by December. Cool, right?
Pro Tip: Rotate the pot every week or two so all sides receive equal light. This helps the tree keep its naturally symmetrical shape. Check out this care guide for more details.
Also, buying a rolling plant stand will make it much easier for you to rotate larger plant pots.
4. Rosemary
Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinus
Rosemary does double duty as both a useful kitchen herb and a lovely tabletop Christmas tree. And planting it in summer allows the roots to establish before winter, making it less likely to struggle indoors.
All you have to do is give it plenty of sunlight, good drainage, and moderate watering to keep the fragrant foliage healthy throughout the season.
One of the best pots for a rosemary plant is a terracotta one, as it allows excess moisture to escape, resulting in a happy and healthy plant.
5. Christmas Pepper
Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum
Christmas pepper is grown for its clusters of colorful ornamental peppers that brighten indoor spaces throughout the holiday season. Just like others, starting it in summer helps it develop glossy peppers in shades of red, orange, and yellow before winter arrives.
Place it in a sunny window and water whenever the top layer of soil begins to dry. Even after the peppers mature, they stay on the plant for weeks. Here are more such herbs you can plant for Christmas!
Although they’re technically edible, ornamental peppers are usually much hotter than culinary varieties and are grown mainly for decoration.
6. Kalanchoe
Botanical Name: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Kalanchoe is one of the easiest flowering succulents to grow indoors and a dependable choice for winter color. It prefers bright light and well-draining soil, with watering only after the soil has dried slightly.
Its clusters of long-lasting flowers can remain colorful for several weeks, making it an excellent addition to your Christmas décor long after other seasonal plants have faded.
7. Anthurium
Botanical Name: Anthurium andraeanum
With glossy leaves and very long-lasting red or white flowers, Anthurium brings the holiday shine in indoor spaces during the festive season. Although it can bloom year-round, healthy plants started in summer often produce stronger growth before winter.
Moreover, its heart-shaped blooms pair beautifully with Christmas decorations. You won’t know unless you try it!
Pro Tip: Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every few weeks. Clean foliage absorbs more light and keeps the plant looking glossy.
Also, use a soft microfiber cloth to clean the plant. It’s a great way to remove dust and keep the leaves glossy.
8. Florist’s Cyclamen
Botanical Name: Cyclamen persicum
Florist’s cyclamen is prized for its colorful flowers and beautifully patterned foliage. Planting or purchasing one in late summer gives it time to adjust before cooler temperatures encourage blooming.
You should keep it in a bright location away from direct afternoon sun, and water carefully around the edge of the pot to avoid soaking the crown.
9. Bush Lily
Botanical Name: Clivia miniata
Clivia is a slow-growing houseplant that’s well worth the wait. Starting it in summer gives the roots time to establish and allows the strap-like evergreen leaves to fill out before winter.
It prefers bright, indirect light and doesn’t mind drying slightly between waterings. Although its bright orange flower clusters usually appear after a cool resting period, the rich green foliage alone adds a stunning look to holiday displays.
Fun Fact: Clivia usually blooms better after a cool, dry rest period in fall, making patience part of its yearly care routine.
10. Moth Orchid
Botanical Name: Phalaenopsis amabilis
Moth orchids are among the longest-blooming houseplants you can grow, with flower spikes that often stay beautiful for two to three months.
Bringing home a healthy plant in summer gives it time to adapt to your indoor environment and produce strong roots before its winter flowering cycle. Place it in bright, indirect light and water only when the growing medium begins to dry.
Also, after the flowers fade, don’t throw the plant away. Many Phalaenopsis orchids bloom each year again with proper care.
Get yourself the best orchid potting mix from the market right here. It will help revive your orchid and make it fuller.
Getting a head start in summer gives these festive houseplants the time they need to grow stronger, fuller, and healthier before the holidays arrive. With just a little planning now, you’ll have beautiful blooms and lush greenery ready to brighten your home in winter!
Show your love for all your houseplants with this guide that has all the steps that you need to grow a healthy plant. Buy yours now.
