Holiday season is here…and some cool weather finally! These last few weeks of 2025 are sure to fly by. Our advice: be sure to spend some time in the garden to balance out the hectic holidays. Here are our top to-do’s this month: what to plant, gift ideas, holiday plant care, and more.
1. Plants That Want to Be Planted in December
There’s always the BEST time to get plants growing and here’s a few that LOVE this season as much as we do!
Trees…shade, flowering, small, big, they all benefit from planting now – including living Christmas trees like Junipers and Norfolk Pines. Good root development during the cooler months of winter gives them better growth in spring and a deeper, stronger root system to withstand the summer heat.
Onions…we grow short-day onion varieties here in South Texas. Lucky for us the 1015 Texas Supersweet is one of those along with tasty Texas Early White & Southern Belle Red.
Roses…our mild winters are perfect for big, beautiful roses & the cooler temps will only make them prettier and the flower color richer.
Ornamental Cabbage & Kale…these winter classics need to be planted early this month and enjoyed through the season! Easy care, vibrant colors, and unique texture in the garden.
Alyssum…gorgeous white blooms all winter long. Did you know Alyssum flowers and leaves are edible? They have a pungent horseradish-y flavor.
Crown of Thorns…very easy to grow succulent, low-water, excellent container plant that blooms all year, including all through December.
Other plants that require short days…some plants require short days/enough hours of darkness to bloom and look their best. Think Aloes and other outdoor succulents, Cyclamen, Camelia, native Salvia greggii, and Kalanchoes!
2. Tips for Holiday Classic Plants
Fresh-cut Christmas Trees…we give all of our trees a fresh cut and get them in water immediately to preserve their freshness. Many customers ask us for another fresh cut before they take the tree home. If you decide to have us do another fresh cut, or if you do it yourself, keep in mind that you have 10 minutes to get the tree in water before that cut seals over! Check water in your tree stand daily and keep it full. If you have pets who like to drink or splash the water, try covering with a piece of foil.
Poinsettias…Think of poinsettias as succulents – because they are! They are a type of euphorbia. That means give them a good drink, but let them dry out between waterings. Also, the leaves bruise and break easily, so avoid touching them as much as possible. So tempting to touch!
Christmas Cactus…Probably the easiest of all holiday plants, and they can last a LONG time! There are stories of Christmas Cacti that have been gifted and passed down through families for 100+ years. They like well-lit areas, but not direct sunlight. Let dry between waterings, then mist the leaves as well as water the soil when its time to water. They like to stay on the dry side!
Living Holiday Trees…Junipers, Norfolk Pines, Loblolly Pines, Magnolias, Yaupon Holly, and Ficus trees all make great Christmas trees that can be planted outside after the holidays. If you bring these in for decorating, be sure they have good bright natural light. Keep watered but not too much, and as soon as the holidays are done…take them outdoors for a breath of fresh air and get them in the ground.
3. Think Gifts for Gardeners!
If you have gardeners on your list this year, we’ve got you covered! Nature-themed holiday ornaments, quality tools and gloves, special edition holiday cards, crystals, cute houseplant grow lights, herb and cutting re-growers, and lots more unique garden gifts. And of course, plants!! If they’re picky, you can’t go wrong with a Gill’s gift card!
4. Plant and Feed Winter Flowers
Winter flowers are AMAZING right now! They really shine in cooler weather. Violas and Pansies are breathtaking and Geraniums are full of buds and blooms. All that blooming makes them hungry, so take a moment and fertilize your beauties whether they’re in the ground or in containers. We love using granular Plant Tone once a month, then following up with liquid Hasta Gro every 2 weeks. Both are organic and give you wow results.
5. Adjust Your Houseplant Care for Winter
Most houseplants will not experience a complete dormancy period during winter, but they will slow down growth and react to climatic changes like drier conditions inside the house. Give your houseplants more light and less water as temperatures and the amount of daylight hours drop. Dust/shine leaves regularly to ward off insects. Cooler temps = drier conditions and less of the humidity that houseplants love. Try grouping them together to create more humidity, or use a humidifier. When bringing patio plants inside for cold snaps, be sure to treat with All Seasons Horticultural Oil spray to prevent any pests (like scale insects) from hitching a ride indoors.
6. Start Thinking About Frost Prep!
We typically don’t get a frost until January or February, but there’s always a chance! Be sure you’ve got your frost blankets or frost cloth ready to protect any tender outdoor tropicals and new plantings. Mulch beds at 2-3″ deep to help seal in warmth. And don’t prune yet! Remember that pruning signals to a plant that it’s time to put on new growth. Instead, plant leaves need to harden off and go dormant for the winter. Foliage that you leave on the plant will help insulate it against cold weather.
7. Winter is the Perfect Time for Hardscaping
While you can certainly still plant in December, many folks gravitate toward completing hardscape projects this month, like flagstone patios, paver driveways, stone pathways, stone firepits, and more. These elements add structure and functionality to your garden spaces – plus they don’t need water or TLC. If you’re considering DIY, we can advise you on proper construction steps and things to consider, plus supply you with the materials you’ll need. If hardscaping sounds like too much hard work, our Landscape Designers and crews can handle everything for you. Give us a call or contact us here to get your project started.
Reader Interactions