• The colorful leaves are in fact just that - leaves. The flowers are actually smaller yellow buds at the center of the plant which you might not notice. The leaves start changing colors when those buds appear.
• There are over 100 varieties of Poinsettias, so although you may be used to the classic deep red, you can also find all sorts of pink and speckled poinsettias too. 
• Over 34 million Poinsettias are sold each year, which is about 23% of all potted plants. They’re the top-selling potted flowering plant.
• And Poinsettias are actually a small tree, and can grow up to about 12 feet tall (imagine! Now that's a plant I would buy for my house. I'll name it Seymour.)
• Native to southern Mexico, Poinsettia leaves were used to dye fabric and the sap as medicine.  
• December 12 is actually National Poinsettia Day in the US. Who knew? Anyone celebrate that? Gardeners like me, I guess.  

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Some tips on growing Poinsettias:

• Poinsettias are tropical plants, and like at least 8 hours/day of direct light and temperatures above 65 degrees. Beware: they don’t like cold weather or drafts. Even a short trip to the car in blustery cold weather can shock the plant (hence the foil and celophane wrappers they're often sold in).
• Make sure the plant has good drainage. If you bought it encased in a foil wrapper, either remove the wrapper or punch holes in the bottom of it. Only water when the soil surface of the plant is dry. Too much water will cause the leaves to drop.
• On kids and pets: Poinsettias are NOT poisonous, although they have the reputation for being so. However just like many other plants, they’re definitely not meant to be eaten. But you can safely have them around the house assuming no one will try to make a Poinsettia-leaf salad or the like. More on their toxicity here. And note: other winter greenery like holly bushes DO have poisonous berries, so keep it in mind as you choose what to bring indoors. 
• Love your plant so much you want to keep it? You can! Poinsettias will rebloom year after year with the proper care. They need short days to bloom - about 10 weeks of 12 hours or less of sunlight each day.  So starting at the beginning of October move them in a very dark place in the early evening through the next morning (like a closet. Seriously - any light during this time will affect blooming). Check out some easy tips for doing that here and here.  

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Amaryllis:

• As with Poinsettias, Amaryllis like warmer temperatures and dry soil. Let the soil dry to the touch before watering again. Place your pot in a sunny location.
• You can certainly keep your Amaryllis year after year. When the bloom starts to die back, cut the flower stalk (not the leaves) down to about 2 inches above the bulb. Then just treat it like your other houseplants, and bring it outside next summer, etc. Amaryllis also needs a winter period of about 10 weeks to start blooming, so next fall bring it indoors, cut leaves back to a few inches above the bulb, place it in a cooler dark place, and water sparingly. After this period you can place it in a new pot, bring it back into your sunny room, start watering more regularly, and wait for your bloom to grow!  

Check out more tips here from UVM Extension and White Flower Farm.  

• Evergreen decorations can be used indoors or outdoors, so almost any kind of evergreen can work. However certain types - for example Hemlock and Spruce - are more likely to drop their needles indoors. I've used Cedar and Douglas Fir with success. If you're making decorations yourself (which I highly encourage you to do - get tips here), you can either find cut boughs at a local garden store, or use what you find around your yard. 
• In general, decorations placed indoors - for example wreaths - will have a shorter life span than those placed outside. 
• Evergreen decorations DO need water, and although they will likely last a few weeks without any watering at all, they'll often do better with a frequent spritzing or soak in a tub of water. However that obviously becomes more difficult if you've added lots of decorations. My mom has been making wreaths for many years and doesn't water them, enjoying them for the time they last. Also remember: propping a few stalks of evergreens in a vase or centerpiece can be both really lovely, and provide the more constant water source they need. 

Finally, remember to always check if berries are poisonous before bringing them into the house. Holly berries ARE poisonous, and I won't let me kids anywhere near them after my son once popped two in his mouth without thinking twice. If a child ingests any quantity of holly berries call Poison Control immediately. (And the berries on the wreath below are fake ones.)

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There are so many reasons to keep your family connected to nature through holiday plants. First, they're just lovely to look at, and can add warmth to your home during the cold winter months. They also provide great opportunities for kids to think about science, food and the changing seasons. Indeed, plants, animals and food production don't stop in the winter months; our challenge is finding ways to continue to connect to them. Check out some great resources from Project Learning Tree on teaching kids outside in the winter. And be sure to join the Good Food Force for more tips on kids, food and healthy communities year-round!