You know that Christmas is around the corner when Chestnut is filled with beautifully coloured bracts of festive poinsettias! There are, however, many wonderful indoor plants that’ll make your home look festive – see our guide to the treats in store right now at the nursery…

Leaves dappled with shades of crimson and green make this multicoloured houseplant a must for table centrepieces this Christmas. While plants appreciate a bright room, they’re better than most at coping with low winter light levels. Commonly known as the Chinese Evergreen, it performs best in a warm room away from chilly draughts.

Schlumbergera, the Christmas Cactus, is an easy-to-grow houseplant that can live to a ripe old age, flowering reliably every December. Plants are spurred into producing flower buds when temperatures dip in autumn, when allowing compost to become drier will pave the way for brilliant festive displays. Bright, indirect sunlight keeps plants happy, as does temperatures of 18-20C. Take care not to overwater in winter, to prevent rot.

The king of festive houseplants, our British-grown poinsettias at Chestnut are dressed to impress – sporting classic red or icy white Christmassy bracts. To ensure plants remain at their prime, keep them snug at around 20C, only watering when the compost feels dry (briefly sit plants in tepid water then allow to drain). Poinsettias are happiest in bright rooms but out of direct sunlight. They dislike draughts or extreme heat, so avoid displaying in doorways or too close to radiators.

Okay, so it isn’t officially a Christmas houseplant, but the blooms of moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) can last for months – and their arching flower stems bring a touch of the exotic to festive houseplant displays. Easy-to-grow, moth orchids love a warm, bright room. Take care not to splash the leaves when watering.

The biggest and showiest of Christmas flowers, amaryllis guarantee wow factor with their giant blooms held high on sturdy flower stems. A warm room will bring bulbs into flower (increase watering as flowers emerge), but moving to a cooler part of the house once in bloom helps to prolong displays. Tall flower stems might need support if they become top-heavy.

Also known as Flaming Katy, kalanchoe is a top choice at Christmas because the blooms of this low maintenance succulent can last for weeks on end, without the need for any pampering. Grow in a bright spot, water sparingly and pinch off spent flowers.

Anthuriums give poinsettias a run for their money at Christmas time, providing a splash of festive cheer with their long-lasting, brightly coloured spathes, offset by glossy green leaves. Available in shades of pink and cream, the flamingo flower – as it’s commonly called – is at its finest in warm, humid rooms, out of reach of direct sunlight. Well-drained compost is a must, and plants should only be watered with tepid rainwater.