I've just discovered a festive plant hack – a Christmas cactus alternative that doesn't need watering, and even works in wreaths

As a full time working mom whose life revolves around gardening, plants and nature, I need my house to be styled at Christmas with the most elegant of festive foliage and plants. It's a non-negotiable.

I am always on the hunt for easy styling ideas and Christmas plant hacks. And I've just found one I need to share: waxed amaryllis bulbs. Why are they so good? They do not require any watering or soil to grow and bloom, simply the right light and temperature conditions. Amaryllis plants are simple to grow even when potted, but these bulbs are completely fuss free and so easy even a total plant novice would have success with them.

They are also perfect for creating seasonal, living Christmas wreaths for inside the home, and we have included a step-by-step guide to making one a bit further down.

How do waxed amaryllis bulbs work?

When a bulb is surrounded by wax, all the moisture, humidity and nutrients are held tightly within the bulb, allowing the plant to grow and flower as it would if potted up in soil.

The bulbs are so large and can store all the energy they need when coated in wax to produce multiple flowers for the holiday season. The colors of the wax are also highly decorative, my favourite being the elegant wax amaryllis bulb with white flowers from Amazon, because I love the green wax shade. All the bulbs also come with small metal stands, making it super easy to position them in a display.

They would work arranged in a cluster with moss and pine foliage to create an ever-changing festive tablescape, or can even be used in a living Christmas wreath.

As an added bonus, you can plant waxed amaryllis bulbs in the ground by simply peeling away the wax. They can be planted outdoors in the spring after the last frost. Be sure to plant them neck deep, with about one third of the bulb above soil level and about 12-15 inches apart.

How to make an amaryllis wreath using waxed bulbs

Tricia Hunt, plant expert and owner of Millstone Nursery, based in Germantown, Tennessee, has given us her expert insight for creating your own Christmas wreath using waxed amaryllis bulbs.

'For this project, I started with a simple grapevine wreath and before adding any other decorations I secured the waxed amaryllis bulbs at the base and neck of the stalk to the wreath using florist wire,' says Tricia. Floristry paddle wire from Amazon is ideal for this job.

'Once they are placed, the base foliage is up to you. I had fresh pine, dried lotus pods, a few ornaments and incense cedar laying around, but any real or dried picks will work just fine. I placed the fan tail willow in the back for a vertical element as well as an anchoring structure for the blooms as they grow. This is a great project for odds and ends of items you may already have but not in large quantities.'

'The wreath doesn’t need a lot of attention,' says Tricia. 'The waxed amaryllis does not need water and does well inside with a little light. Typically, it takes about four to six weeks for the amaryllis to bloom, so you must do a little planning ahead. If you choose to use fresh greenery, the stems will last longer if they are not near an air vent that may dry them out. Any berries would work for the picks or even as the wreath itself.

'Faux berries would probably be the better choice for a wreath in this instance, just because the plant takes weeks to bloom, and the berries might dry out before the flowers come,' advises Tricia.

Tricia Hunt

Tricia is the owner and operator of Millstone Market & Nursery, located in the heart of Germantown, Tennessee. Her sweet, Southern-instilled attention to customer service has grown her one-of-a-kind garden center into a destination.

If you feel inspired to create your own Christmas wreath or decorations this year, you will love our guide to the best scented foliage for Christmas decorations, to ensure you home smells fresh and festive for the whole holiday season.