Christmas trees aren't the only botanical addition to your holiday decor. Ponies, Christmas cacti and amaryllis can add color and warmth to your home during and after the holiday season.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis are available year-round, but they are often grown in containers such as flowering plants in winter.

As with all plants, start with quality when choosing amaryllis.

Choose a fixed bulb with no visible defect. The pot is in well-drained soil with a third of the bulb protruding above the soil line and the width of your thumb between the bulb and the edge of the bowl.

Always water the soil, not the neck of the bulb. Water the water well after the pot and keep the soil moist until flowering. During flowering, increase irrigation.

Place the lamp in a sunny and warm window with temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees. Once flowering has started, move it to a cooler location 40 to 60 degrees and rotate it so that the flower stalk does not lean toward the light and become twisted.

Expect to see flowers six to eight weeks after placing the pot. After flowering - some stems can produce up to six flowers - they cut their stems at their base and keep the soil moist for the rest of the winter.

Once the risk of frost has passed, place the plant outside in a sunny place.

Leave the leaves until they are brown and crisp. Cut the leaves again and let the lamp "sit" in a cool, dark place for two months in the fall before starting the process again. Water restriction when the bulb enters this rest period.

Cactus

The Christmas cactus and the Thanksgiving cactus are home to South American forests. The Christmas cactus usually has smooth stem bands and the Thanksgiving cactus has hook-shaped appliques in each room.

Each of these cacti prefers bright indirect light. Too much sun can cause the leaves to turn yellow. Current household temperatures are good and the soil should be kept constantly moist but not submerged.

During the fall, stop fertilizing and give the plants just enough water so that the stems do not shrink to promote the formation of flower buds.

If possible, move the plants outside in the summer to a shady place. Leave the plants outside until there is a threat of frost.

Usually the plants will have enough cold nights in the range of 50 to 55 degrees that the flower buds have formed. However, if they don't, subjecting the plants to nights longer than 12 hours and temperatures between 59 and 69 degrees can also generate flowers. ... Christmas in the Justice family told the story of two houses this year.

While the first couple, Governor Jim Jim and his wife Cathy, lived primarily in their home in Lewisburg, Cathy continued the role of the traditional first lady - decorating the governor's palace in the grandeur of Christmas.

At the family home in Greenbrier County, Cathy said Christmas was taking a "snapshot." She said that every square inch of the house was covered in bright lights, a tradition that the ruler started about 15 years ago.

Cathy said, "Griswalds was ashamed of shame." It's the strangest thing I've ever seen.

Inside, the family tree is decorated with paper patterns and handcrafted jewelry made by the couple's children when they were young.

"Our kids are 32 and 36, so you know how old they are and learn to deal with paper jewelry for about 30 years," said Cathy laughing, reflecting memories of sweetheart holidays with her children, Jay and Jill Justice.

At the Governor's Palace, Cathy felt responsible for creating Christmas memories for each West Virginia, she said.

"We think Charleston Palace should represent the Christmas tree for everyone in the state," she said. That's what we feel, and we want people to feel a part of it.

Cathy has chosen a traditional approach to holiday decor.

Upon entering the palace, the last two guards (giant nutcrackers), visitors are greeted by a 15-foot Rockefeller pine tree decorated in red and gold. A small dwarf sits at the end of a handrail wrapped in a crown.

The tree called "Christmas is great".

Cathy brought in employees from Depot's Greenbrier Christmas store, a store open year-round. Store manager Joyce Cruz and her assistant, Tammy Wigal, are not interior decorators. However, the first lady said that she felt they understood her style.

"Tammy knows how traditional I am