Thanksgiving is a time for expressing gratitude and bringing loved ones together. As we prepare to celebrate this cherished holiday, why not enhance the warmth and beauty of your home with houseplants?

Houseplants can serve as the perfect natural and festive decor for Thanksgiving, creating a welcoming and festive botanical atmosphere for your guests. In this guide, we'll explore how you can incorporate houseplants into your Thanksgiving decorations, transforming your space into a green and vibrant sanctuary for Thanksgiving. 

The Benefits of Using Houseplants 

Houseplants offer numerous benefits, making them an ideal choice for Thanksgiving decor: 

Enhanced Aesthetics
Houseplants bring natural beauty to your home, adding color, texture, and a touch of life to your decor.

Stress Reduction
Studies have shown that surrounding ourselves with houseplants can help reduce stress and promote a sense of well-being, which can be particularly valuable during the holiday season. 

Endless variety
There are so many different types of houseplants that you’re bound to be able to find one that fits with your home décor or Thanksgiving tablescape. Whether you lean tradition or contemporary, there’s a plant for that. 

Double Duty Party Favors 
Decorating your Thanksgiving tablescape with a variety of your favorite houseplants will let you send your guests home with not only their favorite leftovers from the meal, but also a plant for their home. 

Choosing the Right Houseplants 

When selecting houseplants for Thanksgiving decor, consider the following factors: 

Fall Colors 
Opt for houseplants with warm, autumnal colors such as red, orange, and yellow. Examples include maranta, croton, and calathea. But, let your holiday décor and tablescape be your guide—if you’re using a different color palette this year than traditional fall colors, lean into that! 

Succulents 
Succulents like echeverias and sedums are easy to care for and provide a modern and minimalist touch to your Thanksgiving decor. Small succulents are fairly hardy, and transport easily—these are an especially smart option for your guests if you’re planning to send them home with a plant as a party favor. 

Size and Shape 
Choose houseplants that fit your available space. Tall and slender plants can be especially convenient when trying to decorate a mantel, side buffet, sofa console, or dining table. Choosing plants in compact 2” or 3” pots can make it easier to use decorative holiday dishes as cachepots to adorn your tables and shelves. 

Creative Ways to Decorate with Houseplants

Now that you've selected your houseplants, it's time to get creative with how you incorporate them into your Thanksgiving decorations: 

Table Centerpieces 
Replace traditional floral centerpieces with vibrantly flowering potted houseplants like cyclamen or kalanchoe. Decorate the pots with festive ribbons or small pumpkins for an elegant touch. 

Wall Hangings 
Hang your houseplants in decorative macramé plant hangers or repurpose a wooden ladder to create a vertical garden on your wall. 

DIY Planters 
Create unique planters using seasonal items like hollowed-out pumpkins or gourds. These make for eye-catching and natural Thanksgiving décor that can be composted after the holiday, reducing landfill waste. 

Terrariums 
Assemble small terrariums with miniature succulents, air plants, or tropicals. These can be placed on your dining table or throughout your home, such as on a sofa table in a bright living room or atop a dresser in a bright guest bedroom so your house guests can enjoy plants without having to fuss over them.  

Mantel Displays 
Decorate your fireplace mantel with a variety of houseplants, including ferns, pothos, or snake plants. Add candles and natural elements like pinecones, tree branches, or gourds in complementary colors for a natural and organic harvest vibe. 

Top Choices for Thanksgiving Indoor Plants 

Dracaena 'Song of India'  

These elegant Dracaenas, with their variegated foliage, add a touch of sophistication to your Thanksgiving decor, bringing nature's beauty indoors.

Dracaena 'Colorama'

The rich and warm rusty reds on these Dracaena 'Colorama' are perfect for Thanksgiving decor and they add a bit of vertical lift to the tablescape or mantel as well.

Bromeliad 'Yellow' Guzmania

The earthy yellow blooms of this Bromeliad bring warmth and cheer to your Thanksgiving setting, making it a delightful centerpiece that plays well with the burgundy, purple, mauve, and rusty reds found in the other plants in this collection. 

Red Prayer Maranta

With its captivating, red-veined leaves, the Red Prayer Maranta is not just a plant; symbolically, it can be a visual prayer for a festive and joyous Thanksgiving celebration. 

Croton 'Fireside Flame'

Embrace the fiery hues of Thanksgiving with these Croton 'Fireside Flame'. This variety is one of my personal favorites, showcasing a unique burst of bold reds and oranges. This plant also helps transition nicely to the reds and golds that many folks like to use in their holiday decor after Thanksgiving. 

Croton 'Sunny Star'

The warm yellows of this lovely croton variety complement the browns and earth tones often prominent in Turkey decor and woven baskets. 

Calathea roseopicta 'Medallion' 

These Calatheas, with their intricate patterns and vibrant colors, bring an artistic flair to your Thanksgiving space, turning it into a botanical masterpiece!

Calathea 'Yellow Fusion'

These calathea are a lovely complement to the warm reds and purples in some of the other selections on this list. Or, they can stand alongside the other plants with earthy yellow tones for a monochrome tablescape that compliments natural wood tones nicely.

Calathea 'Dottie'

The burgundy and mauve in the leaves of this calathea variety are luxuriously rich! And, they may very well be one of my favorite plants to use as a bridge between Halloween decor and Thanksgiving decor.

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange'

The Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' adds a regal touch with its orange-hued leaves, symbolizing warmth and gratitude during the Thanksgiving season.

Chinese Evergreen 'Red Siam' (Aglaonema)

The 'Red Siam' Chinese Evergreen, with its rich red tones, infuses a symbolic sense of prosperity and good fortune into your Thanksgiving home, making it an auspicious addition to your Thanksgiving decor. It's also a nice bridge plant to incorporate into winter holiday decor once Thanksgiving ends.

Conclusion 

Decorating with houseplants for Thanksgiving is such a fun way to celebrate and enjoy the beauty of plants in an unconventional way. Their natural beauty, and the sense of tranquility that houseplants bring to your home can enhance the Thanksgiving experience for both you and your guests.

So, this year, consider going green (or yellow, orange, and mauve) with your Thanksgiving decor by letting your houseplants become an essential part of your celebrations. 

FAQs 

1. Can I use any houseplant for Thanksgiving decor, or are there specific plants that work best? 
   • While you can certainly use any houseplant that you think complements your holiday décor, I like to start with plants that have traditional fall colors and shapes. Plants with warm colors like red, orange, and yellow or those with unique textures can complement your Thanksgiving decor beautifully, partly because they mirror the colors many of us are seeing and experiencing outdoors this time of year. 
2. How can I care for my Thanksgiving houseplants to ensure they stay healthy throughout the holiday season? 
   • Ensure you're providing the right amount of water, light, and temperature for your plants by taking care to check on plants in small pots frequently. Plants in 2” or 3” pots, as recommended above, can dry out especially quickly—sometimes after only a few days if your holiday home is kept especially warm and/or dry this time of year. 
3. Are there any houseplants that are toxic to pets? 
   • Yes, some houseplants can be toxic to pets (and people) when consumed. If you have pets or small children you think might be tempted to nibble on your plants, it's essential to choose pet-friendly and non-toxic plants, while keeping a close eye on children and positioning your plants well out of their curious little fingers. 
4. Can I create my own planters for Thanksgiving decor, and what materials can I use? 
   • Yes, you can get creative with DIY planters for your houseplants. You can use hollowed-out pumpkins, gourds, wooden crates, or decorative pots. The possibilities are endless – just ensure your planters have proper drainage so they’re not sitting in water for a period of time. 
5. What if I don't have much space? Can I still use houseplants for Thanksgiving decor? 
   • Absolutely! If you're short on space, consider compact houseplants like succulents or plants in 2” or 3” pots. They’re remarkably more affordable than larger plants, you can place them in just about anything, and place them just about anywhere.