I feel more pressure choosing December’s Plant of the Month than any other. Because it’s the last one of the year, it feels like it should symbolise the year in some way, or at least round things off nicely. I don’t really know what the perfect plant for that would be, so instead I’ve gone for a classic – the holiday cactus. We always sell Schlumbergeras at this time of year and they always fly off the shelves, so I thought it was about time we celebrated them.

Of course, the growing season (April to September) brings us most of our colour and growth, so it’s lovely when we can enjoy a plant that blooms in winter. As I’m writing this, I’m sitting next to mine (which was given to me as a small cutting by one of you at one of our plant swaps!) and admiring its seven flamboyant, pale pink blooms.

But it’s not only the blooms that make this plant such a winner. It’s also wonderfully easy to care for, especially considering the high drama it can give. And it can even develop a pink or purple sun tan in high light. This doesn’t damage the foliage – it simply gives the new growth a deeper colour. Even beyond that, the leaf shape alone is incredible and bizarre. We truly love this plant and how it brings a bit of ridiculousness to the colder, darker months.