Author: florist Monika, KvětinyExpres.cz · Updated: October 2026
Winter Window Boxes and Window Décor – Which Flower Goes Outside, and Which on the Windowsill?
Windows are the eyes of a home. In winter, when it gets dark early, we look at them more than ever. Many people ask: "What can I put in a window box in winter?" And we'd add a second, equally important question: "And what should I put on the inside windowsill so it's blooming for Christmas?"
We've divided winter plants into two groups for you: those that can handle the frost outside, and those that put on a show indoors, behind the glass.
Christmas Flowers for Your Indoor Windowsill
These plants love light and the cooler air near a window.
Tip From Florist Monika (Watch Out for Drafts):
"Most Christmas plants (poinsettia, Christmas cactus, orchid) come from the tropics. Never put them in an outdoor window box! They'd freeze within a minute. What suits them instead is an indoor windowsill with plenty of light. But be careful when airing out the room – a cold draft can ruin them. When you open the window wide, it's best to move the plants away for a while."
1. What Belongs on the INDOOR Windowsill? (The Warmth of Home)
A winter window is the perfect showcase for blooming treasures. Here are the best candidates:
Poinsettia – Sensitive to Drafts
This classic requires specific handling. The poinsettia doesn't like drafts or sudden temperature changes. The ideal temperature is 15–22 °C. You will find its care in the article How to Care for a Poinsettia.
Why does it drop its leaves? It's a tropical plant, and cold (or a blast of air while airing out the room) causes it shock and stress, which leads to immediate leaf drop.
Where to put it: For it to thrive, place it in a warm, draft-free spot, ideally at a steady room temperature. It'll do well on a windowsill, but only if the window seals properly and you don't open it directly above it.
Amaryllis – The King of Heights
Thanks to its long stems and giant blooms, it's impossible to miss on a windowsill. You will find its care in the article How to Grow Amaryllis.
In a pot: It needs light so the stem doesn't stretch too much.
Waxed Amaryllis: A hit this Christmas. It needs neither water nor a pot. Just set it on the windowsill and watch it grow.
Christmas Cactus – A Flood of Blooms
The optimal temperature for blooming is 15–20 °C. The cactus does not tolerate drafts (beware of winter airing!) or radiant heat directly from a radiator. You will find details in the article Growing a Christmas Cactus.
Tip: Once it sets buds, don't rotate it!
Orchids (Phalaenopsis) – Exotic Beauty Behind the Glass
In winter, the sunlight is weak, so it won't harm orchids on a windowsill (in summer, it would scorch them). It's the ideal spot to catch enough light for blooming. The ideal daytime temperature is 22–27 °C, and a slight cooling to about 18 °C at night supports blooming. Long-lasting heat and cold drafts are harmful. Check out our orchids >
Cyclamen – A Lover of the Cold
If you have a cooler window (ideally 10–16 °C) in a bedroom or hallway, cyclamen will be the happiest plant in the world there. In warmth, it would finish blooming quickly. You will find its care in the article Cyclamen: The Magic of Christmas.
2. What Belongs in an OUTDOOR Window Box? (Frost-Resistant)
Only hardy survivors and decorations belong outside the window.
Evergreen branches: Branches of Nobilis fir (non-shedding) are the essential base.
Heathers and heaths: If it doesn't freeze too hard, they'll stay colorful for a long time.
Holly (Ilex): Branches with red berries give the window box a festive touch (stick them into the soil next to the evergreen branches).
Silver bush (Calocephalus): A silvery little "shrub" that looks frosted over.
Why Order Winter Plants From Us?
Buying tropical plants in winter is risky.
✅ Warm delivery: Our Airway vehicles are heated. We transport plants in thermal boxes, so they reach you without any temperature shock.
✅ A1 quality: We only select strong, blooming specimens.
✅ Complete service: We can deliver the plant as a gift, with a greeting card.Light up your windows, inside and out. Order your flowers online.
CHOOSE FLOWERING HOUSEPLANTS >
More Christmas bouquets
1 337 Kč
887 Kč
989 Kč
887 Kč
1 249 KčChristmas delivery 2026: We accept online orders until 5 p.m. on 23 December. On 24 December we deliver in the 9–12 time window and the shop is closed. We do not deliver on 25, 26 and 27 December and the shop is closed. From 28 to 31 December we deliver again, on 31 December in the 9–12 time window. We accept online orders for New Year's Eve until 5 p.m. on 30 December. The shop is open until 6 p.m. on 22 and 23 December and on 28–30 December, and until 12 noon on 31 December. On 1, 2 and 3 January 2027 the shop is closed and we do not deliver.
Frequently Asked Questions About Winter Window Boxes and Window Décor
What can I put on the indoor windowsill in winter?
Poinsettia, amaryllis, Christmas cactus, orchid and cyclamen. They need light and a spot without drafts, and cyclamen appreciates a cooler window.
Can I put a poinsettia, cactus or orchid in an outdoor window box?
No. According to Monika, Christmas plants come from the tropics and would freeze outside. They do well on an indoor windowsill with plenty of light.
What temperature suits Christmas plants?
Poinsettia 15–22 °C, Christmas cactus 15–20 °C for blooming, cyclamen 10–16 °C, and orchid 22–27 °C by day with a slight cooling to about 18 °C at night.
Why does my poinsettia drop its leaves?
Dropping green leaves points to a draft or temperature shock, such as a chill during transport. Yellowing and falling leaves are usually caused by too little water, overwatering or dry air from heating.
What can I put in an outdoor window box in winter?
Evergreen branches (Nobilis fir does not shed), heathers, holly with red berries or a silver wire vine. Push the holly into the soil next to the evergreens.
How do you deliver plants in winter so they do not freeze?
Our Airway vehicles are heated and we carry the plants in thermal boxes, so they arrive without a temperature shock.
Monika, KvětinyExpres.cz
Related: Christmas: flowers, Advent wreaths and decorations, Top 5 Winter Flowers for a Vase.
