Joanna Gaines' Simple Trick for Keeping Her Plants Happy During the Holidays

Published on December 16, 2025

While plants can certainly add some much-needed greenery to your home during the winter season, you might not have space for all of them once your Christmas decorations come out. But don’t feel bad about relocating your plants—you’ve got Joanna Gaines’ stamp of approval to do so. 

“I love Christmas trees, and I love plants—so to make room for both during the holidays, my laundry room becomes a plant spa for many of the plants that don't want to compete with the Christmas decor,” Gaines wrote in an Instagram post. “They honestly love the little break."

Moving your plants to what Gaines calls a "plant spa" for the winter is the easiest way to make room for all the Christmas decor your heart desires. Here's why this is a good idea during the holiday season, plus tips to ensure proper growth.

Moving Plants for the Holidays

Gaines moves her plants to the laundry room for winter. Using your laundry room often gives you close access to water (and perhaps a sink to soak your plants when they need a little extra hydration). Enclosing them in a smaller room, such as a laundry room, can also help trap heat, allowing your plants to flourish all season long.

The plants in Gaines’ laundry room take over the space entirely; her shelves, counters, table, and floor are filled with greenery. As long as all of the plants have their sunlight needs met, you can place them on the floor or sit them next to the sink. Just be sure to use plant saucers to prevent water from leaking out of the base of your pots.

Factors to Keep in Mind

A laundry room with a window that gets plenty of light is ideal, though you can certainly add a few standing grow lights if you have the space. You’ll be reminded to check in on your plants whenever you do the laundry, and this room is also easy to close off if you have young ones or pets visiting for the holidays. 

Gaines also keeps a humidifier close at hand for her plants that need it. She positions her humidifier so it blasts straight onto the plants that require a humidity boost, keeping them warm and moist through winter.

Tips for Relocating Your Plants

If you have a lot of plants scattered throughout your home, you might want to take pictures of each of them before you move them to one room. This will help you remember where they need to return once your Christmas decorations are put away. In doing so, you'll put your plants back exactly where they received the best growing conditions. 

Keep a close eye on your plants while they adjust to their new home, too. Watch for any plants that need more light, and use an indoor thermometer to keep the room’s temperature ideal for your leafy friends. Chances are, things will go smoothly for your plants, and you’ll decide to give them a staycation every year.