| During the winter months there is nothing like a potted flowering plant to brighten your house and your spirits. |
African Violet
African Violets are one of the most beloved houseplants. they are easy to grow and they adapt very well to home-growing conditions. They will thrive in a an average temperature of 73° during the day and not below 60° at night. In nature african violets live in a moist, humid African jungle. They prefer even more humidity than most plants.
The best way to “create” this growing condition is to set plants in a deep pan or saucer on an inch layer of pebbles filled with water to just below the pot. |
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The best way to water African Violets should is from below or above with a watering can that has a long spout. The long spout lets you reach inside the foliage and wet the soil without splashing water on the leaves. As with other houseplants, always use room temperature water.
One of the reasons these little plants have been enjoyed for decades is they don’t require, great deal of sun. An east or west window is best. In the summer many African Violets can grow well in a northern exposure. To keep the leaves of your African Violets free of dust.
African Violets prefer a rich soil. Special soil mixes are designed for them. As with other soils, this mixture has been specifically prepared for maximum growth. When potting or transplanting an African Violet, be sure the soil is not packed too tightly as they like a well aerated soil and thrive in a more roomy pot.
African Violet should be fertilized with African Violet fertilizer, specifically created for them. This plant food should be applied periodically in amounts specified on the label and when repotting, transplanting or starting new plants from cuttings. |
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Calceolaria " The Pocketbook Plant"
Calceolarias are tropical American plants with unusual numerous polka-dotted, yellow and red pocketbook flowers .
Calceolarias thrive best in a cool atmosphere with plenty of ventilation. Place them in a west or south facing window. Calceolaria prefers to be a little on the dry side, and be sure to water from the bottom. A bit of fertilizer every couple of weeks will add color and size to the flowers. |
Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a small but diverse genus of plants. Cyclamen persicum has sweet scented small (½ to 3/4 inch) flowers that are produced on long stems, held upright above the foliage. It is a tuberous perennial with heart shaped leaves common to cyclamen
You can find cyclamen in shades of pink, red or white. Even the cyclamen’s foliage is attractive, often having silver marbling on the top sides of the leaves. The entire plant, when in flower, reaches only about 8 inches high.
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| Cyclamen does best planted in a soil-based potting mix, with the top of the tuber just slightly above the soil line. When leaves are present, the plant is actively growing. Water whenever the soil feels dry. Avoid getting water on the crown of the plant. As the flowers begin to fade, gradually allow the plant to dry out for 2-3 months. It's going into a dormant stage and any excess water will cause the tuber to rot. New growth will start to appear around September. At this point, resume watering and feeding. Bring it back indoors before the cold weather. High humidity during winter, is important. Keep the cyclamen on a tray of water with a layer of pebbles or something else to form a shelf for the cyclamen pot to sit on. Do not let the cyclamen itself sit in the water. Feed with a low-nitrogen fertilizer every couple of weeks while in full leaf.
Cyclamen thrive in bright, indirect light in the winter. While your plant is dormant during the summer, keep it in a darker location. Cyclamen generally go dormant for the summer. They don’t like the lack of rain and excess heat, so they take a siesta. When they go into dormancy, they prefer a cool, dark spot in the house, with good circulation.
You can repot with fresh soil and a slightly larger pot while the plant is dormant. Begin watering again in September. By then you’ll probably be seeing new growth starting. Make sure you bring the pot back indoors before a frost.
Cyclamen are wonderful houseplants as they stay in bloom for a long period providing color during the winter! |
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Gardenias
The gardenia has one of the most intoxicating fragrances of all flowers! It has attractive dark green, glossy, oval leaves and creamy white waxy bloomst. The Gardenia originated in China and Japan. Indoors, your gardenia will want full sun but outdoors it will be happier in partial shade, so consider placing it on the east or west side of your home.
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Gardenias prefer well-drained, acidic soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. whether it is potted or in the ground. During the day, gardenias prefer temperatures from 68 to 74 degrees with a low of 60 degrees at night. Moderate humidity will assure a healthy plant, but don't let the roots get soggy. That can cause the flower buds to drop, as will soil that is too dry. Adding peat moss to the soil will benefit your plant by helping it to retain moisture as well as adding acidity to the soil.
While the gardenia likes humidity, avoid misting the leaves. Water droplets can cause fungal growth on leaves. This is important to keep in mind if you plant your gardenia outside. You won't want to place it under plants that will drip down onto its leaves. You must also be careful that your plants are not crowded too close together. A lack of air flow will also cause fungal issues.
When you water indoor plants, check to see if the top inch of soil is dry by poking your finger into the soil and then give your plant a good soak. Any water that accumulates in the tray under the pot should be drained out. It is a great idea to place gardenias in a pebble filled tray. Water can be poured over the pebbles to provide moisture and humidity without excessive water being absorbed into the soil.
Monthly fertilizing should be done from April through November. Be sure to prune older gardenia stems right after the flowers stop blooming. This will encourage new growth as well as more frequent blooming. |
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Orchids
Orchids are fabulous house plants and growing them are not as hard as you may believe. Orchids prefer an east or west facing window or room that has bright light, but not direct sunlight and temperatures above 60 degrees.
Orchids need moist air. Placing pots on wet gravel in trays is a good idea. Keep 1/2 inch of water in the gravel....this will evaporate and provide humidity. Using a mister to give your plants an occasional spritz will also provide the moisture your plants need. |
| Air circulation is important. Open windows when the weather is warm, or place a small fan in the growing space. For more information and photographs of orchids, including potting tips, visit our Orchid Page. |
Primrose
Other than Pansies, what says spring more than the Primrose? The Primrose is an unusually vivid spring blooming perennial flower. Primroses shout out in bold yellows, reds, pinks and blues. The flower stalks of primroses shoot up from low, ground-hugging rosettes of thick green leaves, staying in bloom for weeks. Primroses will brighten any shady corner. |
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They look especially good massed under a tree or in a rocky setting. Primroses are a good choice for the north side of a house or as an early spring ground cover under foundation shrubs.
Always provide some shade for your Primroses, they enjoy normal spring light levels but summer sun can prove rather overpowering. When growing Primulas indoors, place them in a cool, bright room and reduce light levels in the summer. Dead-head spent flowers frequently and feed regularly for best flowering performance. Water freely during flowering, less so at other times of year, letting the plant begin to dry out between waterings. Remove any damaged or diseased leaves immediately. |
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Spring Bulbs – Crocus, Tulips, Hyacinth and Daffodils
Growing bulbs indoors lets you enjoy the colors and fragrance of spring when it's still months away. The blooms brighten your house and let you know spring is on the way.
Place the plants in a cool spot where temperatures at night are about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Place them in a bright but not sunny location. The warm temperatures in sunshine will speed flower development and shorten the life of the flowers. Keep the plants moist but not standing in water.
After blooming, most people discard potted bulbs. If you wish to plant them in the garden, move the plant to a sunny location. Keep them wet enough so that leaves are able to mature and dry gradually. When the tops have died, remove the dry foliage and soil from around the bulbs. Store them in a dry place until fall, then plant them outdoors in the garden. Discard any bulbs that have been forced in water such as hyacinths or paperwhite narcissus. |
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