Flowers can help beat the blahs in every corner of your house

Everyone should find a way to beat the blahs. For me, the best medicine to cure the post-holiday blues is to hit the post-holiday sales - in the plant department! And not for the red and green, the twinkling little white lights and candles. I’m on the prowl for pinks and yellows, purples and oranges. You can’t have the blahs when surrounded by the scent and colors of spring.

Anticipating the post-holiday rush, growers start seed in time to supply colorful flowering houseplants to the winter market. A quick round of local garden centers and supermarket florists revealed an abundance of everything, with promises of more to arrive any day now. Tropical plants, orchids and ferns, cyclamens, kalanchoes, bulbs already in bloom or set up ready to go - all crying "Buy me!"

What really grabbed my attention was a Home Depot display of primroses, trays of them piled on top of each other, their rich colors shining like jewels against the gray walls and floor of the warehouse store. These little dears were demanding to be bought, and not just one at a time, but by the supermarket cartload! They made me smile. I wanted one of each color at least and I splurged!

The wonderful thing about these little plants is that you can tuck them in everywhere, beating the blahs in every corner of your living space. If you provide the basic care they desire most of the time, you can move them around to cheer you up where you most need cheering. From the bathroom counter to the top of your laundry machine, to the top of your bookcase, beside your computer - they provoke a smile every time you look! And providing their basic care is easy during winter months.

They like to be cold, and will do well in a cool setting. Think of them as early spring plants, happy in damp soil and cool, misty air. If you like to drop the temperature of your house at night, your primroses will be extra happy houseguests.

Growing Flowers Indoors

Nature Hills Nursery

Question: When you live in an apartment without any backyard and you would like to grow flowers indoors.
What types of flowering plants will thrive indoors?

Answer: African violets have long been a favorite houseplant. Also, several relatives of the African violet make excellent flowering houseplants. For example, Episcia are fibrous-rooted trailers grown for metallic-toned and delicately veined foliage. "Cyznet" has unique fringed white flowers with purple spots, and "Acajou" has bright red flowers. They do not require as much light as African violets and make attractive hanging baskets.

The miniature Sinningia are charming in terrariums or in 2- to 3-inch pots. Flower colors include red, lavendar, and white. Streptocarpus or Cape primrose provides an outstanding show of flowers. Hybrids are available in white, purple, and pink. They do well in a semi-shaded window or under lights, growing to about 10 inches tall.

A wide selection of other plants provides exotic flowers in the home. Abutilon (flowering maple) has hollyhock-like blooms of orange, pink, white, red, or salmon. A shrub-like plant, it is not a true maple, but gets its name from its maple-like leaves. It needs a sunny window to do well. Aphelandra (zebra plant) has shiny, deep-green leaves prominently veined white and a spectacular yellow inflorescence. It requires filtered or diffused sunlight. Many common patio plants will continue to grow and bloom indoors if given sufficient light and nutrients. Fuchsia, impatiens, begonia, geranium, lantana, and browalia are among these that do well. Just try some new houseplants to add color to your apartment!

Growing Herbs Indoors ~ or on the Windowsill

Herbs can also be grown indoors for year-round enjoyment. Growing herbs indoors is no more difficult than growing them in the garden.

Indoor plants will need essentially the same conditions as herbs grown outdoors -- sunlight and a well-drained soil mix that is not too rich.

Select a south or west window. Different herbs have different light requirements, but most need a sunny location; in winter, "grow lamps" or fluorescent lamps are helpful in supplementing light.

Annual herbs can spend their full life cycle in a pot indoors. Perennial herbs, however, will do better if you place them outdoors during the summer. Plunge the pot in soil up to its rim, or keep it in a protected location on the porch or patio.

To prevent the loss of foliage and avoid plant damage, bring herbs indoors before frost. A light frost is helpful on mint, chives, and tarragon; it tends to induce a rest period and make the resulting new growth firm and fresh.

You can maintain an indoor herb garden indefinitely by periodic light feeding, yearly repotting, renewing annuals, seasonal moves outdoors for perennials, and occasional pruning. Water plants as needed. Use several planters or a divided one to allow for different moisture needs of plants.

Today's Houseplant - Bougainvillea

Native to South America, Bougainvillea are vigorous-growing subtropical plants that may be grown outdoors in frost-free climates (hardiness zones 9 to 11); elsewhere, they can be grown as house plants.

The colorful bracts are borne from March through October and beyond. Individual bracts may last on the plant for three or more weeks. In colder climates, bougainvillea can be grown outdoors in the summer, but need to be moved to a sunny indoor location before the temperatures drop below 50 degrees F.

Bougainvillea plant care tips:

• Placement
To encourage it to re-bloom it will need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight every day during the spring and summer. In the fall and winter, bright, indirect light is best. Normal room temperatures are suitable during the spring and summer or active growth period. During the winter rest period it should be kept cool, but not below 50 degrees F.

• Watering
Water actively growing plants moderately, providing enough to water moisten the soil thoroughly. Allow the soil in the pot to partially dry out between watering. During the winter rest period, water amounts should be reduced. The potting soil should not dry out completely, but should not be wet. In the spring, as active growth begins, resume watering more regularly.

• Fertilizing
Begin applications of flowering-houseplant fertilizer as soon as growth starts in early spring, and continue once every two weeks throughout the flowering period.

• Repotting
Repot in Spring. Do not prune the roots too severely.

Last tip
Bougainvillea often lose some or all of their leaves for a short period in the winter. And when conditions are not right for them indoors, leaf loss is likely to occur at any time. This is not cause for alarm. They will set flowers and re-grow these leaves when the brighter days of early spring arrive.

How to get your Christmas cactus to flower

Christmas cactuses are easy to grow but are sometimes difficult to get to bloom. A medium light intensity and a soil high in organic matter are recommended. Do not allow the plant to dry out, water when the soil surface begins to feel dry. Your plant may be kept drier in fall. Any fertilizer may be used according to label directions. Cool temperatures or long nights are required to induce blooming. The plants bloom when given night temperatures near 55 degrees and day temperatures below 65 degrees.

Flowering is related to day length and night temperatures. The temperature range for flower bud development is 55 to 60 degrees for a six week period. If temperatures remain in this range they will develop buds regardless of day length. If temperatures get above that range, the plant will need 13 hours of uninterrupted darkness each night. This can be done by placing them in a completely dark room, or covering them for the recommended time, or longer, each night with a dark piece of cloth.

Or just keep the plants in total darkness like a closet till buds develop.
For holiday blooms this usually means in late September to mid October.

During flower bud formation, stop fertilizing and only water enough to keep the leaves from becoming shriveled. Once buds do form then you can keep the plant in normal light and temperatures. Keep it evenly moist and fertilize every other week with a mild fertilizer solution.

The schedule of the ideal life of a Christmas Cactus

September to October - Plant prepares to flower
Reduce length daylight hours. Keep on the dry side and cool (55 to 60 degrees F) until flower buds form. Then increase water and temperature.

November to December - Flowering
Water normally. Temperature no less than 55 degrees F.

January - Flowering

February to March - Resting
55 degrees only infrequent watering

April to May
Water thoroughly when potting mix begins to dry out.

June to August
Place outdoors in a shady spot.

How to garden in a bottle

A bottle garden is fun to make because your imagination holds the key as to how your miniature “jungle” will turn out. When planning your creation, pick plants with different colors and textures but most importantly, pick plants that you really like! Also take into consideration how big the plants will get. It is better to choose smaller plants so you don’t have to replace them very often.

Bottle gardens make a great decorative addition to your houseplant collection, and are very low maintainance. More tips on bottle gardens

Anthurium - A tropical flower as volcano bonsai

Anthurium is the most popular and long lasting of all tropical flowers. This premium red Anthurium, from anthos, meaning flower, and oura, meaning tail, refers to the many tiny-like spadix. These bright red colored beauties (currently in bloom) are the most well known the world over. Real Hawaiian lava rock is hand selected to provide a happy home for your Anthurium.

These 3 years old Anthuriums have been specially hybridized for use as houseplants due to their trouble-free growing requirements. With reasonable care your volcano bonsai should last for years.

Place in a bright window or on a countertop without direct sun and best to keep a small amount of water in a saucer/tray. Fertilize monthly at 1/2 strength with a soluable fertilizer found at your local garden shop or on Bonsai Boy of New York's website.

Tropicals as house plants

There are more than 250 commonly grown tropical house plants in the foliage industry. Most times homes and offices are environments that are poorly suited to the needs of tropical plants. But there are many varieties of tropical house plants that can withstand indoor conditions. You need to choose tropical house plants with a healthy foliage and those that have a young growth. For success with tropical house plants, make sure the environmental conditions that your home has, resembles those that the tropical house plant requires.

Tropical house plants require light, water, temperature, humidity, ventilation, fertilization, and soil in correct proportions for proper growth of tropical house plants

Tropical plants grown in full sun have so called sun leaves that are structurally different from the leaves of tropical plants grown in shade. Make sure your tropical house plants are located in an area that duplicates the light where the tropical house plant was grown. The process of acclimatization of the tropical house plants is gradually reducing or increasing the light levels of exposure. To acclimate the tropical house plants, correctly locate the new tropical house plants in a high light area in your home, and then gradually move the tropical house plants to a permanent darker location over a one to two month period.

Tropical house plants thrive when the moisture level is balanced and in order to raise the humidity for your tropical house plants, group your tropical house plants close together.

How to add tropical feelings to your backyard with Tropical Flowers

How to grow a pineapple indoors

Tropical fruits such as pineapple and passionfruit make excellent house plants. Pineapples are especially easy to cultivate. The growth comes from the top leafy part of the fruit. To remove the top growth from a ripe pineapple, give it a quick twist-and-pull motion.

Allow the top to air-dry for a day or two, then place it in a glass of water until roots form. Once the foliage begins to grow and roots have formed, plant the top in a rich, fast-draining potting soil. Pineapples are bromeliads and appreciate being misted frequently.

Additional pineapple facts:
fruit contains a protein-digesting enzyme, bromelain,
which can be used as a meat tenderizer
Pina fibers comes from the leaves
grown in Hawaii, Cuba and Puerto Rico
native to tropical South America
wild pineapples are pollinated by hummingbirds,
but cultivated ones produce fruits without the flowers being pollinated


The beautiful passionfruit grows easily from seeds.
Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis) is a vigorous climber that requires full sun.
Its flowers are extraordinary.

If you grow passionfruit indoors, try training it over a hoop to create a wreath. The plant's tendrils will wind around any surface. Start the wreath by training the vine from the bottom: the plants won't bloom if the vine is headed in a downward direction. Save the seeds of a passionfruit to start your own vine.

Holiday Cactus

The popular holiday cactus is a true cactus, even through its appearance is different from the desert cactus forms. Native to the Brazilian rain forest, these plants have wide, flattened green stems that look like leaves (called segments) and produce colorful flowers.

Hybridization has so extended the bloom period of these plants that the names Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter Cacti only give an indication of when they will start to bloom. One way to tell the difference between the species is to look at their segments.

The "Thanksgiving" cactus (Zygocactus truncatacor) is also called the "lobster claw" cactus because the leaf segments have points at the tips of the segments; the "Christmas" cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) segments have smooth edges. The Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) has bristles on the sides of segments and at the tip of the terminal segments.

Red is no longer the only color found in holiday cactus. The color range extends from pure white forms through plants with varying shades of red and pink. You can also find cactus with peach, salmon, purple and orange flowers. Gold forms have also appeared recently.

Growing Cactus Indoors

Growing cactus indoors, under lights!

It is recommended that a minimal level of illumination to grow Cactus indoors is around 15 watts per square foot (150 watts/ sq. meter). Fluorescent lighting should be placed 12 - 15 inches (28 - 35 cm) from the top of the plants.

High Intensity Discharge Bulbs should be placed considerably further away (depending on wattage). Plants do much better if the day length is kept more or less constant, depending of course on the season. Be sure and use a timer set to 12 - 18 hours a day. Most plants grow best if the light, dark period matches that of their native habitats.

When using artificial lights, be sure and use reflectors to catch and concentrate as much light as you can on the individual plants. For maximum growth, your plants should be rotated about every two weeks to assure even illumination.

Cactus, like most plants are more sensitive to certain frequencies (colors) of light. This is usually towards the blue and red parts of the spectrum. For best results use a grow light type of tube for fluorescent lights, or for killer results, step up to a metal halide. These kind of lights produce more light in the colors that the plant can use.

Metal Halide fixtures also produce a great deal of heat and some UV radiation, your Cactus will love it. These fixtures have proven to work well in an indoor environment as they have been used by "closet" growers successfully for years.


How to create your own desktop Cactus Garden

Book of the Day - Indoor Gardening

Indoor Plants for Beginners


Here, in words and brilliant color photos, are the basics of indoor plant care, presented especially for those who have little or no experience tending plants. Of primary importance is proper location—the best rooms in the house for specific plants.

You will be instructed about flora, native to different climates, that have varying sunlight requirements. Some hardy specimens are immune to drafts and temperature changes that will wither a more delicate plant. You will also find advice on when and how to water plants, as well as information on fertilizing, re-potting, propagating, and protecting against plant pests and diseases. A beautifully illustrated directory of more than 100 plants follows, showing everything from cacti to orchids. Each example is labeled with its common name and botanical name, and includes brief advice on care. Poisonous house plants that may pose a danger to pets and children are also labeled. The book's additional features include ideas for attractive and functional planters, advice on creating colorful plant arrangements. You will find nearly 300 color photos.

How additional lightning will help your house plants

House Plants & Lightning

Lighting for house plants. It is an important thing to consider when starting your inside garden, how much light does the plant need? This is important because most houses wouldn't have enough light to handle a plant that needs a lot of light. So, the lighting in your house becomes essential even before you start your inside garden or bringing any plant into your house, because the amount of light
in your house will determine what types of plants would grow there. So make sure to consider this before bringing any plant into your house. If you won't use artificial lights, then you should select plants that require medium to low light. Here are a few other tips regarding lighting in the house:

Because your plants will turn to the light, you should rotate the plants, this will promote an upright growth. There are a few ways you can tell if your plant is getting enough light or not. If they aren't getting enough light, they usually will have small leaves, thin stems, and the color of the plants will be lighter than usual. Artificial lighting, with a fluorescent lamp, etc, can be used to supplement a house with limited natural lighting. Condition your plants when you buy them.
You have to do this because the place where you buy the plant will usually have more lighting than your home and the plant can go into a shock of sorts and lose it's foliage.

Indoor Light Garden

This 3-tier Deluxe Light Gardens are fitted with extra-wide fixtures so they will distribute light more effectively to your plants. The fixtures raise and lower smoothly on vertical slides and have their own on-off controls. Heavy duty, waterproof polypropylene trays (24in long, 20in wide, 1in deep) make it simple to water pots all at once from the bottom, and the trays clean up with ease.

:: Easy Care House Plants ::

The following is a guide to raising indoor, low maintenance plants:


Spider plants are popular indoor plants and ideal for the busy student because of their ability to tolerate all kinds of neglect. Known for its long, slender leaves, they are typically hung in baskets near windows or decks because they prefer indirect sunlight. Spider plants are also good for small, enclosed places because they filter the air and absorb toxins.

Cacti are very popular because of the minimal amount of care they need. They are best suited to areas exposed to sunlight, such as outside or on a windowsill. Overwatering a cactus is the biggest problem; thus, it should be done sparingly.

The most common mistake you can make is watering. You need to know the water requirements. A plant is a living thing and it doesn’t operate on a schedule. Try touching the soil with your fingertips. It will tell you if it’s very wet or dry.

Cherry tomatoes make ideal hanging plants. They require good lighting and lightweight soil that drains well. If the soil is packed too tightly, there will be problems with the root development. Similar to herbs, adding an inch of gravel to the bottom of the pot will ensure good drainage. They should be watered thoroughly, but not too frequently.

Plants are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also essential to life. They filter toxins from the air, heal through their medicinal properties, provide food and shelter and contribute to one’s well being.

If you put hard work and positive energy into your gardening efforts, the plants will respond well to that. I believe that they will grow better and in return, you benefit from their prosperous beauty. This will motivate you to continue working and improving the garden that is constantly surrounded by positive energy. The positivity will surely rub off on you. I have found it to be a very beneficial cycle.