Round to heart-shaped leaves that are thick and hairy. Flowers are basically five-petalled but because of hybridization they can be semi-double, double, frilly, bicolored. Leaves can also be light green, dark green, variegated, cupped.
LIGHT/TEMP: Average room temperature is best and not below 60° in winter. Give bright indirect light although some sun in winter is ok.
WATERING: Keep soil moist without being water-logged. Using water that is the same temperature as the air (or warmer). Wetting the leaves with cold water will spot them.
NOTES: Use a pebble tray to add humidity. Feed regularly with african violet fertilizer.
A plant which grows from a bulb, usually found in 6" pot. The leaves are long and strap-like and dark green. The flowers are large trumpet like and are held high and usually come four trumpets to a stalk. These flowers are usually found during Thanksgiving and Christmas but can be forced to grow until early spring. Amaryllis come in many colors in the red, orange and pink hues but are also common in white and bi-colors.
CARE: While in bloom keep in normal room temperature and keep evenly moist. When the flowers are faded cut the stalk off and treat the remaining plant as a house plant. Fertilize regularly with a house plant fertilizer to help increase the size of the bulb and ready it to make blooms in the winter. In September reduce watering, stopping it completely in October - store the plant in a cool dark place during which the leaves will naturally die back. Allow the bulb to rest for about a month then repot in fresh soil with 1/3 of the bulb exposed above the soil.
This is the most common variety found potted in 4" to 10" pots. The flowers are in the form of a spathe and spadix. The colorful portion (spathe) coming in white, red, pink, purple, orange and the center protrusion in white or cream color.
LIGHT/TEMP: Give plenty of light. Sun in winter is fine but not during the spring or summer. Grows best in average room temperature.
A dwarf citrus tree which will flower and produce small bitter oranges in the house if given the proper conditions. Can be found year round in nurseries but are particularly abundant in the winter during the Chinese New Year. They can come in a variety of pot sizes but the best size for the house is a 6" or 10". The leaves are oval and glossy; the flowers are white and fragrant
LIGHT: Keep this plant in a sunny location in normal room temperature.
WATERING: Water thoroughly then allow the soil to dry before watering again.
NOTES: Keep away from heat and cooling sources. In order to produce fruit you must brush pollen from one flower to another.
Also called zygocactus. Usually available in 4" through 10" pots. They typically bloom from November through January. The stems are flattened and segmented and a medium green color. Buds appear on the tips of the stems and the flowering period can be prolonged if the plants are kept around 65°. Flower colors are in the red and pink range but can also be found in orange, peach, white, yellow and bicolors.
LIGHT/TEMP: When in bud and bloom keep the soil evenly moist without being constantly wet and give bright indirect light. In late January after blooming has finished allow the plant to rest by reducing temperature to 55° and water infrequently. In April begin to treat the plant as a green houseplant by increasing the watering and light level. When temperatures warm outside (June) place your plant in a shaded area and protect from slugs. The process of pre-flowering will begin as the weather begins to change in the late summer when you will begin to keep the soil on the dry side. Move your plant inside in late September and increase water and temperature.
Flowers are daisy-like and numerous, ranging from ¾ - 1 inch in diameter. Flower colors are shades of blue, red , purple, pink, and bi-color with white.
LIGHT: Bright, indirect light
WATERING: Keep soil evenly moist
6 inch pots of cinerarias are usually 12 - 15 inches tall.
NOTES: They do best in cool temperatures ( 65°) indoors.
Usually found in 6" pots in the winter. The leaves are long and strap-like and dark green. The blossoms are numerous and are held high above the leaves on a single stalk. Orange is the most common color of bloom but yellow is available.
LIGHT/TEMP: Keep in moderate light with no direct sun. Enjoys average room temperature but needs cooler temperatures in winter (50 to 60°)
WATERING: In spring and summer keep the soil evenly moist but in the fall allow the soil to dry between watering.
NOTES: Feed from spring to fall but not in winter.
Leaves are thick,glossy and heart-shaped and are usually green and silver bi-color. Flowers are held high over the leaves on slender stalks. Flowers are five -petal and recurved, can be solid or bicolored, and range in color from shades of red, pinks, purples to white. Size of flower varies with some smaller flowers being fragrant.
A tender primula commonly found in bloom in flower shops and nurseries in the winter and early spring. The most common container is a 4" pot and sometimes a 6" pot. Leaves are oval and serrated and the flower stalks are held high above the leaves. The numerous flowers are fragrant and grow in tiers on the stalks. Flower colors are white, pink, purple and red.
LIGHT/TEMP: Keep these primula in maximum light while in bud and bloom, in a cool spot (60 to 65°).
Usually purchased in the spring but increasingly available in the winter. Found in pot sizes from 4" to 10". These hydrangeas have large heart-shaped leaves that are a medium green color. Flowers can be one cluster per plant to five or more clusters per plant; each cluster has the appearance of a giant ball and is made up of numerous flowers with four petals and is commonly known as a mophead. Some flowerheads are flat and are known of as lacecaps as they are formed by two types of flowers, the four-petalled found around the outer edge of the head and the bead-like flowers in the inner part of the head. Flower colors can be white, blue, pink, and various shades between blue and pink depending on the pH of the soil. Potted hydrangeas can do well as house plants if certain criteria are met.
LIGHT: Keep them in bright indirect light away from heating or cooling units. Sun in the winter is ok.
WATERING: Keep the soil moist as the large flower heads and leaves use alot of water. Do not let them sit in water.
NOTES: When the flowers are gone cut the heads off and treat the plant as a houseplant until the weather is warm enough to plant outside. Cut back the stems leaving two pair of leaves on each stem and plant outside in a shaded spot.
Small, oval,dark green glossy leaves on woody stems with fragrant, waxy, white flowers. Many varieties are available, some with numerous small single flowers and some grafted varieties that have large rose shaped blooms.
LIGHT: Keep in a sunny spot away from drafts.
WATERING: Keep soil evenly moist without being waterlogged. Gardenias are acid-loving so use acid water when watering (mix 1 teaspoon white vinegar with 1 gal. water)>
Do not fertilize while in flower. Usual flowering time is summer but they can be forced to flower at other times by carefully managing temperature. Humidity is essential for best growth and flowering so keep plant on a pebble tray.
There are many varieties of this primrose some of which have large flowers. The leaves are heart-shaped and the flower stalks rise above the leaves. Flowers are fragrant and are clustered at the top of each stalk. Flower colors are red, pink, blue, purple, white and bicolors - usually found at flower shops and nurseries in 4" and 6" pots.
There are many species available at different times of the year, usually during holiday times and most are only hardy in zones 9 to 11. As indoor potted plants they are usually in 4" to 6" pots and are best bought in bud and not in full flower. Flowers come in lavenders, pinks, purples.
LIGHT/TEMP: Light levels should be bright but indirect, although sun in winter is fine. The best temperature for heather indoors is the cooler end of room temperature (60°).
WATERING: Soil should be kept evenly moist without being soggy
NOTES: Keep away from heat or cooling sources as excessively dry air will cause leaves and buds to drop. Can be kept as a dried flower.
Extremely long lasting flowering plant that is drought tolerant. Flower colors come in pastels, white, red & orange - colors are quite vibrant. Can be made to re-flower year round.
Many colors exist that match those of typical outdoor roses - miniature roses will always have small flowers and small leaves but if planted outside they can attain heights of up to 24" tall and equally as wide.
LIGHT/TEMP: Keep in high light, a sunny window is best. Average temperature 50 to 70 degrees in an airy spot will help keep buds from dropping.
WATERING: Water well and allow soil to dry slightly between watering.
A very popular orchid that can grow easily in the house. The leaves are broad, flat and glossy and stay relatively close to the soil. Flowers are large and flat and consist of two large petals, a protruding lip located between them and three sepals (petal-like) behind the two petals. The flower spike is long and slender and can have many buds along the top third of it. Because of intensive hybridization the range of flower size and color is large; colors range from pure white to pinks, lavenders, purples, magentas, yellow and rust with stripes, spots and mottlings.
LIGHT: Place your orchid in a place that receives bright, indirect light.
WATERING: Keep potting material moist. Usually about once a week is sufficient. Potting material should not dry out.
Found in many colors from white, yellow, pink, purple, burgundy, rust, orange and bi-colors. Also many flower styles such as cushion, daisy, button and spider.
LIGHT: Good in bright indirect light
SIZE: Found in 4" and 6" sizes.
NOTES: Flowers will last for several weeks especially if temperature is 65 to 70 degrees.