Gardening : Indoor : Colorful Blooms for Winter : Home & Garden Television

In winter when outside plants are dormant, the dominant hue is brown, but inside--even in the dead of winter--you can create and enjoy every color in the rainbow, and in the process make your home come alive. Master gardener Paul James shows you how to grow and sustain indoor plants.

Figure A

Figure B

Bromeliads are some of the easiest bloomers. Very often the most colorful portion of this plant isn't actually a flower but a type of leaf known as a bract (figure A); however, many do produce gorgeous flowers (figure B). There are more than 2,000 species of bromeliads. They may be terrestrial (growing in the soil) or epiphytic (growing on other plants), and this means they either need some sort of potting medium or they don't. All bromeliads can be grown in a rich, organic medium that's fairly loose and drains well. James' favorite mix for bromeliads is a 50-50 blend of leaf mold and builder's sand. Bright light from a southern exposure is best for most bromeliads, but if the colors begin to fade or you notice any leaf burn, simply reduce the amount of light. Water requirements for bromeliads vary enormously. Some prefer to be dry, much like cacti; others must be kept constantly moist. If the leaves form a cup, water should be kept in the cup at all times. The potting medium can be watered as well. Epiphytic bromeliads such as tillandsia require only daily misting.

Figure C

Kalanchoes are succulents that produce small, colorful clusters of flowers and feature leaves that may be scalloped or smooth (figure C). They're fairly easy to grow indoors provided they receive bright, indirect light coupled with warm, sunny conditions and are potted in a sandy soil that's allowed to dry between waterings.

Figure D

African violets are probably the most popular indoor flowering plant in the world (figure D). Two things are interesting about this plant: It isn't a violet, and it's a member of the genus Saintpauilia. African violets are popular because they are easy to grow and they don't require any sunlight to flower. Just start out with a soil mix specifically formulated for African violets, and don't overwater. When you do water, use only room-temperature water; try to avoid getting any water on the leaves, because it will cause unsightly spots. African violets don't like gas: even the slightest presence of cooking gas from a stove or oven can cause flowers to drop off.

Figure E

Oxalis (also known as the shamrock plant) is also very popular and is said to bring good luck, which is why it's sometimes called the lucky plant (figure E). Fairly easy to grow, they need bright, direct light and an all-purpose potting soil; keep the soil evenly moist.

Figure F

Orchids are easy to grow indoors (figure F), and the phalaenopsis, or butterfly orchid, is no exception. It requires a special, well-drained potting mix, which you can probably pick up at your favorite nursery. It also prefers strong but indirect light and does fine at temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees F.

Water orchids once or twice a week and place a saucer under the pot. Allow time for the water to drain from the pot into the saucer, then discard any water in the saucer.

Figure G

Anthuriums are excellent indoor plants, and they are generally easy to grow (figure G). They need a special mix of equal parts potting soil and fir bark. The mix must be kept evenly moist, but the plant thrives in warm conditions and bright, even direct light. The real trick to growing anthuriums is humidity, which should be maintained at about 80 percent. For this reason, anthuriums should be misted at least twice a day or placed near a humidifier.

Figure H

Figure I

Figure J

Cyclamen is known as the poor-man's orchid (figure H), and will bloom profusely indoors in cool temperatures. It prefers bright, indirect light and evenly moist soil, especially during the flowering phase.

Primrose is another prolific bloomer and requires essentially the same conditions as cyclamen. It is a dainty plant that looks similar to the African violet (figure I).

Spathiphyllum (the peace lily) is a popular indoor plant that produces beautiful calla-lily-like flowers (figure J). Spathiphyllums will grow in almost any well-drained soil but prefers a mixture of peat moss, sand and bark.

Also in this Episode

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-602
•	Tips on Planting Asparagus and Rhubarb
•	Colorful Blooms for Winter
•	Strawberries!
•	Special Potting Mixes

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