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He who plants a garden finds happiness - Chinese proverb
House Plant Survival
We all appreciate house plants in winter. Not only do they bring color, life and often
scent into a room, but the color green has a soothing effect that helps people relax and has been
shown to bring stress levels down a notch or two. Plants also help to remove toxic chemicals from
indoor air and most importantly they keep green thumbs nimble.
But, since "greenhouse" conditions generally do not exist in most homes, it is important to
know a little about the plants you wish to grow and how to meet their needs.
Available Typical Winter House Plants
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Cyclamen - Will flower up to 8 weeks. To keep this plant flowering and healthy,
you need to keep it cool; ideally 50F and no higher than 60F. They
are perfect for a cool room and will do well in an east or west-facing
windowsill. Water sparingly from below by adding water to the saucer
rather than the top of the pot. Do not over-water. |
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Indian azalea - Will flower up to 10 weeks and makes a great house plant. It will
need a room with a steady temperature of around 60F and a bright spot out
of direct sunlight and draughts. It also requires a humid atmosphere, so
it is best to stand it on a tray of moist gravel. Watering is the trick
with these plants. They do not like alkaline water, so use lime-free water.
Because the roots are so full of fibrous roots, water tends to run off, so
soak the pot in a bowl of water until it is thoroughly watered before
allowing to drain. This plant will drop its leaves and flower buds if
allowed to dry out. Can usually water every other day. |
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Kalanchoe - Will flower up to 6 weeks. Flaming Katy or Kalanchoe is a hardy and pretty plant. It can deal
with fluctuating temperatures and even the dry atmosphere of heated
homes. Give it a minimum temperature of 50F and good light and it will
bloom for months without complaint. |
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Christmas cactus - Will flower up to 12 weeks. In full bloom, this plant is
stunning. They do best in a cool, humid room where the temperature
remains fairly steady around 55F; but they will tolerate a maximum
temperature of 75F and a minimum of 50F. You should keep it in a well-lit
position out of direct sunlight, such as near an east or west-facing window.
When not in bloom, mist the leaves. They also do not like alkaline water.
Once buds have formed, avoid moving the plant as this can cause them to drop
prematurely.
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Additional Houseplant Tips
Houseplants are most often killed by overwatering and overfertilizing. 99 percent of indoor
plants prefer to dry out between waterings. There are exceptions, such as the Peace Lily or
Indian azalea; but as a whole, let your plants dry out before watering again.
Providing adequate light is perhaps the next biggest challenge. If your available light
is miniscule, pick plants that can handle it, like dracaenas and bamboos. If you have a
plant that needs more light than is available in the area in which you wish to display it, give it
a vacation in a sunny spot for 3 or 4 weeks before relegating it to its low-light location.
Just like outside, houseplants look best displayed in groupings of uneven number. You can
add depth and interest to a grouping of plants by contrasting foliage colors and textures. Tie the
grouping together by planting them in pots of the same size, color or material.
Most house plants will need humidity to get through the winter in our heated homes. To raise
humidity levels, you can use a humidifier or set your plants on trays filled with gravel and water.
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