| OK. I confess-I am truly a laissez-faire gardener. Especially when it comes to indoor plants. And yet, right now, in the darkest days of winter, I've got a sunroom full of colorful horticultural denizens, cheerfully putting out blossoms. So this month, I want to celebrate with you my top five favorites for winter bloom. These are the toughest of the tough. Believe me, if they can flower year after year under my care, they'll do the same for you, whether you've got a sunny windowsill or a full-fledged greenhouse.
First Requirement-Plant it Right
All blooming plants need water, light and food. However, I've found that if you pay attention to their soil requirements, most plants are more flexible about the rest of their needs. So I don't skimp on good potting mixes. Check out the gorgeous website (www.kartuzgreenhouse.com) of Kartuz Greenhouses in Vista, California, where owner Michael Kartuz shares an excellent recipe for making your own indoor planting mix. This family-owned nursery also sells a ready-made mix at the site.
Top Five Free-Flowering Favorites
5. Euphorbia milii 'Jerry's Choice'- Two foot tall, and spiky-branched-watch yourself-this red-flowering euphorbia bursts into color when it hits the winter warmth of my sunroom. It would do the same in any greenhouse. E.m. 'Splendens' is smaller and more compact.
4. Meyer lemon (Citrus limon 'Meyer') -This tough old citrus favorite produces wonderfully scented blossoms. I give it acid potting mix and low doses of organic citrus food and the plant shows not a hint of yellowing-except, of course, on the golden fruit.
3. Queen's tears or friendship plant (Bilbergia nutens) - A strappy leafed bromeliad was pressed upon me by an enthusiastic gardener trying to get rid of extra plants, hence its common name. All year on long elegant red arching stalks open to tiny green and yellow-tipped flowers.
2. Begonia 'Cathedral Windows' - Introduced as a summer annual, I thought this begonia's thick rounded leaves would make it a tough houseplant. I was right. Elegant pink-tipped white flower stalks dance above the container all winter.
1. Yesterday, today and tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora) - The star of my sun room is a three-foot (with pruning) woody shrub. Right now, it has covered itself from top to bottom with lightly scented pansy-like purple flowers that fade to lavender and then to white-thus it's common name. Hurrah for brunfelsia-my number-one flowering choice.
The Hartley range of greenhouses offers free standing models with different widths and ridge heights to suit your individual requirements, plus a lean to model of the classic greenhouse is available.For more information ,please visit http://www.hartley-greenhouses.com/ . |
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