How
to Brighten Your Home with Houseplants that Bloom
By Melinda Myers
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[January 09, 2019]
Brighten
your indoor décor with plants that bloom. Whether growing
traditional favorites, flowering tropical plants, or annuals moved
inside for winter; their colorful flowers are sure to elicit smiles
and months of enjoyment. Just provide the right growing conditions
and sufficient light and you will be enjoying months of indoor
color.
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You may have enjoyed an initial burst of color
from traditional favorites like African violets and orchids but
struggled to get them to flower again. Maximize your enjoyment and
their colorful floral display by providing supplemental lighting.
Plants with colorful flowers benefit from brighter or longer periods
of light, especially in winter, than what streams through your
windows. Grow lights, which provide bright, full-spectrum
illumination, are an ideal solution.
You can find many types of grow lights, including simple hanging
lamps, DIY fixtures, and metal stands. These are often relegated to
the rec room or basement but might be less welcome in your living
room. Consider furniture-style light stands like the Bamboo LED Grow
Light Gardens (gardeners.com) that will complement your living
spaces. They’re outfitted with special high-output bulbs, tucked out
of sight and more than twice as bright as most standard LEDs. This
allows you to grow most flowers and even some fruits without the
need to raise and lower the lights to accommodate different plant
heights.
Expand your indoor flowering plant collection with a few tropicals.
Here are just four of my favorites.
Give flowering maple (Abutilon) bright light and cooler winter
temperatures to enjoy their beauty all year long. The solid green or
variegated maple-shaped leaves inspired their common name. Plants
may be compact and upright or vining, while the flowers may resemble
those of hibiscus or dangling lanterns. Select varieties known for
year-round flowering.
Create a focal point with the unique blooms of chenille plant (Acalypha).
The long, fuzzy, cascading flowers resemble chenille yarn. Perfect
as a hanging basket, set upon a plant stand or pruned into tree
form. This plant needs high humidity and plenty of light to maintain
its health and year-round beauty indoors.
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Enjoy the coppery bronze flowers of the shrimp plant (Justica
brandegeana). This long blooming Mexican native performs best in
bright light and high humidity. Use it as a hanging basket, prune
into a small tree or set it upon a plant stand where the cascading
shrimp-like flowers can be enjoyed.
Brighten your fall and winter décor with lipstick vine (Aeschynanthus).
The vivid red flowers emerge from dark maroon structures, resembling
a tube of lipstick. The glossy green foliage adds needed greenery
indoors throughout the year. The more light these plants receive,
the better the floral display.
As always, check the plant tags for specific care instructions.
You can boost your indoor floral display by placing annuals you’re
overwintering, such as geraniums and mandevilla, under lights to
encourage blooming. Give these plants bright light, water thoroughly
as needed, and enjoy the extra color. Prune if necessary, to keep
the plants full and compact.
Incorporating flowers into your living space will boost your mood
and reduce stress while livening your indoor décor.
[Photo courtesy of Gardener’s Supply
Company]
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including
Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow
Anything” DVD series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio
segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds &
Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardeners Supply for her
expertise to write this article. Her web site is
www.MelindaMyers.com. |