Five of the best indoor winter flowering plants

With the holidays coming up, adding some fun to our indoor spaces with flowering plants can be a welcome break from the increasingly gray landscapes outside. Flowering plants help us liven up the winter months and create a more festive and cozy home. Poinsettias are a popular Christmas flower, but if you want to expand beyond this traditional plant, there are plenty of other flowers you can choose for your holiday flowers indoors. Here are some additions and substitutions to consider when gifting or decorating indoor plants for the holidays.

Christmas cactus

For a choice of colors in your flowers, nothing beats a Christmas cactus. There are a variety of colors to choose from, starting with white to light red And purpleIt is non-toxic to both humans and pets. Christmas cactus are easy to care for, requiring watering when the top of the soil is dry while in bloom, and less frequently thereafter. When the cactus is not flowering, you can keep it in a shady place and water it lightly about once a week. During the shorter days in late fall and winter, the cactus will begin to prepare itself for flowering. Starting six to eight weeks before you hope to get some flowers, keep the plant in the dark for at least 10 to 12 hours to help encourage it to flower. You may also want to keep the plant’s temperature below 65 degrees – giving it some time in a darker, cooler place like a basement will help it produce a large, showy array of flowers for the holidays.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis They are another popular holiday choice due to their tendency to bloom in the winter if kept indoors – but keep in mind they are toxic to pets. These bulbs will sprout in late fall on a windowsill and require less light than other types of flowering bulbs, making them ideal winter houseplants. If you keep the soil around the bulb moist while keeping the stem and the top of the bulb dry where it protrudes from the soil, the amaryllis will flourish. You can also choose not to pot the bulbs Wax Alternatively, these bulbs will only grow for one season in their wax, and are difficult to replant because covering them with wax prevents the bulbs from growing roots. To make a waxed amaryllis bulb, simply use a double boiler to melt some paraffin wax and then paint the wax onto the bulb. Then, just as with potted amaryllis, place the bulb in a warm location with access to some daylight to encourage it to flower.

The whiteness of the paper

The whiteness of the paper They are snow-white flowering plants that grow from bulbs. They do well as houseplants and don’t need a lot of light to flower, but keep in mind they are toxic to pets and can be fatal, especially if the bulb is ingested. Keep their roots moist either in soil or in a vase, and they will bloom for about two weeks once they open. The paperwhite plant will do well as long as it is not exposed to freezing temperatures and can thrive even in indirect sunlight.

fruit garden

fruit garden They are another houseplant that will give you showy blooms around the holidays. Orchids are non-toxic and safe for pets and children. Since orchids often require a lot of care to get them to the point of blooming. (If you want faster results, you can purchase Prepared orchids). They need warmer temperatures, around 65 degrees, and if you don’t get a lot of natural sunlight in your area — at least six hours a day — you should use a grow light to keep them happy.

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe The plants will bloom into the winter and come in a variety of colors from white to light pink. They are toxic to pets, but they are known for being low-maintenance houseplants that don’t require a lot of care. They prefer plenty of light, so if they don’t get at least eight hours of full sun a day, adding a grow light may help keep them thriving. To encourage flowering, Kalanchoe needs at least six weeks with 14 hours of darkness per day. Aside from minimal light requirements, they need moist soil and regular indoor temperatures to stay healthy.