| Name |
Growing Conditions |
Comments |
Abutilon - Flowering
Maple
Abutilon species |
55-75°F (min 50°F). Full sun. Water
moderately, do not allow to stand in water. Keep nearly dry in winter. Fertilize all year,
more heavily in summer. |
Blooms through summer with pendant,
bell-shaped flowers. The foliage is often variegated and sometimes dappled with yellow or
white. A very vigorous grower. Can grow up to five feet. Watch for scale and whitefly. |
Bougainvillies -
Paper Flower
Bougainvillea species |
60-70°F (50°F in winter). Water
moderately. Let plant approach dryness before watering. Keep nearly dry in
winter. Requires moist air. Fertilize in late spring and in summer. |
Colorful bracts around tiny lowers.
can grow very alrge, prun early spring to keep managable and prune after flowering.
Will not bloom if light is too low. Poor drainage, over-watering or standing in
water will cause root rot. |
Bromeliads
Ananas species (Pineapple), Guzmania
species, Aechmea species (Living vase plant) |
60-75°F. Prefers high humidity, mist in
warm weather. Use rainwater if possible. Use a light soil that drains easily. Requires a
lot of sun and high temperatures to bloom. |
Exotic foliage with showy flowers. Fairly
easy to grow indoors. Most have reservoir at base of leaves from which they feed and
water. Soil needs to be watered when it becomes very dry. Most plants die after flowering.
Overpotting and overwatering can cause root rot. |
Camellia
Camellia species |
40-60°F (max 65°F). Maintain
humidity. Water well and discard drainage, but keep nearly dry for six weeks after
flowering. |
Shiny, evergreen leaves with showy flowers
in shades of white, pink, or red in spring. Great care must be taken for this plant
to grow well. A cool room with good air circulation is important. Prune after
flowering. Pinch back new stem tips to improve form. |
Ornamental pepper
Capsicum species |
70-80 °F (55-60 °F in winter). Water well.
Discard excess drainage. Maintain humidity. Fertilize when plant is growing actively or
flowering. |
Ornamental fruits appear during winter,
changing from green to yellow to bright red as it matures. Will fruit again if pruned back
and put outside during summer. Mist plants while flowering to encourage fruit. |
Croton
Codiaeum variegatum |
75-80°F (65°F nights). Maintain humidity.
Keep soil moist. Fertilize three times a year in spring, midsummer and early fall. Keep
out of drafts. |
The varied shapes and colors make it an
attractive indoor plant. Grows to three feet high, its leaves up to 18 inches. Foliage is
pink, orange, brown or white, depending on variety. Needs a sunny and warm area. Protect
from dry air and dry soil. Do not overwater. |
Flamingo Flower
Anthurium species |
70-75°F (55°F nights). Needs moist air.
Many require a humidifier. Water well and discard drainage. Fertilize once a season,
except winter. Prefers filtered sun |
Has long lasting red or orange blossoms.
Well-known tropical flower, commonly used in weddings. Can grow very large. Is a popular
cut-flower. Mound soil around high crowns and remove aerial roots when grooming. |
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum morifolium
(Florists' mum) |
50-60°F (min 45°F). Needs cool nights at
45-50°F to set buds. Maintain humidity and good circulation. Water thoroughly but allow
soil to dry between waterings. |
Plant shallowly and support large plants
with canes. Pinch the growing tip to encourage more flowers. Remember to allow space
between plants for many flowers. The combination of warm temperatures above 68°F and long
nights will prevent buds from forming. |
Carnations
Caryophyllaceae Dianthus |
60°F during the day and 50°F at night (in
summer plants enjoy temperatures of 5°F higher) |
Pinch young plants at least once to ensure
many flowers and bushy plants. Plants need plenty of air circulation. Bloom best when
given short nights. Requires strong light to produce fragrant flowers. |
Crown of Thorns
Euphorbia milii |
65-80°F (min 55°F). Water moderately, less
if below 60°F. Slow growing.Summer feeding will encourage flowering. |
More than 1,500 species of this very spiny
plant exists. It has red or yellow bracts. Lower leaves will fall, leaving a bare spiny
stem. Can grow up to three feet. If given ample light blooming will persist for many
months. After flowering, keep potting mix fairly dry to encourage plant to rest. |
Impatiens
Impatiens species |
60-75°F (min 50°F, 55°F to flower). Keep
moist, but water less if temperatures decrease. Fertilize regularly, more heavily in
summer. |
An excellent way to bring natural color
indoors. Pinch back young plants. Prune old plants hard in early spring. Susceptible to
spider mites. Will not bloom if light is too low. Some popular species include: Balsam,
Patient Lucy, and Busy Lizzie. |
Jasmine
Jasminum cestrum |
65-70°F at night, 75-80°F during the day.
Keep moist, especially in summer. Discard drainage. Ventilate well. Enjoys a deep bed. |
Fragrant climbing plant that can be trained
up canes. Can be set outdoors in summer. Prune after flowering. Pinch stem tips to
encourage branching. To promote winter flowering, keep warm and place in greenhouse or
solarium. Cool night temperatures will promote blooms. |
Kalanchoe
Crassulaceae |
55-70 °F (min 50 °F). Ensure full-sun in
winter. Water moderately. |
Bright red, orange, or yellow winter flowers
with shiny succulent leaves. Require six weeks of long nights for flower bud formation.
Plants bloom three months after long nights begin. Check for mealy bugs and spider mites. |
Geranium
Pelargonium species |
70-75°F (55 °F nights). Prefers average
indoor humidity. Water when soil is dry to the touch. Discard drainage. Fertilize all
year, but more heavily in summer. |
This native of South America can be moved
outdoors in summer. Prune after flowering. Some hybrids' foliage is scented of roses,
apples, or lemons. Will not bloom in low light. |
