 Indoor Blooming Plants
Azaleas, African Violets, Chrysanthemums, Cyclamen, Gloxinia, Kalanchoe,
Hibiscus and Reiger Begonias are some of the most common indoor blooming
offered nearly year round at Engwall Florist.
These varieties are usually grown in either a smaller 4”pot size,
starting in price from $14.00 and up, and a larger 6” pot size at
$25.00 and up, depending upon plant variety and decorating finishes.
The two most common decorating styles are:
Florist foil covering pot, surrounded by a sash and bow.
Decorative basket that plant fits into, usually finished with a
bow.
Additional decorations or seasonal trim are available at a slightly
higher cost.
African Violet – Saintpaulia
| Light: |
Bright filtered light or fluorescent light is most
beneficial. |
| Temperature: |
65-75 F is ideal, even a 5 F fluctuation will cause
growth to stop. High
humidity is essential. |
| Water: |
Allow the top ½” to dry out between waterings. Too much water causes root rot. Never let pots stand in water. |
| Feeding: |
At every watering give African violets a ¼ strength
dose of liquid fertilizer containing equal amounts of nitrogen,
phosphate, and potash. |
| Potting: |
Saintpualias do best when somewhat pot-bound. Repot only when roots have filled the current container. |
| Propagation: |
Root individual leaves. Plant ½” long leaf stalk in moistened potting mixture and
enclose in plastic bag. Remove bag gradually when new growth
indicates rooting as occurred. |
| Special Points: |
When removing faded flowers and leaves, be sure to
remove entire stalk to prevent rot and infection to the main stem. Avoid water touching the leaves, Which may cause permanent unsightly marks. |
Azalea
Your azalea is probably from 3 – 10 years old when
it is sent to a customer. It
can be good for many years after you receive it.
- Keep moist and in a light window after it has
finished flowering.
- Fertilize every four weeks using azalea (acid)
fertilizer, following directions on package. Apply when soil is moist and water after applying. Start fertilizing at the end of flowering season and continue
until October.
- Prune the soft green foliage back an inch or two
in May, trying to keep your plant shapely.
- In June set your plant outside in a semi-shaded
spot, burying the pot up to the rim. Keep moist with frequent sprayings of water over the foliage.
- Take inside the first week of September. It is helpful to keep your azalea on a cool porch where it can
be protected from frost for a number of weeks until you take it into
the house itself. Usually
blooms between Christmas and Easter, depending upon variety.
- The second year you keep it, repot it in fresh
peat moss and a slightly larger pot anytime in Spring after flowering.
If your Azalea wilts or soil becomes very dry, submerge the entire
pot in water for five minutes.
Chrysanthemum
| Light: |
Bright filtered sunlight. |
| Temperature: |
Chrysanthemums prefer cooler temps (55-60F) |
| Water: |
Water plentifully as often as necessary to keep
mixture thoroughly moist. |
| Feeding: |
Not necessary for these temporary houseplants. |
| Repotting: |
Not required. |
| Propagation: |
Best to purchase young plants as home propagation is
impractical. Chrysanthemums
are temporary houseplants and
should not be kept indoors after flowers have faded. After blooms have died,
cut the plant back 2 – 3”, directly above a leaf node and plant
outside in a sunny location,
with well drained organically rich soil. Although they thrive in the open
air they do not remain low growing, and can be expected to reach a
height of 3 – 4’. |
Cyclamen
| Light: |
Bright light without direct sunlight. |
| Temperature: |
Keep them cool at all times, 55 – 65F is ideal. Warm conditions greatly shorten the life span of these plants. |
| Water: |
Tubers are only half buried in soil and water should
never be poured onto the tubers, which are likely to rot. Water
from below, but do not allow plants to stand in excess water. |
| Feeding: |
Apply standard liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks. |
| Special Points: |
When plants finish producing flowers, gradually reduce
watering until in June, when leaves yellow, after which no more should be given. Store pots dry, and in a cool place until early fall when signs of new growth will appear. Then remove the tubers from its pot, shake off old soil and
replant in same pot with fresh mixture. Place in bright light, keep cool and water it sparingly until
leaves are well developed. Thereafter
treat as a mature cyclamen. Blooms
for 2 – 3 months. Remove
the entire flower stalk as flowers fade
and leaves yellow. |
Florist Gloxinia – Sinnigia
| Light: |
Bright filtered light or 12 hours artificial light is
best for actively growing plants. Light is not a factor during dormancy. |
| Temperature: |
Keep dormant tubers at about 45 – 60F and active
growing plants at 65 – 75F. |
| Water: |
Plentifully during active growth but never allow pots
to stand in water. Drops of water will mark leaves and flowers. Keep dormant tubers dry. |
| Feeding: |
Apply a high phosphate liquid fertilizer at ½
strength every 2 weeks starting when flowering
and ending when top growth has died down. |
| Potting: |
Pot up dormant tubers in early spring using 4 – 5”
pots and making sure the supper surface of each tuber is level with
the surface of the barely moist potting mixture. |
| Propagation: |
Take 4” cuttings of young stems in early summer and
insert it in a 1 ½ - 2 ½’ pot of moistened
potting mixture. Enclose
in plastic bag and place in bright filtered light for about 4 – 6 weeks when new growth should indicate a tuber
and roots have formed. Thereafter,
remove bag gradually and treat as an adult. |
Hibiscus
| Light: |
Give them bright light with some direct sunlight every
day. |
| Temperature: |
Normal room temps are suitable during the active
growing period but keep cooler (55F) during
the winter rest period. |
| Water: |
Moderately, allowing the top ½” to dry out between
waterings. During the rest period water only enough to keep the mixture from drying out. |
| Feeding: |
Apply high potash liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks
during the active growth. |
| Potting: |
Using a soil based potting mixture move plants into
pots one size larger every spring until maximum convenient pot size has been reached. Topdress annually. |
| Propagation: |
In spring or summer, by 3 – 4” tip cuttings. Plant in a 3” pot enclosed in a plastic bag. After rooting has occurred treat as an adult. |
| Special Points: |
In early spring cut away any unwanted growths and
shorten stems and branches to within 6”
of the base. Flowers
are short lived and appear throughout spring and summer with occasional blooms at other times. |
Kalanchoe
| Light: |
Should be grown in a sunny window. |
| Temperature: |
All species grow well in normal room temps, but those grown for
foliage should be given a rest period
at 50 –55F. |
| Water: |
Only enough to keep mixture moist, allowing the top ½ to dry out
between waterings. During rest period give only enough to keep mixture from drying
completely. |
| Feeding: |
Apply standard liquid fertilizer every 3 – 4 weeks from early
spring through summer. |
| Potting: |
Move plants into pots one size larger each spring until maximum pot
size of 6” is reached.Good drainage
is essential. |
| Propagation: |
Take tip cuttings in spring and root them in 3” pots. Put them in
warm position with bright filtered light. |
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