Plants
If you’re looking for something a little different from the usual range
of flowers, you can now get a beautiful selection of flowering plants
from your local florist. Including perennials that flower year after year,
they can provide remarkably cheap flowers for your home.
Christmas Cacti – Schlumbergera
These are a forest cactus with a leaf like stem and an attractive trailing
habit. Despite
being sometimes difficult to bring into flower they remain a popular house plant.
Special attention is required to encourage them to flower every year.
Provide a cool and dry resting period preferably after flowering period
in February
and March. Place them outside in the summer months, this will help
to set next year’s
flower buds, although you will need to protect them from slugs.
Try not to move
them once the buds have started to develop.
Keep at a minimum of 55°C once in flower. Water normally during flowering
period,
sparingly in rest period. Mist leaves frequently, and keep well
lit but away from direct sunlight.
Phalaenopsis orchid
Always terrific value for money and surprisingly cheap flowers, these
pretty and long flowering orchids are an ideal plant for a Christmas present.
Keep around 70°C in summer, keeping away from direct sunlight. Reduce
to 60°C in winter. On cool nights it’s important to move away from windows
if frosty.
Keep compost moist and reduce watering in winter. Moist air is essential,
stand the
plant in a saucer of pebbles and mist leaves occasionally. Expose
to good light, 10-15 hours a day, and supplement with artificial light
in winter.
Cyclamen
Available most months of the year but especially around winter, they
now come in a
wide range of colours, from pure white to purple, cerise, pink, red and two tone.
Its
intricate leaf markings and swept back nature of it’s flowers, make it a most
popular
and attractive house plant.
A cool room is essential with temperature being around 50-60°C maximum -
a warm room will mean a shorter lifespan for the plant. Keep moist at all
times and water from below. Ideally keep your plant on a saucer of pebbles
and mist occasionally around, but not directly onto the plant.
Azalea
A member of the Rhododendron family, the Azalea can flower for weeks
if looked after properly. The most common problem is leaf drop which generally
occurs when the plant is too dry. Despite their fiery appearance, Azaleas
like cool conditions between 50-60°C. Azaleas like to be wet, not just
moist, so make sure they are watered well and not allowed to dry out.
Mist daily when in flower. They love a brightly lit spot.
Last Update: 3rd April 2007
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