As the nights grow crisp, out thoughts turn to making our homes more cozy. There's something soothing about the year-round greenery of houseplants, regardless of the weather outside. Come in and browse our selection, and we'll help you find the perfect plants!
You bought a blooming houseplant!
Now what?
Have you ever taken home an indoor flowering plant, enjoyed its initial display, and then never seen another bud?
There's a trick to getting many houseplants to bloom, and this week we'll let you in on the secret!
This method applies to African Violets, Anthurium, Christmas Cactus, Kalanchoe, and Peace Lily. We've also written previously about Amaryllis and Moth Orchids, which have different requirements.
The flowering houseplants that we're discussing this week all have one thing in common. In order to bloom, they require a resting period first. As the days grow cooler outside, you need to:
1. Reduce water
2. Fertilize differently
3. Reduce temperature
Why would you stress your plants this way? Essentially, you're simulating an equatorial winter. This tricks the plant into behaving like it's springtime and flowering after the "winter" period is over.
Water: Less is More
Most of the time, the five flowering plants that we're profiling want the soil to dry out by 1/3 before being watered again. However, cooler temperatures will slow their growth, and they'll need less water as a result. During the simulated "winter" period, wait until the soil dries out by 1/2 before you water.
Other watering notes:
African Violets get leaf rot very easily, and are best watered by letting the pot sit in a tray of water until the soil is saturated.
Peace Lilies are very particular about the temperature of the water. Let their water sit until it's tepid, particularly in winter, when it comes from the faucet cold.
If the plant appreciates humidity (African Violet, Anthurium and Peace Lily do,) keep a pebble tray topped up with water underneath them year round.
Pull Out The Potassium
Potassium stimulates plants to make flowers and fruit. Give your plant extra encouragement to bloom once the "winter" period ends by giving it a water soluble flowering houseplant or tomato fertilizer every 2-4 weeks. Tomato fertilizer is well suited for feeding flowering houseplants, and you can apply it just as you would for potted tomatoes.
After flowering you can reduce fertilizing to as much as 6 week intervals, and switch back to an ordinary water soluble houseplant fertilizer.
Pack Up Your Plants
Unless the spot that your plant is in gets naturally colder during winter, you'll need to relocate your plants to a cooler spot for 8 weeks or so. You can often find a cool microclimate in your home by moving lower- from an upstairs room to a downstairs room or basement. Set a thermometer in the spot you're considering for awhile to get an idea of the temperatures you can expect, both day and night.
Let There Be Light
Your plants will require 200 foot candles or more of bright, indirect light all year round regardless of where they are. Consider using LED houseplant lights on a timer in spots that are ideal in terms of temperature, but too dark without extra lighting. You'll find our guide to using supplemental lighting here. Scroll down to the "When Natural Light Isn't Enough" section of the article.
On the flip side, your plants will also need 12 hours of darkness overnight. Use a timer to turn off any grow lights that you're using, and make sure that other lights in the room are off during this period as well.
How Low Can They Go?
The ideal cool temperature range depends on the plant. If it's too cold, these flowering tropicals will suffer damage. Let's have a look at the requirements of each.
Christmas Cactus (top)
Christmas Cactus prefer to spend summer outdoors. Bring them inside before nighttime temperatures dip below 50℉. Put them in a spot that stays around 60℉.
This same information applies to Thanksgiving and Easter Cactuses as well, although the bloom time will vary.
Anthurium (middle left,) Kalanchoe (middle right,) & African Violet (bottom left)
Move to a cool place (57-64℉) in Fall and Winter to encourage bloom.
Peace Lily (bottom right)
Move to a cool place (~54℉) in Fall and Winter to encourage bloom.
Now that you know how to get gorgeous blooms indoors, go forth and grow flowers!
Landscape & Garden Day
Stop by and see us at the the ICC campus in East Peoria for the 40th annual Landscape & Garden Day . The event will take place on September 11th from 9am-3pm. It's a great way to get fresh inspiration for your garden!
Closed for Labor Day
We will be closed on Monday, September 6th, in observance of Labor Day. Enjoy the long weekend, everybody!
The Green Thumb Gardening Show is back on 1470 WMBD, at 7am on Saturday mornings! Tune in to hear Ethan Wise and Dan Diorio talk gardening for Central Illinois.
