Flowering Pot Plants

Flowering pot plants, often called florist or gift plants , it plays an important role in the modern living . during the cold , dark , winter months they provide a very gratifying splash of color at a time when there are no garden flowers to cut and those available in the florists are too expensive for many people to buy . there are , in addition , plants that bloom in the spring and summer . it is therefore possible to maintain in a form of color accent in the décor of a room throughout all the seasons.

The essential difference between house and pot plants is that the leaves of the latter fall thus, after the flower fade , they have no decorative value . many of them are discarded at this point but many with care and attention can be preserved to be attractive once again the following year . although this is much more difficult for flat-dwellers and those who have no garden, it can be achieved if storage space is available , particularly if boxes of moderately moist peat , into which the pots can be plunged can be provided and stored in a light , but not sunny place.

The most crucial period in the life of a flowering pot plant is during the days after it has been bought . if the supplier has not kept it under house conditions or in a green house , it is a mistake to bring the plant immediately into a warm room. For about a week it should be kept in a cool , light place , where the temperature is about 50F(10C) , with very little watering , although it might be beneficial to spray it with tepid water . if it begins to wilt after this , when put into a warm room , it should be given a few more days under these conditions.

Achimenes (Cupid Bower):

It is a tuberous , summer-flowering plant . its funnel-shaped flowers , which may be white , red or violet, grow from axils of the leaves . its slender stalks require staking. It must be kept in a warm, light room, but not in direct sunshine, and watered with moderation , keeping water off its flowers and foliage. It likes , however , a moist atmosphere and does best if its pot is plunged in a second container filled with moist peat . once it has flowered , it should be allowed to dry out , its stems cut down and , if desired , the tubers removed for re-potting in spring . the latter need a temperature of 65F (18C) to start them into growth.

Astilbe (spiraea):

These plants bear large plumes of white , pink or red flowers, which rise above their light – green foliage. They are not difficult to grow if they are placed in a room where there is plenty of sun and are watered freely when coming into flower . after flowering , the more hardy astilbe, such as Astilbe rosea , and the varieties peach blossom and Queen Alexandra can be transferred to the garden and dug up and re-potted in early spring . the more tender A.Japonica should be plunged into the soil and brought indoors again before the frost comes.

Azalea indica :

The many varieties of Indian azaleas are the most valuable of all flowering house plants , because they are laden with red , pink or white blooms during the winter months . many people find them difficult to grow in the house , but success can be attained if they are kept in a well-lit , airy spot, out of direct sunlight . they need to be kept fairly warm and out of draughts. It is advantageous to surround the pot with damp peat . they require to be kept continuously moist and are best watered by allowing the pot to stand up to the rim in water .it is also beneficial to feed them regularly during the blooming season . if the dead flowers are removed without any delay , the following season is lengthened.

Azalea indica can be preserved by plunging the pot into the soil out of doors in may , after the danger of frost has passed . here it can remain until autumn . when it is necessary to repot , a good medium is lime-free , sterilized soil containing a proportion of pine-needle peat .

Begonias:

Most of the hybrid begonias with their large , colorful flowers provide a splendid summer and autumn display . Christmas begonias, are winter flowering . begonias are fairly easy to grow if they kept in a room with good light , at a temperature of not lower than 55F (13C) and are watered freely when in flower . they object to gas fumes

Calceolaria (slipper flower):

Grown in pots, calceolaria usually flower in spring and summer and , after fading , are discarded . they are dwarf plants with large clusters of red , orange or yellow flowers , with distinctive markings and large , oval-shaped , pointed , rich green leaves . they need cool , airy , will-lit conditions , out of direct sunlight . A shady windowsill is ideal . they should be watered freely and fed with liquid manure occasionally when in flower.