The writer is a Community Educator with the Albany County Cornell Cooperative Extension
Winter has a habit of being very long in the Northeast so having a few plants indoors can bridge the gap between the seasons, especially for the gardener.
The term “houseplant” is a misnomer as most houseplants are tropical foliage plants that grow outside in warmer climates but readily adapt to life indoors as long as their caretakers know what it takes to make them happy. Check out the light exposure where you want to have a plant and if in doubt, choose something that will tolerate low light levels. An eastern (morning sun) exposure is ideal for many plants. Things get complicated when people want to use plants decoratively which often means placing them in a corner or away from the window.
If you are new to indoor gardening, stick to the easy going plant choices such as pothos, philodendron or snake plant. If you need a plant with some size for a dim area then look for the Cast Iron Plant, Aspidistra elatior. A favorite of the Victorians, this humble plant can survive very low light and cool temperatures.
The Chinese Evergreen, Aglaonema, is another good low light choice and it will tolerate very dry air. Assess your environment as well as the light exposure to fine tune the right plant for the location.
Try to purchase plants on a temperate day but if the temperature is close to freezing then insist that your new plant be wrapped for protection. Wrapping plants is not done automatically at many stores today so the consumer needs to be wary. Careful wrapping is crucial at holiday time especially when purchasing poinsettias as they are extremely intolerant of cold and the damage will begin to show within a few hours after exposure. It would be wise to warm up the car if it is very cold as even that dip in temperature can affect a wrapped poinsettia.
Many of the indoor flowering plants offer color and interest when the weather is dreary. African violets, streptocarpus and kalanchoe are a few plants that are easy to find and to grow. Be sure to read the plant tags to see what each plant prefers before making your decision.
It is easy to fall in love with a blooming beauty but be sure that you can meet its needs before committing to the relationship. Remember that plants respond to light and when the days are short, many are resting so do not force them by fertilizing. October through March, water only (no fertilizer) and water less frequently but thoroughly. The old rule of thumb is that you can not water a plant too much when it needs water, BUT you can water a plant too frequently resulting in root rot from over watering. Err on the side of caution and let most plants dry out a bit—this may take a week or ten days in the winter.
If the plant is not too big, lift up the pot to see if it is heavy or light. If it is light then it needs water, so water very well until the water comes out of the drainage holes. Cactus would be the exception to this method as they have very specific watering needs and the soil is sandy and always heavy. Cactus make good plants for new indoor gardeners who are busy and forget to water. They are not good choices for those who like to nurture…
An interesting and different indoor plant is the Oxalis, or wood sorrel, which resembles a giant clover. Common at St. Patrick’s Day is the green oxalis which is sold as a “shamrock” plant for those wanting the “luck ‘o the Irish.” This oxalis flowers for a long period of time with many small white blooms. The purple oxalis — Oxalis regnellii — is a favorite at Valentine’s Day and it is often sold as the little “Love Plant.” A real charmer with purple heart shaped leaves and delicate white blooms, it is native to South America. Both oxalis grow from small rhizomes and when the plant needs dividing the task is as simple as separating out several rhizomes and replanting.
With the holidays close at hand, consider an environmentally friendly gift of a plant. Besides the seasonal star, the poinsettia, take a look at the amaryllis and the Christmas Cactus.
It is hard to beat the drama of the giant amaryllis bulb as it bursts forth with one or more tall stalks each having three to five large trumpet shaped blooms of various colors. A special gift would be to pot up three or more of these beauties together for an unbelievable display. Expect to pay in the range of $6-15 dollars per bulb depending on the size and cultivar.
Kits are common at Holiday time for those who might enjoy the whole planting/growing experience themselves. Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus both flower when the days are short. These are sold as potted plants or in hanging baskets all budded up and ready to bloom for several weeks. The fun and the challenge lies in growing them on and having them flower each year. For more detailed care instructions for any of these indoor plants, contact your local Cornell University Cooperative Extension. Happy “indoor” gardening!
