Bananas.org - Growing Flowers Indoors...

Page 1 of 3

Show 50 post(s) from this thread on one page

Bananas.org (http://www.bananas.org/)

- Other Plants (http://www.bananas.org/f8/)

- - Growing Flowers Indoors... (http://www.bananas.org/f8/growing-flowers-indoors-12847.html)

The Hollyberry Lady

11-01-2010 12:44 AM

Growing Flowers Indoors...

I've been growing containerized flowers indoors for years and thought this would make a good place to show some of the best kinds to grow inside, even in the middle of Winter.

All you need is some well-draining sterile soil, blooming fertilizer, 6-8" containers, and a half or full sun window sill, and you're good to go.

If you have a fluorescent light system, even better. I grow all my indoor flowers from seed, so it's helpful to have reliable light, in dark Novemeber & December to get your flowering plants off to a good start.

Here today, is my blooming 4 year old white Christmas Cactus plant...

Geraniums make an excellent choice of flowers to grow indoors over the winter, and they bloom like crazy in pots, in a sunny sill.

Here's a seedling today that I sprouted a couple months back as my indoor winter blooming plant. It will be a surprise color...

Here's my last year's indoor geraniums to show how great they perform inside...

Here's one blooming in the middle of a blizzard last winter...

These blue cornflowers grow excellent in a sunny winter sill. Here were mine last year...

I also like to grow marigolds and dwarf sunflowers indoors in Winter too.

Does anyone else do this, or want to do this, to add some color to their drab winter worlds?

: )

soundofthemusic1

11-01-2010 02:48 AM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Sherry,

Thank you for sharing your photos with us.

Your indoor flowering plants are gorgeous. What's the name of the flowering plant in the fifth photo? :confused: I'd like to surf the web to find out whether any of these plants can be planted outdoors next year, is deer resistant and drought resistant.

For indoor flowering plants, do you always wait for the soil to completely dry out before watering again, just like how Cameron takes care of his or her non-flowering plants? :confused:

My indoor plants, flowering or non-flowering, generally don't do well perhaps because I don't keep them on a constant feeding schedule. But above all, I find it difficult to grow plants indoors and keep them healthy without proper lighting.

By the way, you have a photo of a beautiful white mum or chrysanthemum, if I remember correctly. Maybe you will show it to us at a later time...

Rae
;)

PennyG

11-01-2010 06:30 AM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Beautiful Sherry!!:woohoonaner:

The Hollyberry Lady

11-01-2010 10:29 AM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Rae, do you mean these ones?...

They are perennial indoors only and are a commercial Chrysanthemum. Glad you remembered them. I've grown them over three years now.

The flowering plant in the fifth photo is a Martha Washington Pelargonium called "Berry Swirl" or "Maiden Rose"...one of the two. It will bloom all winter, even in a cool but sunny sunporch.

Yes, with geraniums especially, I allow the soil to dry out in between waterings. They don't mind and actually thrive because of it.

Feeding and proper lighting are definitely important Rae, but there are also many flowers that will bloom indoors in winter and that do not require tons of light, i.e. African Violets, Impatiens, Pansies, Christmas Cactus, and many more...

Well worth the effort when things are drab and yucky outside, to have some blooming plants in your windows.

: )

soundofthemusic1

11-01-2010 11:22 AM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hollyberry Lady (Post 146008)

That's the one, Sherry. Aren't they breathtaking?

When I was in California, you can see those big mums everywhere. But the local nurseries don't carry those, just the small-flowered mums. Very disappointing...

My Christmas Cactus hasn't been blooming for a few years now. It's slowly making a comeback from last year's deer attack. Unlike Tony's red, I think, and your white Christmas Cactus, my blooms in magenta color.

Thank you for the information of your flowering plants. It is always fun to learn how to grow and take care of plants.

Rae

palmtree

11-01-2010 12:54 PM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Beautiful blooms! I think your christmas cactus is actually a thanksgiving cactus (slight difference in the "leaves" and also the blooming time, but I really love the color on them! Mine are still outside and getting some buds on them in the cooler weather and I cant wait for them to bloom (apparently if you leave them outside in a zone 7, they might actually end up blooming around Thanksgiving like they are suppose to!). Last year I had them outside all the way to early december and it saw a freeze. I realized later that it did suffer damage from seeing 30F (about -1C) but Im really amazed that they did survive that kind of cold with only losing a few segments (which all grew back this summer). I dont like geraniums, but thats probably because Ive never seen one as nice as yours! I really like the height and flowers on your geranium. All your plants look great! Enjoying the outdoors indoors!
Thanks for sharing!

The Hollyberry Lady

11-01-2010 10:38 PM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Thanks Alex! :03:

Mine is definitely a Christmas cactus though because it begins blooming in September throughout Christmas, but from March to Aug it's in vegetative growth. It's kinda different from most of the pink and red ones I've seen.

The previous shots I took of it are crappy, and I know it. The plant is in our laundry room and a good picture just can't be taken of it in there. I'll take better shots tomorrow and replace those blurry ones, so you'll see it much better. ;)

This shot shows my living room last year so you can see more flowers in containers...

Here's another seed-grown geranium that bloomed in my living room last year...

Even lilies can bloom indoors. Here were some I grew awhile ago...

I'll continue to show some I'm growing this winter as well. I've also got a dwarf sunflower that's about to bloom and I'll show it soon...

: )

The Hollyberry Lady

11-02-2010 02:34 PM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Here's a bit of a better shot of my white Christmas cactus today...

: )

bananarama2

11-03-2010 08:44 PM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Just for everyone's information, there are significant differences between the so called Christmas cacti and Easter/Thanksgiving cacti. None of them are true cacti, but share similar requirements. However, I digress.....in reference to getting them to bloom, it is important to know exactly what kind of plant you have to properly encourage them to bloom. Most people will have plants that were greenhouse grown for the retail market, and often sold at a time of year not in sync with what kind of "cactus" they really are. The bloom time of the various types coincides with the spring and fall equinoxes (Easter and Thanksgiving cactus), or with the summer and winter solstices (Christmas cactus). Expecting any one type to bloom at an inappropriate time of year is both frustrating, and next to impossible, since the bloom time is genetically programmed into the plant you have. Hope this helps!:2738:

The Hollyberry Lady

11-03-2010 11:08 PM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Alright, cut out trying to be subtle!

I know you guys are implying that my Christmas cactus isn't a Christmas cactus at all, but rather a Thanksgiving cactus, and frankly...

I think you might be right!!! :ha:

Here's the thing though...

I got it from a nursery that assured me it was a real authentic Christmas cactus! :08:

Obviously though, they lied! :eek:

Thanks for wising me up to it Alex and helping me to know that I've been suckered into believing I had a "Christmas" cactus for 4 solid years!!! :ha:

: )

bananarama2

11-04-2010 03:48 PM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Thanks for the compliment Sherry, my friends usually describe me as being as subtle as a sledge-hammer. As a return, I love a woman who isn't afraid to duke it out with the boys, as it were. Shoot from the hip and all! :08:

Bob	11-04-2010 04:15 PM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

What a showoff!!!
Seriously , very well done and beautiful pics HBL.... How are your Black Velvet Rose geraniums doing this year? I brought mine in and they're just spectacular.... at least for someone who uses only organic fertilizers. No I'm not going to show pics to compare with yours hot shot!

The Hollyberry Lady

11-04-2010 04:24 PM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Bob, you know very well that my Black Velvet Rose geraniums are dead as doornails! :eek:

Just had to make me say it though, didn't you?! :ha:

By all means, show off your beauties here also when and if they bloom for any length of time!

"Duke it out with the boys"?! :ha:

Too funny, Rik! I thought, "the nerve of that Alex to be implying my Christmas cactus isn't a Christmas cactus at all"!!!

:ha::ha::ha:

You've all got me convinced now though, Rik. Even Janan too, thinks it's a Thanksgiving cactus.

Thanks you guys!

: )

sandy0225

11-05-2010 07:19 AM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

who cares as long as it blooms and is fun to grow? Christmas cactus have rounded scallops on the leaf edges, thanksgiving cactus and easter cactus are pointed.

The Hollyberry Lady

11-05-2010 08:34 AM

Re: Growing Flowers Indoors...

Exactly Sandy...I agree. ;)

Thanks for keeping it simple like that and pointing out the differences in the leaves. I definitely have a Thanksgiving cactus. :08:

Here are some other potted flowers I've grown along the way...

Martha Washington Pelargonium:

Dwarf Bottstein Hydrangea:

Flowering Pink Quill Bromliad:

Flowering succulent from Texas:

New Guinea Impatiens:

Dwarf Canna:

Orchids:

2nd Martha Washington Pelargonium:

"French Vanilla" white marigolds:

Close-up of white marigolds:

Dwarf Dahlias:

: )