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? : ) |
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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 ;) |
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Beautiful Sherry!!:woohoonaner:
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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. : ) |
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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 |
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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! |
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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... : ) |
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Here's a bit of a better shot of my white Christmas cactus today...
: ) |
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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:
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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: : ) |
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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:
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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! |
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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! : ) |
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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.
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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: : ) |
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My red geranium is blooming right now indoors...
Not super great at taking shots yet with my new camera, but you get the idea. : ) |
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My new Thanksgiving Cactus...
Slightly more pink than my other one. :) : ) |
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Here's my 5 year old orchid today...
From the back... : ) |
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WOW Beautiful! ~J
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Thanks JaNan! :waving:
I've got a surprise geranium about to bloom shortly but I don't know what color it'll be. I'll show it soon... : ) |
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A pink Aquilegia plant from Bob, growing in a pot this Spring...
I know this isn't the best shot but this is my seed-grown mystery Geranium about to bloom. I can't wait to see the color it will turn out to be... "Windowsill Maverick Star" Geranium also about to bloom... "Orchid Blue" Geranium seedling... Haworthia blooming in east window... : ) |
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You need more plants, Sherry!:ha:
:0519: |
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Never enough, Dean! ;)
Here's my mystery geranium today, about to bust open. Looks like it'll be some kind of pink color... : ) |
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Very pretty, Greg! ;)
Ok here's a reddish geranium about to bloom... I'm so in love with this adorable little "orchid blue" geranium seedling. I like the shape of the leaves... : ) |
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My orchids seem to be lasting forever! :D
Here they were today... from the back... : ) |
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Gorgeous, just gorgeous! :goteam:
~J |
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Yesterday...
Today... Here was the mystery geranium yesterday... Here it is today... : ) |
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Nothing much can match that scarlet red color in a pelargonium (bedding geranium) Sherry. Love it! Also, the blue geranium leaf shape suggests that it is a true geranium, distinct from the aforementioned bedding "geraniums". Also the blue color. I think it's always nice to have both in the garden, as a living botany lesson. Also a thank you to Greg for the freesias! I think they are a much overlooked corm, but once you smell the "Kool-aid" smell of them, you'll want them somewhere in the yard. Must remember to pick some up!:03:
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These pansies are about the sweetest smelling I've ever grown...
Unbelievably, this Thanksgiving cactus is still producing flowers and blooming this spring!!! :eek: Here it is this morning... : ) |
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I got this Thanksgiving cactus for Cameron last Fall, and it won't stop blooming this Spring! Here's another bud today opening...
So pretty... My Thanksgiving cactus plant too is developing buds this April. Here it is today too... Too cool. :08: : ) |
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Wow Sherry, it looks like a florist shop in your place lol. You have so many pretty blooming plants. I cant believe the Thanksgiving cactus is still blooming for you.
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Oh I just have to show it here too! :goteam:
It's my new flower that just opened today... The plant is a succulent, sent from to me from Turkey about a year ago, as a couple little branch cuttings. Now it's growing like crazy and loaded with buds. Here's another... It's so pretty and unique. It reminds me of a Toad Lily, but it even has a passiflora look to it too, especially in the center. Very cool. :08: : ) |
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Wow Sherry that is unique and beautiful! It looks like a carrion cactus looking at the flower, though the ones I have read smell like rotting meat to attract flies for pollination. I love the colors
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I think you're right Cam because these ones have a very subtle fragrance that isn't necessarily offensive but isn't the greatest either. It's very faint though and you have to put your nose right up to the flower to whiff it. :ha:
I think the flowers are so beautiful too and I didn't expect them to be this pretty. They're just way too cool. :08: I'll send ya a branch or two also with your white thanksgiving cactus later Cam. ;) : ) |
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I love interesting flowers and I would love a cutting of it. Its almost alien like lol. Its definitely a prize plant =):woohoonaner:
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Here's my mini rose tree...
Although a bit damaged, this is one of the blooms today... : ) |
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Very nice, Kevin. :D
I love indoor blooms and try to have something at all times of the year that produces flowers. Small marigold plants are another great choice, as well as blue cornflowers (bachelor buttons). Thanks for the pics. ;) : ) |
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and i want flowers when it snows too. that's incredible! :08: |
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Great pics! I always love seeing them! My thanksgiving cactus bloomed outside in the early summer 2 years ago because we had such a cool June. They were a more than welcome sight because I really love there flowers! They are so unique!
You have a ton blooming inside! I wish I had that many plants in bloom inside. This winter was my best for flowers so far. I had my thanksgiving cactus, african violet, plumeria (surprisingly), nun orchid, bougainvillea, begonia, ti plants, peace lilies, orchid and hibiscus blooming. Usually I dont have near that much! Did you take any plants outside by you yet? Most of my plants are outside now, except for the really heat loving ones. Thanks for sharing! |
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Well I've got a few pepper plants on my mom's balcony outside and a geranium, but that's about all for now. Our real nice weather likely won't be here until mid-May, which is normal for us. Because my plants are grown indoors from seed, they're not as cold-hardy as some of the nursery plants are...so I gotta wait until it's really warm before I put them outside.
Oh I always have to have something blooming inside, no matter what time of year. I once had an indoor Plumeria cutting that bloomed for me indoors too. The scent was so lovely. A quick shot but here's the bloom I'm enjoying this evening... Gosh I love geraniums. :D Do you know they'll bloom continually, non-stop, all year round, indoors?! :eek: : ) |
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Geraniums are great indoors! I dug one of mine up last year and left it on the surface of the soil in a pot. It had no roots and only the newest leaves, but it still made a bloom head! I was very impressed with its will to do so well!
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I'm not surprised, Alex. ;)
Marigolds, Petunias, and Impatiens are really nice indoors too. : ) |
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These are blooming on my dwarf Rose Tree today, and they're so fragrant...
: ) |
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Ok I should have used the flash for this shot, but here are my dwarf tree roses...
: ) |
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I got some mums last weekend. =D will they flower if i grow them in my new indoor garden?
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I love the top two flowers...no...I love them all but not so much the Geraniums, not had any for years. Gimmie a red rose any day, beautiful. That Delphinium is going to be lovely, its the one in the pot belonging to Kevin. Let us see that when it flowers please. That Thanksgiving cactus is awesome Sherry!! The Pansey, here we call them Violas. They are all really lovely Images. :waving::waving: |
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What a beautiful pot of violas! We call the small ones 'violas' and the large ones, 'pansies'. :)
Some mums are perennial, Kevin...so they'll come back every year. I love them indoors or out. : ) |
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Thanks for the information Orinoko and Hollyberry Lady! =D
I didnt know a rose can bloom inside and those look really cool. That basket looks really cool too. Everybody calls them pansies here and we have the yellow and brown ones too! Thats one of my favorite flowers. I will shoot pictures of my Delphinium plant when it makes flowers and post them! =D |
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