In the middle of a dull winter, which in recent years less and less resembles a fairy tale with its snow-covered landscapes, there is so much a lack of bright colors and touching accents in the interior! All the more valuable are bright, but such fragile flowers. You can enjoy the beauty of fresh flowers in winter not only with bouquets, but also with indoor plants. From classic Schlumberger to hippeastrum, pentas and favorite orchids, the choice is not so small. Many popular and exotic species bloom just in time for winter. And, of course, forcing plants that appear on the shelves for the New Year and Christmas are always relevant.
Blooming indoor plants for the New Year and Christmas
Bright flowering indoor plants can be chosen not only “in taste and color”, but also according to the desired period of the highest decorativeness. There is no time of year or month for which it would be impossible to find a blooming star among flowers. When planning landscaping, you can introduce individual flowering accents or create a full-fledged relay race in which the flowering of some species is replaced by others. And winter is no exception.
1. Christmas
Special cactus schtumberger (Schlumbergera) it is no coincidence that it is better known as Decembrist, or christmas… Drooping, bright, creating unusual ampels and cascades of shoots with flat segments take root easily. And tubular flower-lanterns with very long stamens turn the bushes into bright pink, red, orange, white, yellow or two-color clouds.
Schlumberger in the middle of winter will need soft diffused lighting, high air humidity without spraying, accurate watering and scant feeding. An almost dry cool regime (10-20 degrees) from mid-autumn will help to achieve flowering for the New Year.
Read a detailed article about the Schlumberger plant – good old Christmas tree, or Decembrist.
2. Poinsettia
The flowers of poinsettia are invisible, but the upper, brightly repainted bracts turn a modest beautiful euphorbia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) into a real “Christmas star”. It is the safest choice among winter flowering species. Poinsettias can be kept and tried to bloom again, or simply thrown away.
In order for the plant to decorate the house not for a week, but all winter, you need to think about careful watering without waterlogging, bright lighting, and a stable temperature without drafts. And increase the humidity of the air.
Read more about the plant in the article Poinsettia – the main houseplant in winter.
3. Hippeastrum
Huge, similar to luxurious gramophones, bright inflorescences-bells gippeastrum (Hippeastrum) on powerful thick peduncles with a fan of linear dark leaves seem dazzling on winter windowsills. Hyppeastrum hybrid varieties bloom after 6-8 weeks of rest in a cool and without watering.
Hippeastrum will need bright lighting, protection from drafts and heat, and light soil moisture.
Read more about the plant in the article Hippeastrum – a classic among indoor bulbous plants.
4. Winter begonias
The bright and elegant bloom of the Elatior begonias always seems prim and modern. Elegant double flowers with a special texture are collected in dense inflorescences above the dark cushions of leaves. On the eve of their favorite winter holidays, these begonias look like aristocrats and bright live bouquets.
Begonia need a cool rest period. And during the winter show – bright diffused lighting, accurate watering without extremes and a stable temperature.
Read more about the plant in the article Elatior Indoor Begonia – lush bloom almost all year round.
5. Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe of Blossfeld (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) – the most unpretentious flowering succulent, content with modest care. The plant’s ability to store moisture can be easily guessed by the fleshy dark leaves, which are decorated with beautiful jagged edges. But the Kalanchoe is valued primarily for its ability to bloom all year round. Bright inflorescences-shields of small simple “stars” or terry “roses” last for many months.
These tiny live bouquets need bright lighting, poor watering and stable temperatures to bloom all winter.
Read more about the plant in the article What to do to make the Kalanchoe bloom longer?
6. Saintpaulia
Favorite Uzambara violets-Saintpaulias can bloom all year round. If the plants are grown on artificial supplementary lighting on shelves or moved to more illuminated places, they do not stop even in the middle of winter.
Touching neat rosettes with a special edge on elegant leaves and delicate simple or double flowers in loose inflorescences seem especially touching in the middle of winter. For Saintpaulias on holidays, you need a stable, light soil moisture and protection from hypothermia.
Read more about the plant in the article Saintpaulia, or Uzambara violet.
7. Rhododendrons and camellias
In winter, legendary shrubs – rhododendrons and camellias – are also able to surprise with flowering. But the latter are not plants for everyone. After all, camellias bloom in the cold, their beauty in the rooms cannot be enjoyed, and growing, in general, is only possible for skilled craftsmen.
Rђ RІRѕS, rhododendrons (Rhododendron) with a responsible approach, maintaining high humidity, stable watering, correct pruning, protection from drafts and frequent ventilation, they will delight even on the eastern or western windowsill. Leathery, dark, elegant leaves of dense bushes, hidden under pink or white clouds of inflorescences, cannot leave anyone indifferent. Rhododendrons bloom after a dormant period in the cold, from 5 to 10 degrees.
Read more about the plant in the article Indoor Azalea, or Rhododendron – Care Secrets.
8. Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis blooms can last almost all year. And in the cool of winter, plants often feel more comfortable than in hot summers. Starting blooming in autumn and continuing in winter, Phalaenopsis look like real soaring fairies or butterflies. They work especially well in festive décor, adding graceful touches and bringing life to the interior.
In winter, the orchid requires control of conditions and humidity, protection from batteries, otherwise the flowers will not last long.
Also read our article 7 Tips on Basic Orchid Care for a Newbie.
9. Cyclamens
Reminiscent of butterflies, with unusual turned up bright petals, bud-shaped leaves and acrylic purple, pink or white colors, Persian cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) always attracts attention. Mini varieties or common cultivars, terry, ruffled or simple, all cyclamens are winter stars and special accents.
Only window sills can be decorated with cyclamens, but huddled against cool glasses, they are wonderful how good. Bloom for a long time, and not only for the New Year, cyclamens will be able to protect them from drafts and gentle bottom watering.
Read also our article Cyclamen. Purchase, home care, reproduction.
10. Forcing houseplants
Touching snowdrops, crocuses, hyacinths, mini tulips and adorable daffodils are on sale not only for Valentine’s Day or March 8, but also before the New Year. Their touching bloom seems to be a special miracle in any season, but in January they are able to create a true winter fairy tale in the house. True, temporary: in the warmth of living rooms, any bulbous “stretch” a little more than a week, and in the cool (from 10 to 18 degrees) – up to 3 weeks.
Bulbous ones can be bought already in bloom, at the stage of the first blossoming buds, or they can be driven out by yourself. Healthy bulbs are planted so that 10 to 18 weeks of dark, cold content and 2-5 weeks of active growth in warm and light conditions remain for the desired flowering.
Not only bulbous flowers are driven out for the holidays. Primroses, roses, gerberas can also be found on winter counters. The bright appearance of “live bouquets” captivates with seeming perfection, which is easy to lose with improper care. And they are no less dependent on coolness, careful watering and lighting intensity.
