Beat the February Blahs with Color

Indulge yourself with one or more of these gorgeous, flowering plants that fill interior spaces with the fresh look of another season. What’s better, these can be throwaways. Their needs are easy to meet in our homes during the winter season, and they are guilt free – just enjoy them until they fade!

Cineraria

Probably the most dramatic of these bloomers is the Cineraria, Senecio cruentus. It hits with the impact of a lookalike in velvet, too showy to be real! Its large ray-flowers come in intense shades of blue, purple, red, pink, and white, some with concentric circular patterns of two colors, some with a white center and colored petals. This is a plant with a beautiful form, a mound of flowers in the center, surrounded with slightly fuzzy serrated leaves, so that the plant resembles a giant nosegay! The standards are about 2 feet tall; the dwarfs about half that height. Select one that has most of its buds still closed for a longer period of bloom.

Cinerarias like very cool temperatures, an entranceway or cool bay window will do just fine. They want sun or bright light, and do not want to be fed. When you water, do not let water get onto the leaves or into the flowers. They are good candidates for bottom watering. Aphids will love your Cineraria as much as you do, so be on the lookout for these little rascals.

Primula

Several species of primrose, Primula, make a colorful splashy show indoors. These are not to be confused with the Cape Primrose, Streptocarpus, a totally different plant – wonderful in its own way but not competitive as a huge bloomer. The polyantha are most commonly available in the market, flaunting 2-inch flowers in strong shades of yellow, red, purple, pink and white supported by 6-12 inch stems. The popular annual fairy or baby primrose, P. malacoides, sports smaller but prolific flowers of white, pink, lavender or red on taller stems. They go on blooming for months. Both species prefer cool daytime temperatures, bright indirect light, moist soil and no fertilizer.

Kalanchoe

Sometimes thought of as a holiday plant, the Kalanchoe is a favorite of mine for winter display, shown to best effect massed together in a basket or on a round tray as a centerpiece. The plants are cute, informal, cheerful and colorful in a range of red, orange, yellow, lavender and coral. Look for K. blossfeldiana for strong flowering characteristics. Its membership in the Crassula family of succulents means that it requires very little care as a houseplant. Sunlight, occasional waterings and no fertilizer will keep it happy for months. The Kalanchoe is a short day plant but, unless you want to obtain one early and bring it into bloom for the holidays, you don’t need to worry about that. Buy it in bloom and enjoy!

Calceolaria

A good choice to anticipate later in the winter is the Calceolaria, ‚”pocketbook flower” or ‚”pouch flower” plant. It truly is adorable! I find the C. multiflora 6-12 inch size most appealing, showing to good effect in a group of 3 or more. The flowers, usually gold or orange sprinkled with red or brown, are little oval ‚”balloons” or sacs which bob above the soft, hairy leaves. They appreciate bright, indirect light, cool temperatures, barely moist soil and no fertilizer.

That’s all, Folks!

When the show is over, these plants gracefully bow out. They are difficult to propagate, demanding conditions usually too specialized or tricky to be met by the amateur. So don’t worry about it. Just give them a toss onto the compost pile, and make way for something new for spring on your windowsill.