Taking Care of Indoor Flowering Plants

Flower color becomes more intense as weather cools. At the same time some plants flower even more prolifically. As they become more beautiful, and as the threat of frost comes nearer, there is among gardeners a great temptation to save these plants. Many of these plants can be saved, but the real question is, Should they be saved? The answer depends most on what type of growing conditions we have available for these plants indoors.

Geranium is a flowering plant that may be grown indoors, but requires cooler temperatures than are normally found in the average home to grow and flower well. Some plants that we consider shade plants outdoors, such as impatiens and begonias, require a bright, sunny window indoors during the dark days of winter. If they do not get good light they will get leggy and flower poorly. Higher temperatures indoors may also cause them to stretch and become leggy.

The home gardener with a greenhouse will have few problems with these plants, provided pests such as mites are not brought indoors with them. A large bright, southern window or area near sliding glass doors in the home also provides a fairly suitable location. Most flowering plants indoors need to be located close to the glass window. This not only gives the plants better light, but also tends to be slightly cooler. Those plants requiring slightly lower temperatures will perform better in such a spot.

Some garden flowers can be potted and used indoors until they collapse with no intention of saving them for next year. These include the smaller plants of French marigold, nierembergia, browallia, vinca and perhaps, some dwarf zinnias. If you want to try moving plants indoors, do not try to save extremely large plants. If there is a choice, select the smaller plants or start small plants by taking cuttings. If plants are so large they need to be cut back, it may take them most of the winter to recover, if they recover at all.

Impatiens, begonias and coleus are three garden plants that are very easy to root. Trying to maintain large plants is normally not necessary. Take cuttings about 3 to 4 inches in length. Although they can be rooted in water, this method may lead to the development of rots and the loss of cuttings. Use a clean rooting material. A mixture of half peat moss and perlite make a good rooting medium. Half sand and half peat moss is also excellent.

Most important is that the material is clean and not carrying disease organisms or insect pests. If in doubt, heat the medium in an oven at about 200 degrees and allow it to cool before using it. Make sure that the medium is moist when heating it, and use a covered container so it does not dry out during pasteurization.

Temperatures in the center of the mass of soil mix should reach a temperature of at least 140 degrees F. for 30 minutes.

After the soil mix is sterilized, place it in clean pots (which might also be sterilized in the oven or in a dishwasher) and place the cuttings in it. Water them well and allow the pots to drain. Then slip the pot with the cuttings in it into a plastic bag. Tie it shut and place it in a well lighted location for a week or two, or until the cuttings have rooted. Since disease may also be carried by the cuttings, watch carefully for any leaf collapse or the development of rots. Remove any disease or pest problems as soon as they are seen.

Bright light is necessary during the rooting period, but avoid direct sunlight when plants are placed in plastic tents or bags. Too much heat will build up under the plastic in direct sunlight. Check plants that are brought indoors for the presence of pests. Spider mites are often not damaging outdoors, and natural predators keep them under control. Indoors, environmental conditions that reduce the spread of mites are gone and predators may not be able to survive. Impatiens are particularly sensitive. If flowers fall without opening and leaves drop excessively, spider mites may be suspected. Other pests may hide in pots, particularly near drainage holes. These should be removed before bringing plants indoors.

Houseplants for Dummies, by Larry Hodgson.