Three Reasons to Gift Houseplants on Valentine’s Day

  

  

Plants make people happy. They brighten our homes and offices, elevate our moods, help clean the air.  Because there are lots of beautiful, vibrant houseplants to choose from, you’re sure to find a match for your Valentine’s green thumb. Houseplants will last long beyond February 14th.  

  

Your valentine will think of you every time they water it and care for it. It’s like a little reminder of you sitting on their desk or on the windowsill.  

  

Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to delight that special someone in your life. A live houseplant is a very personalized gift and will remind them of you long after Valentine's Day is over. Some plants to consider for Valentine's Day gifts include Gardenias, Cyclamen, Kalanchoe, Begonias, Anthurium and miniature roses.   

  

Gardenias have beautiful, scented flowers and glossy green leaves. As houseplants, Gardenias do well at temperatures from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to give them lots of light and keep the soil moist.   

  

Cyclamen plants enjoy bright, indirect light, cooler temperatures and like to be kept moist.   

  

  

Kalanchoe will do well in the low humidity of most houses this time of year. They like to dry out a little between watering. Place them in a bright room, out of direct sunlight.  

  

Rieger Begonias make perfect Valentine’s Day gifts.  Place them where they will receive bright, indirect light. Water after the top two inches of soil dries out.  

  

Anthurium will do best in a room where they’ll receive bright, indirect light and the temperature is around 70 degrees.  Keep the soil moist, but not soggy. 

  

Kordana roses are specially developed miniature roses that will do well indoors if you keep them in a window where they will receive morning sunlight and afternoon shade and away from drafts. These roses can be placed outside on the patio once summer arrives. 

   

   

  

This year, celebrate Valentine's Day with something unique. With a little care these lovely houseplants will bloom for many weeks after Valentine's Day.   

  

  

  

Houseplants: the remedy for the winter blues

 
It's a great time to be looking through the seed racks and planning for this year's outdoor garden, but nothing helps beat the winter blues more than bringing a living plant into the house. Houseplants benefit us in many ways. They brighten our homes and offices, elevate our moods and help clean the air, and when spring comes, they can add instant beauty to the patio and yard.  There are lots of beautiful, vibrant houseplants to choose from. Each one will help to fill the inside of our homes with life and color. And they're sure to get you through these gray, windy days 'til spring returns. 

 

When the foliage is the star, Crotons are grown for their bright, multi-colored leaves. They want warm temperatures, lots of bright light and moist soils. 

 

African Violets will bloom almost continuously if you keep them in a warm, well-lit spot and water from the bottom.  Consider replanting into self-watering pots. 

Streptocarpus are in the same family, so treat them the same for best results. 

 

Many people shy away from orchids because they have a reputation for being finicky. Orchids make extraordinary houseplants.  

 

If you're new to growing orchids, start out with a Phalaenopsis, also known as a moth orchid. If you've got an East-facing window and you watch the watering: no ice cubes please, you can grow orchids successfully. 

 

Anthurium will bloom throughout the year, provided they receive bright light and consistent watering.  

 

 

If you do have bright lighting conditions, consider growing tropical plants such as Bougainvillea,  

 

Or Hibiscus. Hibiscus flowers are large and eye-catching, while Bougainvillea produces long sprays of flowers. Both plants need very bright light conditions to bloom successfully. 

 

 A common question we get is "will this plant do okay if I don't have a lot of light?" Just because you don't have a bright, well-lit room in your home or office, doesn’t mean you can't grow healthy houseplants. Here are four houseplants that are easy to grow and will do well in areas where they don't receive a lot of light. 

 

Snake Plant (Sansevieria) also known as mother-in-law tongue is the plant for you if you tend to neglect your house plants. It is tough, durable and very tolerant of low light.  There are many varieties of Snake plant to choose from.

 

Peace Lilies are found on the floor of the rain forest, which explains why they can cope with low lighting indoors. Feed your Peace Lily every month with 20-20-20 fertilizer.  

 

Pothos plants are close relatives to philodendrons. They are easy to grow in low light conditions and will still do okay if you forget to water them occasionally.  

 

Peperomia is easy to grow and will thrive in moderate to low light situations. Avoid over watering peperomia plants. Let the soil dry out slightly before you water again. 

 

Keep the blues at bay this winter by surrounding yourself with beautiful houseplants. If you're not sure of which ones to select, stop in and talk to us. We'll help you choose the right plants for your home.