Potted Plant Growth Tips
- African Violet: Easy. Filtered light or morning light. No
hot afternoon sun. Water it in a saucer with lukewarm water; remove the
excess after 30 minutes. Feed every 2 weeks spring and summer
(flowering time). Likes humidity.
- Anthurium: Easy, but hard to get to bloom. Bright light
but not strong sun. Water frequently Fertilize in spring/summer. Likes
misting.
- Bougainvillea: Easy to grow, hard to get to bloom.
Rambling plant, train on wire hoop or keep pruned. South sunny window
in spring/summer, move to cool 50° in fall/winter.
- Caladium: Easy. Likes bright, warm spot but no hot sun.
Likes misting. Keep moist but not soggy. Bright light but no hot sun.
Cool.
- Calla Lily: Demanding plant. Native to South Africa.
Sunny window. Feed and water often during spring and summer. In fall
let dry up, remove tuber from soil, and keep dry. Replant indoors in
February (not hardy outdoors).
- Chrysanthemum: Easy. Usually thrown out after flowering.
Keep in bright spot, not too hot. Water when dry!
- Cineraria: Easy. Indirect light, no hot sun. Likes it cool
and moist. DO NOT LET DRY OUT! Okay to stand in water after watering.
Blooming period 4-6 weeks. Discard after blooming. Annual plant; will
not rebloom.
- Cyclamen: Easy. Blooms September to March. Cool spot with
some shade. No hot afternoon sun. Water in saucer, remove excess after
15 minutes.
- Dwarf Azalea: Not easy for long term. Filtered light or
part shade, no hot sun. Needs lots of water. Do NOT let dry out ever.
Fertilize with acid plant food. Not hardy outside in this area. Keep
cool in winter, Should last several years IF KEPT MOIST.
- Easter Lily and Asiatic Lilies: Easy. Keep moist, never
let dry out. Medium to bright light but no hot sun. Cool temperature
will make it last longer. Plant outside in summer. Hardy perennial.
- Fuchsia: Easy for season, difficult to winter. Needs
half-shade, cool but bright, NO HOT AFTERNOON SUN. Needs lots of water
and regular fertilizing. Remove dead flowers; do not let it seed. To
winter over trim back severely in fall, let dry out, keep cool. Bring
back in spring by watering sparsely in February, pinching back any new
growth. Begin fertilizing in March.
- Gardenia: Not easy. Plenty of light and rich, acid soil.
Blooms mostly in May-September. Likes it warm. Keep moist! Water and
Mist frequently.
- Gerbera Daisy: Easy. Likes a sunny window. Water when
dry. Fertilize frequently.
- Gloxinia: Not too difficult. Filtered light or morning
light, no afternoon strong sunlight. Warm spot in summer. Let tuber
rest in fall in cool, dry spot. Replant in February.
- Hibiscus:Easy. Lots of sun in summer. Keep cool in winter,
50-60°, but bright light. Cut back in early spring to keep it
bushy. Lots of water and fertilizer in spring and summer.
- Hydrangea: easy. Place in cool area with lots of light and
LOTS OF WATER! Plant rests in winter. Keep at 40° and water very
little. Repot in January and cut back. Return to room temperature,
water daily. Use an acid fertilizer to get blue flowers. Not
recommended as winter hardy outside but may live in sheltered area.
- Ivies: Easy. Indirect light. Keep moist, mist or spray
with water. Not too hot.
- Kalanchoe: Easy. Let dry out before watering. Needs LOTS
OF LIGHT. Likes it warm. Pinch back after flowering to keep compact.
- Madascar Jasmine: Not easy. Keep moist, never let dry
out. Feritilize every time you water. Likes misting. Bright window but
no hot sun. Do not feed in winter and water less in winter.
- Malacoides and Chinese primroses: Easy. Short-lived annual
plant. Likes lots of light and moisture, but cool temperatures. NO HOT
SUN.
- Oxalis: Easy. Must be kept moist. Likes a bright sunny
spot. Stop watering in October; keep in dry dark spot. Bring out in
February and start watering again. Fertilize weekly.
- Passion Flower: Fairly easy. Trailing, train on wire
hoops. Needs lots of light. Keep moist. Feritlize weekly during
spring/summer. Don't fertilize in fall/winter. Not hardy. If you are
using as a summer patio plant: bring it indoors in the fall: From
Linda: "To over winter: Keep in a sunny window [indoors]. Some vines
always seem to die off, but I trim them back to the green part and
usually most of them keep growing. If a lot of the vines die off - be
careful not to over water - water only when the soil is dry!. In any
case.. usually new growth will appear near old growth in the spring.
You can put it back outdoors after danger of frost has past."
- Peace Lily: Easy. Excellent low light plant. Likes to be
kept moist. Water regularly year round. Fertilize in spring through
fall. Likes it warm.
- Persian Violet: Easy. Usually thrown out after one season.
Keep constantly moist. Bright but not direct sun. Keep cool.
- Potted Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocus: Easy. Bright
light. Water when dry. Plant outside in summer. Hardy Perennials.
- Primrose: Easy. Sunny but cool window. Lots of water.
Fertilize every 2 weeks. Plant outside in spring/summer in partial
shade. Hardy perennial.
- Ranunculus: easy. Bright light. Store roots out of soil
when plant dies off. Replant in March inside. NOT HARDY outside.
- Rieger Begonia: Easy. Lots of light but not direct sun.
Keep cool. Water often; keep moist but no soggy. Fertilize often in
spring/summer. Pinch back after flowering to keep it bushy.
Source: Linda Ludgate Lomber
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1552 Hanshaw Rd.
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