Just like Easter, Mother’s Day is early this year, which may have caught you unawares. Luckily the whole of May can be for Mothers. Why not!
It is easy to buy some choccies and a bunch of flowers, but how about a beautiful indoor flowering plant that will last the month, and then some.
Here’s how an indoor plant can add value to Mum’s life. It brings beauty into the home, helps to relieve stress (plants don’t answer back or complain), improves the quality of the air, and can even be a good companion. Nurturing a plant is a great way to connect with nature.
Trending houseplants for this time of year:
Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) look spectacular but are the easiest orchids to care for. The name comes from the round petals that resemble a flying moth. Plants love bright light but not direct sun, so make a feature of it in the centre of a well-lit room. Watering is minimal, especially in winter. Let an ice-cube melt over the pot once a week.
What could be more cheerful than daffodils? Place indoor potted daffodils near a window so the plants receive bright but filtered light. Direct sunlight can burn the foliage and make the blooms to fade more quickly. Water the daffodils when the top inch of soil begins to feel dry. Empty the tray beneath the pot 30 minutes after watering, otherwise the soil absorbs the water and becomes too soggy.
The perfect shape and vibrant colours of tulips makes them an elegant centrepiece in the home. A pot of indoor tulips contains more than one bulb, which extends the flowering period. Each bloom only lasts a week, so it is best to buy a pot with closed buds. indoor tulips should be placed where they receive bright indirect light but not direct sunlight, which makes the blooms go over faster. Let the potting soil dry out moderately before watering.
Cyclamen is a traditional indoor winter flower, with clusters of blooms that look like a flock of butterflies. Plants flower best if given bright indirect light in a warm room. Don’t over-water but keep the soil slightly moist. Fertilise once a month with a liquid fertiliser for flowers. Remove dead flowers by pulling out the stem from the base of the plant. This will encourage it to produce more flowers.
The heart-shaped leaves and flowers of anthurium, and its indestructability as a houseplant, make this a perfect gift plant. Display anywhere with good light, warmth and away from draughts. Being compact, plants are easy to display always having a bloom or two. Don’t let the plant stand in water. Wipe the leaves to keep them glossy and snip off dead flowers.
Tips for indoor flowers
- Lighter coloured flowers show up better indoors than deep reds and purples. Good mood boosters are plants with light pink, lavender, and yellow flowers; they also tend to fit in with most décor.
- Give flowering indoor plants pride of place, where they will be easily seen.
- Indoor plants don’t like extremes of temperatures; keep them away from heaters and windows because of the lower night temperatures.
- Feed with a liquid fertiliser once a month to keep them flowering. Use the rinse water from milk cartons or juice bottles to fertilise houseplants. The combination of nutrients from milk and juice provides a balance of important plant nutrients.
- Water less water in winter. Feel the soil with your finger and water when the soil starts to feel dry.
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