What you need is a horticultural pick-me-up. Consider brightening your outlook with some "instant" flower color.
Potted cyclamens are readily available this time of year at grocery stores and nurseries alike. An already-blooming 4- or 6-inch potted cyclamen will flower all winter with little care. Huge, brightly-colored flowers rise above attractive foliage like shooting stars. Cyclamen are bulbs - actually tubers - so they should bloom year after year as long as bulbs survive.
The secret with cyclamen is to grow them in containers. That way you can set the pots aside come spring and summer. I set mine on the neglected side of the house. This way I can be assured I won't water them during warm weather, which can rot out the bulbs. Come cool weather, start watering again and get a whole new season of color.
Other "instant" potted flowers include florist's azaleas, chrysanthemums, cinerarias and Rieger begonias. All are available at nurseries from fall through winter for that horticultural pick-me-up.
Cinerarias are a personal favorite since they feature spectacular, daisy-like blossoms of blue, pink and red that nearly smothers the foliage. Cinerarias are usually for sale only in winter because they require cool temperatures.
Florist's azaleas and chrysanthemums are usually available year-round. But they have been forced-bloomed inside greenhouses to be used as houseplants for awhile. One of the benefits of this is that both azaleas and mums can be planted outdoors after they are finished blooming as houseplants. In fact, mums can be divided, usually into five separate plants.
Rieger begonias are named after Otto Rieger, a German plant breeder who created them. They are among the showiest of houseplants, featuring single or double flowers that are similar to roses. They come in pink, rose, red, orange, yellow and white.
Many of these winter bedding plants - from cyclamen to cineraria, including pansies, violas and snapdragons - are included from Goldsmith Seeds. This is one of the world's largest wholesale breeders of hybrid bedding plants. Their web site is at: www.goldsmithseeds.com
Go To Page: 1
