February 4, 2004
Woodbury Bulletin
Betsy Halden

Are you looking for an attractive Valentine’s gift that may bring a touch of fresh green and color indoors? Consider a flowering houseplant.

Recently our friends Stan and Lucy brought us a basket of potted flowering primroses. I placed the plants in an east window and they are covered with rose and pink blooms. They provide an area of bright fresh color on these wintry days.

When buying houseplants from a florist or a greenhouse what should you look for? Here are some suggestions.

1. Survey the general plant selection. Are most of the plants healthy and growing well? Overall high quality, noted by growth and plant color, usually signifies good merchandise and proper care.

2. Look at the plant itself. Is the plant well shaped? Is its growth – along with the color of its foliage, flowers and stems – typical for the species, variety or cultivar? Does the plant show new growth? If your answer to these questions is “yes,” your choice is probably a good one.

3. Check to see if the pant is pot-bound. If roots can be seen growing through the drainage hole(s), the plant is root-bound because it has been in the pot too long. It is probably wise to choose another plant.

4. Choose a size to fit your needs. Don’t expect a small plant to fill a large area. It will not look right, and it may take a long time to grow to the desired size. A larger plant, well established in its pot, will not only furnish the effect you want but also will adapt to its new environment more readily.

5. If you are a beginner, choose plants that are easy to grow. Once you experience success with them, you can move on to something more exotic.

6. As a general rule of thumb, buy plants whose flowers are just reaching their peak of maturity. Mum flowers that are at least half open for example will provide a greater initial effect and last longer than those with closed buds.

I recently asked Wade at Woodlane Flowers in Woodlane Center, Woodbury, about easy-to-grow, attractive houseplants for this time of year. Here are his suggestions:

Phalaenopsis Orchid. This orchid houseplant is surprisingly easy to grow, does well in most home environments, and the white or lavender, or variegated blooms are amazingly long lasting.

Bulb gardens. They come in any number of colorful combinations of tulips, miniature daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths. If kept in a cool space, bulb gardens look like spring, smell like spring and hold their blooms for many weeks.

Miniature rose plant. This potted, blooming plant provides green and delicate color wherever it is placed. It makes a lovely centerpiece, and if it receives adequate light it will continue to bloom for an extended period.

Betsy Halden can be reached at eahalden@comcast.net.