Poinsettia

Keeping that Christmas gift alive

How to care for winter flowering pot plants

Maybe flowering house plants are not the popular Christmas gifts they were, however many of you will be given one at some point over the festive period: a poinsettia, cyclamen, azalea, or even a foliage plant or bromeliad. 

In some homes they will thrive and bring pleasure for many weeks; in others they will perish all too quickly, fading away long before twelfth night! Here are a few handy tips to keep them looking good.

Poinsettia

First of all - the poinsettia. Many people believe a poinsettia is just for Christmas, not for life, and only want to keep it looking good over the festive period, then out it goes. It is true that the poinsettia is not the easiest plant to care for and you may never see it bloom the same again, but it can be a keeper.

Poinsettias like a reasonably warm position, but away from radiators and direct heat sources. It appreciates watering lightly from the top of the pot when the compost feels dry. A good test is to pick it up and feel the weight rather than just testing the compost with your fingertip. 

If it is standing in a pot cover, make sure it is not standing in water. If the leaves drop it is often a result of over or under watering. If you are not going to keep it after it has finished blooming but if you are, then it will need feeding!

If you’ve cared for your poinsettia well and kept it warm, then you’re halfway there. It needs at least six hours of light a day, but do not put it in direct sunlight.  Keep a normal watering routine until spring and then dry gradually around April. At this point it could die as it may not be able to cope with the drying phase, but move it to a slightly cooler position.

In May, cut stems and repot in a larger container. Water thoroughly and then re-position in a sunny window but away from direct sunlight. Apply a good fertiliser such as Vitax All Purpose Liquid Q4 throughout summer to keep it going. 

Cyclamen

Some find cyclamen tricky, simply because they do not enjoy our overheated homes. Back in the days before central heating they were easy houseplants. Plenty of light and a cool, airy position is the order of the day. 

If the flowers lose colour and some of the leaves appear small and straggly they are suffering in subdued light and too much warmth. Either water around the rim of the pot or from the bottom, but never leave them standing in water for long. Feeding with Vitax House Plant Feed every couple of weeks helps to keep them blooming for longer and builds the foliage ready for a summer holiday out in the garden, if you are going to try and keep them for next year.

Orchid

Of course, the Phalaenopsis orchid has become our most popular flowering houseplant for good reason: it blooms for ages and is easy to keep. It will bloom again and again, as long as you give it a little care. 

The secrets of success are plenty of light, away from direct heat sources, and regular watering. Basically, if you are comfortable in a room, your orchid will be. Water thoroughly about once a week, allowing the plant to drain well before returning it to its pot cover. 

Every couple of weeks add Vitax Orchid Feed to the water to give your plants all the nutrients they need. Keep it close to a window, but just out of direct sunlight. Due to the air in the house being dry, misting with Vitax Orchid Mist spray really helps to keep your plants happy. 

Azalea

Some of you may be lucky enough to be given an azalea; these were such popular flowering house plants a few years ago. Plants you can keep from year to year, standing them outside in the summer months, then bringing them indoors to bloom in winter. 

They like cool conditions and will be quite happy in an unheated conservatory. They need plenty of water and as they have dense fibrous root systems, the best bet is to immerse the pots in a bucket or bowl of water until they stop bubbling, then allow them to drain.

If you really want to make a difference water your azalea with Vitax Seaweed plus Sequestered Iron. These are ericaceous plants, lime haters. They hate tap water and rain water is not always available so giving an iron rich treat really helps.

You can use Vitax Seaweed plus Sequestered Iron on stephanotis and gardenia too. These are both lime hating flowering houseplants, both well worth growing for their fabulously fragrant flowers.

One final word on foliage plants. The flowering plants may fade, but foliage plants and bromeliads survive, however they eventually become starved as the growing medium runs out of nutrients. 

Be careful not to overwater and feed every two weeks with Vitax House Plant Feed. If the plants continue to grow and you are sure they have outgrown their pots you can repot them in spring. The good news is that indoor plants are back in fashion- so make the most of them.