Questions We're Often Asked: Flowering Indoor Plants

By Wes Porter —— Bio and Archives March 30, 2017

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There are hundreds of candidates to provide colourful blooms, some even scented, for house and apartment. Unlike those grown principally for their foliage, most require a little more care to persuade them to flower. But the results and almost guaranteed admiration from visitors is worth it. 'Bright light' means several hours direct sun a day, while filtered light means at the back of such exposed room or perhaps near a window in an east or north room. Always use room-temperature water--cold water is almost certain to cause flower and bud drop.

An introductory selection for the novice plant fancier: Bougainville, Bougainvillea hybrids Although a scrambling shrub it can be pruned to control growth. Bright light, keep moist while in bloom, soak and then allow to dry when not in flower Dwarf Orange, Calamondin Orange, Citrus mitis Sweetly scented flowers produced year-round with small, sour but edible fruit. Keep evenly moist in summer, allow to partially dry out in winter Cyclamen, Cyclamen persicum hybrids Blooms from a corm for a few weeks in filtered light; allow to almost dry then water; will tolerate lower temperatures Crown-of-Thorns, Euphorbia millii A sprawling, thorny shrub that is a continuous bloomer. Requires bright light, soak and then allow to dry Hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis A classic flowering shrub for indoors, or outside in summer. Needs bright light, even moisture, fertilizing and occasional pruning Wax Flower, Hoya bella Sweetly scented vine best suited to hanging baskets. Bright light, soak and then allow to dry

Kalanchoe, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana hybrid Often sold as a winter gift plant. Requires bright light, soak and then allow to dry. Passion Flower, Passiflora caerulea Beautiful blue flowers, best kept in bright light and evenly moist in hanging baskets; a red-flowered form, P. caerulea, is also available African Violet, Saintpaulia hybrids Continuous bloomer in filtered light. Keep evenly moist and avoid splashing water on foliage Gloxinia, Sinningia speciosa hybrids Blooms for a few weeks from a tuber. Filtered light, keep evenly moist and avoid splashing water on leaves Spathe Flower, Peace Lily, Spathiphyllum hybrids One of the easiest blooming plants. Prefers subdued light and is difficult to overwater; available in small to very large sizes Madagascar Jasmine, Stephanotis floribunda gloriously scented vine best suited to hanging baskets Bird-of-Paradise, Strelitzia reginae Only mature plants flower but what blooms! Bright light, water then let dry. Best grown in a large floor container