Indoor-gardening expert Esther Filson shares some suggestions on bringing horticultural color indoors. It can be a challenge, as cut flowers and blooming houseplants don't last very long. Houseplants with colorful foliage can brighten your home for a much longer period, but they require lots of light. You can supplement natural light with fluorescent or "grow" lights. Here are three colorful recommended plants: Rex-cultorum begonias (figure A) have large, boldly colored leaves. The most striking of the foliage begonias, they require high humidity and warm temperatures to do their best. They need bright, indirect light and should be watered only when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
Begonias are susceptible to a fungal disease called powdery mildew, which looks like a white coating on the leaves. You can prevent fungus problems by not overwatering, providing excellent air circulation and avoiding getting the foliage wet. Powdery mildew can be treated with sulfur powder. Purple velvet plant (Gynura aurantiaca) (figure B) requires bright, filtered light or direct sunlight as long as the room temperature is below 70 degrees. Standard potting mix and moderate water will keep these plants thriving. No misting or wet foliage, please. Use a complete fertilizer at one-quarter strength in the spring and throughout the growing season. Pinch back the branch tips to keep the plant bushy and full. The brighter the light, the more the deep purple color will develop. Provide ample humidity with a gravel-filled saucer.
Calathea (figure C) is native to tropical regions of the Americas and requires filtered bright light, high humidity and warm temperatures to perform well indoors. The potting medium should be kept about as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Keep the leaves clean, but don't use commercial leaf-shine products. A damp cloth works well.
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