CyclamenLet's start with a very common plant, cyclamen. It has wonderful heart-shaped leaves with flowers that bloom in pink, rose, white, red or purple.
If you ever receive one as a gift, the first thing you want to do is remove the foil. This can trap water as it drains from the holes in the bottom of the pot -- and the next thing you know, the water collects in there and the plant's roots are sitting in water. This is a common mistake. So remove that foil! If you do change pots, make sure it has drainage holes.
Speaking of watering, these plants like a thorough watering. Keep the soil moist to the touch. Remember, a sure way to kill a cyclamen is to leave it sitting in water.
Cyclamen likes a medium light; an east- or west-facing window will usually provide the plant with enough light. This plant also prefers cool temperatures, generally 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 45-55 degrees at night.
Begonia
The begonias is another great houseplant that sprouts blooms in red, pink and white. The variety shown on today's show, rex begonia, is great because you can propagate it using the veins of its leaves.
Start by removing a middle-aged leaf and its stem. Turn the leaf over and look for the veins, particularly the large center vein and the side veins that run from the point where the stem connects to the leaf all the way to the outside of the leaf.
With a sharp, clean knife, make no more than two or three cuts through the central vein and one cut through each of the side veins. One new plant should grow at each of the cuts.
Select a pot large enough to accommodate the entire leaf surface and fill it with moist, clean sand. Set the leaf right-side up on the sand. Insert the tip of the stem into the sand where it will continue to provide the leaf with moisture. The surface of the leaf must come in contact with the sand, so use hairpins or open paper clips to pin the leaf flat.
Set the pot in a plastic bag and keep it out of the sun. It may take two to three months for plants to develop, so don't rush; just be patient.
Geranium
You might think geraniums are only good as outdoor bedding plants, but they will perform just as well as houseplants too, provided you have a nice sunny place to put them. Here are a few geranium facts that may come in handy:
- When it comes to watering, it's important to let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
- Fertilize with a complete water-soluble fertilizer, monthly in spring and summer and every other month in fall & winter.
- Additional plants can be grown from stem cuttings: Find a node (the small bump below a leaf) and, using a clean, sharp knife, cut slantwise a few inches from stem tip. Strip any smaller leaves from the stem. Dip cut end in rooting powder that has been taken out of the jar (you don't want to contaminate rest of rooting powder -- the plant could have a disease or bacteria). Place stem 1" deep in well-draining equal mixture of perlite, sharp sand and peatmoss in a small seedling container. Water sparingly. It will take three to four weeks for roots to form. After roots have formed, move the plant to a larger pot. After about a week fertilize with a 20-20-20 mixture at half-strength. Before you know it, you'll see new leaves forming, and you'll have another plant. Remember, as it grows, transplant it to larger pot.
So now you know: there are three flowering houseplants -- cyclamen, begonia and geranium -- that make great substitute for fresh cut flowers. Just remember, overwatering is the number-one way to kill them, so make sure their pots have proper drainage, and check their trays to make sure they're not sitting in water. Enjoy!
