Winter Flowering Houseplants
Christmas Cactus
Temperature - Night, 62-65 degrees
Light - Bright indirect light in spring and summer. Full sun in fall and winter.
Water - Moist, but not wet.
Fertilize - Every 2-4 weeks with 15-30-15 (when blooming, every 4 weeks)
To reflower a Christmas Cactus:
About September, begin to cut down on watering, decrease by half on fertilizing and keep in a room that is cool (preferably 60-68 degrees). Also, keep it in a room that will remain dark from about 5:00 pm to 7:00 am. It should have at least 12 hours of darkness or longer. In other words, it should be in a room that is dark from sunset to sunrise.
Cyclamen
Temperature - Night 50-55 degrees; Day 70 degrees
Light - Bright indirect; prefers humid air
Water - Moist but not wet
Fertilize - Use 15-30-15, half strength while flowering. After flowering, feed full strength every 2 weeks while new leaves form. Reduce water as leaves die. Do not feed then. Replant dry corm into new soil and keep corm showing above the soil. Begin watering again and feeding every 2 weeks.
Norfolk Island Pine
Temperature -50-70 degrees; ideal, will tolerate 80 degrees
Light - Medium to bright indirect light
Water - Moist, not wet
Fertilizer - Miracid—follow directions from package
Amaryllis
Amaryllis will provide you with the largest most exotic bulb flowers you can easily grow in your home. Flowers are 6 to 8” across in a large variety of colors. Amaryllis is a subtropical plant so they do not require a cold period like so many other bulb flowers. Therefore, they are much easier to grow.
Plant amaryllis in any loose potting soil in a tall pot. The size of the pot is determined by the size of the bulb. The pot should be 1” larger on all sides than the size of the bulb. If the bulb still has roots, spread the roots through the pot. The bulb should be pointed upward and the tip of the bulb should stick well above the soil. Initially water the plant well with lukewarm water, but after that not more than once a week till you see that your amaryllis is starting to grow. Amaryllis likes to be grown at 70-75 degrees. Once your amaryllis starts growing you can water everyday. Amaryllis can grow as much as 1” per day. You can prolong flowering by placing your flowering amaryllis in a cool window or cooler room.
Future Flowering
If you would like to try to get more years out of your amaryllis, start feeding it after it starts growing (any good houseplant food will do).
Cut the old stem 6” above the bulb when the stem has finished flowering. Continue to water and feed till June/July. Remove foliage, stop watering and rest your plant for at least 2-3 months. Some people will plant their amaryllis in a semi-shaded garden during the summer months after the last chance of frost is gone. (This is fine but don’t forget to water if you don’t have any rain). In October, bring indoors and start watering and enjoy them all over again.
Pocketbook Plant
Flowers appear like clusters of small grapes, although they're held upright rather than trailing and cover the foliage when in full bloom. In their preferred cool climates, they bloom all summer but can be used for fall, winter, and spring bloom in frost-free areas. Their ultimate height is 8-12 inches by 10 inches wide.
Temperature - Night 40-50 degrees; Day 55-60 degrees
Light - Filtered sun in winter; partial shade the rest of the year
Fertilizer - Feed (once a month until flower buds form) with liquid fertilizer diluted to 1/4 the strength
DO NOT feed plants after they are in bloom