Flowering house plant

Like foliage house plants, the foliage of flowering house plants remain alive and attractive throughout the year but the flowering house plants in addition can be expected to flower under room conditions , provided that their requirements are adequetly met . flowering house plants usually bloom better when the size of their pot is restricted . as in the case of the foliage plants , they can be devided into two catregories , viz. climbers and trailers , and bushy plants.

Climbing and trailing flowering house plants

Aeschyanthus speciosus is a beautiful plant for indoor decoration . it has long stems bearing lovely fleshy, Deep green , narrow leaves and clusters of orange , tubular , fragrant flowers at their extremities . it is either grown in hanging baskets or as a climber on supports in pots.

It should be planted in a rich mixture of sifted leaf-mould and a little sphagnum moss and should be reported each year it like good drainage. It should be well watered in the summer and kept reasonably dry during winter at a temperature of about 50F(10C) . it should not be allowed to flower during its first season.

Begonias generally like a will-lit place , far away from gas fumes . they are best when their pot is surrounded by damp peat. They they need to be watered well in the growing season and kept comparatively dry when they are resting. The leaves should on no account be wetted . in winter , a temperature of 50-55F (10-13C) should always be maintained . the most recommended climbing species begonia Begonia glaucophylla , which has shiny, pointed, grayish-green leaves , which make a very lovely foil for its brick-red flowers in pendulous clusters , which appear in spring and summer . it is also excellent for hanging baskets. It does not like hot rooms.

B.Glabra is another suitable climbing begonia, it has small white flowers.

Columnea banksii needs a warm room in which the winter temperature does not fall below 55F(13C) . it needs plenty of water during the growing period , but the soil should not be kept continuously saturated . the atmosphere should be kept humid by surrounding its pot with damp peat . it likes a well-lit place out of direct sunlight. Its massed , reddish – orange flowers are three inches long and an inch and a half wide , and tubular in shape . it is a difficult plant to grow , but perserverance aimed at getting the right conditions is richly rewarded.

Another glorious columnea is C.gloriosa "purpurea", which has the most exotic-looking , orange flowers and small , dark purple , hairy leaves

Hoya Carnosa (wax plant, porcelain flower) is an easy-to-grow plant with glossy , fleshy leaves and cluster of pale-pink, sweetly scented flowers that appear in summer . to be successful , it must have warmth and plenty of water when in flower. When the plant is growing it need to be watered freely and given an occasional feed of liquide manure when the plant is at the flower-bud stage , feeding should be stopped and watering reduced very considerably . it can stand cold conditions in the winter but it flowers best in the shade where it is warm . there is a very beautiful variegated variety , H.carnosa Variegata , which has cream and green leaves . another attractive species is H. australis, which has pink , flushed, white , honeysuckle-scented flowers.

Jasmine . there are two equally beautiful jasmines that will flower in the house, particularly if they are kept in an atmosphere that is warm , not less than 45F(70C) in the winter , and fairly moist and in a sunny place . under theses conditions both are evergreen . their size can be kept under control by stopping the shoots during the growth season . the first of these is jasminum polyyanthum , which resembles the white garden jasmine . it has white , highly perfumed flowers, pink on the outside , and dark-green leaves. The other is J.primulinum, which blooms in spring or earlier , giving bright-yellow , semi-double flowers that are often an inch in diameter.

Passiflora caerulea (The passion flower) is a quick-growing, hardy climber . blue is the more common  , but P.caerulea 'Constance Elliott' is a very delightful white variety. A sunny position is needed . it should be given plenty of water during the summer and receive an occasional feed . the temperature should not fall below 50F (10C) in the winter , it dislikes coal and gas fires . Keep under control by pruning hard in early spring .

Stephanotis floribunda ( Madagascar Jasmine) is an exotic looking , highly perfumed , vigorous climber . it has white , waxy flowers . it has evergreen leaves , that are about three inches long and make an attractive foil to the blooms. It should be grown in a moist atmosphere and in a pot with good drainage surrounded with damp peat . it likes good light and warmth , with the winter temperature not falling below 55F(13C).

Bushy and upright Growers

Anthurium scherzerianum (flamingo plant, painter's palette) is an impressive house plant. It is difficult one because it needs to be kept in a centrally-heated room, in which there are no temperature changes . a constant temperature of 60F (15C) IS IDEAL . it requires to be planted in a well drained pot , surrounded by moist peat so that the atmosphere is moist , and to be given plenty of water . in the winter the peat should be reduced , but the plant must not be allowed to dry out . frequent spraying with tepid water is an advantage . it should be placed in a well-lit place.

Anthurium scherzerianum is a most colorful plant and is an asset to any interior decoration scheme . it has long slender, shimny , lanceolate leaves, but its crowning glory is its wonderful waxlike, flamboyant, scarlet flowers , which grow on tall red stems and are composed of a spathe about two to three inches long and the same width , and a spirally-twisted orange-red spadix. The combination of these gives the plant an unusual , but most attractive appearance.