Houseplants

Valentine's Day is only a few days away! If you're planning to send the traditional red roses, the sooner you order them, the better. But be aware; the laws of supply and demand mean they'll be rather pricey at holiday time.

Even when it's not a holiday, flowers are such a special treat - especially in the middle of winter – so you really want to make them last as long as possible. Follow these easy tips to get the most days of enjoyment from those beautiful Valentine blooms.

Common pests of houseplants include aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies and spider mites, and it only takes a few insects hitchhiking into your home to multiply into an outbreak. Many gardeners prefer not to use standard insecticides, especially in the house. That may be one of the reasons why insecticidal soaps, both pre-mixed and homemade, have been gaining in popularity.

African violet, Saintpaulia ionantha, was originally discovered growing in the wooded Usambara mountains near the border between Kenya and Tanzania in 1892. The original plant was collected by Walter von Saint-Paul-Illaire, after whom the genus was named. It was sent to a plantsman in Hanover, Germany and quickly caught the attention of plant-lovers. By 1927, the first commercial hybrids, all with blue flowers, debuted in the gardening market.

Earlier this year, we discussed two 2023 National Garden Bureau’s (NGB) Plants of the Year - this year's shrub (Spirea) and vegetable (broccoli). Orchids are the NGB houseplant of the year and the holidays are a great time to discuss this large group of flowering plants, which includes more than 28,000 species! Orchids are commonly available through garden catalogs and flower shops during the holiday season and make a great gift plant for the green thumb on your gift list.

Many houseplants thrive outside during summer, growing well with the brighter light intensity, but it will soon be time to bring them back indoors. Most plants grown as houseplants originated in the tropics, so nighttime temperatures dipping into the 40's and 50's F mean it's time to bring them inside.

These plants won't survive frost and some may be damaged by temperatures in the 40's or even the low 50's. As summer winds down into fall, days may be warm enough but nighttime temperatures will soon be too cold for them to stay outdoors any longer.

There is a close relationship between insects and plants. Neither could exist without the other. Bees, wasps, and butterflies benefit plants by pollinating their flowers. Other insect species feed on plants by sucking sap from plant tissue or by devouring plant parts. However, in a fascinating twist of nature, there are a small number of plants that "eat" insects. The diet of these plants also includes mites, sowbugs, and occasionally small animals, such as frogs. Accordingly, these flesh-eating plants are true carnivores.

Home-grown gifts for friends and family may be as close as your windowsill of house plants.

Propagate a plant from one that the recipient has admired, and you'll have a gift that person will prize because it reflects your time and interest, as well as your thoughtfulness.

During the holidays, poinsettias become the decorative plant of choice for many. And many green thumbs who enjoy working with plants are eventually tempted to save a poinsettia after the holidays with the intention of getting it to re-bloom the following year. Christmas cactus and Amaryllis plants also make great houseplants - easy to grow and rebloom.

Growing and reblooming poinsettia, Christmas cactus or Amaryllis is really not as difficult as many people think. Follow these tips for success with your plants.

A holiday plant can be the perfect gift for many occasions, but to ensure a beautiful, healthy plant use care when selecting and transporting your gift.

Selection
When choosing a poinsettia, look for a full, well-branched plant with good color development in the showy bracts and dark green leaves. A fresh poinsettia will have little or no yellow pollen showing on the true flowers, but instead a small cluster of round yellowish buds in the center of the colorful bracts.​