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Saturday, December 15, 2001

By Ellen Speicher , Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

As fall progresses into winter, the colors of the natural world are reduced as outdoor plants go into their winter dormancy. One way to bring color back into the winter months is to grow indoor flowering plants.

Blooming indoor plants such as white kalanchoe help break up winter's doldrums. (Douglass Oster, Post-Gazette)

Cyclamen, gloxinias and kalanchoes are popular flowering plants that are readily available at garden centers and greenhouses at this time of year. These plants are easy to grow as long as you know what their proper care should be. Here are a few tips for keeping these popular flowering plants in peak condition:

Cyclamen

Cyclamen persicum has brightly colored butterfly-like flowers in white, pink, red, purple and bi-colors. The heart-shaped foliage grows from a tuber. The flower stems rise up above the foliage and open with their petals pointing upward.

Cyclamen need full light in winter but dislike warm temperatures. Temperatures between 55 and 61 degrees are ideal. A cool windowsill, room or sun porch will keep your cyclamen in good health. You can bring it into the warmer areas of the house to enjoy in the evenings or when you have company. Just remember to return it to a cooler area as soon as possible.

Never apply water directly on the cyclamen tuber or where the foliage arises from the tuber (called the crown). Carefully water the soil surrounding the tuber. Keep the soil moderately moist, and don't let your cyclamen dry out completely or the leaves and flowers will quickly wilt.

Fertilize every two weeks with a 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer. Water-soluble fertilizers are available in liquid or powder form and should be mixed with water before applying to the plant. Be sure to follow the recommended mixing rates shown on the container. More fertilizer is not better.

	Growing with Phipps Previous articles in a series Which fresh tree is right for you? Crafts with nature accents celebrate fall All-America Selections For 2001 This is one of a series of periodic columns by staff members of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Marjorie Radebaugh is Phipps' head of education. For answers to all your gardening questions, call Dr. Phipps' GreenLine at 412-665-2364. A Master Gardener from Phipps Garden Center will return your call.

Cyclamen are often discarded when the blooming period ends in spring, but they can be saved and brought into bloom again the next winter. To help them bloom again, keep watering and fertilizing until the leaves start to wither, usually in early to mid-summer. Reduce the frequency of watering as the leaves die back. Stop watering altogether when all the leaves have died.

The tuber will remain dormant for two or three months. During this period, keep the pot in a cool dry area. Watch the tuber closely as the dormant period is ending. When it begins sending out tiny new leaves, put the plant back in its proper growing area and resume watering and feeding. Repot when the tuber becomes too large for the pot.

Gloxinia

Gloxinia is a common name for Sinningia speciosa. This plant has large velvety leaves crowned with a cluster of large colorful bell-shaped flowers. Many different colors and types are available, including single or double flowers in solid colors such as red, purple, white and pink, as well as many bi-colors.

Gloxinias grow best at temperatures between 64 and 75 degrees and need full sun in the winter. Like cyclamen, gloxinia grows from a tuber. Avoid watering directly on the tuber, leaves or flowers. Keep the soil evenly moist and fertilize moderately.

Gloxinias do not need much food, so an application of a 14-14-14 water-soluble fertilizer once a month is enough. If a slow-release fertilizer has already been applied, no additional fertilizer should be necessary. Look for round granules, often tan or gray, in the soil. This is evidence that a slow-release fertilizer has already been applied.

Red kalanchoe is on display at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens' winter flower show. Their easy care and long-lasting flowers have made the cultivars popular picks. (Douglass Oster, Post-Gazette)

Gloxinia tubers can be saved and brought back into bloom in much the same way as cyclamen. Gradually reduce watering as blooming and all leaf growth stops. Put the pot in a cool dark place for two to four months. Water infrequently, only enough to keep the tuber from shriveling. After the dormant period, repot in fresh soil and put the plant back in its proper growing area. Resume regular watering. An application of a 14-14-14 slow-release fertilizer can be made at one-quarter of the recommended strength on the label.

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivars have become popular because of their easy care and long-lasting flowers. They are available in many colors, including pink, red, white and yellow.

Kalanchoes need full sun and grow best in temperatures between 65 and 68 degrees. They will tolerate warmer temperatures, but the flowers will not last as long.

This species of kalanchoe is a succulent, and it is drought-resistant. Its fleshy leaves help the plant retain water, and the waxy coating reduces water loss. The plant can survive periods of dryness but will bloom best and for the longest period of time with regular watering. Letting the soil dry slightly between waterings will keep your plant looking its best. An application of a 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer at half-strength can be made once a month.

Kalanchoes are short-day plants, meaning that they need 14 to 15 hours of darkness each night for several months to set flower buds. For this reason, most people prefer to buy a new plant each year.

Cyclamen, gloxinias and kalanchoes are only three of the many different flowering plants that can be grown indoors. With careful attention to the temperature, light and water needs of these plants, they will add bright color to your home for the many months that your outdoor plants are covered with snow, waiting for the first warm days of spring.