Flowering Houseplants: Gerbera Daisy and More

What could be cheerier than a flowering houseplant in your home during the winter? There are different types available ranging from African violets to orchids. 

Gerbera Daisy

Right now, I have a beautiful gerbera daisy blooming in my dining room. Actually, this plant was the centerpiece on my outdoor patio table last summer. I brought it indoors for the winter and it is blooming again. 

Gerbera is a member of the sunflower family. Therefore, it has the typical sunflower look of striking petals surrounding a center. Petals are available in yellow, orange, cream, white, pink or red colors. The center of the flower is sometimes black. 

Gerbera is very popular and widely used as a decorative garden plant or as cut flowers. The plants today are a cross between Gerbera jamesonii and Gerbera viridifolia, resulting in a Gerbera hybrid with thousands of cultivars. They vary greatly in shape and size. Often the same flower can have petals of several different colors.

The big, colorful daisy blooms are on 12-18 inch stems. The plant itself is an 8-12 inch round mass of leaves. 

Gerbera prefer to grow in bright light, warm temperatures, and partly dry soil. It works well outside in our hot, dry summers but be sure to bring it inside before the first frost. Mine grows inside in a southern exposure window. 

Other flowering plants to try indoors include streptocarpus, sinningia, cineraria, primrose, hibiscus, gardenia, cyclamen, and more. Most of these need medium to bright light and good humidity. 

Anthurium

A good option for medium to low light is the anthurium. This tropical plant has unusual, long-lasting flowers in red, pink, and white. The flowers are leaf-like (bracts) with a fleshy spike (spadix) coming from one end. Although they prefer good humidity, they will flower well indoors. Anthurium prefers partially dry soil and is typically planted in a bark-like mix. 

A popular cultivar is Anthurium ‘Lady Jane’. It has slender, clear pink bracts that curve open to reveal long, pink-tipped spadix. It also has glossy dark green leaves. 

Try a flowering plant in your home this winter. They will brighten your day!

Originally published in Canton Daily Ledger on 12-30-2006