FULL HOUSE

The garden may be short on flowers but there are plenty of houseplants that can put on a dazzling winter display, says Adam Appleyard

THIS PAGE Dendrobium 'Berry Oda', bamboo orchid. OPPOSITE Dendrobium 'Star Class White', orchid with Ficus pumila 'Sunny'.

his is the season when we most appreciate our houseplants – especially the ones prepared to bloom during the darkest days of winter. Here’s a selection of domestic dazzlers that will flower readily at this time of year.

For best results remember to think just as carefully about where to place your houseplants as you would if you were planting up your borders.

Some crave maximum light, others need more shade. Some have minimum temperature requirements and will be happier in a cosy living room than in a chilly spare bedroom. Yet others only thrive in a humid environment; for them a bathroom or shower room makes an ideal habitat.

Also bear in mind that houseplants accumulate a certain amount of dust over time. Clean them with a soft brush or give them an occasional gentle shower to keep them in peak condition.

Schlumbergera truncata; S. × buckleyi

CHRISTMAS CACTUS

Thanks to their multitude of showy pink or scarlet flowers that bloom from December through to February, these two species create a vibrant display at precisely the time you want your house to look its cheeriest.

Unlike many cacti they prefer bright shade to direct sunshine. They also like a humid atmosphere, so mist them regularly or stand pots on a saucer of gravel part-filled with water.

To ensure your Schlumbergera flowers every year, put it somewhere cool (10–15°C) and cut back on the watering during February and March. Do the same from mid-September until the flower buds form. Feed and water regularly from April to September. Cymbidium

BOAT ORCHID

One of the oldest cultivated orchids, and one of the easiest to grow, Cymbidium produces gorgeous flower spikes from mid-autumn through to spring.

To trigger flowering, cymbidiums must experience several weeks during which there’s a substantial difference between daytime temperatures and nighttime ones. A simple way to achieve this is to put them out in the garden – in part shade rather than full sun – from June to September.

When they’re back indoors, keep them somewhere relatively cool (preferably no warmer than 15°C) until they’re ready to flower. Once they flower you can bring them into a warmer room to enjoy the display. Phalaenopsis

MOTH ORCHID

These gorgeous orchids flower every few months throughout the year, although their main season is from late winter into spring. They like daytime temperatures of 20°C-plus, so they’re ideal for a warm, centrally heated room.

Moth orchids need plenty of light in winter, but keep them out of direct sunlight at other times. Water and feed regularly during spring and summer; ease back on watering, and stop feeding, in winter. Mist regularly, or create a humid environment for them by standing pots on damp pebbles.

Phalaenopsis are usually sold in clear pots. They benefit from their roots being exposed to light, so don’t make the mistake of repotting them into opaque containers!

Dendrobium

BAMBOO ORCHID

Dendrobium orchids, several different species of which are commercially available, are renowned for the profuse, delicately scented blooms they bear in winter and spring.

Give them plenty of light in autumn, winter and spring, but part-shade in summer. They like warm daytime temperatures (18°C-plus) all year round, but won’t mind if the temperature dips at night.

Once your Dendrobium has finished flowering, water and feed frequently. Mist daily, unless it’s in a very humid environment. If the leaf tips go brown, mist twice daily. In winter cut right back on the feeding and watering – this will encourage flowering.

OPPOSITE: TOP Schlumbergera (Christmas cactus) with pink flowers. BELOW Cymbidium 'Suzy' boat orchid. THIS PAGE: TOP Dendrobium 'Anna Green'. BELOW Phalaenopsis - moth orchid.

Spathiphyllum wallisii

PEACE LILY

With their glossy leaves and elegant white flowers, peace lilies are attractive, undemanding houseplants that can spend the summer in the garden once the frosts are over.

Peace lilies like a reasonably bright spot, but don’t cope well with direct sunlight. They hail from tropical regions, so a humid environment like a bathroom will suit them perfectly. Water generously once a week and feed every three weeks with liquid feed in spring and summer. Reduce watering during the winter months.

Peace lilies are mildly toxic, so ensure no part of the plant is likely to be eaten by children or pets. Kalanchoe

KALANCHOE

Kalanchoe is a genus of succulents native to tropical Africa that are popular as houseplants thanks to the long-lasting, brilliantly coloured flowers they produce in late winter. Kalanchoes come in a wide range of colours, including white, yellow, lime green, orange, scarlet and pink.

As for sunlight, the more the merrier as far as kalanchoes are concerned, so put them on your sunniest windowsill. Water sparingly, especially in winter, and don’t let water pool beneath the pots.

Kalanchoes won’t be happy if the temperature falls below 10°C, but will appreciate a summer holiday in the garden when the weather warms up.

THIS PAGE: TOP Anthurium andraeanum 'Flamingo flower'. RIGHT Spathiphyllum wallisii, peace lilies in pots. BOTTOM Kalanchoe 'Paris Evergreen' in a vintage teacup.

FLAMINGO FLOWER

Exuberant red-and-yellow blooms and dark green, heart-shaped leaves make anthuriums real showstoppers, and with a little care they will flower all year round.

Plenty of bright, indirect light is a must, and they won’t be happy if the temperature falls much below 20°C. Anthuriums are rainforest plants, so they like a humid environment. Keep them in a bathroom or shower room or stand them on a saucer of damp pebbles to make them feel at home.

That said, it’s important not to overwater them. Water no more than twice a week, and only when the compost feels dry. Feed monthly with a highphosphorous houseplant fertiliser and repot every couple of years.