WINDOWS: Group plants?or pots that are similar
Updated 10:00 pm, Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Patience, gardeners. This winter has outdone the last, leaving even more brown in its wake. While we wait on spring to ?re-color the outdoors, we can window garden inside. A few houseplants and a bright spot windowside will brighten the view.
Follow these tips to set up and care for your indoor minigarden:
Visit your nursery, and select one or more low-care plants that will tolerate life indoors. Herbs, ferns, bromeliads, succulents, African violets and their relatives are options.
Choose a container to complement your plant, whether in shape or color. For an easy grouping, use containers of one material (such as terra cotta) or color for unity. Or cluster pots of varying, but complementary materials for interest.
Add colorful plates, teacups and other objects from around the house to accessorize your plant scene.
Avoid overwatering, a common cause of houseplant death. Poke your finger deep into the soil every two days or so. Water if dry. Don't let plants sit long in a saucer of water. Thin-leaf plants generally need more watering than those with thick foliage.
Mist or group plants to boost humidity in heated or air-conditioned rooms. Or place pots on pebbles in a shallow tray of water.
Bright, indirect light from a window is ideal for many houseplants. Some, such as herbs will appreciate a sunny east window. Ferns are best out of reach of west sun rays. Rotate plants so all sides get light.
Variegated plants often need more light than all-green types. Keep them closer to a window.
Apply a water-soluble fertilizer once or twice a month.
FLIGHTS OF FANCY: Delicate blue-purple blooms of Streptocarpus 'Angel Wing' thrive in soft sunlight. This gesneriad, an African violet relative, is a favorite winter houseplant.
FRIENDLY FRONDS: Bird's nest and rabbit's foot ferns are among the easiest houseplants. With bright light and moderately moist soil, they'll freshen the indoors with lush green. Our varied group: three Japanese bird's nest ferns in a metal cachepot, a crested Japanese bird's nest fern ('Crissie') in a low urn and a rabbit's foot fern in a tree fern pot.
AIR PLANTS: Non-demanding bromeliads bring colorful foliage and flowers tableside. The whirling tufts of gray leaves, Tillandsia ionantha, need no soil, only frequent misting or a weekly dunk in warm water. Clockwise from top, a mini Guzmania, mini Vrisea and Neoregelia 'Zoe' complete our compatible group.
SILL OF APPROVAL: Button fern's charm stems from its dark-green, rounded leaflets. We merely laid yellow monkey flowers and a purple Corsican violet at its feet.
GROWING GREEN: The delicate fronds of a maidenhair fern, paired with reindeer moss, bring thoughts of spring indoors. We accessorized our window scene with a glass plate and seed pods.