Houseplants in Minnesota
- A pot of hyacinths brings a breath of spring to a Minnesota home in winter.hyacinth image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
Minnesota's weather makes it a good place for cultivating houseplants because many plants require cool periods to trigger growth or flowering. In northern latitudes, use a chilly basement landing or a room with low night temperatures to accommodate plant growth cycles. With the improvements in fluorescent lights, it is now possible to supply all the light a particular variety needs without damaging heat or enormous energy costs, so your home can stay in bloom all winter. - African violets thrive in the dark days of Minnesota's winter--and all summer long--if they get enough light. Use fluorescent bulbs when your south- or west-facing window isn't bright enough to encourage strong green leaves and healthy blooms. The plants can be placed right under a fluorescent lamp without risk of overheating or burning petals because fluorescents don't give off heat. Violets prefer temperatures in the 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit range without chilly drafts or direct summer sun. They need moist soil, occasional light fertilizers and a helpful humidifier if the house is too dry with the heat on. Never let water bead on the leaves or they will develop brown spots. With those conditions, African violets will bloom on and off all year, a small jewel-like houseplant that requires very little care.
- Forcing bulbs will give you spring indoors long before it bursts into bloom outside. The University of Minnesota Extension recommends potting hyacinths, crocus, tulips, daffodils and lily-of-the-valley in early October. Leave the potted bulbs outside until Christmas and then begin bringing them inside---a few at a time. Once they hit the inside warmth they will begin to bloom in three or four weeks, so you can time it to have flowers all spring. In the house, leave the plants in a cool place for a week-- 50 to 60 degrees F. is ideal. They do need light during this time, so make sure to put them somewhere cool and sunny. Once they send out vigorous shoots and leaves you can move them to a warmer spot. They should grow very rapidly--move the pots to a cool place at night, especially after you see flowers. This keeps the plant blooming longer.
- Cyclamen are bright, easy-care houseplants that stay in bloom for a long time. Blossoms are red, maroon, pink, magenta, purple, salmon or white and the heart-shaped leaves are green or variegated silver and green. The plants do well in a north-facing window or anywhere they can stay cool and get indirect light. Due to Minnesota's location, the angle of the sun provides less-intense light in winter, so place a lethargic cyclamen in a south or west-facing window. Monitor the plant's response to light carefully and move it back to indirect light when the days are longer. Too much heat will collapse cyclamen, so keep them on the cool side--50 to 55 degrees F. isn't too cold. Keep them moist, not wet, and cut back on watering and eliminate fertilizers once the flowers appear. If your cyclamen was a gift and came wrapped in shiny paper or some other covering, repot the plant or remove the decorative cover so the roots can breathe.
