degrees Celcius).
W ATER:
The best way to water these plants is at the roots (pouring water on the plant will spot its leaves so avoid water the leaves!). You could pour water in the plate you place under the flower pot and let the plant suck it up. The water should never be cold. Be careful not to over water your plants; ensure that the container allows for adequate drainage.
S OIL:
It is best to buy ready-made soil mix from your nearest garden store for they will have missed the right proportions of fertilizer in it. African Violets require a fertilizer high in Phosphorous to bloom. In case your plants are not flowering, the problem would most often be that the fertilizer is higher in Nitrogen than Phosphorous.
P ROPAGATION:
You can get new plants from leaf cuttings or from the offshoots (plantlets). When the plants produce these offshoots, you need to remove them and plant them in new containers.
2. C ROTON ( C ODIAEUM VARIEGATUM PICTUM)
The Croton is a hot favorite indoor plant because of its exceptionally beautiful foliage. It has great color, grows fast and does not require much attention. These plants love sunlight; hence, you would do best to keep them next to sunny south-facing windows (if you live in the north) where they can get direct sunlight for the better part of the day. Plants that do not get enough sunshine will have smaller and less colorful leaves.
A very important thing to keep in mind is that the leaves of this plant are poisonous. If you have small children or pets that might be inclined to chew on the leaves, this plant is not a good choice for you.
T EMPERATURE:
This plant will grow best in environments where the temperature is maintained in the range of 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit (15-27 degrees Celcius).
W ATER:
This plant is happy in a high-humidity environment. It requires heavy watering, but you should allow the top soil to dry in between while you mist the leaves once or twice a week. These plants will almost “tell” you how much water they need. If the leaves droop or begin to fall it means it needs more water; if the leaves wilt at the edges, it means you are watering it too much.
S OIL:
The soil for the croton needs to be moist at all times. Too much or too less and the plant suffers. The good news is that it will not take you too long to understand how much water it likes based on how the leaves look; and once you know that you will have little else to worry about.
P ROPAGATION:
Crotons are easily propagated by rooting tip cuttings (new growth cuttings) in the spring or summer. For the plants to ‘catch’ and grow, you will need to maintain a temperature at 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit (21-27 degrees Celcius).
3. C HRISTMAS C ACTUS ( S CHLUMBERGERA BRIDESII )
This plant got its name from the fact that it flowers around Christmas; and the flower is a heart-stopping beautiful pinkish-red. This is one of the most unpretentious plants you can grow indoors. It thrives in cool and dry conditions and does not need too much watering either. It can live well in low light conditions, though it needs bright light for a little part of the day. Too much light will burn the cactus leaves; hence, during bright summer days, it will require shading.
T EMPERATURE:
The Christmas cactus likes a temperature range of 50-65 degrees Fahrenheit. It should not be exposed to direct heat sources (fireplace), vents or the like.
W ATER:
The Christmas cactus does not require too much water. However, you need to ensure that the soil is always moist. It is best to keep the pot on a pebble-tray; as the pebbles will absorb water, the plant will get the moisture it requires.
S OIL:
This is one plant that will thrive in any type of soil. Use a good quality potting soil that drains well. For best results you should apply a weak solution of liquid houseplant fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
P ROPAGATION:
Take Y-shaped cuttings from the stem tips and root them for propagation. Mix equal amounts of moist peat
W ATER:
The best way to water these plants is at the roots (pouring water on the plant will spot its leaves so avoid water the leaves!). You could pour water in the plate you place under the flower pot and let the plant suck it up. The water should never be cold. Be careful not to over water your plants; ensure that the container allows for adequate drainage.
S OIL:
It is best to buy ready-made soil mix from your nearest garden store for they will have missed the right proportions of fertilizer in it. African Violets require a fertilizer high in Phosphorous to bloom. In case your plants are not flowering, the problem would most often be that the fertilizer is higher in Nitrogen than Phosphorous.
P ROPAGATION:
You can get new plants from leaf cuttings or from the offshoots (plantlets). When the plants produce these offshoots, you need to remove them and plant them in new containers.
2. C ROTON ( C ODIAEUM VARIEGATUM PICTUM)
The Croton is a hot favorite indoor plant because of its exceptionally beautiful foliage. It has great color, grows fast and does not require much attention. These plants love sunlight; hence, you would do best to keep them next to sunny south-facing windows (if you live in the north) where they can get direct sunlight for the better part of the day. Plants that do not get enough sunshine will have smaller and less colorful leaves.
A very important thing to keep in mind is that the leaves of this plant are poisonous. If you have small children or pets that might be inclined to chew on the leaves, this plant is not a good choice for you.
T EMPERATURE:
This plant will grow best in environments where the temperature is maintained in the range of 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit (15-27 degrees Celcius).
W ATER:
This plant is happy in a high-humidity environment. It requires heavy watering, but you should allow the top soil to dry in between while you mist the leaves once or twice a week. These plants will almost “tell” you how much water they need. If the leaves droop or begin to fall it means it needs more water; if the leaves wilt at the edges, it means you are watering it too much.
S OIL:
The soil for the croton needs to be moist at all times. Too much or too less and the plant suffers. The good news is that it will not take you too long to understand how much water it likes based on how the leaves look; and once you know that you will have little else to worry about.
P ROPAGATION:
Crotons are easily propagated by rooting tip cuttings (new growth cuttings) in the spring or summer. For the plants to ‘catch’ and grow, you will need to maintain a temperature at 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit (21-27 degrees Celcius).
3. C HRISTMAS C ACTUS ( S CHLUMBERGERA BRIDESII )
This plant got its name from the fact that it flowers around Christmas; and the flower is a heart-stopping beautiful pinkish-red. This is one of the most unpretentious plants you can grow indoors. It thrives in cool and dry conditions and does not need too much watering either. It can live well in low light conditions, though it needs bright light for a little part of the day. Too much light will burn the cactus leaves; hence, during bright summer days, it will require shading.
T EMPERATURE:
The Christmas cactus likes a temperature range of 50-65 degrees Fahrenheit. It should not be exposed to direct heat sources (fireplace), vents or the like.
W ATER:
The Christmas cactus does not require too much water. However, you need to ensure that the soil is always moist. It is best to keep the pot on a pebble-tray; as the pebbles will absorb water, the plant will get the moisture it requires.
S OIL:
This is one plant that will thrive in any type of soil. Use a good quality potting soil that drains well. For best results you should apply a weak solution of liquid houseplant fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
P ROPAGATION:
Take Y-shaped cuttings from the stem tips and root them for propagation. Mix equal amounts of moist peat
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