Fall and winter have many dull days that can be brightened by the presence of colorful flowers and crisp green leaves of the following four house plants.
The amaryllis is a tropical plant from South America. It is a bulb which, if potted in November, provides beautiful flowers by Christmas with a minimum of care and expense. Buy a bulb with a good root system. It should be potted in compost or a good organic soil leaving the neck of the bulb above the surface. Moisten the soil and put the pot in a warm place. It will grow successfully in the living room as it does not require a period in the dark. A flower stalk will appear after a short time and then the plant must be moved to a well-lit window.
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As the stalk grows the water supply should be increased. In time several flower stalks will appear. Flowering plants should be kept cool to prolong the life of the flowers. The flowers are large; they grow quickly and come in various colors.
The Christmas cactus originated in Brazil. As illustrated, it has colorful flowers which appear around Christmas and sometimes at Easter. The plant does well in the living room but must always face the light at the same angle. If it is turned, the buds will drop off. Keep the plant at room temperature and water moderately. In the growing period it should have cactus fertilizer every two weeks. When it stops flowering it has a rest period so set the plant in a cooler place. Apply water sparingly, just enough to prevent the joints from shriveling.
Mature plants need to be repotted every three years. They can be put in plastic or clay pots but do better if grown in a hanging basket. If grown in pots provide good drainage. Water should not be too cold.
