LADYBUG: HOUSEPLANTS REQUIRE CARE THROUGHOUT YEAR

There are a surprising number of houseplants in bloom now to give color, and often fragrance, to the home. If you have received some of these, other than the poinsettia, their care throughout the year might be helping to extend their blooming period and prolong their lives.

Paperwhite Narcisus

Paperwhites are narcisuses that bloom in two to six weeks. Properly spaced they can be staggered to bloom all winter.

A new turn on forcing them has come form Benet and Becky Heath of the Daffodil Mart in Gloucester, Va., who suggest storing the bulbs on top of, rather than inside, the refrigerator. When kept at about 70 degrees, they can be stored until spring.

Another new twist regarding this super fragrant flower: Many of them may be planted in the garden to grow and rebloom next year. Jackson & Perkins is said to send out this information with bulb orders.

Gardenia

If you were fortunate to have received a gardenia as a holiday plant, you will be rewarded by using proper care. The scent of just a couple of them in bloom will permeate the entire room. One author has written, "Gardenias are not the greatest of houseplants because they are as temperamental as a female teen-ager."

This plant needs pampering. They like bright light in winter, a cool room, plenty of moisture and an acid, organic soil. Give them some fresh air, clean their leaves and prune them after they have flowered. Some plants have quite a long life.

Cyclamen

This plant is often referred to as the crown jewel of the winter plants. It has large exquisite flowers that contrast with handsome patterned leaves, and the red or pink blossoms rise above the leaves on strong stems. If properly attended, they may flower from December through April.

Cool temperatures and as much light as possible are the key. It is often recommended that cyclamen be watered from below by pouring water into the saucer. Fertilize every two weeks with water soluble fertilizer recommended for houseplants.

When the plant has completed its growing cycle, it will want to become dormant for awhile. Growers often think of this as the plant's final resting. Not so. When the new leaves emerge from the corm, it is beginning its cycle again. This is one of the greatest challenges in indoor gardening.

Gloxinia

The gloxinia is often referred to as the African violet's most glamorous relative. It offers large velvety leaves and extravagant bell-shaped flowers, three inches or more across, with texture as plush as a king's velvet robe.

While the African violet rewards its owner with several sets of blossoms each year, the gloxinia bears a single flush of flowers at one time and that is it, at least for now. They grow from a tuber, and like other tubers they require a rest between performances.

Water just enough to keep the soil moist, never wet. Overwatering may cause the tuber to rot. Keep it in bright, indirect light.

When the blooms have faded, gradually dry off the plant by reducing the frequency of watering. Once the foliage is gone, store the pot and tuber in a cool place. It can be repotted in the fall when the tuber begins to sprout.

Reiger begonias

These are the newest and the showiest of the begonias, some with orange, red or pink single or double flowers. There are many varieties now for pots or for a trailing habit for hanging.

A new one this year, the Merry Christmas begonia, is one of the most dazzling of the rex begonias, grown for its foliage. The leaves, rosy-red in the center, are bordered with green and pink and edged in red.

Reigers need plenty of light and a cool temperature for good blooming. With regular applications of fertilizer and plenty of moisture, they bloom for a long period. Plants may become too large and need to be cut back to renew growth and shape.

Amaryllis

Miniature amaryllis have been available on the local market this year. Although there was a bit of disappointment that the bloom stalk reached 18 inches (I had visioned a maximum of 12), the flower blooms (four to a stalk) were almost 4 inches in width. All were red, but the fact they grew so rapidly and were fascinating for children and shut-ins to watch. They made a bright spot in the room.

The regular bulbs are some of the easiest to grow. Unlike those hardy bulbs of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, they require no cold period before blooming. In fact, a newly purchased bulb is almost guaranteed to bloom soon.

Like other potted plants, amaryllis does not like cool temperatures and should continue growing in good light. After the foliage has yellowed and died back, cut it off. From that time the plant should be allowed two months of dry, dormant conditions.

~Mary Blue is a resident of Cape Girardeau and an avid gardener.