Three Easy and Beautiful Flowers to Grow From Cuttings
Filed Under Growing Cheap Flowers Indoors | 4 Comments
For many gardeners the winter can get a little long with no flowers to plant and take care of. But if you want to some easy to grow flowers this winter, here are a few to consider growing from cuttings. But first, here are a few items that you will want to have on hand for your propagation: peat moss, perlite, a good pair of sterilized shears and a few containers to start your plantings in. Your planting mix should be 60% peat, 40% perlite. Here are 3 easy and cheap flowers to grow this winter from cuttings:
1. Geraniums
Growing Geraniums from cuttings is very easy. The key is to select a good mother plant to cut from, whether it is out of the garden or a nursery bought plant. Watch out for yellowing of the leaves; this is a sign of over watering. (Geraniums can tolerate letting the soil drying out between waterings)
• Select containers that are 3-4″ deep and fill with the planting mix. Cut off shoots from the mother plant that are 4″ long, remove the leaves and then place in the potting mix about 1 ½” deep. It’s recommended that you use a rooting hormone to help develop roots more quickly.
• Firm the potting mix around the cutting and the place a plastic bag over the top of the cuttings to help seal in moisture. You can punch small holes with an ice pick to provide enough air flow to keep the plants from wilting and heat build up.
• Give your cuttings 6-8 weeks to establish themselves. Once you begin to see some top growth you can fertilize.
• Gradually move the new Geraniums in to more light to harden them off.
2. Wax Leaf Begonias
Wax Leaf Begonias are also an easy annual flower to grow indoors. The trick here is to get good leaves and keeping the soil moist.
• Select containers 3″-4″ deep and fill with planting mix.
• Cut leaves have 1″-2″ of stem attached and remove the lower part of the leaves.
• Place cuttings in mix with leaf or leaves above soil level to prevent leaf rotting.
• Use a root hormone or root stimulator to aid in root development.
• Keep the potting mix wet, almost to the point of slushy.
• Once roots have developed begin cutting back the watering amounts to encourage hardiness.
Begonias need filtered light so be careful not to expose them to too much light too quickly. Transplant in the spring after last frost if you are planning to move them outside.
3. African Violets
Growing African Violets from cuttings is very simple as well. Here is how to do it:
• Select containers 3″-4″ deep and fill with planting mix.
• Take a cutting that is about 6″ long with a couple of leaves on it.
• Cut half of the bottom 2″ of the stem off vertically and dip in root hormone.
• Place in the planting mix about 2 ½” deep and firm up the planting mix around it.
You can save a lot of money by growing your own cheap flowers from cuttings. Follow these simple steps and you will be on your way!
Grow An Indoor Flower Garden with These Seven Easy Flowers
Filed Under Growing Cheap Flowers Indoors | 7 Comments
During the growing season avid gardeners can become obsessive about caring for their beautiful flowers all season long. When the first cold snap comes, unfortunately that is the end to annual color and with cold temperatures lasting for five to six months in some parts of the country, it can be a very long wait for spring to arrive so they can get outside and begin spring plantings . But there is a great way to have cheap flowers indoors this winter: have an indoor flower garden. There are several plants that can produce flowers all winter long with minimal light and upkeep. Here is my list of seven great indoor blooming plants for this winter:
1. Miniature Roses
Miniature roses can be grown in small spaces (4″-8″ pots) and will bloom continuously if the conditions are good. They come in various sizes so select one that is small enough to fit in your space. They need 6-8 hours of sunlight; a south facing window would be best. They also need temperatures above 60 degrees, which usually isn’t a problem indoors. Keeping the soil moist and the plant fertilized is important for continuous blooming. Clip the old blooms back to encourage new blooms.
2. Impatiens
These are one of the easiest plants to grow because they require little sunlight. In an outdoor setting, Impatiens can grow with indirect sunlight in average soil conditions so growing them indoors shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. If you are transplanting your Impatiens from outdoors at the end of the season be sure to put them into a clean pot with fresh potting soil. Pick a spot where they can get several hours of indirect sunlight. Be careful not to over water as the stems will begin to weaken. Fertilize regularly to encourage blooming.
3. Hibiscus
Growing Hibiscus indoors is great if you have good sunlight. If you are bringing them from outside you may want to hose the stems and leaves down to remove dirt and insects. Also, remove any old blooms and trim back to within 6″ of the main stems. Be careful not to over water as insects tend to live in moist soil. Let the pot dry out completely between waterings. There are several great varieties of hibiscus to choose from with lots of different colors and even double blooms. The key is finding a spot with good light.
4. Pansies
These are classics! They are easy to grow but they will need a cool window sill to sit at with moist, fertile soil. If they get too warm the will begin to get “leggy” and loose their compact shape. These are a great project for the kids: have them start your pansies from seeds and watch them grow and bloom over winter indoors!
5. Geraniums
Indoor Geraniums are great because they can tolerate full sun or a partially shaded environment. The more sun the better for flower production. Also, don’t over water as this can lead to fungal growth with Geraniums. Geraniums store a lot of water in the stems so you can get away with letting them dry out in between waterings. Fertilize regularly for the best flower production.
6. Kalanchoe
This is one the easiest plants to grow but can be a great source of flower production. The Kalanchoe plant has attractive, shiny dark green leaves and produces small clusters of red, yellow or orange flowers for months on end. Place near a window for indirect light. Water when the soil is dry to the fingertips and do not let it sit in water if you are using a saucer. Clip the old, dying blooms to encourage new blooms.
7. Begonias
Grwowing Begonias indoors are great because they are well suited for the indirect lighting that most homes provide. Begonias do well in hanging baskets because of their trailers and usually being raised off of the ground provides some indirect light if placed near a window. Begonias need the soil to be moist but not soaked. Be sure and not let the soil get dried out between waterings as this can lead to stress on the plant. If you keep the dead flowers pinched off they will continue to bloom for months on end.
These are cheap flowers that provide great color all winter long in your indoor garden. Here are a few other indoor flowering plants to consider: African Violets, Christmas Cactus, Azaleas, Paperwhites (Tazetta narcissus)and Amaryllis. With a little planning and care you’ll be able to get great enjoyment until it’s time to get outside and plant that spring garden!
How to Grow Your Own Cut Roses
Filed Under Home Grown Cheap Flowers, Tips for Cheap Flowers | 4 Comments
Roses are probably the most beloved flower of all. Their mystique, symbolism and sheer beauty have been a source of joy for generations of people around the world. Growing your own roses for can be tricky but definitely doable and they are a great way to enjoy cheap flowers fresh from the garden. Just follow some basic guidelines and you’ll be fine. 
The first step is to select locations that you will be planting the roses in. For instance, roses need 4-6 hours of indirect to direct sunlight so you will want to watch your sun patterns to see what places in the yard fit this criteria. Also, some late afternoon shade would be ideal but not absolutely necessary. You may want to have a soil analysis done in order to find out what the condition of your soil is. In many places, soil samples can be done free of charge by the local county extension agency or you can buy one from the local garden center. They will be looking at categories like, pH balance, nutrient content and environmental toxins that can cause harm to your plant material. A soil analysis will make recommendations as to what additives or altercations you may need to make in order to type of additives may be required in order to achieve the absolute best results.
After selecting the proper locations for your roses, next you want to pick out specific species of roses that you would like to grow.
Tip: The only species that you may want to avoid is the hybrid tea rose. They are a little temperamental and definitely can be grown with success, but they will require more care. The reward for the effort of growing these lovely plants is that they produce the best long stem roses and are terrific for cuttings and floral arrangements.
But there are other types of roses that you can grow that are relatively easy, will provide tons of enjoyment and can be used for cut roses as well. Shrub roses, climbing roses and traditional garden roses are terrific choices for the beginner or the more experienced rose grower.
First, pick roses that will grow in your particular climate zone. Usually, nurseries will provide roses that are hardy for your area and should do well. Next, select rose colors that you would like to grow and use for both flowers in the yard as well as in the yard. You may want to even sketch out a rough plan of where you would like to see your roses from inside the house or outside in the yard.
After picking colors, be sure and check your specific roses for their disease resistence. Some species are more prone to diseases like black spot or powdery mildew. Check with your local nurseryman for more information on the ones that you are thinking about. You’ll also want to look at which species produce the desired fragrance; some are very fragrant and others not as strong.
Planting Tips
- Roses need well drained soil so if you have clay soils you may need to add some some compost or other organic material in order to loose it up.
- As state above, roses need 4-6 hours of sunlight for best results. Planting roses in shaded areas lead to poor performance and often times disease. Pick spots that are well lit and ideally have some late afternoon shade.
- Dig a hole twice the size of the container or root ball. Add some compost to the extra soil that will be used to fill the hole around the rose.
- Plant the rose 2-4 inches above grade to help water move away from the base of the stems. This will help keep the roots and stems from staying wet and lessen the chance of disease.
- Plant your roses with plenty of space between them. Stems or vines that cross or rub each other will lead to disease. Check the spacing requirements for each plant and follow the directions.
- Spring plantings are best. Avoid the summer heat when plants are stressed and fall when danger of freezes could possibly kill newly planted roses.
- Fertilize with an organic fertilizer like composted manure or an organic slow release product 4-6 weeks following planting. If you like you can use a root stimulator to help get the roses planted.
Roses do require some care but the enjoyment that they provide far out weighs the effort required for up keep. Follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to having beautiful and cheap flowers that you can use in your home decoration.
That’s it for getting your roses planted. Check in soon for how to care for roses.
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