Oh, so easy! Caring for your Valentine’s day plant

Exquisite Phalaenopsis orchids, elegant Zantedeschia and Curcuma, petite pot roses and heart-shaped flowering anthuriums. These are the pick of the Valentine’s plants that find their way into hearts and homes over Valentine’s day.

It’s true that indoor flowering plants need a little more care than their leafy counterparts but with the basic care, supplemented by regular feeding in summer, you can have loads for flowers for longer.

When the flowering is over, it doesn’t mean the plants are over. Those that go dormant can rest over winter and be brought out as spring warms up to flower again. It is as simple as that.

Phalaenopsis orchid

The Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) is the easiest orchid to care for. It doesn’t mind neglect, even underwatering and rewards with almost three months of flowers. Choose an orchid that also has many unopened buds at this will prolong the flowering.

Care tips

Plants are happy in any position that receives bright, indirect light. Water once a week in summer and less in winter, but if you forget they wont die. Silvery roots are a sign that the orchid needs water. A healthy orchid has green roots.

After flowering the orchid will go dormant, and the stem can be cut off. However, if the stem is still green cut it down by a third. This may stimulate it to re-flower.

Put the dormant orchid into a cold, well lit area. It needs about three weeks of cold to stimulate it to flower again. Once it starts growing, feed with an orchid liquid fertiliser once or twice a month.

Zantedeschia

Zants, aka Calla lilies, flower for a month or more if they receive bright indoor light, even filtered sunlight. Their small, trumpet-like flowers come in a range of vivid colours. Remove old flowers by twisting and pulling out the stem so that new stems can emerge. While flowering, feed with a liquid fertiliser at half strength every two weeks. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.

Once the plant is finished flowering, stop watering and allow the leaves to die. Take outdoors and keep  in a cool sheltered place for over wintering. In spring, move it into the light and start watering and feeding. Plants can continue to be grown outdoors or brought indoors when flowering.

Curcuma

Curcuma, also known as Siam tulip, is quite a rarity. Each flowers lasts for up to three weeks. Cut off the spent bloom at soil level so that they plant can send up a new bloom.

To flower well curcuma like bright light or filtered sunlight in a warm rood, on a balcony or patio. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy and feed twice  month with a liquid fertiliser at half strength while it is flowering.

Once all the blooms are over and the leaves start going yellow, stop watering and keep the pot in a cool place over winter, sprinkling a little water over the pots so they don’t dry out completely. In spring bring the pots into a semi-shady area, water and fertilise to encourage new growth. Once the plants are flowering bring them indoors for show.

Pot roses

These mini beauties in shades of pink, peach, red, yellow and white, need bright light or filtered sun to keep flowering indoors.

Cut off dead blooms to encourage new buds, fertilise with a liquid feed at half strength every two weeks and keep the soil moist but not soggy.

When the flowers are over, cut off the stems to 5cm above the ground, and when new shoots are visible, feed with a liquid fertiliser. They will come into flower quicker if kept outside in the sun. and watered every day.Pot roses can also be transplanted into the garden or a bigger outdoors pot. 

Anthurium

Anthurium, also known as Flamingo flowers, can produce long lasting flowers all year round with the most basic care.

They need plenty of bright light but not direct sunlight, a warm room, and feeding once or twice a month with a liquid fertiliser at half strength in spring and summer.

Do not over water. Let the top few centimetres of soil dry out slightly before watering and don’t let the plant stand in water. Remove dead flowers to encourage more flowers. With this sort of care the plant will last for years. For further information visit LVG Plants.

Article and images supplied by Alice Coetzee. 

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