If you receive a plant for Valentine's Day or any other occasion, special care should be given to keep them healthy and attractive. Most of the common gift plants are flowering plants such as Chrysanthemums, Azaleas, Kalanchoes, African Violets and spring bulbs: Tulips, Hyacinths and Daffodils.

Large flowered types of Chrysanthemums generally referred to as "greenhouse mums" require good light, plenty of water and cool nights to help prolong the life of the blooms. After they have finished blooming, the plants should be discarded unless you have a greenhouse. They are neither hardy enough or early enough to serve as future garden subjects. If you're buying a mum for someone, select a plant with a limited amount of open flowers and many nice large buds. The plant will stay in bloom for a good period of time.

Azaleas must have plenty of light, high humidity and cool temperatures to keep them blooming. After bloom has stopped, continue fertilization and frequent watering to support the new growth and flower buds which may develop. Azaleas may be moved, pot and all, into a shaded sheltered flower garden for the summer. After bringing them back into the house in early fall, intermittent bloom may be obtained throughout most of the year, although peak bloom will occur in mid-to-late winter. If repotting is needed use peat or a mixture of sand and peat.

The scarlet flowers of the Kalanchoe are very appropriate for Valentines Day. This succulent plant has thick, waxy leaves and flowers in flat headed cluster. They should be kept in bright light of full sunshine with normal home temperature and humidity being very adequate. The soil should be allowed to dry a couple of days between thorough watering. Remove the flowers after they fade and keep the plant growing actively during the summer and fall. If you wish to have the plant flower again for Christmas or Valentines Day, the Kalanchoe must have a six week period of short days, cool night temperatures and reduced watering.

African Violets are the most popular houseplant. They thrive at normal home temperatures and will flower almost continuously. Avoid putting them in full sunlight. An east window is usually the best in the summer. I keep the soil in my African Violets just a little on the dry side. When watering your violets keep the plant crown dry, don't get water on the leaves and use room temperature water. African Violet food should be used when feeding them. After a stem of flowers has started to fade and dry, it should be removed to keep the plant flowering.

From later winter to early spring, pots of blooming spring bulbs (Tulips, Hyacinths and Daffodils) are commonly given as gifts. To prolong the life of the bloom keep them cool, water frequently and keep them in full light but away from hot sun. The temperatures should be kept between 60-65 degrees F. for maximum flower life.   At 70 degrees F. and above the blooms will only last about a week. Small pots of crocus can even be placed in the home refrigerator during the night.

If you want to save the bulbs after flowering continue watering, fertilizing and providing good light until the foliage yellows. After the foliage has wilted and died back the bulbs can be stored dry until fall. In September the bulbs may be planted in the garden. Generally tulips will give satisfactory to good performance while hyacinths and daffodils may give satisfactory results if planted in sheltered areas or given a winter mulch. Do not attempt to re-bloom the bulbs indoors. Generally speaking, once a bulb has been forced for pot flowering, it has lost so much of its stored food and vigor that it is impractical to try forcing it again.

This page was last updated April 2003

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