SEASONAL FLOWERING HOUSEPLANTS      

BULBS
Crocus, Hyacinth, Narcissus, Tulips
Bulbs cannot be reflowered indoors once they have been forced out of season. Remove the flowers after they have faded, keep the plant in its cool night location and continue watering until the foliage matures. In late spring, plant in the garden. It will bloom in one or two years at its normal spring blooming season.

POINSETTIA
A reflowered Poinsettia will not be as attractive as the original plant but provides a fun challenge for hobbyists. Continue to care for the plant during the winter and early spring; then after danger of frost is past, repot and cut back stems to encourage new growth. Place plant outdoors for better light. Return plant indoors in the fall before night temperatures fall to 40° (4° C) outdoors. To initiate the colorful bracts: October 1 to November 15, provide Poinsettias with 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness followed by 10 hours of bright light each day. Once bracts have begun to develop, the plant may be returned to normal indoor conditions. Please note that Poinsettias are sensitive to even the amount of light from street lights during the period of uninterrupted darkness, so take care that the dark cycle is never broken.

AMARYLLIS
After flowering, cut off the flowering stalk, place in bright light and continue care to let the foliage mature. In the fall, withhold water and allow the bulb two months of dormancy in a cool place (not freezing). You may continue to water, but flowering will not be as predictable. If necessary, repot with 1/3 of the bulb above the soil surface and about 1” of soil between the bulb and the edge of the pot. In a bright location, water sparingly until the flower stalk emerges, then water daily. Reflowering will occur in about eight weeks.

KALANCHOE
To reflower, Kalanchoe requires 14 hours of continuous darkness followed by 10 hours of bright light for a period of six weeks to initiate and develop buds. The buds formed during this time will continue to develop during normal indoor light conditions after this six-week treatment, but flowering will not occur until three to four months after the treatment.

CHRISTMAS CACTUS
Short, cool days are required in October and November for December flowering. Keep temperatures at 50-55° F at night and not over 65° F days and take care not to extend day length with artificial light. Another reflowering method is to place the plant in continuous, uninterrupted darkness for 14 hours daily at night temperatures of 60° F and day temperatures not over 65° F during October and November. Then bring Christmas Cactus into a bright area where it will continue to develop and flower.

OTHER SEASONAL FLOWERING HOUSEPLANTS

African Violet – Pink, purple, white bi-color;
available year-round; bright indirect light; keep water and dirt off leaves.
Anthurium – Pink, red, white; available spring to fall; some indirect sun or bright indirect sun; state flower of Hawaii.
Bromeliad – Pink, red, purple, available year-round; some sun or bright indirect light; long lasting blooms.
Calceoloria – Yellow and red spotted; available fall to winter; bright indirect light; keep cool with evenly moist soil.
Clivia – Orange; available late summer; some sun or bright indirect light; blooms best when rootbound.
Crossandra – Orangey-salmon; available spring to fall; bright indirect sun; bloom stems become very sharp.
Cyclamen – Pink, white, rose; available fall to winter; some sun or bright indirect light; keep cool; let rest after blooming.
Exacum – Blue or white; available spring to fall; bright indirect light; needs good drainage.
Florist Mum – Yellow, rust, white, pink, purple; available year-round; partial shade; cut foliage back; plant outside in fall.
Gerbera Daisy – Rose, pink, yellow, white; available spring to fall; some sun; keep evenly moist; plant outside in spring.
Gloxinia – Purple, red, pink, white; available fall to spring; some sun or bright indirect sun; keep leaves free of dirt and water.
Miniature Rose – Pink, red, white; available year-round; some sun or bright indirect light; wash foliage to keep pest free.
Orchids – Various bloom colors; available year-round; some sun or bright indirect light; see Dutch Garden Center for tips.
Ornamental Pepper – Yellow, red, purple; available fall to spring; some sun or bright indirect light; fruit is not edible.
Paperwhite Narcissus – White blooms; available in the fall; sun or part sun; blooms appear five weeks from bulbs.
Rieger Begonia – Red, pink, salmon, white, yellow; available year-round; part sun or bright indirect light; keep evenly moist and feed monthly.
Streptocarpus – Purple, lavender, white, bi-color; available fall to spring; some sun or bright indirect light; keep leaves free of dirt and feed monthly.
Zebra Plant – Yellow blooms; available year-round; some sun or bright indirect light; fertilize monthly.