Winter flowers: Types and tips to grow and care

Are you planning to flower your indoor space this winter? You need to know which plants can bloom in winter and how to care for them. In India, most places do not see a frosty winter, so that’s a good sign. Some winter flowering plants cannot survive the frost. In moderate climates though, they can bloom quite fast and give your indoor garden that touch of colour you are craving.  

See also: Tips to grow and take care of anthurium

 

Winter flowers you can easily grow in your home garden

Before we get down to the details of growing some winter flowers in your indoor space, let us learn some quick facts about them:

Name of species	Germination days	Time of blooming
Buttercup (Ranunculus)	10-15	After 3 months
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)	7-10	45 days to 2 months
Petunia	7-10	70-80 days
Zinnia	5-24	45 days to 2 months
Hyacinth (Hyacinthus)	5-12	3 months

 

There are other winter flowers that you can choose to grow, like Alyssum, Balsam, Winter Jasmine, Gazania, Primrose, Sweet Pea, etc. All of these flowering plants require almost similar conditions to grow and bloom, so learning about a few will be alright for the moment. 

 

Buttercup 

Source: Pinterest 

The Ranunculus is a winter beauty that you can grow both in your outdoor garden, as well as indoors (in containers). For starters, you will need a well-drained potting mix, lots of organic compost and full sun. Deadheading should be done regularly to help the plant give more flowers. You can prune the stems below the foliage to keep the plants clean. 

Buttercups are available as tubers that should be treated a little before planting. You need to soak them in water for an hour, but take care not to let the roots rot. It is best to go for a 3-inches pot for one tuber or plant more than one in a larger tray. Once the leaves start appearing, you can take them out carefully and put them into the ground, or you may allow the plants to grow in the container itself. 

Some Buttercup varieties to opt for are:

• Pink Shades– These grow pink, ruffled flowers with darkened centres during mid-winter to early spring. 
• The Bloomingdale– It comes in shades of orange, white, red, rose, yellow and pink during late winter to early summer. In full sun, it can grow up to 8-10 inches tall. 
• Tomar Picotee– This one is a hybrid Ranunculus that has peculiar whitish blooms with purple edges. 
• Tomar Purple– This one gives dark purple blooms during late winter to early summer days. 
• Mache Red Ranunculus– A rare breed, this one has rose-red flowers and can grow up to 12-16 inches tall and 10-12 inches in diameter. 

 

Calendula 

Source: Pinterest 

Also known as Pot Marigold, the Calendula officinalis is a perennial in a tropical climate so you can grow it literally throughout the year. Unlike its name, it looks similar to the daisy and flowers quite fast (within 6-8 weeks of seeding). While most varieties come in shades of yellow, red and orange, you may also find some that bloom in shades of cream and subtle pink. 

When mature, the Calendula can grow up to 2 feet tall and wide, so pick the container accordingly. It can do well both in full and partial sun, but try to avoid the scorching heat of summer afternoons. Use well-drained, neutral soil as a potting mix for your pot marigold. Once it is mature enough, the plant does not require too much feeding or watering as long as the soil is fertile enough for growth. However, deadheading and pinching the young Calendula plants will improve the chances of re-blooming and keep the plant compact. 

Varieties of Calendula that you can opt for:

• Touch of red– Orange and red shaded flowers with red tips
• Prince– This tall one is quite a beauty with its yellow and orange blooms
• Pink Surprise– Gold and yellow ruffled blooms with pink edges and apricot centres
• Greenheart Orange– This rare beauty is characterised by its orange blooms with lime green centres. 
• Citrus Cocktail– A short variety (best for containers) that grows orange and yellow blooms

Know about How to grow and care for Violet flowers?

 

Petunia

Source: Pinterest 

It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful winter flowers to grow in pots, hanging baskets or any other container you wish. You can even say that it is a container-loving plant that can add a tinge of colour and interest to your home space. As the plant is quite hardy to drought and heat, you need not spend a lot of time moving the container from one room to another. And it is the perfect flowering plant to grow indoors in winter. 

However, the petunia is a hungry plant, so start with a slow-release fertiliser during the growth phase, and follow up with a good-quality liquid fertiliser every week or twice a month. Keep removing deadheads and cut the plants short if they become leggy. 

Note: Although Petunias are exceptionally pot-friendly, do not crowd the container with multiple plants. It is best to plant three petunias in a 12-inches pot and not more. 

Different types of Petunias that you can grow:

• Grandiflora– These are the oldest kind, whose blooms may reach up to 5 inches. 
• Multiflora– These are shorter plants with smaller blooms that look pretty for container gardening.
• Milliflora– These are miniature plants with blooms reaching up to 1 inch in diameter. It is needless to say that these are also best for containers.
• Wave or Spreading– These spread over 2-4 inches and look great both in containers and on the ground. But the best thing about them is that they need no deadheading. 

 

Zinnia 

Source: Pinterest 

Growing these beautiful winter flowers can be quite inexpensive, compared to other species. Put them in organically-rich soil and water at the bottom of the plant. Make sure that you do not leave the roots soggy. As the plant blooms, you need to cut down the watering, as the flowers can be tolerant of drought-like conditions. Deadheading, pinching and clipping give more blooms, so do that regularly. 

You can either get Zinnia transplants from a nearby nursery (or online) or buy seeds. Sowing seeds is comparatively more cost-effective, as the flowers germinate pretty fast. Cover the seeds with a quarter inch of soil and put the container in the sun. After the plant grows a little, you need to water it only when the top of the soil layer has become dry. 

There are 21 different types of Zinnias that you can find and grow. Let us give you an idea about the most attractive and versatile ones:

• Queen Lime Red– Dusty rose or Hazy eggplant blooms that display lime undertones
• Benary’s Giant– Dahlia-like blooms that come in a range of shades, like deep red, gold, orange, scarlet and even white
• Uproar Rose– Giant rose-shaded blooms
• Oklahoma Mix– Grows white, scarlet, carmine, pink or golden blooms
• Isabellina– These have pastel-coloured blooms that look and feel lovely
• Peppermint Stick Mix– Streaked cream or golden blooms 
• Polar Bear– Decent white blooms that add a peaceful touch to any space

 

Hyacinth

Source: Pinterest 

Growing Hyacinths in pots is easy, as these flowering plants require nothing more than well-drained soil and full sun. The Hyacinth bulbs need to be planted in mid-autumn at a depth of about 10 cm in organically-rich soil 5 cm apart. Add some slow-release fertiliser to the soil for long-term benefits. 

You may also grow Hyacinths in glass jars and pretty containers to put them up for display at Christmas. Fill the glass jar with water and place the Hyacinth bulb just over it, touching the surface and not dipping in it. Now, keep the glass jar in some place cold and dark for about six weeks to let the roots form. As the green shoot reaches a height of 7-9 cm, move the jar to a spot with full sun. Keep rotating the glass jar by 45 degrees every day to prevent the plant from toppling. Also, add water as and when required. 

These lovely blooms come in a multitude of colours, from white to pink and purple. If you are lucky, you may even see some mauve shades. 

 

Pansy

Fast-growing and colorful, Pansies are a great choice to add more vibrancy in your garden during winter. The most important fact about this plant is that it can grow in a wide range of geographical locations without you breaking a sweat. Seed them once and they would come back the next season without you having to re-seed. Lasting you the year long, these are also edible, and hence widely used as dressers of many a delicacy.

 

Antirrhinum

 

They are a gift of nature and grow in crevices and walls across the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal, and from France to Turkey and Syria. Leave them some space in your garden too for these easy to grow flowering plants which can survive a certain amount of frost as well as higher temperatures.

 

FAQs

Why should I grow Hyacinths in a glass jar?

You can put them up for display during Christmas or any other occasion. They look delightful and add some natural colour to your decorations.

Can Zinnia flowers get infected?

In hot and dry weather, aphids, whiteflies and spider mites can damage the plant. Spraying insecticidal soaps in the evening can help keep these pests away.

What kind of soil do buttercups need?

The Ranunculus grows best in sandy soil that is naturally well-drained.

Are Petunias poisonous for pets?

Nope! These are completely non-toxic for pets.

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at [email protected]