Houseplants in the Winter--by Heather

When the colorful lights of the holidays are in the rearview mirror, and spring seems so far away, even the most diehard of snow enthusiasts will find that their eyes need the balm of living color inside the house, as a respite from the exterior world which is covered in white.  Houseplants are a wonderful way to appease this need, and I’ve been able to expand my interior garden scape in the past couple of years.

Right now, I’m enjoying a full herb garden in my south facing windows with herbs that I brought indoors before it frosted.  It’s so delightful to have fresh Rosemary, Mint, Fennel, Parsley, Basil, Lemon Balm and Cilantro, not only for the delight of seeing green in the house but also for the delicious flavor they lend to the hearty winter meals we are eating.  We are still enjoying so many of the fruits of our garden, but fresh herbs elevate the squashes, cabbages, onions, beets, beans and tomatoes that we preserved during the fall. 

In addition to the herbs, we also are loving the sights of Geraniums, Cypress grass, Oxalis, Begonia, Stromanthe, Agapanthus, Tradescantia, Ficus, Amaryllis, Poinsettia and many succulents.  This spring, we will be expanding our houseplant selection at the garden center, and I’m looking forward to experimenting with more plants next winter.  

If you don’t yet have a houseplant collection, another way to bring color inside is to prune a selection of woody shrubs that you probably already have outside in your yard.  Some of the easiest and quickest cuttings for producing green leaves are Red twig Dogwood (Cornus Sericea), Willow (Salix),and Ninebark (Physocarpus).  The Red twig dogwood are particularly lovely with the green leaves contrasting the red bark of the branches.  You can also prune Forsythia, Quince, Cherry and Apples for blossoms inside. And, of course, Winterberry (Ilex Verticillata) provides those beautiful red berries that can come inside, although I usually like to leave mine outside for the birds to eat. 

Let us know what plants and cuttings bring you inspiration during these dark, cold winter months.  Here’s a poem about one of my houseplants:

Geranium

Growing tall, stretching far. When it hits

The ceiling, it doesn’t stop.

How can it support this need for spreading?

Chartreuse and scented

Overlord of Oxalis and Parsley

The green speaks spring

In decidedly white January

No mosquitos to ward away now

Just growing for the sake of growing.

It does not know of my plans for it.

But accepts my care with indifference

Like a child who expects there to be food on the table

But has not yet learned to be

Grateful for its source,

Geranium accepts the water and food and light that is provided,

Sheds its unwanted leaves and lets me take them away,

And grows against reason

Next to the cold panes of thin glass

That separate it from

The compost pile

Where the ones who were not chosen

To be tended to inside

Turn into food for the Spring’s new arrivals.