I appreciate that February is the shortest month of the year. After a wonderful holiday season, January was spent packing it all up, organizing it a little better than last year and also trying to reduce my inventory by a tote or two.
The days flew by. But now it’s February and the gray, gloomy days of winter are here. Thank goodness for houseplants! They are widely available, affordable and give life to the inside of our homes. I admit that some of my houseplants are imposters. Some of my favorite outdoor plants are wintering among their indoor cousins. I have four pots of geraniums that date back to a bridal shower I gave for my niece about 20 years ago. If only the marriage had been as successful… Sometimes, they will even bloom for me. I love touching their leaves and breathing in the promise of sunnier, warmer days to come.
Here’s how I do it. In early fall, I take cuttings from the geranium- about six inches long. I keep them in water (jelly jars are perfect for this) until they grow some roots. Remove any leaves that would be in the water. Then I pot them up with fresh potting soil and put them in front of a window. They look bright and green all winter long until it’s time to go back outside, with some of their indoor cousins, like my amaryllis.
One of my favorite houseplants is Sansevieria, commonly called “mother-in-law tongue” because of their long and sharp leaves. Being a mother-in-law, I just don’t understand the connection! These are the easiest of all plants to grow, in my opinion. One of my plant books even notes that they “tolerate near-death experiences.” I have several in a row on a windowsill that are doing so well I almost could forgo closing the curtains at night. The varieties range in height from 6” to 36.”
Be sure to protect your newly-purchased plants. Most stores have plastic wrap just for this purpose. Be sure to ask if you don’t see it or gently double wrap in the store plastic bags and go straight home, making plant purchasing the last stop on your list of errands.
