Four Small Colorful House Plants

To dispel the idea many indoor gardeners may have that most house plants have fresh green foliage and little else, all we ask is that you consider at these 4 indoor candidates for a colorful window painted with color.

First take the ever-favorite wax begonia. Far from being new, this accommodating plant has been among the favorites of indoor gardeners for many years. It is a tolerant little soul and will put up with much abuse yet still reward its owner with cheerful flowers almost continuously.

Next we have the the gloxinia. “Brilliant” can describe the color and “exceptional” the size of bloom. Gloxinia hybrids have lifted this plant to great heights from the small deep purples of grandmother’s day.

Striking as it may be, the gloxinia is not a difficult plant to grow or obtain. It needs conditions similar to the African-violet and can be started either from tubers or from seed.

Another tuberous plant…. This is a cousin of the wax begonia – the tuberous begonia. A true house-plant fancier may say that this isn’t a house plant because it is grown in the summer garden. It is grown in the garden, but can also be grown in the house, greenhouse and sun porch as well. In fact, the best plants are often grown in pots within an enclosure of some sort.

A long time queen of house plants – the African-violet. Very few plants have achieved indoor prominence for so many years has the saintpaulia. Some people may think it is new – but of course, many varieties are new. The early African-violets had single purple flowers. From them were developed whites, pinks and multicolored ones, both single and double. This cross section of varieties, including foliage differences as well as plain or ruffled edges.

These aren’t the only flowering plants you can grow in a pot garden. A glance through almost any catalog from a house plant grower will add many more to the potential list. But these four are a colorful appetizer.

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• RX for Healthy House Plants-Part-2