Indoor flowers that work great for winter in Alaska
Winters are long here in Alaska and after months of staring at the snow, it’s nice to think about having something green and colorful inside. The good news is that you can enjoy flowers and plants, even when it’s freezing outside. Here’s a list of our favorites – and how to take care of them for just a few months, or even all year long.
Amaryllis
Dramatic flowers, gorgeous colors, and they are even low maintenance! These make great gifts, too. You can usually buy amaryllis bulbs at your garden supply store or order them online. If you are starting from scratch, they take about 5-6 weeks until bloom, so get started now. One bulb doesn’t necessarily mean one flower, in face, larger bulbs can produce up to 5 flowers per stalk. Amaryllis are very low maintenance. They like lots of light, you only need to water sparingly, and have beautiful dramatic displays you’ll love all winter long.
When planting an amaryllis bulb, fill planters with enough soil that the top of the bulb (or bulbs) is just peeking over the rim, about an inch or so. Pack soil around the bulb to anchor it, leaving enough room at the top for a layer of mulch or sheet moss to give it a nice look. Water around the edges sparingly until you see bloom stalks emerge, careful not to water in the center of the build so water doesn’t go down inside the bulb.
Poinsettia
Poinsettias are actually native to Mexico, a climate that is very different from here in Alaska. The beautiful red, white or colored “flowers” of a poinsettia are actually just colored leaves of the plant that attract pollinating insects to the real flowers which are very small and centered down inside the brightly colored leaves.
If you want your poinsettia to last the entire winter, start with a plant that is healthy with leaves holding on tight and not dropping off. If you buy it in a store, be sure to wrap the plant with a protective sleeve to protect it from the cold temperatures as you take it home.
Keep your poinsettias in a very bright location with lots of sunlight. If you put it near a window, though, don’t let it touch the cold window. Stay away from drafty areas or doorways. Water the poinsettias when the top layer of soil dries out. Poinsettia’s like humidity, too, so misting every other day can help. Grouping them with other houseplants can help too as this will create a sort of humid microclimate.
Christmas cactus
These are also called Thanksgiving, Holiday, Easter or Holiday cactus. They are very similar, just bloom at different times and with different colors, but the care is basically the same. They like lots of light, water them thoroughly once per week and then let the soil dry out in between. If your home is humid, you can probably water even less often. Christmas cactus will last years for you and provide gorgeous blooms over and over. The good news, these plants actually bloom better when they are rootbound, so you only need to repot them every 2 to 3 years.
Beyond holiday flowers like amaryllis, poinsettias and Christmas cactus, there are other plants that work really well indoors here in Alaska. Head to your local garden center for idea of what’s in stock, or you might be able to order online any of the following:
- Jasmine (pink or white)
- Scented geraniums
- Hoya (wax plant)
- Orchids
- Lavender
- Plumeria
- Eucalyptus
- Coleus
- Miniature roses
Whenever you buy flowers or plants for inside your home, pay attention to their light, moisture, feed/nutrient, and humidity needs. Also ask or research potential pests. Even inside a home you can still have to deal with aphids, spider mites or gnats. Any of the plants and flowers we mention here make great gifts, so if you’re looking for new ideas and gifts that will last much longer than a box of chocolate (and not ruin your New Year’s resolutions!) these winter beauties are the way to go.
