Posted by Rick Canale on Tue, Jan 08, 2013
January is a month that few gardeners look forward to. Bank accounts are depleted, waistlines stretched to bursting point and the thought of Christmas cheer feels like a distant memory. A glance out the window will do little to lift the spirits, with plummeting temperatures, snow and ice all lined up to give you the winter blues even if everything else fails to.
Twitchy Boston gardeners missing their usual fix can while away the days and weeks gazing out at bare beds, grey skies, ice and snow and picture a string of long dark months stretched out before them. But there is another way, a way to bring light into the darkest of New England winter days.
Exotic plants grown in your home are a wonderful way to fight the winter blues. They bring a colour and vibrancy to cheer even the gloomiest of gardeners and their rich and complex smells will enliven the spirit and brighten your house.
The brilliance of their colours enrich the soul and the challenges they present to the avid gardener are different to the ones faced for the rest of the year, keeping you and your skills sharp and keen.
There are so many varieties of plant and flower that are both exotic and suited to indoor growth during the winter months. But here are just five suggestions to help lift the mood and brighten your home. And remember, spring is already on its way.
The Orchid
What’s not to like? Beautiful, delicate and with a rare and varied explosion of colour that makes it a must-have in any winter home. There are now more than 30,000 pure species of the orchid which mean there is one for almost every set of conditions. They will need to be watered carefully and placed in a position where the sun can bathe them gently for at least a few hours a week, but, despite their frail appearance, they are remarkably hardy and will fight their way through most winters. Pick one and enjoy the uplifting results.
Lemon Tree
Citrus plants make fantastic additions to your winter collection. The smell alone will bring a smile to your face and a reminder of spring and summer aromas. But these are evergreen plants and what is more they flower during the winter months. To get the very best out of them all you have to do is pick the right spot. An ideal place will see them given plenty of sunlight and occasional water. These plants hate too much water but if you can add nutrients you will reap the benefits. Be careful to keep them away from radiators or heaters and if you can do all that you will be in for a treat. Orange trees are also fantastic and although they are not cheap.
The Kaffir Lily a.k.a. Clivia
This is a beautiful South African plant with spikes of cup-shaped, pink and red flowers. It is from the same family as Amaryllis and will enjoy a bright position out of direct sunlight. If you grow this plant indoors it will bloom delightfully with vibrant colour from the Fall into early winter and should be fed and watered more frequently as the holiday season approaches. The foliage is a sight to behold but it is the beauty of the flowers that will make the difference to even the gloomiest of rooms. A dead cert for a better mood.
Kalanchoe
Another extremely attractive plant is the Kalanchoe, which blooms into a series of tiny but eye-catching flowers even in the deepest of winter. Another reason that this plant is such a winter favourite among the exotic crowd is that it is wonderfully low maintenance and easy to look after. Bright clusters of pink, orange or even yellow flowers are a perfect way to bring colour and warmth to your home.
The Christmas Cactus
Another must-have, even beyond the holiday season to which this plant lends its name. They generally reach full bloom in January, just as your spirits are flagging, and burst into life with rich pink or purple red with elongated drooping fuschia-type blooms that will last deep into the winter months. This is another plant that is easy to keep but it does not like cold draughts.
Protect Your Plants
Having decided to brighten your home with some exotic indoor plants, it is vital to protect them with theft on the rise and the risk of disease always something to consider. Many gardeners now choose to insure their investment, in the same way that garden centre insurance has been commonplace for many years, in order to preserve and protect what can amount to a significant investment. A number of companies offer this service and while it might seem unlikely that someone would actually break into your conservatory to steal your most precious plants, a quick Google search will reveal a slew of local newspaper articles reporting exactly that. You have been warned.
by Guest Blogger
Evelyn Grant
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Feb 06, 2012
Uniquely Chic Bouquet - always one of our best sellers, this vibrant bouquet is long lasting and arrives in a contemporary clear glass cube. Hot pink and hot orange roses exude passion for this Boston flower delivery.
Dozen Red Roses - A Valentine's Day sure thing, our large head long lasting red roses are grown in Ecuador. If you need red roses in Boston, Exotic Flowers delivers the best. We bring in more than 10,000 red roses for Valentine's Day.
Enchanted Journey - fileld with purple and pink flowers, this Manhattan inspired design sets you apart from the typical Valentines Day flower deliveries in Boston.
Roman Holiday - Purple carnations, red roses, pink roses, all the colors for your Boston Valentine.
Orchid Plants - Some clients look for something that will last a little longer than fresh flowers. Exotic Flowers in Boston will have hundreds of orchids in a variety of colors available for a Valentine's Day delivery.
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Jan 09, 2012
My Boston home is always filled with orchids. Orchid plants, cut orchids, phaelenopsis, dendrobiums, cymbidiums. My wife Suzie and I cannot get enough orchids. Cut orchids last for weeks while orchid plants last for months. Like any plant purchase in Boston, do not waste your money on an orchid plant from Ikea, Home Depot, Lowe's, Target or Roche Brothers. Leave it to the experts. The staff at Exotic Flowers in Boston knows orchid plants. We're experts.
Zygopetalum. This unique purple , brown and green orchid is one of the sweetest smelling orchid plants commercially available.
The cattleya orchid: what's old is new again. I often hear stories from my parents how cattleya orchids were used almost daily decades ago. Watch the Godfather and you will see them in the funeral tributes at Don Corleone's funeral.
The Vanda orchid is my favorite. The plump blossoms protruding from a mass of dangling roots make this plant an orchid lovers dream.
The Lady Slipper orchid is prized for high end wedding work. The Paphiopedilum is one of my wife Suzie's favorites.
Miltonia orchids are a great choice for the orchid plant lover who is tired of the Phaelenopsis and likes more of a challenge.
The Phaelenopsis orchid is the most sold orchid plant in the United States. What's not to love?
Orchids and orchids are available nationwide through Exotic Flowers. Contact us today.