Any suggestions for a romantic flower grown year round?

[Joelb53]

I am looking for a flower that can be grown in a small pot year round indoors. Preferably I am looking for a plant that would be considered romantic and can be give to a loved one. Thanks.

[Kisal]

I think it would depend on the kind of care you can provide for the plant. Certain orchids grow well indoors, and if you can provide the necessary conditions, might be able to flower most of the year.

In general, though, you might have to find more than a single type of plant, because most have a specific season during which they grow and bloom. After blooming, they either die or go dormant for a period of time.

[hendi_alex]

IMO orchids are the most romantic of flowers, and many are suited for indoor culture. Phalaenopsis are perhaps the easiest to get to grow and flower indoors, but there are many other candidates depending upon one's interest. One nice thing about phalaenopsis is the long period that blooms last. A plant will generally hold is flowers for three months or longer. Thought phalaenopsis can bloom at various times depending upon the species/variety and the conditions where grown, most of mine are in flower from late March early April until some time in June when the flowers finally drop. BTW, my wife dearly loves the orchids that are brought into the house while in bloom. At any given time we generally have between four and 20 orchids in bloom. We have between 300-400 plants however and growing the plants has become a somewhat intensive hobby. Much pleasure could be gotten from growing less than ten plants, which would likely provide some kind of bloom for over half of the year. And of course even a single phalaenopsis will give you a nice spray of flowers lasting about a quarter of the year.

[rainbowgardener]

African violets are very sweet, I think romantic (of course that's sort of in the eye of the beholder), they bloom pretty much year around and don't outgrow the space. They come in many colors and forms.

In the old Victorian language of flowers violets stood for:
‣ Violet - Modesty; faithfulness
‣ Violet (blue) - Watchfulness; faithfulness; I'll always be true
‣ Violet (white) - Let's take a chance on happiness
https://www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/flowerlanguage.html

My favorite would be gardenias. They don't bloom year round, but they grow all year and keep their dark green glossy leaves. And when they bloom they are not only beautiful, but exceptionally fragrant. They are not hard to grow indoors, just be careful not to overwater and use and acidic soil medium. In the language of flowers:

‣ Gardenia - You're lovely; secret love; refinement; joy

[Joelb53]

Thanks for the help. You said African Violets bloom pretty much year round. How do I find out exactly when they bloom?

[rainbowgardener]

They bloom 10 or 11 months of the year but it depends on the individual plant and where it is in its cycle. It's just that the plant eventually needs a little down time. They are small plants with small flowers, not the showiest.

Here's a picture of what I am talking about:
https://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc279/RusselTrojan/AfricanViolets012.jpg

[Joelb53]

Sorry for another basic question...first foray into gardening...is there a place to easily reference what flowers are in bloom at what times?

[rainbowgardener]

Not really because it depends on so many things: Not only do flowers bloom earlier the further south you go as climate is warmer, but local conditions also. I have two flower beds out by the street, with some of the same kinds of plants in them. The plants in one will bloom up to a couple weeks sooner than in the other, because one bed is shaded a good part of the day by the big old lilac tree and the other isn't. If you are talking about indoor growing it depends very much on how you treat them. You can force daffodils to bloom indoors pretty much any time of the year, by timing the refrigeration of the bulbs properly.

You didn't say where you are located. You can find general bloom schedules for specific locations, like this one for Asheville, NC:
https://www.exploreasheville.com/what-to-do/seasonal-fun/springtime-in-asheville/spring-bloom-schedule/index.aspx

If you have an idea of what plants you are interested in, if you look it up it will tell you about when to expect it to flower. EG If you look up bee balm it will tell you blooms July to August. That's just a general guideline.

I'm having trouble figuring out what you are trying to do. You started out asking about flowers that could be grown in small indoor pot and now it seems like you are asking maybe a different question. I'm putting together giving to a loved one, romantic, and a big concern about timing to mean you want to give your sweetie something (for birthday? anniversary?) that will be in bloom at the right time.

If you tell us where you are located, what the right time is, and whether this is to stay indoors or outdoors, we can probably make better suggestions.

[Joelb53]

Apologize for being so vague. I make ceramic pottery and can make decorative flower pots. I was just daydreaming of it would be nice to include flower seeds with a sale but realized not all flowers bloom at the same time and in the same regions so I guess there is not a generic seed packet I can send with my pottery? If all went well, clientele would be across the US. Any suggestions based on that extra info? Sorry for not giving all the info at first.

[rainbowgardener]

OK, now it make sense ... I was getting the whole wrong picture.

In that case you want something easy to grow, not to frustrate your customers. I'd suggest annuals... Then it doesn't matter where the customers are or what climate, because they don't grow thru the winter. But they bloom all season long. Petunias would be good or impatiens.

If you really want something they could grow indoors in winter too, what about herbs? Basil, oregano, thyme, mint grow well in pots. Lavender and rosemary are great also (and lavender is very romantic, going back to original theme) but slower getting started from seed.

[thepassionatecook]

https://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/4657/

[Diane]

Coleus isn't a flower but they are colorfull and will grow from seed and live indoors.

[Joelb53]

Thanks everyone! Please let me know if you have any other suggestions.