Why give fresh flowers for Valentine's Day, only to know they will die soon? Instead, give an easy-care houseplant that keeps living and giving.
Costa Farms, which grows indoor and outdoor plants for specialty retail sales, recommends these five houseplants for year-round enjoyment. You can get Costa Farms' free "Growing Style" app for your iPad or Android at Growingstylemag.com.
You'll find these and other houseplants at a garden center near you.
Anthurium
Anthuriums are subtropical favorites, with varieties growing in South America and the Pacific. They are perfect as cut flowers or potted plants in varying sizes. They are popular for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter. To get them to flower continuously, place in a filtered-light location and fertilize during the growing season. The plant should be kept clean of all yellow or decaying leaves.
Resiliency: tolerant
Light: medium
Temperature: never below 50 degrees
Watering: Keep soil moist, but do not let the plant stand in water or let the soil dry out.
Average size: 12 to 24 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide
Fertilizer: Feed every two to four months.
Uses: windows, bright dining and living areas
Sago palm
The Sago palm has become a popular landscape item, but most people don't realize it is not a palm at all, but rather a cycad, a totally different type of plant. Cycads, sometimes called "living fossils," are among the most ancient plants in the world. They date to prehistoric times before flowering plants appeared. Today, cycads make up more than 100 species of plants characterized by spiny leaves and thick trunks.
Resiliency: tolerant
Light: high
Temperature: never below 40 degrees
Watering: Keep soil moist, but do not let the plant stand in water or let the soil dry out.
Average size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide
Fertilizer: Feed every six months.
Uses: sunrooms and other high-light living spaces
Peace lily
Spathiphyllum, also known as the peace lily, is a popular indoor houseplant. In the warmest parts of Florida, you'll find the plant in the landscape; it performs best in shade, with protection from wind and temperatures below 55 degrees.
Resiliency: tolerant
Light: low to high
Temperature: never below 50 degrees
Watering: Keep soil moist, but do not let the plant stand in water or let the soil dry out.
Average size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Fertilizer: Feed every two to four months.
Uses: windows, low-light dining and living areas
Boston fern
Boston fern is the quintessential decorative fern. It is the original fern used during the Victorian era to decorate in the home and on wrap-around porches. Like other ferns, the Boston fern enjoys high humidity and consistently moist soil. It is a favorite among interior-scapers because it lends any area a lush and rich look.
Resiliency: tolerant
Light: Low to medium
Temperature: never below 50 degrees
Watering: Keep soil moist, but do not let the plant stand in water or let the soil dry out.
Average size: 2 feet tall and wide
Uses: windows, porches and patios
Moth orchid
The Phalaenopsis is commonly referred to as a moth orchid and is one of the easiest members of the orchid family to care for. Ideal for areas that receive indirect sunlight, such as windowsills and enclosed patios, they offer a delicate and striking touch to any environment or décor.
Resiliency: tolerant
Light: low to indirect
Temperature: ideal in 60-85 degrees, never below 50 degrees
Watering: Let moss dry out between watering, and do not let plant stand in water
Average size: varies
Fertilizer: These orchids flower best and are at their healthiest when fertilized on a regular basis. Use a well-balanced formulation, such as 20-20-20, or a similar ratio.
Uses: Phalaenopsis like little or no direct light on their leaves. They are more of a shade orchid.
Caution: Keep these houseplants away from children and pets.
