FLOWERS TO CULTIVATE THIS WINTER

“A garden in winter is the absolute test of the true gardener.” -Rosemary Verey

Winter can be a tricky season for plant lovers because the outdoors is not conducive to gardening. This can be devastating for someone who doesn’t have a greenhouse or who cannot visit indoor botanical gardens; getting your hands in the dirt is proven to infinitely improve one’s mood, and not touching the earth can make one feel unstable. Finding your footing is possible, though. Get grounded by cultivating a little indoor garden this winter. Even if it’s just a windowsill, watching your plants grow and thrive indoors can help ward off dissatisfaction until spring comes. It’s also a great pick-me-up to see flowers every day in your home because it makes everything a bit brighter and more wholesome.

Inspiration from The Met Cloisters:

• Potted citrus, olives, jasmine, and bay are all medieval plants that can be found this winter season at the Met Cloisters. These enliven the gardens with a Mediterranean ambiance.
• Cyclamen is a very popular indoor plant and will continue to bloom throughout the winter months. Rosemary is ideal as part of a spice garden and is always wonderful when used as a garnish.
• A Christmas rose (or black hellebore) is a favourite for outdoors because it thrives even in winter. Popular in folklore and holistic medicine, it was once thought that the roots were effective in treating depression. Hellebores are actually poisonous.

Make Room for Peace

Build a crystal garden or altar as a soothing practice. An altar can be a sacred space for chanting and reflection or simply a beautiful area one decorates in their home strictly for aesthetic purposes. Either way, there are a lot of options on how to embellish your serene little nook with plants and other holistic garlands and talismans. Find things you love that have meaning like, crystals, smudge sticks (usually crafted from sage), stones, beads, candles, photographs, and figurines. A small fountain is ideal for creating positive feng shui. Not only does running water emit a calming sound, it also gives the illusion of movement and flow. Feng shui literally means open air; if air can flow through your space, then it’s positive and effective. Too much clutter can be distracting.

• Succulents, air plants, and other cacti are fabulous indoors because they don’t require a lot of fuss. These effortless plants can last for ages, and blooming cacti will thrive in your bathroom. Turn your shower into a garden oasis where succulents can flourish. A Christmas cactus, for example, will flower in abundance near the shower as it soaks in the steam (then you don’t have to bother watering it at all). Hang eucalyptus near your showerhead for clarity; the healing, soothing fragrance will waft on the warm air, releasing its aroma as you bathe.
• Lucky bamboo, spider plants, Earth stars, and orchids are also lovers of high humidity and ideal for bathrooms.
• Tillandsia (or air plants) are low maintenance and are used to cleanse the air of pollutants, making it more fit to breathe.
• The Rose of Jericho is an herb that produces tiny white flowers and is commonly known as a tumbleweed. Dried ones are used as spiritual décor and are thought to bring about peace and prosperity.
• Palo santo is a South American tree that is burned as incense and is known to clear a room of negative energy. Add this along with copal to your special indoor altar.
• Yerba santa is a plant with leaves that are often used in infusions and teas as a balm to treat colds and coughs.

Red and Bright

• Take care of your amaryllis flower left over from Christmas. Either replant the bulb outdoors when the ground is warm enough or simply keep the bulb in the pot after the blossom has withered. Continue to water and care for it until the leaves yellow. Simply snip them off, discontinue watering, and keep the bulb somewhere dormant until fall, when it will have the chance to rebloom.
• Red anthuriums (also known as “flamingo flower” and “tongue of fire”) are tropical plants native to Colombia. These audacious flowers are indeed salacious; the waxy red heart-shaped petals, in contrast with a prominent spike (or “spadix”), is incredibly provocative. This lurid display will add quite a jolt to your usual variety of houseplants.

To learn more about plants, flowers, and all things botanical, visit Chelsea Flowers and read what’s on the blog.