Miniature rose
Name - Pronounced RO-za.
Description - Dwarf rose bushes in a variety of colours.
Origin - China
Care Tips - Rosa likes a bright sunny position, can be put outside during summer. Keep moist and feed once a week during summer. Water less during winter. Cutting the plant back to 5cm above the soil when it has finished flowering will encourage regrowth. Enjoys warm temperature then rest for 2 months in cold spot. Acclimatise gradually.
Cyclamen
Name - Pronounced SIK-la-men, the name is presumed to come from Greek kyclos, a circle referring to the round tubers, or leaves.
Description - Lovely inverted flowers rise out of fantastically patterned rounded or heart-shaped leaves. Some of the patterns, particularly the silver leaved varieties are exquisite and can truly be described as a wonder of nature.
Family - Primulaceae
Colours - Pinks, purples, white, red and combinations of these.
Varieties - There are scented varieties of cyclamen available now, following years of breeding to make sure plants not only smell good but also have large long-lived healthy flowers.
Care Tips - Cyclamen like things cool; the smaller the leaves, the cooler they can stand it.
Trivia - The tubers are regarded as the favourite food for pigs in the South of France, Sicily and Italy, hence a rather uncommon common name Sowbread.
Fittonia
Name – Pronounced FIT-tone-ee-a. Common names: snakeskin plant, mosaic plant
Description - Foliage plant with leaves which are covered in a network of veins which vary depending on variety.
Origin – Colombia and Peru
Family - Acanthaceae, acanthus family
Care Tips – Enjoys a bright to shady position (no direct sun). During winter to retain leaf colour, move to a brighter position. Avoid fluctuating temperatures. Prefers warm temperatures all year, never below 18°C/64°F. A high level of humidity is preferred - stand the pot in a saucer of wet gravel. Use tepid water, keeping the soil damp (not soggy). The leaves will shrivel if the plant dries out and the stems can rot if soil becomes too wet. Feed fortnightly during summer.
Ivy
Name - Hedera is the Latin name for ivy.
Origin - Europe, also common in Asia
Trivia - Language of Flowers: Ivy for friendship and fidelity in marriage.
Medicinal - In folk medicine the leaves were boiled and used to treat corns.
History - During the German occupation of the Channel Islands ivy berries were boiled and eaten for food. The F&PA does not recommend this as ivy can be poisonous if eaten.
Mythical - Considered a symbol of woman. If put together with Holly (the symbol of man) at Christmas, it would bring peace in a home between a husband and wife, for the following year. Ivy was also believed to be a sacred plant of the Greek god, Dionysos (Latin name Bacchus), the god of wine.
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe are succulent plants. Some are mainly grown for their foliage and others for their long lasting flowers.
Name - Pronounced kal-an-CHOH-ee or kal-an-KO-ee.
Origin – Madagascar
Family - Crassulaceae, orpine family
Varieties - There are over 200 Kalanchoe species. The most common is Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Flaming Katie), which has thick juicy green leaves and very bright flat flowers which almost cover the plant. Kalanchoe manginii has more delicate hanging bell flowers and smaller leaves. Kalanchoe thyrsiflora is a non flowering Kalanchoe, the thick leaves retain water well, and turn reddish at the edges.
Care Tips – Easy to look after. Enjoys a bright sunny position (warm in summer, cooler in winter). Keep plants almost dry in winter, in summer water moderately. In spring and summer feed with cactus fertilizer once a month (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana feed every 14 days during spring and summer with a flower fertilizer)
Flowering season - Kalanchoe blossfeldiana late winter to late spring. Kalanchoe manginii late winter to early spring.
Phalaenopsis
Name - Pronounced fal-a-nop-sis. Comes from Greek phalaina meaning a moth and opsis meaning resemblance.
Description - Arching flower stalks bear lovely, flat, multiple flower heads which resemble moths or butterflies.
Origin - South East Asia
Family - Orchid family, with 50+ species belonging to the genus Phalaenopsis
Care Tips - Enjoy a light spot, but no long-term exposure to bright sunlight. Regular, moderate watering ideally using boiled and cooled water. Provide high humidity, mist often but not on the flower heads. Feed with Orchid fertiliser every 14 days. Cut back stems after flowers fade to just below node which produced the first flower. Given the right conditions phalaenopsis can flower for months on end. Trivia - Effective in removing xylene (chemical emissions from adhesives, computer VDU screens, paints, photocopiers, stains and varnishes) from the atmosphere
Palm
Name – Look for Raphis – lady palm; Phoenix - date palm; Howea – kentia palm
Care Tips – Palms come from tropical regions and hence thrive in high humidity. Brown tips at the end of the fronds are usually a symptom of dry air. Mist the plant more often, and snip these ends off carefully to improve appearances.