One of the great things about houseplants is the many varieties available. With so many options to choose from, all in varying colours and sizes, there is a plant to suit all tastes and homes. Regardless of which you choose, they guarantee to bring your home to life. From short to tall, to trailing and upright plants, you can make a real statement within your home.
As well as the green component they add to our interior spaces, there are a variety of hues available to add extra energy to our homes. So if you’re looking to add a rich injection of colour to your interior style, why not choose houseplants with red flowers? These head-turning blooms can be placed in almost any room and will create an instant focal point.
Who picks red indoor plants?
Red is symbolic of energy, strength, passion, and love, which makes red indoor plants the ideal option if you wish to portray any of those feelings. Listed below are some of our favourite houseplants with red flowers, all of which range in size and shape. There’s also an assortment of easy to care for plants and several that require a little more maintenance, which makes them more suited to the green-fingered connoisseur.
African Violets
African violets come in red as well as the more traditional shade of purple. In fact, you can purchase these blooms in varieties of pink, blue, white, and red. While the red styles make up a much smaller percentage of the 2000 plus cultivars, they are available, and they are gorgeous when they flower.
African violets are some of the most popular indoor flowering plants, and for good reason too. These small yet stylish beauties are ideally suited to growing on a windowsill. They enjoy medium to bright, indirect light, but can flower in low light conditions too.
For best results, allow the soil to dry out a little before then watering it thoroughly. It’s important to avoid getting any moisture on the foliage. When the fuzzy leaves become soiled, use a small paintbrush to gently sweep any debris away.
Amaryllis
These are one of the most prevalent indoor-grown bulb plants, as well as being a holiday favourite. They add an instant injection of colour to both Christmas and Valentine’s Day with their beautiful cluster of perfumed flowers, which look great in red.
Bare bulbs are planted to create well-timed blooms, so that friends and family can send them to recipients at Christmas, allowing them to brighten up some of the shortest days of the year.
Amaryllis are traditionally treated as annual plants and are often discarded after the Christmas period. However, as a bulb plant, they can be forced to flower year after year as a perennial. After flowering, it’s important to cut the flower stalks around an inch or two above the bulb.
Once you have done this, place them in a container on a sunny windowsill. When autumn arrives, put the bulbs in a cool, dark location for around eight weeks. This will force them into dormancy and you can bring them out again at Christmas, just in time to bloom for the festive season.
Christmas Cactus
Unlike the spine-covered Desert Cacti, the Christmas Cactus thrives in forests and woodlands where shrubs and plants tend to grow attached to trees. Arching, branching stems with flat leaf-life segments make this plant an ideal option for growing in hanging baskets or in a place where the foliage is given the option to trail downwards.
These red indoor plants flower between the months of mid-November and January and are traditionally bought just before the Christmas period begins when they are in full bloom or just about to bloom.
For novice gardeners, flowers are a one-off occurrence but when purchased by an experienced gardener, they can be forced to bloom again if placed in a dark, cool place and given little or no water at all, as this helps to initiate new flower buds.
Crown of Thorns Plant (Euphorbia milii)
In Latin America, this plant is often referred to as the Christ Plant or Corona de Cristo, with the Crown of Thorns plant getting its name from its inch-long, sharp black spines that embellish the stems. It is often thought that these were used for the crown of thorns adorned by Jesus Christ at the time of the crucifixion.
This sprawling evergreen has rich, leathery green leaves and minuscule, inconspicuous yellow blooms, which are enveloped by extravagant, long-lasting, red flowers. Indoor variants of these plants will flower from late winter right the way through to autumn when conditions are very good.
Just like other succulents, it’s important to wait to water your plant, at least until the top inch of the potting soil is dry. Once fully dry, water thoroughly. Crown of Thorns plants enjoy between three and four hours of direct sunlight every day and tend to thrive in temperatures between 18°C (c. 65F) and 32°C (c. 90F).
Cyclamen
A prevalent winter-blooming plant, this species is well known for its compact growth, stunning blooms, and attractive foliage. Depending on the specie chosen, the shrubs can grow between six and 12-inches in height and are adorned with leaves intricately patterned with hues of silver and green. Blooms can be brightly coloured or pretty pastel shades, and vary in size from large, eye-catching plants to small, highly fragranced blossoms.
While these red indoor plants are in bloom, it’s a good idea to keep the root ball moist, although it’s important to avoid overwatering the plant to prevent fungal problems and root rot. They benefit from being grown in well-draining growing soil. Water from the bottom, placing the cyclamen either in a sink full of water or in a tray that can be filled.
Try to refrain from getting water on the leaves and stem of the shrub, as this will help to prevent damage or fungal growth. Cyclamen prefer temps of around 15°C (c. 60F) and enjoy indirect but bright light.
The Flaming Katy
These plants are the most prevalent succulents grown in the Kalanchoe family and are among the most common houseplants that feature red blooms. Their popularity is down to both their large, dark-green, rich leaves and their diminutive flowers that blossom in abundance. Plants typically flower only once per year, but they can be forced to bloom again. This is achieved by giving the plant 12-14 hours of darkness every day for around six to eight weeks.
They are extremely sensitive to cold, which is why it’s important to place them in a spot where the ambient temperature is around 18°C (c. 65F) – 26°C (c. 80F). Allow the potting mix to dry out between watering and refrain from applying water to the foliage. Another top tip involves carefully removing some of the upper leaves if they are overpowering the flowers of this red indoor plant.
Flaming Sword
This plant is a member of the Bromeliad family and is one of the most prevalent bromeliads grown indoors. In nature, the Flaming Sword – also known as Vriesea splendens – can be found growing as epiphytes and can be grown indoors attached to a slab of bark as well as in a container with potting soil.
The lengthy, narrow flower spike can grow upwards of 30-inches tall and usually lasts between two and four months after first appearing. It’s a good idea to place the plant in a warm, moist environment, ensuring it receives bright, indirect light.
Source: smartgardenguide.com
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