What plants can I have indoors in the UK, which have flowers all year
round, or at least interesting, not-just-green foliage. No cactuses
please. No cactii either. Or cat's eyes.

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Request for Question Clarification by kriswrite-ga on 23 Aug 2004 06:18 PDT

No plant blooms all year round. However, there are plants that bloom a
lot. Would a list of houseplants that frequently bloom be an
acceptable answer?

Kriswrite

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Request for Question Clarification by digsalot-ga on 23 Aug 2004 10:22 PDT

Are you overly restricted as to size?  There are some excellent
outdoor plants which when brought in - or started indoors will provide
year round bloom.  Some of them reach six feet or more and there are
'dwarf' varieties which may reach 2 - 3 ft.

Of the regular indoor blooming varieties, it is just as Kriswrite
stated, there are none that bloom all year, but a good part of the
year.  Bloom time can be rotated to give some color every month.

Digs

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Clarification of Question by macaonghus-ga on 25 Aug 2004 07:32 PDT

Kriswrite - your prosed answer is fine.

Digsalot - if you want to answer the question as well, I will open
another $5 question, since you seem to have different plants in mind.

Hello Macaonghus~

All houseplants are actually outdoor plants; typically, houseplants
are tropical plants that should be kept indoors because local
conditions don?t keep them warm enough (unless you live in the
tropics!). That said, here are what many experts feel are the top
choices for flowering houseplants:

AFRICAN VIOLETS will bloom throughout the year. They need lots of
light, so a window location is by far the best. Deadhead (remove spent
flowers) to encourage continuous blooms, and feed with African Violet
food. In addition, water only from the bottom with lukearm water.
Remove old, yellowing leaves as they appear. African violets would be
my top choice, as they come in a wide variety of colors and are easy
to care for. If you find that yours isn?t blooming, move it to a
window with more light. To see a picture of just one kind of African
Violet, check out ?Garden Guide? at:
http://gardenguide.montana.edu/GG%2004%20Issues/Feb04.html

WAX BEGONIA needs only two hours of sun per day, but is best kept near
a sunny window. Water from the bottom only, with lukewarm water, when
the soil is dry to the touch. This plant may not bloom if temperatures
are higher than average. To see a wax begonia, visit ?Begonia?Flower?
at: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/senior/flowers/Begon9.htm

CAPE PRIMROSE needs ample light to bloom all year. To see a white cape
primrose, go to Framable Art:
http://www.frameableart.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=47

LATANA  blooms all year in a window with good sun exposure. To see
just one type of latana, visit the American Horticultural Society
website: http://www.ahs.org/publications/the_american_gardener/0303/images/sonset_lantana%20cc.jpg

FIRECRACKER VINE blooms periodically through the year in a window with
good sun exposure. To see this plant, go to Plant Delights:
http://www.ahs.org/publications/the_american_gardener/0303/images/sonset_lantana%20cc.jpg

LOBELIA blooms all year in a window with good sun exposure. Visit
Garden Guides to see one type of lobelia:
http://www.gardenguides.com/flowers/annuals/lobelia.htm

SHRIMP PLANT (Beloperone) needs warm days, cool nights, and a sunny
window. For a look at shrimp plant, also go to Garden Guides: 
http://www.gardenguides.com/flowers/annuals/lobelia.htm

BUSY LIZZIE blooms most of the year. To see this plant, go to The
Flower Centre: http://www.theflowercentre.ie/PLANTS2.HTM

FLOWERING MAPLES (Abutilons) will bloom throughout the year under the
right conditions: well-draining, fertile soil, and lots of light. To
see an abutilon, visit Karchesky Canna:
http://38.scifstore.com/module/store/vbc/1456/

BRUNFELSIA likes semi-shade in the summer, and a well-lit area in the
winter. Does not like sudden temperature changes. Visit Weidner?s for
a peek at brunfelsia: http://www.weidners.com/brunfelsia.html

Regards,
Kriswrite

RESEARCH STRATEGY:
Researcher's personal knowledge

houseplants flowering

and searches for images of each type of plant

Hi there - I can addit as a comment - no use asking a second question.

I am a canna lily fan, freak, officianado, lover.  Cannas are the tops
and I'm glad they are making a come-back after geing ignored for
years.  In fact, the UK has been in the lead for this come-back.

I grow them inside year round as well as in the garden for summer.  As
a 'larger' house plant, they have luxurious tropical foliage as well
as lush bloom.

Semi-dwarfs can reach four feet making a great display in a sunny
corner.  Dwarfs average two feet.  If you have a very high ceiling,
there are some that top out at 15 feet.

Each stalk blooms an average of twice, the second bloom following
immediately after the first.  However, the rhizome is constantly
producing new stalks giving year round color.  Cut off the stalk after
it blooms as it will die back anyway.

If you are not familiar with cannas, here are a few images:
http://www.weidners.com/pics/cannagood.jpg - From weidners.com

http://www.touchofnature.com/springcatalog/images/canna%20mixed.jpg -
these are dwarf varieties.  You may even find them already in pots at
various nurseries. - From touchofnature.com

Here is one all potted up and ready to go.  Just slip it down in a
basket to disguise the pot.  I'm not sure of the variety.  It has the
colors of a Red President but the flowers are too small.
http://www.odla.nu/artiklar/images/bilder/canna-fran-kreta.jpg - From odla.nu

Kriswrite gave you an excellent answer.

But when somebody sees a canna in full bloom inside the house, it can
be a real show-stopper.

If you would like to learn more, here is the Canna Forum:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/canna/ - - One of my favorite places online.

Good luck with your indoor gardening

Lives for cannas
Digsalot

Digs, I love cannas, too, but--I admit--was unaware that they bloomed
year-round when taken indoors. I will certainly be trying this!

Kriswrite

Hi again

If either of you consider cannas as indoor plants, here are a couple
of resources for you:
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/canna/2003033925027864.html 
http://www.botany.com/canna.html 

Digs

Thank you both!