Bringing Color Home

How indoor gardens can lift your mood & brighten winter days

When the gray days of winter settle in, you may start craving signs of spring. While it’s too early for any color in the garden, there is no reason we cannot enjoy it indoors. One of our favorite winter pick-me-ups is an indoor garden, easy to create yourself or find one ready-made from our greenhouse.

A mix of flowering plants and lush foliage instantly brings life into a room. Even better, those colors do more than look pretty. Research shows that color affects how we feel, from our mood and energy level to our sense of calm. Choosing plants by color allows you to create spaces that feel just right during the long winter months.

Red is bold, energizing and is often associated with fire, strength, passion, and love. If you are looking to wake up a space, kalanchoe is a bold choice. A pot or basket filled with red kalanchoe makes an instant statement and brings energy into any room.

Kalanchoe

These plants are wonderfully easy to live with. Their thick, dark green leaves and clusters of cheerful blooms hold up well even if you forget a watering now and then. Give them bright light and allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings, and they will reward you with weeks of color.

Cyclamen

Pink brings a gentler energy that feels romantic, playful, and sweet. Cyclamen fit this mood perfectly, with delicate, butterfly-like flowers hovering above heart-shaped leaves. When shopping for cyclamen, look for plants with plenty of buds and only a few open flowers. They prefer bright, indirect light and cooler temperatures, making them ideal for winter windowsills. Allow the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings and always water around the base of the plant, not in the center, to prevent rot. Removing spent flowers at the base helps keep the plant tidy and encourages continued blooming.

Azalea

Another pink favorite is the azalea,  often called the Queen of Flowering Plants. With their showy clusters of blossoms, azaleas add a sense of luxury to any space. They prefer bright light and consistently moist soil. Check them often and never allow them to wilt, as this shortens their blooming time. With proper care, azaleas will reward you with a long and beautiful display.

Purple blends the calm of blue with the energy of red and has long been associated with luxury, wisdom, and creativity. Think of purple African violets. They are classic, charming, and perfectly suited to indoor life. Their small size makes them easy to place almost anywhere, and under the right conditions they can bloom nearly year-round.

African violets prefer bright, indirect light and evenly moist soil. Keep water off the leaves, rotate the plant occasionally for even growth, and provide a bit of extra humidity to keep them happy. With just a little attention, they will quietly bloom for months at a time.

White is often linked with light, purity, and simplicity, and few plants express that better than the phalaenopsis orchid, also known as the moth orchid. These orchids produce graceful sprays of long-lasting blooms. They enjoy bright, indirect light and consistent moisture. Because orchids are grown in bark or moss rather than soil, it is best to check moisture by touch or with the pencil test. If the pencil comes out dry, it is time to water. Feed lightly but regularly, remembering the orchid grower’s rule to fertilize weakly weekly.

Begonia

Chrysanthemum

If your home could use a little happiness, yellow is the answer. Chrysanthemums are filled with sunny blooms that radiate warmth and joy. Their flowers range from daisy-like to soft and cushiony, adding texture as well as color. Mums are easy to care for and simply need bright light and regular watering. Allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings, then water thoroughly.

Orange combines the warmth of red with the cheerfulness of yellow, creating a sense of enthusiasm and creativity. Rieger begonias shine in this color range and are valued for both their colorful blooms and attractive foliage. They prefer bright light without direct sun and soil that is allowed to dry slightly between waterings. Good air circulation and cooler temperatures help keep begonias healthy, and a little extra humidity goes a long way.

Bringing blooming plants into your home is one of the simplest ways to lift your spirits and remind yourself that spring really is on its way. Whether you are drawn to soft pastels or bold, energizing hues, there is a color and a plant that can make winter feel a little brighter.

Color & Mood at a Glance

Red: Energy, passion, strength

Kalanchoe, Cyclamen, Rieger Begonia

Pink: Romance, playfulness, tenderness

Azalea, Cyclamen, Orchid, Rieger Begonia, Violet

Purple: Calm, creativity, nostalgia

Chrysanthemum, Cyclamen, Orchid, Violet

White: Light, purity, elegance

Azalea, Chrysanthemum, Cyclamen, Kalanchoe, Orchid, Violet

Yellow: Joy, sunshine, warmth

Chrysanthemum, Kalanchoe, Rieger Begonia

Orange: Enthusiasm, creativity, warmth

Kalanchoe, Rieger Begonia

More from the Experts at Gainan's

About Gainan's Midtown Flowers & Garden Center 

Gainan's Flowers and Garden Center is family owned and operated with a rich and storied history. We are committed to offering only the finest floral arrangements and gifts backed by service that is friendly and prompt. That is why we always go the extra mile to make your gift perfect. Our business is to turn feelings into flowers. Together, we have celebrated births, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and mourned with our customers seeking sympathy tributes. We are so fortunate, and thank our community of customers beyond measure for allowing us the opportunity to partner with them in all the seasons of their lives.