For many people, having a stunning flower garden around their home may seem like an impossible dream, however by using one of the top 10 indoor flower beds it can become a reality. But, with just a bit of planning and know-how, there’s no reason that someone in even a tiny apartment can’t accomplish the flower bed they’ve always wanted.
Thanks to updates in technology and the development of different indoor gardening systems, flower bed options (even indoors) are seemingly endless. It used to be that you were limited to whatever you could fit in individual pots, and you would have to cram them all within the one ray of sunshine coming through your window.
Grow lights and indoor garden kits can help you grow flowers or anything else you want in just about any room in your home. And, instead of being stuck only growing them during the “season,” you can actually grow and produce your own fresh flowers year-round. Of course, some flowers are easier to grow than others.
This guide shares the top 10 flowers to grow indoors and will help you determine what is best for your desired level of care and maintenance for your flower beds.
The Top 10 Indoor Flowers
Most of the flowers on this list can stand a bit of neglect and will even let you know when they need something by how they look. Here are some of your best options for flowers on the easier side to grow.
Flower #1 – Peace Lily
Perhaps the best choice for indoor flower growers, the peace lily offers beautiful white flowers and shiny foliage. It provides any room with a nice tropical ambiance. It’s also known as an organic air purifier.
Soil
Indoor potting mix.
Water
Consistently moist but not soggy. Will droop if it needs water.
Light
Peace lilies prefer bright, indirect light.
Upkeep and Maintenance
Peace lilies are perennials, so they will flower consistently for years. Simply feed a month after planting and repot when its roots have outgrown its container. Peace lilies will grow to about five feet if allowed.
Care Difficulty
Beginner
Flower #2 – Kalanchoe
The kalanchoe is a flowering succulent. It offers a bright bloom of clustered flowers that vary in colors.
Soil
Needs a well-draining potting mix. Use vermiculite, perlite, or cactus compost if you wish.
Water
Do not water often. Allow excess water to drain. Kalanchoes prefer moist but not wet soil.
Light
To develop flower buds, provide 12-14 hours of darkness for six weeks. After that, place in partial sun or light shade.
Upkeep and Maintenance
Kalanchoes are easy to care for and don’t require much watering or direct sunlight. They flower for about eight weeks and will grow back.
Care Difficulty
Beginner
Flower #3 – Anthurium
Anthurium is one of the best indoor flowers to care for, especially for beginners. It’s low-maintenance and dazzles with bloomed flowers for months. Similar to peace lilies, the dark green leaves of the Anthurium can purify indoor air.
Soil
Anthuriums are epiphytes, requiring a host plant to grow on. Soil should be a mix of moss and coco coir.
Water
Water when the top 50-75% of the soil is dry. Allow water to drain through the hole at the bottom, do not allow water to accumulate in the bottom. Otherwise, roots may rot.
Light
Anthuriums prefer bright indirect light because direct sunlight can burn the leaves.
Upkeep and Maintenance
Provide temperatures between 65 to 80 degrees F during the day and no cooler than 60 degrees F at night. Do not place your plant near vents or fans. Feed once a month during spring and summer with an indoor liquid fertilizer. If rot begins, repot Anthurium.
Anthuriums are toxic to pets and humans.
Care Difficulty
Beginner
Flower #4 – Christmas Cactus
A Christmas cactus, in the winter, can be a showstopper. It’s a gorgeous winter flower yet one of the easiest plants to care for indoors. If cared well for, they can last 20 to 30 years.
Soil
The Christmas cactus can adapt to most soil, but it performs best in loamy, sandy, perlite, or cactus mix. A pH level between 5.5 and 6.2 is best to maintain. Adding peat moss can boost acidity.
Water
Water the plant thoroughly, but allow excess water to run out of the drainage holes. Let the soil dry almost completely between waterings. If the leaves start to pucker and shrivel, water more often. During especially hot weeks, you may need to water twice a week.
Light
These cacti prefer partial shade or diffused light, though they can adapt to other conditions. Too much sunlight causes the plant to become pale and yellow. Once buds are set, allow the cactus at least 13 hours of darkness to help it flower.
Upkeep and Maintenance
It’s essential to provide Christmas cacti with plenty of humidity, especially during the dry months of winter. Place a small saucer filled with water and rocks under your cactus to boost humidity levels as needed.
Temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees F are best. Buds will form around October.
Care Difficulty
Intermediate
Flower #5 – Phalaenopsis Orchid
If you’ve looked through interior design magazines lately, you’ve likely seen the large beautiful flowers of the phalaenopsis orchid. Typically, orchids wouldn’t make a list of easy-to-grow flowers, but the “moth” orchid is not like the others.
Soil
Moth orchids are epiphytes, so they grow on other plants. Provide an orchid mix, or make your own using a blend of ground fir tree bark, bark chips, coconut husks, perlite, and moss. Soil needs to provide ample drainage.
Water
Water Phalaenopsis orchids in the morning, allowing the water to flow through. During the growing season, water weekly. If exposed roots turn silvery white, it’s getting too dry. Do not leave water in the bottom of the pot, or it could cause rot.
Light
Moth orchids prefer a lot of indirect light. Direct sunlight will scorch the leaves. They can tolerate low light or do well under grow lights. Leaves should be dark green on top with red/burgundy streaks underneath.
Upkeep and Maintenance
Phalaenopsis prefer temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees F. Still, they can adapt to 65 to 70 degrees F. To induce a flower spike, allow temps to get down to 55 degrees F at night. Bloomage requires contrasting temperatures.
Care Difficulty
Intermediate
Flower #6 – Aeschynanthus
The lipstick plant, or Aeschynanthus, is famous for its unusual flowers and glossy foliage. Its scarlet blossom may look exotic, but they are nearly effortless to care for.
Soil
Soil should be well-aerated, light, and kept evenly moist. It’s best to include sand and sphagnum moss to ensure good drainage and prevent over-compaction.
Water
Overwatering can lead to root rot, so keep Aeschynanthus moist but not wet. Avoid letting the potting medium completely dry out, though.
Light
Lipstick plants prefer bright but filtered light. Too much direct light causes scorching, but too little will result in poor flowering and leaf drop.
Upkeep and Maintenance
Aeschynanthus prefer temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees F. They also like warmth and high humidity. Drafts are problematic so keep away from drafty windows, vents, and doors. Pruning the stems can help prevent sagging and encourage new and healthy growth.
Care Difficulty
Intermediate
Flower #7 – Flowering Maple
The flowering maple was a popular flower during the Victorian era. Its bell-shaped flowers make a great addition to any indoor garden, and it’s a relatively low maintenance plant.
Soil
Flowering maples will grow in almost any type of soil, as long as it’s kept evenly moist and well-drained.
Water
Water regularly to keep the soil moist but not overly wet. Fertilize regularly, starting in late winter and stopping in the fall.
Light
Flowering maples prefer a wide range of light, from full sun to light shade. If provided sufficient lighting, they will bloom through the winter.
Upkeep and Maintenance
Pinch the growing tips to encourage growth and prune to reduce scraggliness. Flowering maples prefer cooler temperatures in the 60-degree F range.
Care Difficulty
Intermediate
Flower #8 – Azalea
Azalea flowers bloom in beautiful multicolored bunches. Often, they’ll catch your eye throughout grocery stores in the winter. But, unless you are prepared, the love affair will not last.
They require specific growing conditions, and all that beauty comes at a high maintenance cost.
Soil
Azaleas prefer a peat-based potting mix that’s lime-free. They also prefer slightly acidic soil.
Water
Azaleas require well-drained pots and must be watered thoroughly to wet all the roots. However, allowing the roots to sit in water causes rot. Also, they must be watered with hard water–from rain or distilled.
Light
Keep azaleas in bright light, but not direct sun.
Upkeep and Maintenance
To help azaleas rebloom, they require about two months of cold (between 40 to 55 degrees F) in fall or winter. You’ll need moderate to high humidity (at least 40%). However, do not mist the flowers. This could lead to fungus. Pruning allows the stems to branch out and encourages new growth. Dropped flowers mean that drafts are hitting the azalea plant. Azaleas can grow up to two feet.
If you grow dwarf azaleas, they will be shorter and more compact.
Care Difficulty
Advanced
Flower #9 – Gardenia
Gardenias are delicate and fragrant. But, they are very high maintenance if you want to grow them indoors. Gardenias are very finicky and require specific attention paid to humidity, light, and pest control. However, if you are up to the challenge, they can grow up to six feet and provide fragrance, glossy green leaves, and gorgeous white flowers.
Soil
Gardenias prefer soil that is rich and well-draining.
Water
Keep soil moist but not soggy and provide good drainage. It should be watered when the soil is dry to the touch. During the winter, you can cut back on watering, only doing so when the top half-inch of the soil is dry. Add acid-based fertilizer during the growing season.
Light
Gardenias prefer at least half a day of direct sun. Temperatures should be at 64 degrees F during the day and 55 degrees F at night.
Upkeep and Maintenance
Keep away from vents and drafts. You need to pick a spot and stick with it because they do not like to be moved around. Gardenias require high humidity, especially during the winter in a heated home. You’ll need to regularly provide your gardenia with a humidifier or spray light mists of water on the foliage.
Gardenias are prone to pest infestations. Keep an eye out for mealybugs, whiteflies, aphids, root nematodes, spider mites, and scale bugs. If you notice pests, act quickly.
Care Difficulty
Advanced
Flower #10 – African Violets
You would think a flower meant to be grown indoors would make it a little easier for its caregiver. But, that’s not the case with the African violet. They are susceptible to insect damage and require lots of maintenance, but they will steal your heart with their fuzzy leaves and charm if done right. The beauty is worth it to add it to to the list for top 10 indoor flower beds.
Soil
African violets prefer well-draining soil. They also prefer soil that is a bit more acidic. A mix of sterile potting soil and perlite is best. You can also grab a soil mix specifically for African violets that helps them aerate, retain moisture, and promote root growth.
Water
Keep soil moist to the touch but not soaked. Do not splash water on the leaves.
Light
African violets require indirect light for 10 to 14 hours a day. They also need eight hours a day of darkness to encourage blooming. Direct sunlight will scorch the leaves.
Upkeep and Maintenance
African violets require more humidity than what’s found in most homes. This means that if you want to grow these flowers inside, you’ve got some life decisions to make! You’ll need to use trays and humidifiers and be extra careful of any drafts or vents that could present a problem. The most significant pests for African violets are mealybugs.
Care Difficulty
Advanced
Growing flowers indoors adds cleaner air, dazzling colors, and fragrance to any home. And, with just the right amount of care, you can enjoy their blooms all year long.