TOP TEN POTTED FLOWERING PLANTS FOR YOUR EASTER SUNDAY TABLE
When I went to college at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts many years ago, I wanted to learn about flowers. I was fascinated by how every holiday had its own flowers and how it was possible to get them to bloom for that special day.
The week I learned how to grow Easter lilies was one I will never forget, because my teacher asked my college roommate, Bruce Dunlop, whose family were florists and greenhouse growers in central Massachusetts, this question: "Mr. Dunlop how do you grow Easter lilies?" He answered, to our surprise, "In a wheelbarrow." The teacher responded "Please explain for those here who have never grown Easter lilies."
Bruce explained that if the flowers were not opening up fast enough, he had to put them on a wheelbarrow and move them to a warmer greenhouse so they could grow and open faster. If they were opening too fast, he had to put them on the wheelbarrow and move them to a cooler greenhouse so they could slow down and look perfect for Easter. Because Easter is at a different time each year, it was the most difficult flower crop his family had to grow.
Bruce loved all the flowers his family grew in their greenhouse, but the Easter lilies were his least favorite because of the wheelbarrow--and I do not blame him. You may not know this, but some years the Easter lilies are growing under the benches that the poinsettias are growing on top of; it depends on the date that Easter falls on.
1) The Easter lily is the number one best-selling flowering plant for Easter by far. You may not remember this, but less than 40 years ago Easter lilies were tall--well over 3 feet tall--when your parents purchased them. Today, because of growth regulators, lilies come in all sizes. At that time, when you purchased a lily, the pot had three ferns growing in it because the height of the plant meant that he florist had problems keeping all the foliage on the lower part of the stem of the plant. To keep them looking nice they grew ferns in with the lilies but today, because of hybrids, ferns are not needed.
Lilies are perennial and they will do very well in your gardens, so do not throw them away after the holiday, plant them in your garden. Lilies are unique plants because they have two sets of roots, one under the bulb like most plants do, but as they grow through the soil, they will develop a second root system for support--as the plant does grow 3 to 5 feet tall and needs the extra support. When you plant your lilies, be sure to set them 6 to 8 inches deeper in the ground so that this second root system develops to hold the stem straight up in your garden.
When your flowers open in your home, be sure to pick off the yellow pollen sacks that form in the trumpet flower, as this will help the flowers bloom 2 extra days for you. Keep the soil moist in the pot--never wet--or your bulb will rot. Just dig into the soil to the depth of two knuckles and if the soil is moist, leave it alone for an additional day. As the flowers fade, remove them and keep the plant inside until the weather warms up and becomes frost-free (early to mid-May) before planting. Next year, the plant will flower in July, its normal flowering time in nature.
2) Tulips are number two and closing in on first place quickly as many younger people think of lilies as old-fashioned--too bad. The tulips of today are all forced into bloom like the lilies but the varieties chosen are normal late April-flowering varieties, because they don't grow as tall and need little to no staking. The flower color selection is wide and there are many with unusual foliage. They also require less time in a refrigerated cooler to grow.
Keep tulips out of the sun and as cool as possible in your home; the flowers will last much longer and the flower color will be deeper. When the flowers fade, cut the stems back to the foliage and plant them as a single clump in your garden--do not separate. Plant 3 inches deeper and condition the soil in your garden before planting. This way, the plant can rebuild the energy it took to make those flowers this year and will bloom in your garden next year.
3) Daffodils are next, because of the beautiful nodding flowers. If your florist or garden center did a good job you will be able to choose plants with buds still not open along with those fully open. Daffodils especially the regular tall growing varieties will need staking in a warm home and that is why most shops add stakes and string in the pots. Once only yellow, the daffodils now come in two-tone white and yellow and new shades of pale pink.
If you just want something in a small pot, look for the miniature daffodil called 'Tęte-a-Tęte,' a wonderful yellow flower that will fit perfect on the coffee table. All daffodils are very hardy and can be planted outside when the flowers fade. Cut back the faded flower to the base of the stem and then you plant like other flowering bulbs set in the garden--3 inches deeper.
4) Hyacinths are the king for fragrance for Easter. This amazing spring-flowering bulb comes in white, pink, and deep purple. When young, the flower bud clusters resemble a pineapple with all of their tight buds. Hyacinths must be supported with stakes and string when fully opened, as the flower cluster is so large and heavy it will fall over in the pot. The flower cluster is made up of 25 or more individual flowers that are shaped like trumpets; that is perfect because these flower are sending out a wonderful fragrance that will fill your home for many days.
If you want a small pot, look for the dwarf type called grape hyacinths, and you can enjoy 3-inch tall flowers resembling drumsticks in deep purple or white, and they are long lasting. Both types can be planted in your garden when the flowers fade--and please remove the flowers and plant 3 inches deeper in the garden.
5) The Florist hydrangea is at number five--and I stress florist, because these wonderful plants are not winter-hardy when planted in your garden if you live in northern New England. You can repot them in larger containers when the flowers fade and grow them on your deck for the summer and watch them grow larger. In the fall place, the potted plant in your garage or cool basement for the winter once the foliage has fallen from the plant.
In February or March, bring in the plant, water and fertilize it, and watch it wake up and bloom in your home. I love this plant because it develops large flowers on strong stems; each flower can be as large as 10 to 12 inches in diameter. The individual flowers have 4 petals in the shape of a cross, and each flower cluster can have 25 or more flowers that create this ball-shaped bloom. The flower color is wonderful, with shades of blue, pink, and lavender. The new hybrids can have several shades of color on the same flower and some will even both blue and pink on them.
Pick plants that still have some flowers, and that have green flowers on them, as you can then enjoy the changing colors as they mature. Florist hydrangeas will last in your home for 4 to 8 weeks--a real plus when choosing flowering plants. These hydrangea plants will dry out easily, so check daily and water as often as the plant requires it; dry plants will show flowers that wilt but will respond quickly when watered.
6) Florist azaleas (not to be confused with the hardy azaleas in your yard) are next. These plants are truly a sign of spring. If you can keep them cool, they will flower in your home for a month if you select them with buds still not opened; choose them with buds and a few open flowers when possible. They have great dark green foliage and flowers in shades of white, pink, red and many new variegated bicolor flowers also.
Like the florist hydrangeas, repot them in larger pots when they finish flowering, keep on your deck for summer and in the fall place in your garage when the weather gets cold. I have had great results bringing in an azalea during Christmas and watching it bloom for the holidays--or any time during the winter.
7) Oriental lilies are new in last few years--these are wonderful, with the many unusual flower colors. Many varieties to choose from: white with yellow spotting, white with pink spotting, soft pink with deep pink spotting or deep pink with almost red spotting. The flowers, when open, are large--up to 10 inches. They are trumpet-shaped flowers that look intricate because of all the spotting in them.
The single strong stem can contain 5 to 9 flower buds and flowers on them, so choose the plant with mostly buds so you can enjoy them as they open. Pick off the pollen sacks to extend the flowering time and remove the faded flowers to keep the plant looking beautiful. Oriental lilies can also be planted in your garden when the flowers fade--you must plant them 6 to 8 inches deeper than they are in the pot right now. They will flower again next year during July-August in your garden; like the Easter lily they are very hardy. I almost forgot...they are very fragrant--a wonderful bonus to enjoy in your home this Easter.
8) Martha Washington geraniums are hybrid geraniums that flower during early spring to mid-summer. This plant blooms during short days and when the temperatures are on the cool side. When the weather warms up and the days get longer, they will grow foliage and prepare for next year. They begin to flower in February and last well into June, with multi-colored petals.
The flowers come on short stems, in clusters. The flowers can get as large as two inches each, making that flower cluster up to 6 inches in diameter. The flower does not look like the traditional geranium, nor does the foliage--as the foliage is more gray green and ruffled. This is a great flowering plant if you have a sunny window and a cool house. Many different flower colors are available; these flowers are two-toned, with shades of white, pink, crimson, purple, and lavender.
9) Rieger begonias are wonderful plants that you can keep well after Easter and plant in your garden to enjoy flowers right up until frost. Use them in planters, window boxes, hanging baskets, or plant them in the ground. The foliage is medium to dark green and shiny; the flowers develop on stems that grow 6 to 8 inches long on top of the plant, making them very visible and showy. Flowers come in shades of white, pink, red, yellow, and lavender.
The flowers develop on a strong stem like a chain of flowers, and they open one at a time often covering the plant. As they fade, pick them off. If you can fertilize them regularly, the flowers will continue to develop all year long. Caution: if you keep them inside as potted plants, never spray water on the foliage or a white powdery fungus will form on the foliage. Outside, the rain is not a problem. In the pot inside, keep the plant moist and never wet, or the stems can rot at the soil line; outside is not a problem. This begonia is a great flowering plant, with wonderful flowers that will last a long time inside or outside of your home.
10) Calla lilies are fairly new to the potted spring collection of Easter plants. Wonderful and easy to care for, they flower for several weeks. The bulbs are not winter-hardy so if you plant in your garden they must be dug up and stored in your basement for the winter. I prefer to keep them in pots during the summer months, allow them to die back in the fall with a frost and the store them in the basement in the pot for the winter. In March, bring the pots back upstairs, water and fertilizer and watch them come back to life for you to bloom during June and July on your deck or patio.
The calla lily looks much different from the traditional lily, as there is no main stem. A cluster of elongated foliage that grows about a foot tall will emerge from the pot; it is clean-looking and shiny. Individual flowers will form at the base of the foliage and grow just as tall as the foliage on strong stems. The flowers look like a cupped hand with a little surprise inside; once just white and beautiful, the new hybrids come in shades of pink, white, yellow and lavender. The flower is a bit waxy looking and almost cup-shaped.
There are also some new hybrids with variegated foliage and taller-growing varieties with larger flowers. The Easter varieties are small types and fit just right on your dining room or coffee table. As the flowers fade, remove them and fertilize the plant regularly to give it energy to make new buds for next year.
During the holiday, enjoy your potted plants in the foil or plastic pot cover that they come in, as they should be water-proof and not cause damage to your tables. But b sure to water the plants OUT of the pot cover in your sink and allow them to drain completely, before replacing the cover, as a pot cover with water in it can rot the roots of the plant.
Once the holiday is over and all the company has left, dispose of the pot cover, as it will block the sunlight from hitting the foliage and this foliage will turn yellow or brown. All bulb plants to be set outside should go out 2 to 3 weeks after flowering to give the plant time to use the energy from the sun to mature the foliage and help it make buds for next year--especially if the weather outside is cold. Plant them and fertilize with Osmocote and care for them like any perennial you have in your garden now. Non-bulb plants should be fertilized monthly during the growing season in your home or on your deck.
Enjoy the holiday, and after the feast take a walk around your yard and talk to the spring flowers that are now beginning to emerge from your garden. Encourage them to come out and make your garden as beautiful as the dinner table was. From our family to yours: Enjoy Easter!
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