5 blooming houseplants for winter color

The holidays are over, and most spring blooms are three months away. Fortunately, these indoor bloomers will fill your winter world with color.

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi)

>>PHOTO of Christmas cactus

Christmas cacti aren't just for Christmas - many will bloom later (check the plant tag). And these long-lived beauties might even outlive you if cared for properly. Plant in a container with cactus mix (not general potting mix), provide indirect sunlight and be careful not to overwater. Lower the heat and provide 12-16 hours of darkness daily during autumn (stick pots in a closet if you must), and you'll be rewarded with red, orange, yellow, white or pink blooms on arching stems during winter.

Banana (Musa 'Super Dwarf Cavendish')

>>PHOTO of Banana

This dwarf banana is gorgeous in a container, with its huge purple-streaked leaves and rich purple flowers. It will even produce edible fruit if you treat it right. Keep it warm near your sunniest south-facing window over the winter and outdoors from May through September.

Cyclamen

>>PHOTO of Cyclamen

Sweetly fragrant blooms flower all winter long. Keep the plant cool, water from underneath, place in a south-facing window and deadhead regularly to prolong the show. If leaves start turning yellow, chances are the plant is being kept too warm; don't house it above 70 degrees. Cyclamens go dormant after blooming but can be kept from year to year if you stop watering and store in a cool place. Cut back when all the foliage has browned and resume care in fall, watering only after new growth has emerged.

 Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)

>>PHOTO of Gardenia

If you received one of these in bloom as a holiday gift, you can be sure you're loved: The big, blooming ones don't come cheap. Keep it nice and warm over the winter, and let it vacation outdoors over the summer to keep its glossy dark leaves happy and its super-fragrant, waxy white flowers coming.

Jasmine (Jasminum spp.)

>>PHOTO of Jasmine

For the most fragrance, choose J. officinale (common), J. sambac (Arabian; try Grand Duke of Tuscany, shown above) or J. polyanthum (pink) species. The vining seasonal bloomers will flower indoors from late winter through early spring, with sporadic repeat blooms likely. Place the plant outdoors over the summer, returning it to a cool, bright, sunny indoor spot once buds set in early fall, and reduce watering during winter.

>>See photos of winter-blooming houseplants