Simple flower care tips that add colour to your home

Flowers can brighten up spaces both indoors and out. These tips will help them grow and flourish.

• For the indoors, choose at least three pots. Be sure they have a drainage hole and a drainage tray.
• Prevent moisture from harming your furniture by setting the drainage tray on top of a coaster or by using a nonporous drainage tray.
• For the best results, use small annuals with tidy growing habits and attractive foliage.
• Good candidates include wax begonias, impatiens, geraniums, heliotrope 'Mini Marine' and signet marigolds.

• Regularly rotate each pot indoors to outdoors. keep them inside for a week, then rotate them outside for for two weeks.
• Look for plants that will do well in your climate and settings. Consult with the nursery about the proper amount of light, humidity and temperature.

These are some houseplants that are easy to care for:

• Spider plant (Chlorophytum)
• Arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum)
• Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis)
• English ivy (Hedera helix)
• Jade plant (Crassula argentea)
• Pothos (Philodendron oxycardium)
• Schefflera (Brassaia actimophylla)
• Snake plant (Sansevieria)
• Swedish ivy (Plectranthus oertendahii)
• Umbrella plant (Cyperus)
• Weeping fig (Ficus benjaminia).

Some of the prettiest and most economical bouquets are the ones you create yourself. Here's some tips when picking out the right type of plants:

• A typical arrangement includes a few showy flowers, several tall spiky flowers and plenty of fluffy-looking filler flowers or foliage.
• If the arrangement will be viewed from one side only, place leaves in the background.
• Your florist will supply you with foliage, but don't be afraid to mix in foliage from your own backyard.
• Herbs often look handsome in a flower arrangement.

Houseplants are perfect for beautifying homes, gardens and bouquets. With the right plants, and the right care, you can add colour to the lives of you and your friends.