Oklahoma winters can be gray and chilly, making it hard to enjoy bright blooms outdoors. But that doesn’t mean you have to wait until spring to see gorgeous flowers around your home.
Bringing flowering plants indoors is a wonderful way to add color and life to your space during the coldest months. Growing indoor flowers during winter is easier than you might think when you choose the right varieties.
1. African Violet
With velvety leaves and cheerful blooms, African violets bring a pop of color to any room without demanding too much attention. They prefer bright, indirect light and consistently moist soil, making them ideal for Oklahoma homes with moderate indoor temperatures.
Water them carefully by pouring water into the saucer beneath the pot rather than directly on the leaves. This prevents unsightly brown spots from forming. African violets bloom repeatedly throughout winter when given proper care, rewarding you with purple, pink, or white flowers that last for weeks at a time.
2. Christmas Cactus
Despite its name, this succulent doesn’t look prickly at all. Christmas cactus features smooth, segmented leaves that cascade beautifully from hanging baskets or pots. Around the holiday season, it produces stunning tubular flowers in shades of red, pink, orange, or white.
Keep your Christmas cactus in a cool room with indirect sunlight for best blooming results. Water it when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Many families pass these plants down through generations because they can live for decades with minimal fuss.
3. Amaryllis
Few indoor flowers make as dramatic a statement as amaryllis during winter months. These bulbs produce tall, sturdy stems topped with enormous trumpet-shaped blooms that can measure six inches across. Shades range from classic red and white to salmon, pink, and even striped varieties.
Plant your amaryllis bulb in a pot with good drainage, leaving the top third exposed above the soil. Place it in a warm, sunny spot and water sparingly until growth appears. Once blooming starts, the show lasts several weeks, bringing tropical beauty to cold Oklahoma days.
4. Orchid
Orchids have a reputation for being difficult, but phalaenopsis varieties are surprisingly forgiving for beginners. Their exotic blooms can last two to three months, providing long-lasting beauty throughout the winter season. Colors include white, pink, yellow, and purple, often with interesting patterns or spots.
Position your orchid where it receives bright, filtered light but not direct sun. Water once weekly by running lukewarm water through the pot, then letting it drain completely. Avoid letting water sit in the crown of the plant, as this can cause rot and damage.
5. Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe plants pack a serious punch of color into a compact size, making them perfect for small spaces or windowsills. These cheerful succulents produce clusters of tiny flowers in brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, or white that contrast beautifully with their thick, glossy leaves.
Because they’re succulents, kalanchoes tolerate some neglect and prefer their soil to dry out between waterings. Bright light encourages more blooms, so place them near a south-facing window if possible. They’ll continue flowering for several months, brightening even the dreariest Oklahoma winter days with tropical charm.
6. Begonia
Begonias offer incredible variety, with some types grown for their stunning foliage and others for their abundant flowers. Flowering begonias produce blooms in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, and white, often with ruffled or doubled petals that look almost like tiny roses.
These plants appreciate humidity, which can be challenging during dry Oklahoma winters when heaters run constantly. Mist your begonias occasionally or place them on pebble trays filled with water to increase moisture around the leaves. Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy for continuous blooming throughout the cold season.
7. Cyclamen
Cyclamen flowers look like tiny butterflies hovering above heart-shaped leaves, creating an enchanting display throughout winter. Their upswept petals come in shades of pink, red, white, or purple, often with darker centers or delicate veining. The marbled foliage adds interest even when flowers fade.
Cool temperatures help cyclamen thrive indoors, making them perfect for rooms that stay between 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit. Water them from below by adding water to the saucer, allowing the plant to absorb what it needs. Remove spent blooms regularly to encourage more flowers to develop throughout the season.
8. Jasmine
Imagine filling your home with sweet, heavenly fragrance during the coldest months of the year. Indoor jasmine makes this dream possible, producing clusters of small, star-shaped white or yellow flowers that perfume entire rooms. Some varieties bloom specifically during winter, defying the season outside.
Jasmine needs plenty of bright light to flower well, so position it near your sunniest window. Keep the soil consistently moist and provide support for the climbing vines as they grow. The intoxicating scent alone makes jasmine worth the effort, creating a sensory escape from winter’s chill.
9. Anthurium
Anthuriums produce some of the most distinctive blooms you’ll find on any houseplant. What looks like a shiny, heart-shaped flower is actually a modified leaf called a spathe, surrounding a spike of tiny true flowers. These glossy “blooms” last for months, appearing in red, pink, white, or even purple.
Native to tropical rainforests, anthuriums appreciate warmth and humidity during Oklahoma’s dry winter months. Place them in bright, indirect light and water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Each flower can last six to eight weeks, and healthy plants produce new blooms continuously throughout the year.
10. Geranium
Geraniums aren’t just for outdoor gardens and window boxes. Brought indoors before the first frost, these reliable bloomers continue producing colorful flower clusters throughout winter. Their rounded blooms come in different shades, held above attractive foliage that sometimes features interesting patterns or zones.
Position geraniums where they’ll receive at least four hours of direct sunlight daily, preferably in a south or west-facing window. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings to prevent root rot. Pinch off faded flowers regularly to keep plants looking tidy and encourage continuous blooming all season long.