Winter Flowers for North India(Sep-March)

Mesembryanthemum(Mid Day Flower) or Barf(ice) Plant

1. Mesembryanthemum(Mid Day Flower) commonly called as Barf or ice plant.
Type: Semi Perinials
Sun: Full sun.
Soil: Rich, loose soil that drains well.
Fertilizer: Use organic fertilizer like vermi-compost(Kechua khaad)/cow dung manure when planting them, then once a month after that.
Watering: Never keep your plant dry. Keep the soil moist to slightly dry. Water them during dry periods, once or twice per week.
When to sow the seeds: When temp is around 18-20 degree i.e around end of Feb End- March(When winter is at lowest point),
Grow them in containers away from cold area. Once they are grown, then transplant them in the flower bed.
Note: if you get good sun in winter around january, then start preparing for seed planting.

When to expect flowers:Spring (March to April)

Tips:
1. Plants them in sunny area and close to each other.
2. Plants in the corner areas to get more beauty
3. They are delicate, but bright flowers and add alot to the beautu of the garden.
4. Dont overwater and keep the soil moist.













2. Phlox :- can be grown in shade



Propagation:

Phlox are grown from seeds. Phlox seeds can be directly seeded into your flower garden or seeded indoors for transplanting later. For spring blooms, start indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost. Young seedlings will transplant well into their permanent home.

Sow Phlox seeds early in the season and cover lightly with 1/8" of fine garden or potting soil. Water thoroughly once.

Transplant Phlox into your garden after the last frost date for your area. Space them 8-10" apart. They will tolerate a little crowding. They will look great filling in a flowerbed, or as a border edging.


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How to Grow Phlox Plants:
Type: Perinials
Sun: Full sun.
Soil: Rich, loose soil that drains well.
Fertilizer: Use organic fertilizer like vermi-compost(Kechua khaad)/cow dung manure when planting them, then once a month after that.
Watering: Never keep your plant dry. Keep the soil moist to slightly dry. Water them during dry periods, once or twice per week.
Pruning: Cut the  tall stems to promote a bushier appearance.
When to sow the seeds: Feb End- March(When winter is at lowest point), Grow them in containers away from cold area. Once they are grown, then transplant them in the flower bed.
When to expect flowers:Spring to Summer

Tips:
1. Remove spent blooms to promote additional blooms and extend the blooming period all summer long, and right up to the first killing frost. This will also keep the appearance neat and beautiful.
2. Phlox are hardy annuals. They will often survive the first few light frosts. They will not survive a hard frost or freeze.
3. You can try them in hanging basket with multiple colors of phlox. Try to get the hybrid ones.










3. Helichrysum(Paper Flower)


Common Names:
Some of the common names for Helichrysum include Curry plant, Immortelle, Licorice plant and Strawflower.


How to grow Curry plant (helichrsum)
When growing curry plants and other Helichrysum members sow the seed on the surface after the last frost of spring. It may be best to start growing curry plants (Helichrysum) indoors first to get a head start. The growing process should start about 8 weeks before putting the plant outdoors a few weeks after the last frost of spring. Germination will take from one to three weeks and should be performed in the light at a temperature of about 18 to 23 degrees Centigrade. Once the seedlings are ready for transplanting they should be spaced at about 20cm apart (small varieties) to 40cm apart (larger species). Helichrysum prefer to grow in sunny areas with a sandy soil of pH6 to 7, though they will tolerate poor soil too.

Caring for Curry plants in the garden
Once growing if you require more curry plants then cuttings can be took in the summer, or simply let the curry plant set seed, and allow it to grow itself. An interesting trick with Helichrysum is to remove all the flowers but one on each inflorescent stem; this will reduce in single big flowers atop each stem.





4. CornFlower(Centaurea)





















5. Gazania



This perennial (meaning it grows back year after year) has daisy-like flowers in white and shades of yellow, orange and pink that bloom in late spring and early summer.
Difficulty: Easy

Planting Gazania
1 Plant Gazania in full sun and well-drained soil.

2 Add a light application of organic fertilizer to the planting hole.

3 Place the plants no deeper than they were growing in the containers.

4 Set the plants 6 to 9 inches apart.

5 Mulch around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost.

6 Water well until soil is completely moist.

7 Start seed directly in the garden in early spring or indoors four weeks before the last frost date.

Choosing Gazania
1 Look for plants at nurseries in spring through fall, and seed all year round.

2 Buy gazania in 4-inch to 1-gallon containers or as seed.

3 Choose healthy-looking plants with signs of new growth in leaf and flower bud.

Caring for Gazania
1 Remove old foliage in spring using bypass pruners to cut off the old stems.

2 Apply a light application of organic fertilizer on top of the soil; follow package directions.

3 Mulch around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost in spring.

4 Water well weekly until soil is completely moist in summers with no rainfall.















6. Sweet peas

























7. Salvia :- can be grown in shade and acts as backgraoud to small plants. Generally in red color
















8. Cineraria :- Beautiful plant. grows in shade and give different color of flower depending on PH value of soil.



















9. Panzy: grows in shade. Prefer Double panzy


























10.Verbena :- grows in shade.






















11. CandyTuft
















13. Alyssum:- Popularly called as "Chandni top". can be grown as small hedge and available in white and purple color.



















15. Antirrhinum:- Popularly called as "Dog Flower"
























17. Dahlia:- Many Variety come in this flower and Can be part of theme garden. Needs sun. Must have in the gardens































18. Chrysanthemum:- Called as "guldaudi". Also comes in different variety and colors. Needs sun.Must have in the gardens. They come in so many varieties that for this Chrysanthemum shows are organized.

























19. Tulip
















20.Carnation or Dianthus :- One of my Favourite along with Dalhia and Chrysanthemum. Comes in Various colours.