Lydia, I think that huchera would be happy inside! Why not? I think the reason you don't see them indoors more often is because of their normal purpose in areas that grow them, as an outdoor, tough customer that does okay in tough spots. At least that's how hucheras seem to be marketed. Makes me think of seeing photos of tropical plants that are commonly grown indoors around here as houseplants outside, in tropical areas where they come from, thriving and growing large in the wild and looking spectacular. Plants all seem to have their own stubborn niches that people adhere to, but that certainly doesn't mean that their niche is their only possibility.

Think of coffee. It's broken out of only being a crop in the tropics into being a fairly nice houseplant candidate, and even landscape candidate in areas where it's not native or grown commercially but where the weather suits it. It's a beautiful small shrub that's easy to cultivate in just about any method.

As far as growth habits of some, I know that some respond better to more direct light than others and the spindly, open form could have something to do with not getting the amount of sun it wants, or it could just be bad breeding- with only leaf color in consideration and not form as much.

Here's a favorite tough huchera that I love, that would be a beautiful houseplant. It's not red or pink, but I've always been partial to silvers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Huchera Silver Scrolls

Hi pinusresinosa,

Many thanks for taking time to reply. You are right that a lot of plants' marketed use is not quite the same as how they live in the wild. Talking about coffee, just yesterday at the garden store I saw a fairly mature arabica, and thought it had such a nice form. I also succumbed to temptation and bought a syngonium whose young leaves are pink on top. It brings a smile to my face every time I see it; I still think pink foliage is quite out of this world. Next time I want to try a new pink plant, I think I will go with a heuchera!

Happy 2015 and let's not stop experimenting with plants!

Lydia

Hi friends, I'm a new member to this forum. I would like to discuss new ideas, thought, information etc.

I agree with your post "Pinusresinosa", and I don't think Heucheras are indoor plants. They need space and all depends on a variety of Heucheras.

Any updates on if this ended up working or not?

I think that trying to grow some heuchera from seed might be the cheapest way to see if this will work.

I don't know why you can't grow Heuchera indoors. They seem to like pot culture. Nice loose soil.

BTW wellcome newcomers. I just stopped over here from the hosta forum to see how people were adjusting to the new format.

Hi

I suspect that they require seasonal change ,listed as 5/8?? if a plant requires cool/cold rest periods it makes for a poor house plant.

I have a similar problem as I'm in 10 florida so outdoor temps are usually average indoor temps Whole host of garden plants that won't grow for me so I stick to tropicals i just bought an unidentified Heuchera because it was 3 bucks lol Wish it were winter as I'm sure I'd have better luck

There do seem to be some tropical members in the family or at least warmth tolerant but tough to find?? Obviously you can create seasons by popping them in the fridge as I do for Iris and Venus flytrap but a real chore ??

Anyway ,Goodluck the worst that can happen is it croaks?? lol gary

Heucheras are not sold and grown as houseplants because they are not! Plants native to temperate climates - like heucheras - are seldom successfully grown as houseplants for any length of time because indoor conditions are simply not to their liking. Too dry, too warm, too even a temperature and usually, insufficient light.

Think about it a moment........if heucheras made decent houseplants, why not then any other common garden perennial? Why not grow garden phlox or iris or hellebores as houseplants? Because they need the seasonal variation in temperature, a period of dormancy and regular outdoor conditions to thrive.

Might work for a few months but not long term.

Because they originate from a temperate climate (US natives) they do require a period of dormancy/cold that they are unlikely to have indoors. Plants can survive without a proper dormant period for a period of time but not indefinitely. That is why a great many common perennials will not grow in the higher, frost free zones long term - it simply does not get cold enough for them to complete a proper dormancy. It is exactly the same principle as keeping a Japanese maples or a mugo pine indoors......it may last for a while but not long term.

And nearly all species and hybrids will require vernalization to flower.

Feel free to grow yours indoors if you like for as long as it lasts. But heucheras are NOT houseplants and are not sold with that intention. They are extremely cold hardy - zone 4 in most cases with a few even hardy to zone 3 - and will thrive outdoors if given proper growing conditions. Also a great many cultivars will not develop the coloration and darker veining they take on in cold weather that is one of their features.

Oh I see, so they don't have appropriate color variation indoors, and they need a dormant period. Thank you for the info, I may move mine so I can get the most of it!

Coleus make great houseplants, and you can propagate them easily through cuttings--- they come in many colors like the ones you describe.

Terra Nova Nurseries (re: mini heuchera series) say they can kept as houseplants!

http://www.terranovanurseries.com/products/heuchera-little-cuties-series/

Terra Nova is just trying to sell more plants :-) Just because they say heuchs can be grown as a houseplant doesn't necessarily make it so!! Size really has no bearing on the matter....it is the suitability to indoor condition, which simply do not exist.

I have a Huchera that lives outside in my shady window box in the spring, summer and fall, that I bring inside during the winter and leave in a fairly dark corner. It seems quite happy and has a brilliant dark purple foliage. I have also had great success with Coleus plants living indoors.

I found one of my heuchera rotting in the fall. I took cuttings and will be keeping them inside for the winter. They have all rooted. Let's see if they survive.

Not too uncommon for heuchera get to get 'leggy' and/or rot, I've usually just shoved them down in the dirt again and off they go.

Well, I did leave one piece of my heuchera in the ground. Not sure if I put it deep enough. I did mulch with leaves for the winter. We'll see what happens. As for my cuttings, they are alive, but losing color and looking a bit weak. Probably need to be under lights.

Just found this thread again. Had to say that the heuchera I brought inside in the fall is doing nicely! Since it had rotted outside, I brought in 4 cuttings and planted them in one pot. (See picture above) One stem was left outside to see if it would survive. Yes it did! I plan to plant the heuchera outside this spring. If anyone would like to see a picture of how the heuchera looks now, I can take a photo and post it. I am really happy it survived.