How do you keep sane during the winter?

9 years ago

This year in an effort to keep myself from going crazy during the winter I went around buying up discounted plants with scented leaves at the nurseries so I can have something to keep me going during the dark cold months ahead. I picked up lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla), Munstead lavender, and a scented geranium (Pelargonium 'Angels Perfume'). They're all small plants growing in the sunny kitchen window.

I also have several small pots of discounted freesia bulbs just starting to sprout and last night I dug up two tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) that have bloom spikes growing in the dim light of the basement. They were growing in a huge pot that I crowded with too many bulbs. They're flopping all over the place so I'll have to stake the bloom spikes and hope for the best. I figured if they're going to bloom in the basement I might as well try them upstairs in a small pot where I can enjoy the scent. I'm also considering starting some Matthiola longipetala seeds in small pots that I can grow next to the cold windows to see if I can grow them inside for scent during the winter.

What ideas do you have for scent during the winter?

Wish my Hoya 'Pink Silver' would hurry up and bloom. :)

-Robert

Featured Answer

scott_madison Zone 5a- Madison, WI

9 years ago

I pot up all kinds of bulbs in the fall to force during to winter months... Hyacinths, daffodils, tulips. Also the bulbs that don't need a cold period... Paperwhites and amaryllis. I work full time in a garden center/greenhouse/florist shop... So I am around flowers almost everyday of my life. There is no shortage of yummy smells... Fresh cut stock, roses and carnations in the floral cooler, pots of Jasmine polyanthum, rosemary and scented geraniums, primrose, cyclamen and Parma violets in the greenhouses Plus some of our "pet" plants that live at the greenhouse year round and flower this time of year... Camellias, osmanthus, citrus and gardenia. And... Some of the best non-flower fragrances this time of year... All the balsam, Frasier fir and cedar we bring in for Christmas.

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Comments (7)

jasminegal
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Lol Robert! I am in the same boat as you. Going crazy without anything to do. My hubby is the most happiest that I am not gardening out. I would be out if I could. Our temps are down sometimes to below freezing now. My anemone de caen corms are sprouting in the yard so waiting if I can get some blooms from them. My miniature alliums too started sprouting so early. Planted a mix of tulips,hyacinths, daffys and crocus. I think I see daffys sprouting.

I have some ranculus to plant in feb. I just keep on visiting all the mail order sites, keep adding stuff and deleting the cart. Lucky for me some of my jasmines and chinese perfume are generous enough to bloom to satisfy my nose. If you keep your mysore mulli in a warm place it will keep blooming for you. My arabian nights too is producing buds now. Moo even in the basement is producing buds. So maybe if you have a very bright and warm spot you could get jasmine to bloom imdoors too.
Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
Original Author
9 years ago
Sigh. I wish my sambac jasmines were small enough to keep inside but right now I only have one under the T5 lights in my bedroom. My Mysore Mulli is down in the basement. Funny thing is my partner can't believe we don't have Grand Duke of Tuscany (we have Supreme) so maybe that's a good excuse to order a small jasmine!

Almost forgot about perlite and freesias. Found this article online about it-

http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/freesiasindoors
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jasminegal
9 years ago
Any excuse for a new plant works for us *wink*! I have never grown a freesia yet. I remember reading about its exact requirements and decided I could not probably do that and dropped the idea. My tuberose did not bloom this year. Maybe next year!
kemistry
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I bought a bunch of plants and started so many seeds! Fragrant and non fragrant: adenium desert rose, holy basil, heliotrope, and trying to sprout a ginger rhizome and a sweet potato (lol).

I got some rauwenhoffia seeds coming in the mail from Thailand. I really want this plant again and since Logee doesn't offer it anymore, I'm trying my luck with growing from seed.

I also have a crazy urge to grow some pink rain lily... triggered by a childhood memory I guess. But I read that it requires rain or long period of wetness to trigger the bloom. Not sure how I can fool it to bloom indoor.. lol :O))
jasminegal
9 years ago
Wow Kemistry! You are so far ahead :)
kemistry
9 years ago
Yes jasminegal, between Sept and Oct I went crazy on ebay. Lol. My tiny luculia plant I got earlier this year is developing some buds I think. If all is well, I'll report back on its scent :))