Common names: African violet, violet

Common names: Areca Palm

Common names: azalea

Common names: bromeliad, urn plant, flaming sword

Common names: cacti

Common names: orchid, cymbidium, dendrobium, oncidium, cattleya, phalaenopsis

Description: A popular blooming plant, African violets have fuzzy heart-shaped leaves with light green or red-violet undersides and some have ruffled, smooth or serrated edges. A few varieties have variegated foliage. Petal variations include single, double and ruffled. Colors include deep purple, lavender, pink, yellow, white, red, and bi-colors

Special care: Remove old blooms and yellowing leaves. Keep barely moist and fertilize monthly with all-purpose food. Do not let water touch leaves. With plenty of bright, indirect sunlight, or 14 to 16 hours of artificial light, they flower continuously and can last many years. Avoid placing them in a drafty area.

Description: Can be found in sizes ranging from 3 feet up to 10 feet or taller and is readily available in the marketplace.

Special care: Suitable for bright locations and requires heavy watering to do well.

Description: These low, woody shrubs have leathery, dark green leaves and 3- to 6-inch clusters of red, orange, coral, pink, white or purple flowers. They make excellent blooming plants.

Special care: Check daily. Keep the soil moist but not wet. Apply water directly to the root medium. Keep the foliage and flowers dry to prevent fungal diseases. Do not use fertilizer. Place azaleas in bright, indirect light. Blooming life is two to four weeks or more, depending on cultivar. Leaf drop may be caused by dry soil, intense shade or cool temperatures combined with intense light. Pinch off new, green shoots that extend beyond the flowers.

Description: These foliage plants have central floral spikes up to 2 feet tall and 8- to 10-inch long spiny-edged leaves that form a cup that can hold water. In some species, the flower has waxy, colored leaves. Other species send up an actual inflorescence. These plants bloom six weeks to four months, depending on variety.

Special care: Drench dry soil and fertilize monthly. Drain excess water. Keep the central cups of foliage filled with water, but change it weekly. Keep plants in bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves.

Description: More than 2,500 varieties of cacti exist. Some popular varieties are pincushion, powder puff, rat-tail, prickly pear, bunny ears and golden barrel cacti. Cacti grow in many sizes and forms, but all have thick, fleshy, green stems. Most have sharp needles, but some are covered with hair-like fibers. Cacti live for several years, and some flower each season.

Special care: These plants are hardy and occupy minimum space, making them ideal houseplants. Give plants six to eight hours of bright, direct light each day. Additional sun may burn plants. Water plants thoroughly, but allow soil to dry between waterings.

Description: Throughout the world, more than 17,000 species are known, and varieties vary in size and shape. Oncidium blossoms are 1/2 to 1 inch and are usually yellow with orange-red markings. Cattleya blossoms are large, ruffled and usually 5 to 6 inches across in white or purple with contrasting throats. Phalaenopsis have moth- or butterfly-shaped flowers in colors such as white, pink, purple and bicolors. Cymbidium and dendrobium flowers have a butterfly-like shape and are 3 to 4 inches acress. The larger of the two, cymbidiums are white, yellow, green or lavender with pink or red lips, while dendrobiums are often white or lavender.