Cineraria plants are beautiful small flowering plants that are available for purchase during the late winter and early spring. The compact Cineraria plant has tight bunches of petite daisy like flowers surrounded by large dark green leaves. Cineraria flowers can be red, white, blue, or purple. Each Cineraria flower has an “eye” in the middle surrounded by a small white ring. Cineraria plants reach a maximum height of 15-20 inches. Cineraria plants are very fragile perennial plants so they are mostly used as outdoor annuals or indoor gift plants that bloom for only about a month. Once the flowers of a Cineraria plant die, it’s time to throw it out or plant it outside. Be sure that there are plenty of buds when you purchase a Cineraria plant so it can bloom for as long as possible and place the plant in a cool area that gets bright light.
A Cineraria plant is a very poisonous plant and should be kept way from small children and pets. Read more about common houseplants that can be dangerous in my book Don’t Feed Me to Your Cat: A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants. Be sure that there are plenty of buds when you purchase a Cineraria plant so it can bloom for as long as possible and place the plant in a cool area that gets bright light.
Plant Care
Light
Cineraria Plants need very bright indirect light but cool temperatures. Place a Cineraria Plant near a north or east-facing window. Light from south & west-facing windows is too hot and causes the flowers on a Cineraria Plant to fade quickly.
Water
Keep a Cineraria Plant moist but never soggy. Always allow the top inch or two of soil in a Cineraria Plantto dry out before watering. Cineraria Plants can sit in the excess water for 15 minutes then be sure to empty the saucer. The more blooms a Cineraria Plant has, the more water it needs.
Fertilizer
Feed a Cineraria Plant in April with a water-soluble plant food high in phosphorous at 1/2 the recommended strength.
Temperature
A Cineraria plant does well in temperatures between 55°-65°F (12.8°-18.3°C) during the day and 45°-55°F (7.2°-12.8°C) at night. If it is too warm, the flowers of a Cineraria plant quickly die.
Humidity
Cineraria Plants adapt well to basic household humidity.
Flowering
Beautiful flowers on a Cineraria Plant last about a month in cool temperatures. Cineraria Plants bloom better when root bound in smaller pots.
Pests
When a Cineraria Plant is stressed because of inadequate light, too much heat, or very dry air it becomes susceptible to aphids and whiteflies.
Diseases
Prevent mold from developing on your Cineraria Plant by quickly removing dead leaves and flowers.
Soil
Cineraria plants do well in a quick-draining, well-aerated, loose potting soil that has a lot of peat moss in it.
Pot Size
Cineraria plants are usually found in 4″ and 6″ pots.
Pruning
Cut dead leaves and flowers off of a Cineraria plant to prevent mold from developing.
Propagation
Seeds are the best way to propagate a Cineraria Plant.
Poisonous Plant Info
A Cineraria is a poisonous house plant with a #2 toxicity level and should be kept away from small children and pets.
FAQ
You really can’t get Cineraria Plant to bloom again unless you live in an area where you can plant it outdoors; indoors, Cineraria Plants usually bloom only once.
Your Cineraria Plant needs more light and cooler temperatures. Once buds have formed, Cineraria Plants need to be fed every two weeks. Use a fertilizer for flowering plants.
Cineraria Plants like it cold, but I think you might be over doing it. Move your Cineraria plant to a spot that’s a little warmer.
The best ways to prevent mold on Cineraria Plants is to quickly remove any dead leaves and flowers, keep water off of the leaves, don’t mist the plant or let your Cineraria sit in water for more than fifteen minutes.