Zone 5 has a short growing season. The frost-free period is also very short because it starts from early June to early September. The last frost date is in early May and 1st frost date is in mid-October.
In zone 5 you can experience cold winters and mild summers. The minimum temperature in winter is between -10 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
In this article, we are going to tell you about the plants that you can easily grow indoors if you are living in zone 5. You can select the plants according to your choice.
1- PHLOX
You can grow creeping phlox as a houseplant. Moist soil is needed for the healthy growth of indoor phlox plants. When you grow this plant in pots they need an inch of water a week.
You can check the surface of the soil with the help of your finger. If it feels dry it means it is time to water your phlox plants. For fertilizing this plant you can use 10-10-10 granular fertilizer or compost.
When your phlox plants produce flowers and buds the second time then this is the right time of fertilizing them. But if you are growing creeping varieties then there is no need for fertilizing them the second time because they start blooming after being planted.
Light is an important factor in the growth of any plant so you should place the pots of phlox plants near a south-facing window where they have maximum sunlight.
You can’t grow tall phlox plants indoors because they need a period of dormancy and the life cycle of the annual phlox is very short.
2- BEE BALM
You can successfully grow bee balm as a houseplant. But you have to put your container or pot
in a location where it gets the required light. You can also use artificial light if you don’t have a sunny window in your home for your favorite plants.
The pot you are using for growing this plant must have drainage holes at the bottom. Drainage is essential for the growth of healthier plants. Fill your pot with the high-quality potting mix so your bee balm plant thrives well.
Keep the soil moist by regular watering. Bee balm plants need water an inch below the surface of the soil. You can easily check the moisture level of the soil with the help of your finger.
Bee balms are not heavy feeders; they are happy if you mix compost every spring to provide basic nutrients.
3- SEDUM
Sedum plants eye-catching texture and college with colorful flowers this is a low-maintenance house plant of zone 5. It is suggested that you should choose the right variety for growing as an indoor plant.
Sedum morganianum is the right indoor variety as a hanging plant. Showy stonecrop is another variety that produces pink flowers; the maximum height can be 18 inches.
Well-drained soil is needed for growing sedum plants. It is better to use succulent formula potting mix. You can also make perfect soil by mixing two parts of potting mix, two parts of peat moss, two parts of sand, and one part of perlite or charcoal.
There is no need for adding fertilizers to sedum plants. But during the growing season, you can add a monthly application of liquid fertilizer, it works best.
Light plays an important role in the growth of sedum plants. You should place your pot near a southwest or east-facing window where your plant receives 6 hours of sunlight daily.
If you don’t have a sunny spot for your plants then you can use artificial light for this purpose. You can check the soil with the help of your finger if it feels dry it means this is the time to water your plants.
4- LAVENDER
It is not easy to grow lavender inside your home but if you fulfill all the requirements of this plant then it can thrive well as a houseplant. Insufficient sunlight is a big problem in the way of healthy growth of lavender plants.
You can also use artificial lights so they can get enough light for their growth. You should use the right size of the pot, the size of the pot is larger than the size of the root ball of the plant.
When the roots of the plant get ample space they absorb moisture and nutrients easily. Make sure the pot you are using must have drainage holes at the bottom so your plants will be protected from root rot.
Root rot can become the reason for the death of your plant. At the bottom of the pot, you should apply one or two inches of limestone gravel because lavender plants love lean soil.
Check the soil if it is dry then you should water your lavender plants. If you are using a clay pot then it can easily lose moisture from the soil so it will protect your plant from root rot.
5- HOSTAS
It is possible to grow hostas as a houseplant because it doesn’t require direct sunlight. This plant comes in different colors, sizes, and shapes with its lush foliage and dedicated flowers.
The texture of the foliage is very beautiful with prominent veins. The color of the flowers can be blue, white or purple. It is better to use a large pot or container for growing hostas so the roots of the plant can get ample space and easily develop.
For filling the pot or container you must use rich soil that has organic materials. This plant is a heavy feeder so you must add slow-release fertilizer regularly.
The place where your pot or container gets indirect light is a perfect location. Be careful direct light can burn the leaves of this plant.
6- GERANIUM
If geranium plants receive enough light then they will produce flowers continuously. They are hanging and vining cultivators are available. The best varieties of geranium are common geranium, Ivy leafed geraniums, and Martha Washington geranium.
You can easily grow geraniums in tubs, window boxes, hanging baskets, and large pots or containers. What you are using must have drainage holes at the bottom and fill them with high-quality potting mix.
A high-quality potting mix contains organic matter, peat moss, and perlite that is good for the healthy growth of your geranium plants. You should examine the surface of the soil regularly if it has enough moisture then there is no need to water the plants.
If you feel the soil is dry then water your plant. Slow-release fertilizer is best for feeding your geranium plants. The best time for fertilizing geranium is from March to October.
If you don’t have any spots in your home then you can arrange artificial light for geranium plants. You should place your geranium pots 12 inches beneath a 40-watt fluorescent love bulb.
The suitable daytime temperature for growing geranium is between 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, the ideal temperature should be 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Overwatering and high humidity are not good for your geranium plants.
7- HYDRANGEAS
You can easily grow hydrangeas as a houseplant. It only needs your proper care and patience. You can’t grow every variety of hydrangeas indoors.
You should choose hydrangea macrophylla for growing indoors. It comes in different colors with rich green leaves. This plant produces blooms for months so they look very beautiful if you place them in your living room or drawing room.
Bright and indirect light is suitable for growing hydrangea plants. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves of the plant so the east-facing window is best for keeping your pot.
The pot you are using for hydrangea plants must have drainage holes at the bottom and you should fill it with high-quality, well-drained, and acidic soil.
The drainage holes will protect your plants from root rot and fungal diseases. Whenever you feel the soil is dry then water your hydrangeas plant.
8- YARROW
If you arrange maximum sunlight for the yarrow plant then it will thrive well in your house. If you want to grow it as a houseplant then arrange an artificial satellite or choose a sunny window.
Well-drained soil is best for growing yarrow plants in the pot. Wet soil can cause root rot so you should avoid overwatering. This is a perennial plant that can tolerate drought.
The flowers of this plant can be yellow, pink, red, and white. You can see the blooms in late spring to early summer. The Yarrow plant doesn’t need regular fertilizer.
9- CORAL BELLS
Medium to bright indirect light is perfect for growing coral bells as an indoor plant. Small flowers and lovely leaves make this plant an ideal house plant. The flowers of this plant come in white, pink, dark red, and light coral.
The heart-shaped flowers look beautiful with medium to large leaves. Coral bells produce beautiful flowers from late spring to early summer. The best time to plant coral bells in pots is during the springtime.
The container you are using must have drainage holes at the bottom. Make sure the container or pot is wider than the root ball of the plant so the roots can develop easily.
Fill your pot with a high-quality potting mix that contains organic matter. You can also combine manure or compost to make the soil richer. Keep the soil moist by regular watering but avoid overwatering because it can affect your plant from root rot or fungal diseases.
You should apply a slow-release fertilizer to fulfill the nutrient requirement of coral bells. Water-soluble fertilizer also works best.
10- CORNFLOWERS
Cornflowers can easily be grown both indoors and outdoors. The flowers of this plant have fringed petals and gray-green leaves. For growing cornflowers, you should choose a dwarf variety. The best time for planting cornflowers is in the cool season.
If cornflowers receive enough sunlight then they will produce a bloom. After planting for 85 to 95 days this plant starts producing flowers. The suitable temperature should be between 15 to 26 degrees centigrade.
You should choose a sunny spot in your home. If you don’t have a sunny window then you can place your pots beneath the artificial right. Slightly alkaline soil is suitable for growing cornflowers.
Make sure your plants receive water on time it will keep them healthy. Keep the soil moist but not soggy because cornflowers don’t like wet feet.