Primroses (Primula spp.) brighten shelves in nurseries and garden centers during the winter months, and the little pots of colorful flowers are hard to resist. They make excellent indoor plants, but you should think of them as a short-term investment. They last only a few weeks to a few months indoors.
Of the 425 or so species of primroses, only four make good indoor plants. The inexpensive little plants that most people think of as primroses are Primula acaulis hybrids. They have colorful flowers held on short stems, close to the foliage, and often have eyes of contrasting colors. English primrose (Primula polyantha), fairy primrose (Primula malacoides) and German primrose (Primula obconica) have longer stems, and the flowers sit well above the low-growing foliage. The blooms on these species aren't always as showy as those on the hybrids, but they generally last longer.
Primroses last a few weeks to a few months indoors. Once they finish their bloom cycle, they begin to decline. You might have success transplanting them outdoors in spring if you live in an area where summers aren't too hot. Give them a location with moist, well-drained soil and partial shade. If they manage to struggle through their first season, they will come back stronger the following year. Primroses are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. German primroses are an exception and may live for a few years indoors. Repot them into a slightly larger pot each fall.
Place primulas near a sunny window where they can receive bright but indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight causes the leaf margins to turn brown. They need temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and prefer the cooler end of the temperature range. If blossoms fall off after only a couple of days, try moving the plant to a cooler room at night. Primrose foliage quickly loses moisture and wilts when placed near air registers or drafts.
Primulas absorb a lot of water and need soil that is constantly moist. Check the soil every couple of days to make sure that it is moist at a depth of 1 inch. There is no need to fertilize if you plan to discard the plant when the flowers are spent. If you want to try transplanting it outdoors, feed the plant every two weeks with one-quarter- to one-half-strength liquid fertilizer. Deadhead the blossoms regularly. The flowers turn a darker color as they age, and you can use the color change to determine which flowers should be removed.
- The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual; Barbara Pleasant
- Indoor Plants; Jane Courtier, et al.
- The Perennial Care Manual; Nancy J. Ondra
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