Gardeners love to grow flowers during the growing season but for many it ends with the first freeze. With cold temperatures lasting 5 months or longer in some places it can seem like an eternity for those that love to grow flowers. There is an alternative though: grow an indoor flower garden! Even for the inexperienced person if you follow the steps outlined below you'll have some beautiful plants to put out in the garden come spring and have a lot of fun doing it.

1. Miniature Roses

Miniature roses can be grown in small spaces (4″-8″ pots) and will bloom continuously if the conditions are good. They come in various sizes so select one that is small enough to fit in your space. They need 6-8 hours of sunlight; Finding a window that faces south is the optimum location. They also need temperatures above 60 degrees, which usually isn't a problem indoors. For best results keep the soil fertilized and moist to promote blooming. Clip the old blooms back to encourage new blooms.

2. Impatiens

These are one of the easiest plants to grow because they require little sunlight. Impatiens are grown outdoors in very average soils with filtered or partial light which is very similar to most indoor settings. Make sure that if you are transplanting your Impatiens from outside that you are planting them is fresh potting mix. Pick a spot where they can get several hours of indirect sunlight. Be careful not to over water as the stems will begin to weaken. Fertilize regularly to encourage blooming.

3. Hibiscus

Growing Hibiscus indoors is great if you have good sunlight. If you are bringing them from outside you may want to hose the stems and leaves down to remove dirt and insects. Also, remove any old blooms and trim back to within 6″ of the main stems. Be careful not to over water as insects tend to live in moist soil. Be sure and let the pots dry out completely in between waterings. There are several great varieties of hibiscus to choose from with lots of different colors and even double blooms. Finding a place in the house with good light is key.

4. Geraniums

Indoor Geraniums are great because they can tolerate full sun or a partially shaded environment. The more sun the better for flower production. Also, don't over water as this can lead to fungal growth with Geraniums. Geraniums store a lot of water in the stems so you can get away with letting them dry out in between waterings. Fertilize regularly for the best flower production.

5. Begonias

Grwowing Begonias indoors are great because they are well suited for the indirect lighting that most homes provide. Begonias do well in hanging baskets because of their trailers and usually being raised off of the ground provides some indirect light if placed near a window. Begonias need the soil to be moist but not soaked. Be sure and not let the soil get dried out between waterings as this can lead to stress on the plant. If you keep the dead flowers pinched off they will continue to bloom for months on end.

All of these flowers listed here are cheap and provide great color through out the winter months. A few other flowers to consider are listed below: African Violets, Christmas Cactus, Azaleas, Paperwhites (Tazetta narcissus)and Amaryllis. All it takes is a little time and effort and you'll have a great source of enjoyment all witner long!