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It’s a familiar story. Boy meets girl. Boy sends girl a dozen red roses. Roses wilt within a week.

For less money, why not buy a houseplant this February with gorgeous blossoms or leaves to brighten Valentine’s Day and to enjoy for a little longer?

Heart-shaped leaves

Cyclamen is the perfect indoor plant for your sweetheart. It has dark green heart-shaped leaves. With flowers in white, pink or red, it is a perfect gift for an acquaintance, friend or lover.

Cyclamen needs bright light with temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees. The soil must be moist; however, water should not get down in the crown of the plant. The plants will bloom for several weeks and then are typically discarded after flowering.

Heart-shaped leaves and “flowers”

A plant with red waxy heart-shaped flowerlike spathes (a modified leaf that shields small flowers) is anthurium (Anthurium scherzerianum and A. andraeanum), sometimes called flamingo flower. The spathes can last up to eight weeks and may be clipped off when they’re spent.

Anthurium needs bright indirect light and well-drained soil. If your home has dry air, you may want to mist your plant regularly. Keep the soil evenly moist. Overwatering causes yellow leaves, but soil that is too dry leads to leaf tip burn.

Anthurium looks similar to the more familiar peace lily (Spathiphyllum). Both are native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.

Bright-flowering stalks

Bromeliads are tropical plants in the pineapple family, which also includes Spanish moss. Several in this species are wonderful indoor ornamental plants with beautiful foliage and striking flowering stalks, some in magenta and scarlet, which may last for months. Vriesea flammea has red flowers and is recommended for beginning growers.

Bromeliads need strong light and 70 degree temperatures during the day. They have a natural water reservoir that’s formed by their leaves, called a tank. Overwatering may lead to root rot. It is not necessary to fertilize them.

You may keep bromeliads a year or two after blooming. Remove the bloom to encourage the growth of “pups” near the base of the plant. When the pup is a third the size of the parent (ideally in the spring), use sterile scissors or a knife to divide the pup away from the parent.

Plant the pup in sphagnum moss mix or any well-draining medium. Then the original bromeliad plant can be discarded, but you will be left with a copy to begin the cycle again.

Red leaves

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) is like a good boyfriend: tough, good-looking and tolerant. It has low water, light and temperature requirements. It can withstand an air-conditioned home. Ideally its soil should stay consistently moist to avoid root rot.

Many species have white or silvery markings on the foliage; however, ‘Red Edge’ has dark green leaves flushed with bright red or pink borders and veins.

Another great choice for Valentine’s Day is the aptly named ‘Red Valentine’, which has leaves with rose-pink splashed with dark green.

These foliage plants keep their color and will look good for years with the right care.

Houseplant care

Wiping the leaves off with water periodically will remove any dust and insects. Inspect the underside of leaves for scale, mites, aphids and mealybugs monthly. Prune off heavily infested leaves, and spray insecticidal soap to be rid of insect infestations.

Note: Handling cyclamen, anthurium, peace lily and Chinese evergreen may cause skin or eye irritation. Do not ingest.

Several publications are available online through the Nebraska Extension at the University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture & Natural Resources under “Houseplants”: lancaster.unl.edu/hort/houseplants.shtml.

Lela Martin is a Master Gardener with the Chesterfield County office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension. She was recently recognized for over 1,000 hours of volunteer service.