Columbine is a perennial wildflower that commonly grows in woodland environments and typically isn’t well suited for growing indoors. A columbine indoor plant may not live long and will probably never bloom. If you want to try your hand at growing container columbine inside, though, the following tips may help.
Caring for Columbine Indoor Plants
Plant columbine seeds in a pot filled with a mixture of half potting mix and half garden soil, along with a generous handful of sand to promote good drainage. Refer to the seed packet for specifics. Place the pot in a warm room. You may need to use a heat mat to provide sufficient warmth for germination. When the seeds sprout, remove the pot from the heat tray and place in a bright window or under grow lights. Transplant the seedlings to large, sturdy pots when they reach heights of 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.). Keep in mind that columbine plants are good sized and can reach heights of 3 feet (1 m.). Put the pot in a sunny window. Keep an eye on the plant. If the columbine looks spindly and weak, it probably needs more sunlight. On the other hand, if it displays yellow or white blotches it may benefit from a little less light. Water as needed to keep the potting mix evenly moist but never soggy. Feed indoor columbine plants monthly, using a weak solution of water-soluble fertilizer. Indoor columbine plants are likely to live longer if you move them outdoors in spring.
Growing Columbine Houseplants from Cuttings
You may want to try growing indoor columbine plants by taking cuttings from existing plants in midsummer. Here’s how: Take 3 to 5 inch (8-13 cm.) cuttings from a healthy, mature columbine plant. Pinch blooms or buds and remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem. Plant the stem into a pot filled with moist potting mix. Cover the pot loosely with plastic and place it in bright, indirect light. Remove the plastic when the cuttings have rooted, generally in three to four weeks. At this point, put the pot in a sunny window, preferably facing south or east. Water indoor columbine plants when the top inch (2.5 cm.) of potting mix feels dry to the touch. Feed your columbine houseplant monthly beginning in early spring using a weak solution of water-soluble fertilizer.
