Just as red is the colour of Valentine’s day, so pink is the colour most associated with Mother’s Day. For good reason. Pink evokes emotions of warmth, security, and comfort, all of which we associate with being mothered and mothering.
Experts have also pointed out that pink is usually the first colour we are exposed to in infancy and it stays with us throughout our lives. https://artfilemagazine.com/what-colors-make-pink/
What’s astounding is that there are 129 different shades of pink. Besides the most common shades of baby pink, bright pink, salmon, coral, rose and magenta there are shades that tickle the imagination like bubble-gum pink, flamingo pink, cherry blossom pink, watermelon pink, lemonade and ballet slipper. https://www.color-meanings.com/shades-of-pink-color-names-html-hex-rgb-codes/
If you are planning to treat mum to a beautiful indoor flowering plant, take a closer look at the different pink flowers on offer and choose a pink that you think will ‘speak’ to her.
Baby Pink
Baby pink is softest of the pink shades, that makes one think of cuddly baby blankets. If your mum is also a beloved granny who dotes on her grandchildren, chances are this colour will evoke fond memories for her.
Curcuma ‘Sweet’ has pine-cone shaped flowers that rise about lush green leaves. Being a tropical plant, it needs a warm room with bright light. Let the soil slightly dry out before watering and add a little liquid plant food to the water once every two weeks. It goes dormant after flowering and the leaves die down. Stop watering and keep the pot in a cool place. In spring bring it out onto warm windowsill, water, and feed for a new flush of flowers.
Pastel pink
This light, warm pink may be associated with young children but it is also one of the most popular shades of pink because of its warmth. Research has found that using pink, in limited quantities, has a calming effect too, which makes Calathea ‘Jessie’ a perfect décor plant for the home. Place it in a position that receives bright light in a warm, humid room. Keep the soil moist, but don’t over water and encourage healthy new leaves by feeding with a liquid fertiliser once a month.
Hot pink
Hot pink is an attention grabber, and like other intense pink shades it exudes an energy that extroverts can relate to. It’s also a good indoor colour for winter, warming up neutral or earthy indoor colour schemes.
What could be more elegant than a Phalaenopsis orchid in these colours. It blooms for up to three months if placed in a position that receives plenty of bright, indirect light. All it needs is a quarter of a cup of water once a week. If left for longer, or if you forget to water it, put the plant in a basin of tepid water overnight, drain and put it back into its position.
Flamingo pink
This colour has been described as a mix of bright baby pink and salmon. It almost perfectly matches the darker orange pink of flamingos plumage, necks or legs, depending on their diet. And here’s an interesting fact: Did you know that a group of flamingos is called a flamboyance?
Another interesting fact is that the common name for anthurium is flamingo flower. It’s one of the few flowering house plants that blooms all year round. Plants like bright light and a warm room that is not draughty. Let the soil dry out moderately between watering. Wipe the leaves to keep them glossy and snip off dead flowers.
Neon Pink
Lovers of bright, happy colours are drawn to neon pink like bees to honey. It seems as if this colour has taken the world by storm. Definitely for the young at heart. Look carefully and you will see a darker tone, almost red, at the heart of the colour.
Cyclamen come in many shades of pink, but it’s the neon pink flowers that stand out. With its heart-shaped leaves and butterfly like blooms, this indoor plant couldn’t be more feminine. Cyclamen is the ideal winter indoor plant that survives cool temperatures but needs bright light. Keep the soil moist but don’t over water as the roots rot easily.
Rouge pink
This dark pink has a purple hue. Nothing soft or cuddly about this pink. It is sophisticated and elegant, a trendy colour that’s popular as a lipstick shade.
Zantedeschia (also called Calla lilies) are equally elegant, with their petite trumpet-shaped flowers rising out of lush green leaves. Zants do best with bright light and can take early morning sun. Water the plants as soon as the soil’s surface is slightly dry. Normal room humidity is acceptable.
Coral pink
Coral is close to salmon pink but ages to a softer dusty shade of pink, giving it a gentle, old world charm. Interestingly, this pink shade was named in the 1500s making it one of the oldest named pink colours.
The flowers of tuberous begonias also have that retro, romantic look. They thrive in a warm, bright room and can be enjoyed as an indoor flower arrangement for two to three months. Keep the soil moist (not soggy or they rot). Avoid wetting the leaves. Feed with a liquid fertiliser once a month and remove dead flowers.
Cameo Pink
The vintage look has a charm all of its own; otherworldly, and even slightly eccentric. This muted, dusky shade of purplish pink earned its name for its resemblance to the pink base of old cameo jewellery.
Those dusky pink shades are found in this mini tradescantia, with its tiny pink and lime-green leaves carried on short, tight stems that form a dense and round plant, that is topiary-like in appearance. Display it in a position that receives bright indoor light but not direct sun. Trim if necessary to keep it in shape. Water when the soil feels moderately dry, as it prefers under watering to over watering.
Text: Alice Coetzee.
