Tropical plants are among the most popular indoor gardening and plant growing choices today. Many are drought-tolerant and easily cared for. Most tropicals originate in areas where it is warm, but relatively dry with sandy soils. This makes them very easy to care for if temperature can be controlled (such as indoors).
Watering these plants is very easy, requiring only that you pay attention to how much or how little they need. Many will go, in the wild, for two months without water at all during the winter season in the tropical climes they come from. This means that you can allow the soil to dry before re-watering without fear of hurting the plant. Proper drainage is the key to success here. Sansevieria, for example, prefer dry soil between waterings.
Most tropical plants also do well with little or almost no fertilizer added to the soil they're in. While each species is different, most come from sandy, nutrient-poor soils and therefore do not do well in soils with heavy nutrients because the plant can over feed on them. Most tropicals instead prefer micro-nutrients, or very small quantities of nutrients rather than heavy, plant soils with lots of ingredients.
Hibiscus does will with a 30-10-10 mixture (30% nitrogen, 10% phosophorus and magnesium). Other plants will want much lighter mixtures of the three. Know what your plant requires so that you don't over or under feed it.
Also be aware of the sunlight the plants are exposed to. While it goes without saying that tropicals enjoy a lot of sunlight, smaller plants (especially) can easily overheat in the extremely humid micro-climate that's created when the plant is right up against the window. Watch your plants for signs of wilting or burning and remove them quickly. Rotating the plant regularly will also help.
There are many cold-tolerant tropicals as well. I know, sounds like an oxymoron, but it's true. Peace Lily or Spider Plant are examples of this. If you wish to plant these, be aware that they will do best in cooler conditions, so on the porch or patio is best or near a cold window in the winter time. Ficus varieties are also usually cold-tolerant as well, as another choice.
Some tropical plants even do well in low-light just like other large indoor tropicals, though these are more rare than the cold-tolerant varieties. Above all, know what kind of plant you have and what it prefers so you can accommodate it. This will lead to healthier, stronger plants that are more beautiful to look at and which will flower more readily.
Watering these plants is very easy, requiring only that you pay attention to how much or how little they need. Many will go, in the wild, for two months without water at all during the winter season in the tropical climes they come from. This means that you can allow the soil to dry before re-watering without fear of hurting the plant. Proper drainage is the key to success here. Sansevieria, for example, prefer dry soil between waterings.
Most tropical plants also do well with little or almost no fertilizer added to the soil they're in. While each species is different, most come from sandy, nutrient-poor soils and therefore do not do well in soils with heavy nutrients because the plant can over feed on them. Most tropicals instead prefer micro-nutrients, or very small quantities of nutrients rather than heavy, plant soils with lots of ingredients.
Hibiscus does will with a 30-10-10 mixture (30% nitrogen, 10% phosophorus and magnesium). Other plants will want much lighter mixtures of the three. Know what your plant requires so that you don't over or under feed it.
Also be aware of the sunlight the plants are exposed to. While it goes without saying that tropicals enjoy a lot of sunlight, smaller plants (especially) can easily overheat in the extremely humid micro-climate that's created when the plant is right up against the window. Watch your plants for signs of wilting or burning and remove them quickly. Rotating the plant regularly will also help.
There are many cold-tolerant tropicals as well. I know, sounds like an oxymoron, but it's true. Peace Lily or Spider Plant are examples of this. If you wish to plant these, be aware that they will do best in cooler conditions, so on the porch or patio is best or near a cold window in the winter time. Ficus varieties are also usually cold-tolerant as well, as another choice.
Some tropical plants even do well in low-light just like other large indoor tropicals, though these are more rare than the cold-tolerant varieties. Above all, know what kind of plant you have and what it prefers so you can accommodate it. This will lead to healthier, stronger plants that are more beautiful to look at and which will flower more readily.
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