Home and Living

Many a hobby gardener is wooed by the cornucopia of colors and scents that tropical flowers and even shrubs give off. They are deliciously different, and so it is not surprise that many vie for an opportunity to include specimen of this beautiful flora in their landscape or indoor gardens. Unfortunately, many hobby gardeners stand by helplessly as the gorgeous blooms begin to droop and plants simply appear to wither away. After all, tropical plants cannot possibly grow in cold climates, can they?

Plants that are native to the tropical portions of the world are usually accustomed to a tropical climate, which consists of warm temperatures year round. In addition to the warmth that is so quickly associated with the tropical climate, there is the moisture, which also appears to be year round. For this reason, many hobby gardeners have adopted the following tips and tricks to successfully growing tropical plants in decidedly non-tropical climates:

• Buy carefully from reputable dealers. Sometimes, this might mean purchasing your plants over the Internet and via mail order. While many garden supply stores may have beautiful specimens for sale, keep in mind that oftentimes they are primed to look appealing, and may not be as healthy as you would expect. How often would you purchase a plant that has roots hanging out of its container? Yet this is exactly the way an orchid, for example, ought to be purchased! Do your homework on the telltale signs of a healthy plant and do not be afraid to sniff the soil, look at the underside of leaves, or even move a little topsoil around while looking for mold or moss.
• Consider growing the plant in a container. Depending on your climate zone, you want the plant to be easily movable to protect it from winter weather, storms, heavy rainfall, and any other natural peril that may destroy it.
• Evaluate your environment. Because of the need for a lot of humidity and sunlight, hobby gardeners tend to leave their tropical plants in full sunlight and over-water regularly. The result is a plant that is burnt on top, and rotting from the bottom. While it is true that tropical plants may be able to stand a lot of sunlight, they also need some shade, and some species burn quickly and easily. Usually, twelve to fourteen hours of sunlight (not direct, scorching desert sun) are required to allow the plant to grow and produce its flowers. If you are keeping your plants primarily inside, you may wish to invest in some growing lights that will keep your tropical plants happy. Additionally, while moisture is of great concern, these plants do not like to get “wet feet” and therefore standing water should be avoided. Instead, water them often, but allow the excess water to drain away. You may wish to invest in a spray bottle that you can turn to “mist” to frequently mist your plants.
• If you live in extremely cold climates yet still wish to have the beauty of tropical plants in your home, consider building an indoor greenhouse. Several are commercially available, but for the do-it-yourselfers, there are many instructions available on how to make a greenhouse out of an old aquarium. Usually these aquariums may be purchases very cheaply from pet supply shops. Just ask if they have any “leakers” they are willing to sell, and usually you can get the tank and a hood for next to nothing.
• Once you have your plants in good, well-draining soil, and they are growing nicely, you will want to fertilize. Less is more! Hobby gardeners tend to over-fertilize their tropical plants to give them an extra edge since they are supposedly deprived of their original habitat. Over-fertilizing, just like over-watering, needs to be avoided. Purchase a commercial fertilizer that is specifically formulated for tropical plants and follow the directions on the package. If you cannot find any, go ahead and use a high quality organic fertilizer, which you dilute. Once the plants seem to do ok on that, you may wish to cut back on the dilution and feed them some stronger stuff.

As you can see, where there is a will, there is a way to grow the most beautiful tropical plants in climates other than the tropics!