Tropical Plant Care
One of the main reasons for popularity of tropical plants next to their highly decorative appearance is the fact that they thrive with minimal care. In fact, some tropical plants require almost neglect to thrive. On the other hand, proper tropical plant care depends on several factors, in the first place the species you have and where you keep them – indoor and outdoor.
Tropical plants are commonly held indoors but there are several species that can be grown outside all year long. It may seem impossible for a tropical plant to survive the snow and frost but it is possible to find species that do. However, most people who keep tropical plants outdoors typically move them indoors during the winter and bring them outdoors again when the the danger of the frost is over. Care of tropical plants that are grown outside varies greatly from one plant to another but most of them require sunny areas and regular watering although there are some species that require shade or partial shade to thrive. For that reason you should inform yourself about tropical plant care for each species. The necessary information are found on the labels that come with the plant. If you do not notice any plant care sheet when buying it, ask the florist for proper plant care. In case the plant was a gift by your friend or neighbour, ask him or her how to care for that plant properly and be sure not to forget to ask whether it is frost-tolerant.
As already mentioned earlier, outdoor tropical plants that are not cold-resistant need to be either protected somehow from the cold or brought indoors before frost. If you decide for the latter option, be sure to bring your plants indoors before the first frost but do not immediately place them in a dark area such as garage or basement. Put them in a shaded place about two weeks before you plan to move them inside to allow them to get used to lower amount of light. At the same time you should also withdraw watering. They are dormant during the winter and need watering only once a month or once every two months. Do not bring them outside until there is still a danger of frost.
Most tropical plants that are kept as houseplants are easy to care for. They should be provided large enough (but not too large) pot and soil that is specially made for tropical plants. The humus-rich soil can be too heavy for tropical plants because they grow best in nutrient-poor and sandy soil. They typically do not require frequent watering and rarely need to be provided any special fertilizers. Keep in mind, however, that the tap water is too cold for your plants. It is recommendable to leave the water standing in the watering can for a while to warm up to the room temperature. Also, keep in mind that most tropical plants are dormant during the winter and that they do not need as much watering.