Garden Tea:

Tropical Plant Care in Temperate Zones

by Nick A. Rogers

The rich green foliage and vivid colors of tropical plants make them highly desired and sought after all over the world. Hibiscus, orchids, bougainvillea, and bromeliads are just a few of the most popular tropical plants. Note even their names sound exotic and alluring. Unfortunately, growing tropical plants outside of the tropical zone is a challenge and many novice gardeners are afraid to try them out. However, if you've always wanted an orchid or two, below are a few tips on creating beautiful tropical gardens.

Remember not all plants in a tropical garden have to be from the tropics. Choose some common plants that have lush foliage and look "tropical" as the main garden tenants. Then spice things up with bright notes of color, such as bougainvillea or paper hibiscus.

Instead of planting tropical plants directly in the ground, plant them in containers that can be moved inside when the weather turns chilly.

Also don’t be afraid to crowd tropical plants. For tropical appeal, cram as many plants as you can into a small area to mimic the overcrowded conditions of a rainforest or jungle.

Remember the climate requirements for the natural habitat of tropical plants. Most hail from the equator, where days and nights are equal in length. So the secret of getting dramatic blooming from your orchids, lilies, hibiscus, and bougainvillea is to mimic tropical seasonal variations.

Bougainvillea, for example, bloom best during the moist rainy season, which falls after a seasonal drought, or dry season. To force blooms, trick the plant into thinking it's still in the tropical zone . Refrain from watering for 4-6 weeks while providing lots of sunlight. When the six weeks are up, go back to a regular watering schedule.

Bougainvilleas are actually jungle vines. The bright flowers aren’t true flowers, but leave bracts. They do very well in outdoor gardens in summer, but they absolutely must be protected or brought inside before the first frost.

Hanging baskets are a great way to grow bougainvillea and hibiscus, which is another popular hanging tropical plant. Both plants are vines and will spill over the sides of the basket or hanging pot. Placing the baskets in a location that gets at least five full hours of sun a day will promote the best blooming.

Choose plants in complementary colors and also use foliage colors as dramatic accents. Tropical plants are some of the world's most vibrantly colored plants. There are so many variations of the color green, like vivid green of jades and palm plants, the silvery green of palm grass, or the violet-tinged leaves of bromeliads. Make use of the shadings and hues of foliage to craft stunning contrasts of texture and color.

Water when dry... and ONLY when dry. Most tropical plants require lots of water during their growing season, but they will suffer greatly if they’re overwatered. Employ soil mixtures which drain well, and check soil moisture often. If the soil appears dry, water.

And of course move indoors before the first frost. As few as a couple hours of frost temperature is more than enough to kill most tropical plants. It would be great if you had a greenhouse, but hey, you don't have to tell Nicky Rogers that you live in the real world. So if you don’t have a greenhouse, you'll have to bring your little tropical buddies indoors before the first frost.

Finally, here's a short list of tropicals that do especially well in more temperate settings: these are bromeliads like the pineapple, hibiscus, plumeria, and bougainvillea.