Ahh, the Tropical Plants. They can be a challenge to grow, but the rewards are really great. There are many plants that could be classed as tropical. To name a few that I have would be the Hibiscus, Ti Plants, and the Coconut Palm trees. There are also plants that bare fruit, like the Banana trees, Avocado, Papaya, and Lemon Trees.
The next time you buy an avocado, a papaya, or lemon, orange, or any other fruit, take the seeds and plant them. I have done this with the papaya, and now I am proud to say that I have papaya growing for me. I took the seed from an avocado and placed it "pointed end down" into some soil. It has now sprouted and I have an avocado tree started. I have done the same with the lemon and oranges. As for the banana, I got a keiki(baby) from a friend and now my collection of banana trees has grown. As the banana tree ages it produces keikis (or baby plants). Once they have good roots, you can remove them from the parent plant for repotting.
Here is another thing for you to try. The next time that you purchase a Pineapple, try this. Cut the top off of the pineapple and scrape out the remaining fruit that is inside. You could let it dry for a few days too. Then just plant the top of that pineapple in some potting soil and see what happens. Yes, you will have pineapple plants growing for you. I have started many pineapples this way. Just make sure that they get lots of water and a lot of sunshine. I can hardly wait for my first pineapple fruit to appear for me. I will let you know how the progress goes on them.
Watering of tropical plants is a little tricky. The soil should be kept moist at all times, but not soggy. A rule of thumb is to place your finger down into the soil about knuckle deep. If it feels dry, then it is time to water. Remember that it rains a lot in the tropics, so they will want more water than the average house plants. During the winter it may be necessary to water more often. Humidity is another important thing. If it is too dry that is bad for the plants. You can spray mist them a couple times a day and that will help. You could also have a humidifier running to add humidity to the plants.
I have been growing tropical plants for many years now. I have found that they can survive indoors. I do take them out during the warm summer months, but bring them back inside during the long cold winters. The natural rainfall is great for them and also the sunlight and fresh air. It seems that plants summering outside is more natural and it refreshes your plants and they will be very happy.
A flowering plants like the hibiscus requires a lot of light for them to bloom. If they do not get adequate light, they do produce leaves and still will grow well, however, they do need lots of bright light for them to bloom. You should also give them a "hair cut" to keep the hibiscus from getting too lanky. If you want your plants to stay in a bush form, you must trim them at least once a year. I do this in the springtime, so they have ample time for regrowth. Another beautiful and very fragrant plant is the Plumeria.
These beauties need lots of sunshine for them to bloom. They are actually a tree, and can grow very large. However, the plants that you have in pots will take quite a while to get to this size. I have several plumeria, and they have bloomed for me. What a wonderful smell they have. It takes you back to the tropics to smell these beautiful blossoms. If you have ever had a lei made from the plumeria, the perfume will once again take you back to that special time.
You can purchase "canes" of this beauty. I get them and plant them in my regular potting soil, but I do add a little sand and extra perilite. The plumeria come in different colors. You can get the traditional white with yellow centers, pink and all white. I prefer the white with the yellow centers, because they are used so much in the hawaiian lei's. I water to keep them moist, and a misting of water during the winter time is a real good idea. During the summer months put them outdoors for their summer time in the sunshine. Fertilize only during the leaf growing stage, and be sure to watch for those dreaded "Spider Mites". They can be a real hazard to your plumeria as well as your other tropical plants.
If you do get spider mites, don't panic! You can purchase a product that I use called "Insecticidal Soap". Mix according to manufacturers directions. You will need to mist them today, then again in one week, and the following week. You should be rid of these pesky critters then. Always remember that they can return, so keep that in mind. Also, when the leaves start to fall from the canes, this is a normal process. So, if there is no sign of the spider mites, then not to worry.
There are many tropical plants that you can grow. I have others, like the Coconut Palm, Butterfly Palm, and Fan Palm. With time and some patience you too can grow these beautiful tropical plants. The Coconut Palm does require a lot of watering. Remember that these are tropical plants and they do need to be kept moist, but not soggy.
I bought my Coconut Palm while on holiday in the Hawaiian Islands. I tried growing three of them. The first two were failures. They failed because of the watering, and you "must" watch out for the spider mites. They are killers of the Coconut Palm, as well as other tropical plants. Once again, by using the "Insecticidal Soap" you can control the spider mites. Another thing is to keep the soil moist. I also found that I changed my soil mixture. I use part soil, part sand and I also broke up some lava rock that I purchased from the nursery. It can be broken up into pieces about the size of a quarter. This helps in the airation of the soil. This seems to be an important part of the tropical plants. I am happy to say that this solved my problems with trying to grow the coconut palm. My coconut palm is now about 3 feet tall. The sprout was about 3" tall when I brought it home. You must buy a sprouted coconut, because the ones that we have at the store will not work. They have been dried out and the husk has been removed. The husk must still be on the coconut. The "Maui Plantation" is a good place to purchase a sprouted coconut.
I have also started slips of both Red Ginger, and the White Ginger plants. Growing these plants requires lots of water and plenty of sunshine. I have potted these slips in regular potting soil, along with some sand and perilite. I brought them home in April and they are aleady 6" tall. As I get further into this project, I will let you know more about these tropical beauties.
Another plant that I brought back with me is the Hapu Fern. I have potted this bulb in regular potting soil, along with sand and some lava rock for good airation. It has already sent out a frond. So, this is another plant that I will keep you updated on.
The Butterfly Palm and the Fan Palms are available for us at our local nursuries. Remember that water is a must for tropical plants, and of course, watch for the pesky spider mites. I am sure that you will enjoy growing these beautiful plants. I know that I do, and they do add so much to your home. I use them on my deck in the summertime, and they do add a tropical touch to your decor.
The Ti Plant is a wonderful plant to grow. You must start them from pieces of the cane. I purchased my cane starts from The Maui Plantation but there are other sources to get them.
First, remove the wax from the ends of the cane, and place them in a shallow tray of water. Leave them there until roots start to form on the bottom side of the cane. Once the roots appear, pot them in regular potting soil. Lay them length wise in the soil about half way onto the cane. The sprouts of leaves will soon start to appear. If you plant the canes upright, you will only have one sprout of leaves. So planting the cane lengthwise it will produce several sprouts of leaves. Keep the soil moist at all times and do not put young plants into the direct sunlight. Older plants can tolerate the sun much better. Remember to watch for the spider mites. They also like the tender ti leaves. The Ti-Plant is known for many things in the tropics. One is that it is said to bring "good luck". That would be a nice additon for your plant collection.
