Houseplants bring natural vitality to any interior space, and thanks to modern technology, uncommon varieties from around the world are available to anyone willing to flex their green thumb.
Tropical houseplants can bring color and exotic flair to your home, even if you live in a colder climate. While some tropical houseplants are best known for their eye-popping flowers, others are loved for their large, unusually patterned or variegated leaves. These 8 tropical plants can be grown indoors to bring a bit of the jungle or rainforest into your living room, bath, or bedroom.
Jade Plant
The Jade Plant requires lots of light, plenty of water at the right time, and produces thick oval-shaped leaves. Drainage is important since water sitting around the roots can lead to rot. Lastly, a dose of weak fertilizer a couple of times per month will pay nice dividends.
Aloe Vera
Well known for various health benefits especially to clean indoor air, Aloe Veras are very easy to grow and maintain as house plants. They should not be given too much direct sunlight. The Aloe Vera is a succulent which means that its leaves retain a lot of water, similar to cactus plants.
Orchids
Popular around the world, the hardest thing about growing Orchids is selecting the variety you want…there are hundreds of them in a wide array of colors! They like a good amount of light, high humidity and warm temperature of at least 60 F. Wait until AFTER the first bloom and then go ahead and re-pot the whole plant.
Dumb Cane
Dumb cane is almost ubiquitous as a houseplant, so it is easy to forget it is also a true tropical foliage plant. To grow this popular plant, use a fast-draining potting mix and fertilize with a 20-20-20 mix. Be sure its location is warm (over 60 degrees Fahrenheit) and draft-free.
Ficus
Ficus are fussy, yes, but a well-grown ficus is near the pinnacle of houseplants. Large, glossy, and imposing, ficus plants are well worth the effort. Ficus plants drop their leaves in drafty, cold conditions, and they don’t like to be moved. In fact, they absolutely require adequate light, warmth, and humidity. Ficus are also prey to pests such as mites, mealybugs, whiteflies, and aphids.
Philodendron
For indoor use, there are climbing varieties and the self-heading (non-climbing) types of philodendrons. Newer hybrids have been bred that mix the vigor and ease of the climbing varieties with the convenience of the self-heading varieties. It is easier than ever to grow them.