Tropical or indoor plants thrive during the long warm days of summer but they are rarely noticed.
It is a time when the outside world is bright, colorful and inviting. People spend less time indoors taking advantage of the warm outside weather when they can.
Many indoor plants can be taken outside for the summer and placed on a patio or balcony where they thrive.
It is a matter of knowing the plant, timing and placement.
Before moving a plant outside for the summer, do research to see where the plant grows in the wild.
Many of the more popular house plants grow in the understory of tropical areas.
This means the plants will do best in a shady or semi-shady area.
Placing the plants in areas where they are protected from the hot mid-day or evening sun is important.
Timing is everything.
Place the plant out too early and it will be damaged by the cold weather or cool nights.
If it is placed out late in the season it will take more time to adapt to the heat. There is a large difference from the climate within a house to that outside.
Ease the plant’s transition allowing it to be come accustom to the change slowly.
Take the plants outside for a few hours the morning the first day and bring them back inside. Next day extend the time outside by an hour or so.
Keep increasing the time the plants are outside until they can be left for the summer.
Tropicals for the patio have always been available at the larger garden centers.
Three popular ones are Mandeville, Hibiscus, Bougainvillea and Banana.
Mandeville’s are vines that are best supported by a trellis within the pot.
They can be allowed to continue to grow upwards but pruning back top growth will encourage the plant to produce side shoots and become bushier.
Mandeville plants should be placed in an area that gets lots of bright sunlight.
Direct sunlight during the heat of the day will burn the leaves.
Water the plant well but allow it to become dry between watering.
The plant likes well drained soil.
Tropical Hibiscus, not to be confused with the varieties that thrive outside in slightly warmer climates, make great specimens on the patio.
Hibiscuses are often sold as standards, a ball of leaves at the top of a long stem.
This pruning method adds a focal point. Flowers are usually available in shades and combinations of yellow, pink, orange and red.
Pruning back last years growth on the hibiscus will encourage more new growth and more flowers. The plant sets flowers on new growth.
Hibiscus plants thrive in bright sunlight and warm temperatures.
Bougainvillea plants are at home in the full sun of a tropical climate.
They need a warm location that will retain the heat at night as they dislike temperatures below 16 degrees C (60 F ) When the plants are thriving they will produce bright strays of pink, purple or white flowers.
Bougainvillea plants are vines with sharp thorns.
Prune them back to keep them manageable.
To insure the most growth and flower production pot all these patio plants in slightly small pots containing well drained soil.
A good supply of nutrients is always important during the growing months.
Use a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus to help keep the plant in bloom.
Banana plants are grown for their large tropical foliage.
These plants love the full sun and can provide shade for other plants.
Banana trees are heavy feeders and need to be fertilizer regularly.
Tropical is a great touch to the patio or balcony.
Enjoy it when we can.
Linda Tomlinson is a horticulturalist that lives near Rocky Mountain house. She can be reached at www.igardencanada.com or your_garden@hotmail.com