Tropical Foliage Plants: A Grower's Guide

Ficus plants are popular tropical foliage plants.

Tropical foliage plants have leaves with a shape, texture or color that stands out when compared to domestic or native plants. Because they are native to tropical regions where temperatures are warm and the forest is thick, many tropical foliage plants are well suited for indoor growing in low-light conditions. Several species of tropical foliage plants make good houseplants that are simple to cultivate when provided with proper environmental conditions and care.

Light

Providing enough light to tropical foliage plants is essential for keeping them healthy. Like all plants, tropical foliage plants need sunlight to metabolize nutrients from the soil and grow. Many tropical foliage plants, such as those in the Draceana family, have low lighting requirements and can develop healthily with just a few hours of direct sunlight daily. Other plants, such as weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) require full sunlight in a bright room in order to grow.

Watering

A watering regimen tailored to the species you are growing is important when growing tropical plants. Over-watering is one of the most common causes of tropical plant mortality, according to Garden Gallery. How much and how frequently you water your tropical foliage plant varies by species, soil type and location in your home. A large ficus tree in full sunlight will require more watering than a small tropical fern growing in indirect sunlight. Yellowing leaves may be a sign of too little water, but it can also be a symptom of over-watering.

Humidity and Ventilation

Humidity and ventilation are two components that should remain stable when growing tropical foliage plants. Most tropical plants require stable environmental conditions and do not survive in draughty areas where temperatures change drastically and humidity levels are difficult to maintain at a constant level. Adding a tray with water and pebbles under tropical foliage plants is one way to maintain humidity levels, provided that the area is free from draughts.

Fertilization

Applying fertilizer through the growing season provides additional nutrients to tropical foliage plants and promotes new leaf development. Tropical plant fertilizer comes in a variety of forms including tablets, liquid solutions and granules. Tropical foliage plants vary greatly in their fertilizer requirements from species to species; some plants required a diluted fertilizer once every two weeks, while others need a concentrated formula once a year. Inspect the fertilizer label carefully to ensure that you apply the correct amount of fertilizer for your plant at the proper time.

References

• University of Minnesota; Yard & Garden Briefs; Rubber Trees, Weeping Figs and Other Friendly Ficus; Deborah Brown; June 2001
• Garden Gallery: Tropical Foliage Plants
• Texas A&M University; House Plants; Douglas F. Welsh and Samuel D. Cotner
• University of Florida; Tropical Foliage Cultivar Development: New Ornamental Introductions Drive Plant Markets; R.J. Henny and J. Chen; January 2008