Real Homemaking

You don’t have to live in a tropical climate to enjoy a tropical paradise on your deck, porch or patio. Set the stage for your outdoor oasis with a variety of tropical plants, lush foliage and vibrant flowers in containers. Did you know that most familiar houseplants hail from the tropics? Crotons, dracaenas, fig trees, palms, philodendrons and scheffleras all love warmth and humidity and thrive outdoors in summer.

Add some spice to your outdoor space with a selection of flowering tropicals. Hibiscus sport colorful, saucerlike flowers all summer long. Cannas produce tall narrow leaves topped with vibrant blooms - look for varieties with variegated foliage for added splash.

Mandevilla and allamanda vines are ideal for adorning a trellis. Other heat-loving plants you could add to your tropical oasis include elephant ears (colocasia), banana plants, Persian shield, dwarf citrus trees and ferns.

Choosing containers and soil
When planning your tropical oasis, complement flower colors with brightly colored containers, or used muted pots and let the plants take center stage. Mix or match containers as you wish - just be sure all pots have drainage holes, and that they’re sturdy enough to hold large, top-heavy plants. Fill your containers with purchased potting mix, but don’t use garden soil - it often drains poorly and may contain disease organisms that will stress plant roots.

Placing plants
Tropical foliage and flowers look especially attractive placed around pools, ponds and other water features. You don’t need a huge back yard - even a small patio can accommodate a few lush plants, a trickling fountain and a comfortable chair for relaxing.

Acclimate plants slowly
If you plan to move indoor plants outside for the summer, be sure to give them a gradual transition so they can acclimate to the brighter light and stronger wind. Remember that your plants have become used to 65- to 75- degree temperatures year round, day and night. Increase plants’ exposure to the more variable outdoor conditions over the course of a few weeks. This encourages plants to toughen up tender foliage and stems. Even acclimated plants should be displayed in a place protected from strong winds and intense sunlight.

Watering, fertilizing and pest control
Outdoor tropicals may need to be watered every day or as little as once ever few weeks. It all depends on the plant type, exposure to sun and wind, soil composition and pot size. Check plants daily, watering as necessary to keep the soil slightly moist. Be sure the entire root ball is moistened and allow excess water to drain. Fast-growing plants in bright locations may need bi-weekly feeding; feed slow-growing shade plants monthly.

In general, you’ll have fewer pest problems with tropical plants displayed outdoors than you’ll have with houseplants. Outdoors, natural predators often take care of small pests such as aphids and mites as long as you use pesticides sparingly to avoid harming the beneficial insects. An occasional hosing off will dislodge small pests and also remove accumulated dust, keeping plants looking fresh and vibrant.