Tropical plants are characterized by their color and texture, making them wonderful additions to any garden. In areas that experience below zero temperatures like Europe, tropical plants bring much-needed warmth, whether indoors or outdoors. In this article, we will learn some practical care tips for tropical plants in Europe so you can keep the vibrance in your home even in winter.
Care Tips for Indoor Tropical Plants in Europe
Most tropical plants require sun and humidity, but some can still grow with minimal to low light. This is excellent news for people who live in gloomy areas. Here are some helpful tips you can do when caring for tropical plants indoors:
Water
Water house plants only when needed. You can check soil moisture by sticking your finger an inch deep into the soil. If it’s dry, you should water them. If it’s still moist, leave it as it is.
Humidity
- Tropical plants usually require a certain level of humidity. Use a humidifier for sensitive plants or keep them moist with a plant mister.
- Invest in a humidity monitor so you can keep tabs on the level of humidity in your home.
Light
- Know your plants. Plants have different light requirements, so it is crucial to identify which ones need less or more light. Too much light on a plant that prefers low light will burn its leaves and kill it. Simultaneously, more light hungry varieties will lose color when they don’t have enough light.
- Observe your plants and move them if necessary.
- Invest in indoor plant lights for varieties that need more sunlight. Although this isn’t the same as sunlight, it can still facilitate growth
Soil
- Tropical plants can grow in general-purpose potting soil, which means they aren’t that picky.
- If you’re a busy body with a tendency to miss watering plants, you can add some peat moss so the soil retains moisture longer. On the other hand, if you overwater them, you can add some pumice to allow faster drainage.
- Some varieties require special soil, which is why knowing your plants is still the first step in plant maintenance.
- If you must use fertilizer, choose organic fertilizers since these are more gentle on tropical plants.
- Avoid fertilizing tropical plants during the winter season unless necessary.
Care Tips for Outdoor Tropical Plants in Europe
During fall, plant enthusiasts start worrying about their tropical foliage. So much so that they face a choice between taking them indoors or just getting new ones for the following year. The latter seems like a harsh option, but it happens. Before you feel trapped, here are some quick care tips you can do:
- Before bringing plants inside, give them a good cleaning so you can rid them of bugs. Hosing them down is also an excellent way to lessen clean-up time when the plants are finally inside the house.
- It is natural for plants to lose leaves when moved to another environment, which is why this time is the best time to give your plants a little trim. The cut also facilitates growth that is already adapted to indoor living conditions.
- Use an organic product for pests on your plants. You should do this before moving them inside to avoid infestation.
- Position plants in strategic areas based on the amount of light your plants need. It is also an excellent time to invest in artificial plant lights when moving them indoors.
Tropical Plants You Can Grow in Europe
Now that we have some essential maintenance tips down, here are five varieties to consider growing.
- Parlor Palm – This beautiful indoor plant needs low light and a lot of moisture.
- Yucca -This is a great air filtration plant that doesn’t need too much water and sunlight.
- Natal Mahogany – This low-maintenance tree is an excellent way to fill space in your home. It only needs to be watered once a week and has minimal demand for light.
- Split leaf – Although this plant needs bright light, its unique look makes it a tropical house plant favorite.
- Bird of paradise – This exotic plant makes quite a statement indoors, and if you can provide it with bright sunlight and a lot of humidity, it should be worth having.
Conclusion
It’s nice to know that you can get a tropical vibe in your home or garden with some tropical plants and good maintenance. If your dream of vacationing in the tropics won’t be anytime soon, bring a little sunshine in your home and bask in some exotic, green aesthetic.