Everything you need to know about tropical indoor plants

When talking about renovations or redesigning a property, it is necessary to think about plants as part of it. Why? Simple, since ancient times ornamental plants have been part of interior design. Nowadays there is an infinite variety depending on the requirements, however, since 2010 a trend in interior plants went viral: tropical indoor plants. Every room feels more welcoming with a houseplant to add a splash of greenery and style. Even if you can’t take a trip to your favorite tropical destination, you can make your home feel more like an exotic retreat. That is because many houseplants originate in the tropic around the world.

A few things are non-negotiable to keep so grand a specimen alive and well namely, tall enough ceilings to house and enough natural light to make it feel like home. but where tropical plants indoor should be placed.

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Where tropical indoor plants should be placed indoors?

It is true that not all corners are ideal for the growth and survival of our houseplants. However, if we have good natural light in the space, we will already have the most important thing. If you want to know where to place plants in the living room, in the kitchen, or any room of your home, take note of our suggestions, and check the options we have for you.

Best place: Windowsills

Windows are the best place for houseplants (unless you want a tropical tree indoor) because they will always receive the light they need to grow. However, you have to keep in mind that not all plants need the same amount of light. For example, ferns or bamboo want humidity, so a good place to place them is on a shelf or in the bathroom window.

Any room in the house

It is good to place plants. You have to know the temperature and light that your plant needs and choose the pots that best suit the style of decoration of your living room. The green tones of the plants combine especially well with wood and decorative accessories made of natural fibers, such as rattan or bamboo, as they recreate in the interior all living elements of nature.

Nooks and corners

Take advantage of the nooks and corners of your house. If you do not have a window ledge, you can use hanging pots, potholders, a stool, or a side table to place them, grouped together in different sizes, even for large indoor tropical plants.

It is best to place these decorative elements near a window or direct light, but if you want to take advantage of the corner of the house with less light, such as hallways or stair landings, the best option for ferns and raffia palms.

Plants on the desk

Plants and vegetation at home can have therapeutic effects and even encourage creativity or relax the environment. It is well known as “the principle of biophilia” that is, the connection that human beings need to have with nature.

In addition, many studies support the impact of adding plants and vegetation to our workspaces. Therefore, we advise you to place a potted plant on your desk, on a nearby shelf, or on the floor. Read through to discover what kind of tropical houseplant can thrive indoors if cared for properly. As explained by Eliza Blank on architectural digest, you’re probably better off buying a young tree and letting it grow and adapt to your home’s conditions (which will be cheaper than buying a huge tropical tree indoor, anyway) so,

What is considered a tropical house plant?

tropical indoor plants are those that grow naturally in tropical climates, where the average temperature varies little from month to month and is approximately 64°F (18°C), where frost never occurs and humidity is high.

Tropical rainforest climates: occur nearby of the equator between the tropic of Capricorn and cancer, just the area that these tropics involve. Even near the equator in South America, the climate of mountainous regions (too cool) and deserts (too dry) are not considered tropical.

The cultivation of the tropical rainforest requires warmer temperatures and more warm humid conditions than other plants. Thrive where temperatures never fall below 60°F (16°C) nor above 90°F (32°C). Many grow best in shady or semi-shady locations, out of the direct sun. For these reasons, many tropical foliage plants make excellent houseplants.

When to bring tropical plants indoors?

Some tropical outdoor plants can become indoor plants as winter approaches. So, when to bring tropical plants indoors can be a tricky question. As winter approaches, is important to consider that some varieties won’t last if you leave them outside.

Start bringing the plants inside for the winter when fall approaches and nighttime temperatures reach around 50°F (10°C). At temperatures below 40°F (4°C), and for some tropical plants even below 50°, harm is likely to occur. To acclimatize them, you must take action well before any actual frost or ice.

How do you keep tropical plants happy indoors?

Easily not easily, you need to know some tips and do research about what kind of plant is, the kind of soil, humidity, if we are talking about large indoor tropical plants or short ones, type of potting soil, if the plant needs bright indirect light or just a few hours of sun, but if in doubt, start here:

• Use a soilless potting mix and container with big drain holes for tropical potted plants. They require good drainage.
• Position rainforest plants in bright indirect lights. In summer, east and north-facing windows are best. In winter, when the sun is lower and its rays less intense, west and south-facing windows are better.  Adjust the light by moving plants closer or further from the window or installing a curtain to regulate the light.
• Different plants have different light requirements. Tropical plants are more likely to bloom when the light is consistent. Do your research to stay secure. Most indoor tropical plants do best with a daytime temperature of around 70-80°F and a lower nighttime temperature of around 60-70°F
• Allow the potting to dry out between waterings, then water until it runs out the bottom drain holes. If it takes more than 10-15 minutes, it is probably blocked; you don’t want the plant to sit in standing water. If the water runs out so fast, means that the roots aren’t getting wet, and the potting medium has dried too much, if this occurs try submerging the entire pot up to its rim for several minutes. If that doesn’t help, report with fresh potting mix.
• Water in the morning, as this gives the plant a chance for the potting soil to dry out before the cooler evening temperatures. Never leave the pot in a water source. An occasional deep bath in the shower or rain will remove dust. Use distilled or rain water instead of tap water. Water should be at room temperature. Tropical houseplants do very well in bathrooms where there is indirect light and high humidity.
• Increase humidity. A humid environment is conducive to tropical plants. Run a humidifier, or spray with a spray bottle, group several plants together and place the container just above (not inside) a saucer of water. Be sure to use a thermometer that can measure them, they are not too expensive and are usually accurate.
• Fertilize houseplants 2-4 times during summer. Once or twice in the winter. Always wet the soil thoroughly before fertilizing. These are slow-growing plants that require a lot of nutrients.
• Check for insect damage and spray the bad bugs with an insecticidal soap
• Pinching off longer stems back to a node.
• Repot the plant when the root becomes bound or when water drains straight through without wetting the soil. Do so in spring, especially for large indoor tropical plants.

Other tropical house plants

Some great tropical indoor plants to grow indoors include:

• Bird of paradise (caesalpinia) needs bright sunlight and high humidity.
• Fishtail plant (caryota) needs abundant bright light and lots of water.
• Triangle ficus (ficus triangularis) needs bright light and some humidity.
• Parlor palm (chameadora elegans) needs low light and plenty of moisture.
• Yucca (yucca elephantipes) needs partial-sunlight and not too much water.
• Fiddle leaf fig (ficus lyrata) needs bright, indirect sun and a consistent environment.
• Rubber tree (ficus elastic) this tropical tree indoor your house needs coddling (wipe the leaves clean) and indirect light.
• Split leaf (monster deliciosa) needs water weekly and bright light.

We hope you have all the information you need to take care of your tropical plants on the inside, even when winter comes. Make sure to keep all your plants well-lighted and properly humid to keep your home tropically fresh!

To take the best care of your plants, don’t hesitate to try our home manager tool and get the best out of your homeowner experience!

Read more: How to make a terrarium

Written by Vanessa Gallanti. January 24, 2023

Enthusiast about planning, project management, construction materials and technology, and construction. A civil engineer from Los Andes University and a content writer for Kukun.