Exotic houseplants are my passion. I love the challenge the tropical plants offer. I've raised tropical plants from seeds, cuttings , bought from nurseries and through mail order. When I started searching the Internet, I was amazed at the amount of info you can get on tropicals and exotic plants. I will make a link page for your convenience so you can "see for yourself" the amount of info on the web.
I'm from Texas (zone 7) , so you might think growing tropicals would be a cinch for me. But even our great Texas weather does not always agree with all tropicals. Sometimes its too hot or too dry. If you grow your plants outside you have to be careful to create micro-climates.
Some people feel that tropical take lots and lots of humidity and light. Some tropicals actually don't like a lot of light and stay on the dry side. Think about it for a minute: even though tropicals grow in jungles, most grow under massive tree and vine canopies. Sometimes they get very little light. Soil on jungle floors is usually not in that good of condition either.
My experiences have taught me to read and study up on each plant I obtain (preferably before you buy them). I find out the needs of each plant and try to recreate it as much as possible. Most homes are at the right temperature for tropicals. Homes are notoriously dry, but you can raise the humidity level by simply setting your tropical's pot on a tray of pebbles with water. Trays come in all sizes. I have even taken old plastic shelves and turned them upside down, added gravel, water and voila: space for many little pots. Make sure your pots aren't sitting in the water. Don't want those little roots to rot by sitting in water all the time.
Something most people forget is air circulation. It is VERY important. With today's ceiling fans, plants usually get enough air. If you don't have a ceiling fan; please at least get a little fan to keep air circulating around your plants. Makes them happy and its great for you too. I've read somewhere that air circulation will help cut down on plant pests.
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