Last updated on 23 Sep 2024
Dear Kaya Leaf readers, there are some affiliate links in our article, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your precious support helps us to keep creating content for you. Thank you so much!
Resource Link:
“Gardener’s Guide to Tropical Plants“, published on 15 Aug 2012
Author: Nellie Neal
Kaya Leaf’s Key Urban and Tropical Horticulture Takeaways
Ever wondered how the stunning tropical vine Bougainvillea got its posh sounding name?
Named after Admiral Louis-Antoine de Bougainville who first stumbled upon this dazzling plant in the Amazon forest, this plant is known for its paper-thin bracts – a salute to the tropics’ incredible vibrancy!
The Smell of Survival: Why Tropical Flowers Love Perfume
Since we’re on the topic of tropical flowers, you might think that tropical plants evolved their heady scents just to please our noses, but there’s a deeper, more strategic reason.
These intoxicating fragrances are chemical signals, triggered by heat and humidity, designed to either attract pollinators or ward off pests. It’s like the flowers have their own version of a security system—complete with a floral-scented alarm.
And speaking of clever flora, the Corkscrew Flower (Cochliasanthus caracalla) takes pollination to the next level. These blooms force pollinators to enter from a specific side, ensuring a clean and efficient transfer of pollen.
Mealy Bugs: The Unwanted House Guests You Can Evict
Let’s be honest. No one likes mealy bugs on our beautiful tropical plants.
Those sticky, cottony and white critters congregate and suck plant sap at the growth nodes of your plants, weakening them over time.
Before you reach for the heavy-duty pesticides, try this – dab them with a paint brush dipped in rubbing alcohol.
These pests will turn brown and you can easily remove them with a paper towel.
If you see very small black flies flying around the soil of your plants, you might be facing soil-dwelling pests like the larvae of fungus gnats. Don’t wait and consider preemptive drenching.
Soak the soil with a contact pesticide until it drains from the bottom of the pot. It’s like giving your plant a detox before moving it indoors.
Propagation Pro Tips: Cuttings, Calluses, and Patience
Want to grow more plants from your current collection? Start with 10-15 cm cuttings from the top, making sure to include a growing point.
Remove the lower leaves to prevent rot and cut the base at a slant to increase surface area for maximum rooting potential.
And remember, patience is key for some plants —especially for succulents and Euphorbiaceae, whose cuttings need time to heal and form calluses before they’re ready to be placed in soil to root.
Repotting: When Your Plant Needs a Fresh Start
Wondering when to repot?
If your plant’s roots are peeking out of the drainage holes, there’s more roots than soil in the pot, the pot is toppling over, or water rushes straight through, it’s time for a bigger home.
Just remember to water the plant the day before to reduce root damage, and leave some space at the top for deep watering without the mess.
How Bright is Bright Enough?
Most of us tend to overestimate how much light our homes actually get.
For context, 100 footcandles (enough light to read a newspaper) will only keep shade-loving plants happy. Orchids, on the other hand, need a whopping 1,500 footcandles to bloom.
If you’re squinting, your plants probably aren’t thriving.
Indoor Air Purifiers: Plants vs. Reality
You’ve probably heard somewhere about a NASA study that plants can purify the air in your home. While it’s a nice thought, the reality is a bit different from the controlled, claustrophobic quarters of an astronaut in space.
To actually clean the air in an average-sized house, you’d need a forest of between 10 – 1,000 plants per m2 in your living room — yes, you read that right! So unless you’re planning to live in a jungle, it might be time to invest in a good air purifier instead.
Conclusion: Dive Deeper into Tropical Plants
We found the front half of the book a bit on the lighter side for gardening tips. The advice tends to be general, qualitative notions rather than quantitative ones – knowledge unfortunately already known to an intermediate gardener.
Thankfully, the book redeems itself with a lovely section of factsheets with informative tidbits on herbaceous, woody, and vining tropical plants, plus sections on how to choose the right plants for shady or sunny spots.
Perfect for helping our Kaya Leaf community to discover interesting and lesser known facts about tropical plants in our neighbourhoods!