Tropical plants may be native to regions elsewhere in the world, but they’re incredibly exciting and easy to grow right here in Northeast Ohio as annual plants each and every summer. If you love the idea of vibrant, exotic flowers or the swaying of palms, gardening with tropical flowering & foliage plants is for you! No pool or beach necessary. All you need is a hot, sunny site on deck, patio, or in the garden. Even better, you can choose to winter these plants over for next year, if you like, or enjoy them year-round as indoor houseplants (more on how to do that below).
TROPICAL PARADISE IN NORTHEAST OHIO
HOW TO GARDEN WITH TROPICAL FLOWERING & FOLIAGE PLANTS
overwintering indoors
Believe it or not, tropical plants can be overwintered until next spring/summer. Flowering varieties may not receive enough energy to bloom, but all types of flowering and foliage can survive and be enjoyed year-round as indoor houseplants.
Follow this process to be successful. Start the transition late in the season, only after the first couple/few fall frosts have passed. Exposure to frosts is key to triggering the plant’s critical dormancy cycle. Bringing plants in too early increases relocation shock and encourages leaf drop.
- Cut them back to a manageable size for indoor care.
- Spray them with a hard stream of cold water to clean and knock off pests.
- Apply Neem Oil or insecticidal soap to remove any lingering insects.
- Apply a granular houseplant systemic insecticide that will continue to work from the inside out to protect the plants for 6-8 weeks more indoors (do not apply systemic to edibles).
- Finally, move the plants inside with temperatures between 55-80°F, exposing them to as much sunlight as possible over winter, grow lights included. Do not fertilize until next spring.