Tropicals
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in Houseplants, Tropicals
How to Grow and Care for Iresine
Iresine, commonly called beefsteak plant or blood leaf, is an easy-care foliage houseplant. It is bushy when young but tends to trail as it matures. Iresine has purplish-red leaves with glowing pink midrib and veins; when backlit by bright light, Iresine will practically grow with fluorescent color. Where not hardy, grow Iresine as a tender […] More
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in Houseplants, Tropicals
How to Grow Chenille Plant — Acalypha
Acalypha–commonly called chenille plant–is adorned with pendulous fuzzy red tassels. Acalypha is perfect for hanging baskets. This plant loves bright light and will bloom several times a year in the right conditions. Keep Acalypha consistently moist, fertilize every six weeks, and pinch back after each period of bloom. There are purple and creamy-white varieties of […] More
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in Houseplants, Tropicals
How to Grow Bleeding Heart Vine — Clerodendrum
Clerodendrum–commonly called bleeding-heart vine–is a tropical vine that features brilliant red and white flowers. As a houseplant, it can be trained to a trellis or it can spill from a hanging basket. If the growing tips are nipped back, the bleeding heart vine can be trained as a small shrub. Clerodendrum can be trained on […] More
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in Houseplants, Tropicals
How to Grow Aeschynanthus –Lipstick Plant
Aeschynanthus is generally a carefree plant when given the right growing conditions. It has long drooping or trailing stems, shiny leaves, and dramatic tubular flowers. The main blooming season begins in summer but flowers may appear sporadically throughout the year. Aeschynanthus is commonly called lipstick plant, basket plant, or basket vine. Aeschynanthus stems grow from […] More
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in Houseplants, Tropicals
How to Grow Gloxinia – Sinningia
Gloxinia, Sinningia, is dotted with ruffled, cup-shaped blooms and velvety foliage similar to the African violet. This is a perky plant that brightens up kitchens or breakfast nooks with colors ranging from red and yellow to pink and Fuschia, even purple and white. Bright light, average household temperatures, and consistently moist soil keep gloxinia happy. […] More
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in Houseplants, Tropicals
How to Grow Peace Lily — Spathiphyllum
Spathiphyllum–commonly called Peace lily–is a graceful plant with shiny, green leaves and beautiful hooded white flower spikes. Spathiphyllum is generally problem-free and easy to grow. Spathiphyllum is a tropical perennial. It is often grown indoors. The leaves are glossy green and oblong. the flowers are white, fragrant, and tiny. Flowers bloom along a tail-like structure […] More
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in Houseplants, Tropicals
How to Grow Phalaenopsis — Moth Orchid
Phalaenopsis–commonly called Moth Orchid–is a genus of tree-dwelling (epiphytic) orchids with thick, broad, leathery leaves, and long sprays of white, cream, pale yellow, or light lavender-pink flowers. Flowers are 3 to 6 inches wide. Phalaenopsis require warmer growing conditions than most orchids, usually in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit. They also prefer fairly high humidity. […] More
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in Houseplants, Tropicals
How to Grow Columnea – Goldfish Plant
Columnea–often called goldfish plant–is a tropical trailing that produces tubular flowers in shades of brilliant red, orange, or yellow, or combinations of all three. It has branches that arch horizontally or distinctly weep. Columnea’s tubular flowers are its main attraction. Flowers range from 2 to 4 inches long, when the two-lipped flowers are fully open they […] More
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How to Grow Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe is one of the most popular flowering houseplants. It features light-green, glossy, succulent foliage and masses of miniature brightly colored blooms in shades of orange, pink, red, and yellow that bloom in winter. Give kalanchoe lots of bright light, and keep it on the warm side. It will withstand occasional dryness, but water thoroughly […] More
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in Houseplants, Tropicals
How to Grow Flamingo Flower — Anthurium
Anthurium–commonly called the Flamingo flower–gets its name from the graceful, arching protrusions of brightly colored bracts. It adds tropical flair to any bright, sunny spot indoors. The bracts or blooms can be bright red, orange, pink, even salmon. Anthurium is an upright many-stemmed plant that can grow 20 to 36 inches (50-91cm) tall. The lacquered-looking, […] More
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How to Grow Swiss Cheese Plant — Monstera
Monstera–commonly called Swiss-cheese plant–is a large vining plant with notched and perforated leaves. Monstera commonly requires support and plenty of room to roam. Monstera is a tropical plant. It is often grown as a houseplant in temperate regions. It will grow to about 6 feet tall indoors; in the tropics outdoors, it can grow to […] More
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How to Grow Tibouchina – Glory Bush
Tibouchina is a tropical evergreen shrub grown for its showy deep-purple and satiny textured saucer- to cup-shaped, 5-petaled flowers. Tibouchina flowers appear among ovate or elliptic velvety mid- to dark green leaves. Tibouchina grows from 10 to 20 feet (3-6m) tall and 6 to 10 feet (2-3m) wide in tropical and subtropical regions. It is […] More
Stephen Albert
