GARDENING WITH TROPICAL PLANTS

Learn about Gardening with Tropical Plants

Tropical plants is a broad term that can include plants from the tropics, subtropics, or sometimes those that have a tropical appearance. Tropical plants can add a vibrant and exotic touch to any garden, but they often require special care and attention. With the right knowledge and techniques, you can create a thriving tropical garden that brings joy and beauty to your outdoor space.

In this course, we'll explore the fundamentals of gardening with tropical plants, from selecting the right plants for your climate to providing the necessary care and maintenance. For those of you in temperate climates, you'll discover how to successfully grow tropical plants in protected spaces like indoors, in greenhouses, or in conservatories. 

What types of tropical plants can I grow in my garden?

Palms, such as coconut and bamboo palms
Flowering plants, like hibiscus and heliconia
Fruit trees, like mango and pineapple
Ferns and other foliage plants, like bird's nest and staghorn ferns

How do I choose the right tropical plants for my climate?

Consider the temperature and humidity levels in your area
Research the specific growing conditions for each plant species
Choose plants that are disease-resistant and suitable for your level of gardening experience

What are the key elements of tropical plant care?

Watering: Tropical plants typically require consistent moisture, but make sure not to overwater
Fertilisation: Feed your plants with a balanced fertiliser during the growing season
Pruning: Prune your plants regularly to maintain shape and promote healthy growth
Pest control: Keep an eye out for pests like aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites

What are some common challenges when growing tropical plants?

Pests and diseases, like root rot and leaf spot
Nutrient deficiencies, like nitrogen and iron deficiencies
Weather extremes, like drought and frost

How can I create a tropical garden design?

Consider using a mix of plants with different textures, colours, and heights
Incorporate natural elements, like stone and wood, into your design
Use a focal point, like a statement piece or water feature, to draw the eye

This course concentrates on plants which originate from tropical or subtropical climates though some of the plants covered fit a looser definition of ‘tropical’. It aims to provide a sound introduction to gardening with tropical plants - in greenhouses, protected garden spaces, indoors, or outdoors in warmer climates. 

Note: This course is based on our "Tropical Plants" course but has been adapted to be more suitable for entry level students.

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Introducing Tropical Plants
   • What does the term "Tropical Plant" mean
   • What tropical plants can you grow
   • Plant naming - levels of division, genus, species, hybrid, variety, cultivar
   • Monocotyledon versus dicotyledon
   • Plan families
   • Growing tropicals - climatic zones
   • Tropical and Sub tropical
   • Temperate
   • Arid
   • Climatic variations - seasonal or constant, mountain, savannahs, rainforest, coastal
   • What causes an area to be warm
   • Good an bad news about tropical gardens
   • Common hot garden area
   • Heat traps
   • Warming the garden
   • Greenhouse growing
2. Plant Cultural Practices
   • Common garden problems
   • Understanding soils - texture, pH, nutrient availability, improving soi, fetility
   • Water and plant growth
   • Water deficiency and excess
   • Water loss from soil
   • Improving water retention
   • Planting
   • Plant establishment methods
   • Trickle irrigation
   • Light requirements
   • Mulches
   • Tree guards
   • Common problems
   • Plant nutrition - nutrient elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.
   • Deficiencies and toxicities
   • Propagation
   • Cuttings & Seeds - techniques, propagating mixes, equipment
   • Potting mixes
   • How to pot up a plant
   • Taking care of young plants
   • Pruning
3. Tropical Annuals, Perennials, Bulbous Plants, Bamboos and Lawns
   • Some Bamboos and Grass like plants
   • Arundinaria, Bambusa, Pennisetum, Phyllostachys, Saccharum, Cortaderia
   • Carex, Dianella, Imperata, Liriope, Ophiopogon
   • Bamboos and selected bamboo species
   • Bulbs and Herbaceous Perennials
   • Achimenes,Agapanthus, Clivia, Crinum, Crocosmia, Cyrtanthus, Dichorisandra, Dierama
   • Amorphophallus, Aristea, Babiana, Boophone, Brunsvigia, Calostemma,Eucharis, Eucomis, Gladiolus, Gloriosa, Haemanthus, Hippeastrum, Hymenocallis, Hypoxis,Iris, Kniphofia, Lilium, Lycaris, Moraea, Ornithogalum, Sparaxis Phaedranassa, Sprekelia, Tacca, Zephyranthes, Alstroemeria, Amaryllis
   • Alocasia, Caladium, Calathea, Colocasia, Heliconia, Maranta
4. Ornamental Gingers and Heliconias (and Related Plants Including Alpinia, Hedychium, Zingiber, Musa and Costus)
   • Zingiberales
   • Musaceae - bananas
   • Strelitziaceae - bird of paradise
   • Lowiaceae
   • Heliconiaceae -heliconias
   • Zingiberaceae - gingers
   • Costaceae - costus
   • Cannaceae - cannas
   • Marantaceae - prayer plants
   • Ginger genera
   • Heliconias
   • Parrots beak heliconia
   • Heliconia species
   • Cannas
   • Costis
   • Strelitzias
5. Palms and Palm Like Plants
   • Self cleaning or not
   • Solitary versus clumping
   • Pinnate or fan leaves
   • Palm propagation
   • Review of significant palm genera
   • Cycads
   • Yucca
   • Cordylines
6. Shrubs, Trees and Climbers
   • Abelia, Abutilon, Acalypha, Adenium, Aphelandra, Ardisia, Barleria, Breynia, Browallia, Brunfelsia, Bouvardia, Calliandra, Callistemon, Camellia, and many others
   • Albizzia, Allocasuarina, Bauhinia, Bixa, Brachychiton, Caesalpinia, Callicarpa, Cannanga and many others
   • Conifers - covering 9 genera
   • Climbers - covering over 30 genera
7. Orchids, Ferns and Bromeliads
   • Guidelines for orchid culture
   • Temperature
   • Light
   • Ventilation
   • Watering
   • Feeding
   • Potting media
   • Epiphytes
   • Cattleya
   • Epidendrum - crucifix orchid
   • Cymbidium
   • Dendrobium
   • Odontoglossum
   • Oncidium
   • Paphiopedilum -slipper orchid
   • Phalaenopsis
   • Pleione
   • Vanda
   • Orchid pests, diseases, viruses
   • Bromeliads - culture
   • Ferns - culture, genera, ferns as indoor plants
   • Tree ferns
   • Rock ferns
   • Terrestrial Filmy ferns
   • Other ferns
   • Epiphytic ferns
   • Fern families
   • Sun tolerant ferns
   • Dry soil ferns
   • Aroids
8. Tropical Herbs, Vegetables and Fruit
   • Growing methods
   • Organic
   • No Dig, Sheet mulching, raised bed
   • Hydroponics
   • Permaculture
   • Container growing
   • Greenhouse growing
   • Plant needs - light, temperature
   • Choosing a good site
   • Selected vegetables for warm conditions
   • Cucumber, melon, watermelon, zucchini, sweet potato, Taro, Yam,
   • Tropical herbs
   • Galangal
   • Ginger, Lemon grass
   • Coffee
   • Vietnamese mint
   • Tea
   • Tropical Fruit Trees
   • Avocado
   • Banana
   • Carambola
   • Custard Apple
   • Guava
   • Fig
   • Paw Paw
   • Pepino
   • Macadamia
   • Mango
   • Pineapple
   • Passionfruit
   • Peanut
   • Pecan
   • Rosella
   • Other fruits
9. Growing Tropical Plants Outside of the Tropics
   • Comparing indoor and outdoor growing
   • Indoor plants that adapt to varied light and temperature
   • Review of important indoor plant families
   • Problems with indoor plants
   • Potting mixes for indoor plants
10. Landscaping with Tropical Plants
    • Landscape principles - unity, balance, proportion, harmony, contrast, rhythm
    • Qualities of landscape components - line, form, mass, space, texture, colour, tone
    • Creating landscape effects
    • Garden styles - formal, informal, natural
    • Pre planning information
    • What do you want from a garden
    • Cooling effects
    • Design procedure
    • Producing drawings to scale

Aims

• Explain the nature and scope of tropical plants.
• Discuss cultural characteristics that are often peculiar to tropical plants.
• Describe the taxonomy and culture of a range of soft wooded tropical plants including annuals, perennials and bulbs.
• Describe the taxonomy and culture of Heliconias and gingers.
• Describe the taxonomy and culture of palms and palm-like tropical plants.
• Describe the taxonomy and culture of climber, tree and shrub tropical plants.
• Describe the taxonomy and culture of orchids, ferns and bromeliads.
• Describe the taxonomy and culture of herbs, vegetables and fruits in tropical conditions.
• Determine ways to grow tropical plants outside of the tropics.
• Explain the use of tropical plants in landscaping.

Who Is This Course For?

This course provides a good first step for anyone new to horticulture whether you're an amateur gardener, volunteer, or aspiring professional.