Most tropical plants grown outside the tropics are really just houseplants that get a summer vacation outdoors.
Recreating Their Native Conditions
Tropical plants generally want warmth, humidity, and bright but indirect light — conditions that mimic a rainforest understory more than a sunny windowsill. Grouping plants together, misting occasionally, or setting pots on a tray of pebbles and water all help raise humidity in a dry indoor space.
Moving Plants Outdoors for Summer
Many tropicals thrive on a shaded patio during warm summer months, but should be brought back indoors well before nighttime temperatures drop into the 50s. Acclimate plants gradually to outdoor light over a week or two to avoid leaf scorch from the sudden change.
Winter Is a Rest Period
Most tropical plants slow down considerably indoors over winter, when light levels drop, and need less frequent watering and no fertilizer during that time. Resuming regular feeding and watering in spring, as new growth appears, is usually the right cue to start again.
