It is impossible not to be enchanted and be amazed by so many botanical species. And this garden deserves an exclusive and whole post dedicated to it.
So let’s check it out and get inspired to make a tropical garden at your house too?
What is a tropical garden: characteristics
Forget the idea of delimited, symmetrical, and tidy-looking gardens. The tropical garden is completely averse to these characteristics. In a real tropical garden, plants are positioned very similarly to their natural habitat. That is, no symmetry. The rule is to follow the beautiful and organized “chaos” of nature itself.
However, this does not mean that the tropical garden does not need planning. On the contrary. This type of garden must be very well planned so that the plants feel, literally, at home. For this reason, it is essential to offer the most suitable microclimate for these species, so that they can grow and develop.
How to make a tropical garden
The tropical garden is very democratic. It can be small, inside an apartment balcony, for example, or large, occupying a garden of many square meters.
Check below everything you need to provide to have a lush tropical garden:
Light and temperature
Tropical plants, in general, like heat, but that does not necessarily mean that they need to be exposed to the sun all day. Most tropical plants enjoy indirect light, such as bromeliads, for example. Others, like palm trees, need direct sunlight on their leaves.
This versatility allows the tropical garden to be built both outdoors and indoors, you just have to adapt the species to the location. Room temperature is another important thing for the tropical garden. This is because the species of this type of biome enjoy climates with temperatures above 22ºC. At temperatures below 22ºC, it is possible that the plants suffer from the cold, and may have difficulty in growing, in addition to burnt leaves.
Water and air humidity
Water is another very important factor for the health of tropical plants. The tropical forests are always very humid and this makes the species used to humidity.
Because of this, it is always interesting to observe the humidity of the air in the city where you live. In regions of the hot and dry climate, such as the Southeast, for example, you may need to ensure greater humidity for your plants by spraying water on the leaves, in the case of small gardens. For large tropical gardens, the idea is to compose tall and short species, promoting the same integration that happens in the natural habitat of plants.
Watering is very important too, but although you like water, don’t overdo it. Offer to water only when the soil is slightly dry, ensuring that the plant will receive only the amount of water it needs.
Soil rich in organic matter
The tropical forests have soil rich in organic matter and of course, you will need to recreate this characteristic in your garden. Therefore, even before planting the species, leave the soil prepared with fertilizer (preferably organic). After planting, keep a fertilization schedule for your tropical plants.
Tropical garden decoration
Again, less is more. The decoration of the tropical garden is the plants themselves: exotic and beautiful by nature. But you can add one or the other decorative touch. The tip, in this case, is to bet on natural elements, such as wood, stone, ceramics, and clay. It is also worth, in the case of a small tropical garden, using a mini water source to recreate the microclimate of the forest.
Clay vases, stone paths, and wooden decorative elements are some other options that you have at your disposal. But remember to insert these elements irregularly and asymmetrically.
Another interesting tip to help decorate the tropical garden is to use bird feeders and waterers. After all, botanical life would not be complete without animals. Distribute these elements around the garden and enjoy the visit of hummingbirds, canaries, and even toucans, as well as butterflies and bees.
Plants for tropical garden
One of the coolest things about having a tropical garden is the wide variety of plants that can be used. The list ranges from large trees to creeping foliage, passing through fruit trees, flowers, vines, and even edible plants, known as PACs.
Below you can see a (modest) list of some of the most used species in tropical-style gardens.
- Ferns of all types
- Philodendrons (includes the famous boa constrictor)
- Galatea
- Palm Trees
- Heliconias
- Pandanus
- Dracena
- Agaves
- Cholera
- Adam’s Rib
- Bromeliads
- Orchids
- Trapoeraba (PANC)
- Vitória Régia (aquatic)
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