easy to grow?

Can anyone suggest some tropical plants which are easy to grow and are not too big? thanks, jared.

 

for indoor or outdoor?
ps welcome to the forum

 

A warm welcome to the forum Jared.

The very name "tropical" implies that this sort of plant won't survive the winter outside unless you are in a very mild area. However some can, but it depends very much on where you live. If you look at the threads, Pete in Kent grows many plants outside that I, in Yorkshire, couldn't dream of doing. So can you let us know roughly where you live.

But even living in a colder area, you can grow a range of items as long as you can overwinter them, either inside the house or in a frost free garage. What facilities do you have?

Have a read through the different threads and see what sort of plants appeal to you. There are Brugmansia, which will grow from seed to 6 feet in one season, and are very easy and showy, but need to be overwintered frost free - and get quite big. There are Canna that can be grown from seed to a decent size, depending on variety, will flower in their first year and then can be stored overwinter as a tuber/rhizome much like a Dahlia. There are plants that flower or plants that are just grown for their large tropical looking leaves. Have a look around in this section and see what you like.

 

Hi
How about the 'Bird of Paradise' (Strelitzia reginae) - its bright colours look very exotic. It can be grown indoors and also looks great on the patio in summer.

 

Easiest is probably Canna - buy them in the Sheds in the Spring, enjoy them for the Summer, chuck them away in the Winter and start again next year. However, most Sheds have a reputation of selling Cannas that have virus, so if you [or your neighbours] also have any "more special" Cannas that you buy elsewhere chances are they will become infected and you'll have to throw them away.

If you can keep them over winter (frost free garage will do, unheated conservatory/greenhouse so you can start them off in the Spring would be better) then you could get some slightly more snazzy Cannas.

There are also Hardy plants that have a tropic look - what exotic gardeners tend to call "Backbone plants" - so they can stay in all year round to provide some Winter interest. Fatsia is one; they tend to be things with big leaves.

"not too big" - now big is that? You can get Bananas from the Sheds in early Summer and they grow at a staggering rate, so you've have a fabby exotic looking plant 8' - 10' tall by the end of the Summer. Again you could chuck it in the Winter and start again the following year (which means that you have a controlled maximum height ) or you could plant a Banana like Musa basjoo which will survive the winter, but will be cut to the ground, so will only get to 8' each year - but no need to buy-new each year.

There are hardy palms too, if you like those sorts of plants.

Or you could grow arid plants - succulents and cactus etc.

Let us know the area of your plot, and the max height you want, whether in containers or the soil, and how much faff you can cope with in the Winter (Conservatory? Greenhouse?) and folk here will have all sorts of suggestions

(Putting your Location in your Personal Details will help too )

 

Indoors or outdoors (as asked previously)?

If indoors it's easier. Bear in mind though that many will need quite high humidity to do well, or remain pest free.
As space appears to be an issue forget Strelitzia - it's a large plant at flowering size. However, there are some dwarf forms of its close relative Heliconia.
Aeschynanthus grow well in hanging pots - the best is probably one of the cultivars such as "Mona Lisa" which will bloom all summer long even in lower light levels.............


Aeschynanthus marmoratus blooms sporadically, but the foliage is the real attraction. Needs higher light levels.




Ceropegia sandersonii is a spectacular summer bloomer given enough light, and will never grow too big.............


Bulbous plants are a good choice as you can stagger the show and store them under the stairs or wherever when dormant.
Hymenocallis festallis.................

Scadoxus multiflorus.................


Polyanthese tuberosa...............


Eucharis amazonica................


If you have a conservatory, then Gloriosa in a large pot is realistic..............




Gloriosa can go outdoors if the summer is warm (ie; not this summer). Which is the problem with growing tropical/exotic plants outdoors. As already suggested, Canna is the best bet, but a mature pot can be rather large.
Not too large plants to consider (these are quick snaps taken just now so excuse the quality) would include;

Tradescantia pallida/purpurea................


Scadoxus multiflorus blooms outdoors too, just not so well................


Datura wrightii (Just opening)............


Abutilon x hybridum (which is easy from seed - these are first year plants).................




Impatiens niamniamnensis................


Bulbous plants could include Galtonia candicans and Eucomis comosa...................




All, the above are tender or borderline hardy. Alstromeria psittacina looks exotic, but is fully hardy...............


My absolute favourite outdoor exotic is Clerodendrum ugandense. It needs winter warmth and light. Height- 2metres, spread - 1/1.5metres................

 

I'm new to the tropical theme too, but I've considered where I am ( the north west) and I think hardy tropicals mixed with hardy tropical looking plants along with British colour is the best option for me. I love structure and colour, and it's the first time I've gone for tropical and tropical looking plants. I'm pleased as punch so far with the results, and picked up soooo many ideas from the folks on here. This forum is full of knowledgeable guys and gals, and from their hands on experience, tis better than buying a book!!!!

 

Longk some of those plants look amazing, and yeah i meant to say indoor plants are what i do as i have a small greenhouse

 

what about
dwarf heliconia rostata?

black tacca

bromeliad

and the most commun of all
orchids

 

So you want to grow tropical (or exotics) in the greenhouse? Then the world is your oyster!!Where are you by the way?

To address Sal first........

How small are these Sal - I'd love one!

Too large - at flowering size they're about 1.5metres across

Start the year off with Pleione..............


I had Vulystekeara blooming outdoors this year, so should bloom early under cover........


If the greenhouse never dips below about 8 to 10°c over the winter then Dendrobium kingianium and the hybrids should be ok come the autumn/winter...........



Bulb plants certainly is more of an option now, as they can be stored elsewhere when resting. One of my Hymenocallis bloomed well in the greenhouse this year.
Bessera elegans in the greenhouse at the moment..............


Hippaestrum cybister is now outdoors and will go in the greenhouse in the autumn..........


I could go on really bulb wise!

Some climbers can get big, but take up little floor space. Two this year to have done ok are Pandorea jasminoides................


............and my favourite so far, Bomarea hirtella;

 

I'd have an Amorphophallus on the list, for fun, too

 

I'm from birmingham and i'm really new to all of this

 

Putting your location in your personal profile would help (as it will appear next to you name, on the left of your posts - like mine does )

 

I've done that now going to start getting properly into this now, Amorphophallus seems a bit to hard for me now (just did a quick google search)

 

Sorry, I should have said Amorphophallus konjac - if you've Googled the mega-huge one grown at Kew then, yeah! definitely not a beginner plant!

Worth having a look at:

Urban Jungle
Jungle Plants
and bulbs from Anglia Bulbs