Date: 24 Jun 2018
How much water?
Q: I have purchased many tropical plants from you throughout the summer and now I need to think about how not to kill them overwintering in my NY apartment. I was told that overwatering can be a big problem for house plants in winter. How much should I water, and how many times per week?
A:
Overwatering in the number one cause of the houseplant
death. But be sure not to underwater, either.
- Don't water on the fixed schedule, get to know
your plant's needs instead. Most plants only need watering
when the top 1/2"of potting mix is try. gently poke your
finger into the soil to test it. Some experience gardeners
go by weight of the pot - a very light pot will have a dry
mix.
- Aim to make the potting mix moist, but not wet.
Most plants hate sitting in soggy potting mix, so always
let excess water drain away.
- Potting mix in terra cotta pots dries out more
quickly than that in plastic or ceramic pots,
because terra cotta is a porous material.
- Most plants need less water in winter because
they are not actively growing and need this period of
winter rest. However some plants are winter bloomers and they may
need regular watering providing bright light to produce
flowers, for example clerodendrums
Date: 8 Nov 2024
Six colorful plants for your indoor garden
Sanchezia stenomacra - Blood Red Feather
Anthurium vittariifolium- Long Leaf Anthurium
Clinacanthus nutans - Snake plant, Phaya-Yor
Aeschynanthus speciosus - Lipstick Plant
Tibouchina multiflora (grandifolia) - Glory bush, Quaresmeira
Calathea zebrina - Zebra Plant
🌈 Six colorful plants for your indoor garden
🎶 Q: I've read your post about growing tropicals indoors and you got me inspired! Can you recommend something unusual, colorful and bright, preferably with flowers, that I can grow as house plants?
🌸 A: House plants don't have to be boring and just green! Below are a few excellent choices for your indoor garden that will brighten your sunroom. Just make sure to follow the 10 key tips for growing tropical plants indoors.
- Sanchezia stenomacra - Blood Red Feather - spectacular red feathery blooms and and soft, fussy leaves.
- Anthurium vittariifolium - Long Leaf Anthurium - super rare, an eye stopper, with long leaves up to 2 ft long, and bright pink fruit.
- Clinacanthus nutans - Snake plant, Phaya-Yor - exotic flower from Thailand resembling snake's open mouth.
- Aeschynanthus speciosus - Lipstick Plant - popular house plant with bright showy orange blooms.
- Tibouchina multiflora (grandifolia) - Glory bush, Quaresmeira - can be grown outside in Southern gardens, as well as in a pot indoors. Showy purple flowers, velvet leaves are wonderfully soft 6-8"in diameter!
- Calathea zebrina - Zebra Plant - the brightest zebra-striped large leaves up to 1 ft long.
👍 What flowering plants do you grow in shade? Share in comments⬇️
🛒 Shop indoor garden
#Container_Garden
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date: 31 Jul 2025
Anthurium Collector Set
These aren't your typical tropicals - they're collector-grade Anthuriums grown for foliage and texture. Each one brings something different, but they all thrive in the same kind of setting: shade or filtered light, warmth, and humidity. Perfect for growing in containers indoors or out.
Anthurium Black Dragon
This is the most dramatic of the trio. Upright, leathery leaves shift from dark green to nearly black depending on light. Instead of bright flowers, it produces a dark brown spadix and glowing red berries. A hybrid not found in the wild, it's grown from seed - no two are exactly alike.
- Best for: Indoor focal plant, shaded patio, black ceramic pot
- Height: 2–4 ft in container
- Texture: Thick, architectural leaves
- Highlight: Color shifts with light intensity
Read more about Black Dragon Anthurium
Anthurium hookeri – Giant Bird's
Nest
This one's about scale. Broad, crinkled leaves with a cardboard-like texture form a bold rosette. It can get huge with time - up to 6 feet across. Perfect for gardeners who want the "instant jungle" look.
- Best for: Shaded garden, large pots on porches
- Height: Up to 5 ft; width even more
- Texture: Wrinkled and leathery
- Highlight: Bright red berries in maturity
Buy Giant Bird's Nest Anthurium
Read more about Giant Bird's Nest Anthurium
Anthurium vittariifolium – Long
Leaf Anthurium
Graceful and rare, this species sends out narrow strap-like leaves that can reach 5–6 ft long. Ideal for hanging baskets or mounting. Bonus: it produces small pink fruit against deep green foliage.
- Best for: Hanging displays, vertical planters, bright bathrooms
- Height: Leaf length, not upright height - up to 6 ft
- Texture: Smooth, ribbon-like
- Highlight: Cascading growth and color contrast
Read more about Long Leaf Anthurium
✅ How to Care for Anthuriums
- Light: Bright, indirect light is best. Avoid direct sun, especially mid-day. These plants evolved in rainforest understory - think "dappled light under trees."
- Water: Keep the soil lightly moist but not soggy. Let the top inch dry before watering. They hate wet feet.
- Humidity: These are tropicals - they'll do fine in 50-60% humidity, but thrive at 70%+. Use pebble trays or place near other plants. Bathrooms with windows work great.
- Soil: Use an airy mix: orchid bark + perlite + peat or coco coir. Drainage is key. Never use plain potting soil.
- Fertilizer: Feed with SUNSHINE Robusta every 2–4 weeks during warm seasons. It's formulated for aroids and won't burn roots.
- Potting: Use shallow, wide containers. Repot only every 2–3 years, or when roots crowd the pot. They don't like frequent disruption.
- Temperature: Ideal: 65–85 F. Short dips to the 30s F are tolerated by mature plants, but avoid cold drafts.
Date: 17 Jan 2026
Ti plant leaf color meaning
Hawaiian Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa)
🌈 Ti plant leaf color meaning
The Hawaiian Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa) is more than just a colorful tropical accent. Across Polynesian, Hawaiian, and Southeast Asian cultures, the color of ti plant leaves has long been associated with different meanings, moods, and uses - both symbolic and practical.
- 🌈 Green leaves Green ti plants are linked to peace, balance, and steady growth. Traditionally, they were planted around homes for protection and good fortune. In the garden, green varieties are usually the toughest and most shade-tolerant.
- 🌈 Red and deep burgundy leaves Red ti plants are associated with strength, power, and protection. In Hawaiian tradition, red ti leaves were believed to ward off negative energy and were often used in ceremonies. Garden-wise, deeper reds usually mean more sun exposure and stronger pigmentation.
- 🌈 Pink, magenta, and multicolor leaves These colorful ti plants symbolize joy, celebration, and creativity. They are often used as ornamental focal points and in festive plantings. Variegated and pink types tend to prefer brighter light to keep their colors sharp.
- 🌈 Purple and dark-toned leaves Purple ti plants are linked to mystery, spirituality, and transformation. Their dramatic color comes from high anthocyanin levels and usually intensifies in bright light with good nutrition.
- 🌈 Yellow or light variegation Yellow tones often represent optimism and new beginnings. Plants with lighter variegation may grow a bit slower and need protection from harsh sun, but they add a softer contrast in tropical landscapes.
- 🌈 One practical note
Ti plant colors tell a story - part cultural tradition, part plant health, and part personal style in your garden.
🛒 Ti plants rainbow: collect them all
📚 Learn more:
- ✦ Cordyline fruticosa in Plant Encyclopedia
- ✦ Ti plant: bold color, easy care
- ✦ Color that lasts year-round
#Container_Garden #Hedges_with_benefits #Shade_Garden #Discover #Horoscope
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Date: 17 Feb 2026
Lunar New Year starts today - welcome the Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with Jasmines
Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with its lucky plants Jasmines
🔥 Lunar New Year starts today - welcome the Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with Jasmines
- 💮 One of the luckiest plants for 2026 is Jasmine. Today, February 17, 2026, the Lunar New Year begins, welcoming the energetic and passionate Year of the Fire Horse.
- 💮 If you’ve been feeling restless, ready for movement, or craving something fresh in your life - that’s Horse energy. This year is about action, authenticity, and doing things your way. And in Chinese tradition, certain plants help align your space with that powerful momentum.
💮 Why Jasmine is especially lucky this year
Jasmine symbolizes love, luck, and beauty - three themes closely connected to the Fire Horse’s vibrant spirit. Horses are social, expressive, and affectionate. Jasmine’s sweet fragrance supports harmony, romance, and positive energy in your home.
In Feng Shui traditions, fragrant flowering plants help soften intense Fire energy. Jasmine does exactly that - it balances passion with calm.
💮 How to use Jasmine for good fortune in 2026
· Grow jasmine near entrances or windows to invite good luck into your home
- · Place it in patios or garden walkways where its scent can circulate
- · Use jasmine oil or candles in bedrooms to enhance relaxation and romantic harmony
💮 RReady for momentum?
Ready to feel bold, inspired, and a little unstoppable? The Year of the Fire Horse moves fast - and it rewards those who move with it. Think you need more clarity, more spark, more direction? Jasmine anchors that fire with calm confidence. It keeps the passion high and the chaos low.
If you’re stepping into 2026 with purpose, don’t just make resolutions. Plant something living. Let jasmine bloom beside you - and grow into the year you’ve been waiting for.
🛒 Discover lucky Jasmine plants
📚 Learn more:
#Horoscope #Perfume_Plants #Discover
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