Tropical plants are incredibly popular in Canada. With
their exotic shapes, intense colours and large blooms, Canadians can recreate
the wonderful tropical look they’ve often admired when on vacation to sunnier
climes.
The entire illusion of a tropical paradise can be part of
your landscape from May to October and even in containers.
“The plants can be combined with oversized palms and large ficus
trees,” said Stephanie Morris of Connon Nurseries. “You can sit and enjoy the
gorgeous flowering all summer long and imagine you’re in some exotic locale.”
Surprisingly, they are easy to maintain. When the end of
September nears, they need to come indoors if you wish to use them again next
year. “Using a good, organic insecticidal soap, spray the plant just to be safe
that you’re not bringing anything inside,” Morris said. “And hopefully you’ll find
a fairly bright location for the winter.”
The tropical plant will go into a resting mode because there
is less strong light. Consequently, it won’t need as much water. “It’s better
to underwater than to overwater.” If you don’t have the space, then Morris
suggests getting some fluorescent lights. “Just get them to survive because
once the spring light comes, they respond and start to perk up.”
Once that happens and you start to see them grow, add
fertilizer to push them into flowering.
The colours of tropicals are intense and the blooms large.
Plants like jasmine and pink oleander are magnificently fragrant. And they also
attract hummingbirds which are drawn to the trumpet-shaped blooms.
A tropical garden creates a small haven from the noise and
stress of modern living. The lush, often colourful foliage creates a special
atmosphere where one can escape and find peace and harmony throughout the
growing season.
To see how you can create your bit of paradise, visit
www.connon.ca.
