A Guide to Tropical Houseplants

Houseplants are a great way to enhance any room of the house, with tropical options becoming more and more popular in homes across the UK.

Typically native to the likes of Central and South America, tropical houseplants are a wonderful way to bring a more exotic look to your living space with many versatile options available which come in a whole host of shapes, sizes, colours and textures.

But, you don’t need to journey halfway around the world to bring these tropical plants to your home.

In fact, many of the world’s most popular tropical houseplants have made their way to our shores and are available in garden centres across the country.   

In this blog, we’ll outline everything you need to know about tropical houseplants, providing you with a comprehensive guide that will examine some of the best options and how they can thrive in your home.

What Are The Benefits Of Tropical Houseplants?

There are a whole host of benefits to having tropical houseplants in your home. Some of the main advantages include the below.

Aesthetic Appeal

Thanks to their stunning appearance, unique patterns and range of vibrant colours, tropical houseplants can enhance the aesthetics of every room they feature in. Not only do they help a room look great, but they can also create a calm, welcoming ambience for you and your loved ones. 

Low Maintenance

Another great benefit of tropical houseplants is that they’re extremely low maintenance and easy to care for. They thrive in indoor conditions as they often require less sunlight and water to survive, and they also easily adapt to the temperature and humidity of their habitat. This is not to say that they should be left in a darkened room, however, as they still require access to some light in order to grow to their potential. This ease of maintenance makes them a great choice for beginner gardeners and is one of the reasons they prove so popular.       

Air Purification

While the appearance of tropical houseplants helps them to enhance your home, they can also boost the purity of the air you breathe. This is because they’re excellent at removing toxins from the air and releasing fresh, breathable oxygen in their place.   

Improve Mental Health

You might be surprised to learn that tropical houseplants can actually help with your mental health. The modern world can be full of stress and worries, but studies have shown that houseplants can help reduce stress and promote relaxation. Primarily, this is because they help to induce a calming environment.     

Enhance Your Interior Design

As mentioned earlier, tropical houseplants are a great way to boost the aesthetics of your home. As well as this, you can incorporate the plants into your existing interior design in a way that complements your home’s existing style. For instance, you can select plants that match the design of your wallpaper or opt for striking foliage that can act as a room’s focal point. No matter what look you’re trying to achieve, you can be sure that you’ll be able to find tropical houseplants to suit.    

The Best Tropical Houseplants For Your Home

With so many different houseplants out there, it can be difficult to know what types are best for you. 

With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of some of the best options available to help you decide what will best suit your home.

Amazonian Elephant’s Ear 

This bold and striking option is a great choice for any room in the house. It’s extremely distinctive thanks to its large, arrow-shaped leaves which are ribbed with a silver outline that makes it extremely attractive. Native to southeast Asia, the Amazonian Elephant’s Ear is very easy to grow indoors. They do require regular feeding but only need to be kept mildly moist. Be sure not to get the roots wet.

Golden Pothos

Another great choice is the Golden Pothos. Wonderfully easy to grow indoors, they’re great for hanging baskets and require very little attention in order to thrive. In fact, it requires so little water that it can even withstand draught in its natural habitat. In terms of appearance, the plant is famed for its beautiful heart-shaped leaves that are coloured green and gold.  

Bird of Paradise

The Bird of Paradise plant is perhaps one of the most exotic looking plants you can select for your home. While their natural habitat is outdoors, they can grow extremely easily inside and their beautiful blue or orange flowers provide a pop of colour to your decor. However, be aware that they take three-five years of growth before they flower so you may want to consider purchasing one that has already bloomed.   

Baby Rubberplant 

One of the most recognisable tropical houseplants is the Baby Rubberplant, famed for its round and rubbery green leaves. The plant feels like rubber, hence the name, and it grows very easily indoors. While it’s native to the USA, Mexico and the Caribbean, they’ve become popular in homes throughout the UK due to their decorative design and low maintenance. 

Cordyline 

Synonymous with tropical locations like Hawaii, the Cordyline plant is full of bright foliage with leaves of varying colours. It’s available in red, green, purple, yellow and more meaning that there is bound to be an option for you. Simply place them in a warm, draft-free environment and keep them moist (especially during winter) and watch them thrive!

Butterfly Plant

So named because of its peculiarly shaped leaves that are reminiscent of butterflies, the Butterfly Plant features curved green, purple or brown leaves which can give the impression of flight. While they look delicate, the plant is fairly robust and works best when paired with other plants- perhaps even in a terrarium. 

How To Take Care Of Tropical Houseplants 

Most tropical houseplants originate in countries with far hotter and more humid temperatures than the UK, meaning they can be easily added to a British home with minimal need for maintenance.

However, that doesn’t mean that there is no care required whatsoever. 

The light requirements for every plant are likely to differ, but as a general rule keeping tropical houseplants in indirect light is your best bet. If you want more in-depth advice relative to your specific plant, it’s best to speak with your local garden centre or the place you purchased the plant.

While most tropical plants will thrive in humidity, it’s still important to provide them with moisture. Most often, this will take the form of misting. This is a type of water spray that ensures the plant accesses the moisture it needs without overwhelming it. While the amount you should mist your plant will differ depending on its species. 

However, once or twice a week is normally appropriate for tropical houseplants.