DIY Network

Tropical Plants Container

Tropical plants are an easy way to add some flair to the inside of your home. But why not dust them off and give them new life outside in a tropical container? Gardening expert Jessie Mack Burns covers the basics of starting your own tropical container garden.

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Tropical Plants Container

Tropical plants are very low maintenance. Once the danger of frost has past, these plants make durable additions to any patio or semi-shaded location.

• You want your tropical container to look lush, just like a jungle. So choose a container large enough to be proportionate to the size of your plants. Just remember, the larger the container, the lighter the container needs to be. Buy one made out of plastic or a molded foam material. This will make moving your container easier.

• You container must have a drainage hole and here’s a trick to help with watering: fill the bottom with empty aluminum cans instead of stones. The cans will help to keep the container light and provide additional drainage for the plants.

• Fill the container about two-thirds with a fresh bag of high quality commercial potting soil. Commercial potting soil is sterilized and contains just the right amount of nutrients for tropical plants.

• It's time to plant . If you are using some of your houseplants, be sure to shake off the old potting soil before planting them in the new container.

• For height use a palm and a species of canna and plant in the center. Cannas make great tropical additions and provide interesting blooms and foliage. Anthrium makes a great choice for medium height plants.

• Add pothos vines in the front to grow over the sides.

• Finish off your container with a layer of Spanish moss to help keep the soil moist.

• Give your container a thorough drenching...leaves and all. Your plants will love it.

• Use some of your own houseplants in your container design. They will love spending the summer outdoors.

• Tropical plants don’t need a lot of fertilizer. Choose a high quality potting soil to use instead.

• Keep the soil evenly moist and mist the foliage frequently.