Learn about Gardening with Tropical Plants
Some people
would think a tropical plant is a plant that comes from the tropics.
Others might consider tropical plants to also include plants from
sub-tropical places. Gardeners in some parts of the world would also
consider any plant that has a tropical appearance, to be a tropical
plant.
This course is concentrating on plants which originate
from tropical or sub-tropical climates; but there may be some plants
covered which fit a looser definition of ‘tropical’. It aims to provide
a sound introduction to gardening with tropical plants, in greenhouses,
protected garden spaces, indoors or in warmer climates. It provides a
good first step for anyone new to horticultural study, whether amateur
gardeners, volunteers or aspiring professionals.
NOTE - This course is based on our "Tropical Plants" course - adapted to be more suitable for entry level students.
Lesson Structure
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Introducing Tropical Plants
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What does the term "Tropical Plant" mean
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What tropical plants can you grow
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Plant naming - levels of division, genus, species, hybrid, variety, cultivar
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Monocotyledon versus dicotyledon
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Plan families
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Growing tropicals - climatic zones
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Tropical and Sub tropical
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Temperate
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Arid
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Climatic variations - seasonal or constant, mountain, savannahs, rainforest, coastal
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What causes an area to be warm
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Good an bad news about tropical gardens
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Common hot garden area
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Heat traps
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Warming the garden
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Greenhouse growing
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Plant Cultural Practices
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Common garden problems
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Understanding soils - texture, pH, nutrient availability, improving soi, fetility
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Water and plant growth
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Water deficiency and excess
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Water loss from soil
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Improving water retention
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Planting
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Plant establishment methods
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Trickle irrigation
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Light requirements
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Mulches
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Tree guards
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Common problems
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Plant nutrition - nutrient elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.
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Deficiencies and toxicities
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Propagation
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Cuttings & Seeds - techniques, propagating mixes, equipment
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Potting mixes
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How to pot up a plant
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Taking care of young plants
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Pruning
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Tropical Annuals, Perennials, Bulbous Plants, Bamboos and Lawns
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Some Bamboos and Grass like plants
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Arundinaria, Bambusa, Pennisetum, Phyllostachys, Saccharum, Cortaderia
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Carex, Dianella, Imperata, Liriope, Ophiopogon
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Bamboos and selected bamboo species
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Bulbs and Herbaceous Perennials
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Achimenes,Agapanthus, Clivia, Crinum, Crocosmia, Cyrtanthus, Dichorisandra, Dierama
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Amorphophallus, Aristea, Babiana, Boophone, Brunsvigia, Calostemma,Eucharis, Eucomis, Gladiolus, Gloriosa, Haemanthus, Hippeastrum, Hymenocallis, Hypoxis,Iris, Kniphofia, Lilium, Lycaris, Moraea, Ornithogalum, Sparaxis Phaedranassa, Sprekelia, Tacca, Zephyranthes, Alstroemeria, Amaryllis
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Alocasia, Caladium, Calathea, Colocasia, Heliconia, Maranta
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Ornamental Gingers and Heliconias (and Related Plants Including Alpinia, Hedychium, Zingiber, Musa and Costus)
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Zingiberales
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Musaceae - bananas
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Strelitziaceae - bird of paradise
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Lowiaceae
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Heliconiaceae -heliconias
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Zingiberaceae - gingers
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Costaceae - costus
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Cannaceae - cannas
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Marantaceae - prayer plants
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Ginger genera
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Heliconias
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Parrots beak heliconia
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Heliconia species
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Cannas
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Costis
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Strelitzias
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Palms and Palm Like Plants
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Self cleaning or not
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Solitary versus clumping
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Pinnate or fan leaves
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Palm propagation
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Review of significant palm genera
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Cycads
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Yucca
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Cordylines
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Shrubs, Trees and Climbers
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Abelia, Abutilon, Acalypha, Adenium, Aphelandra, Ardisia, Barleria, Breynia, Browallia, Brunfelsia, Bouvardia, Calliandra, Callistemon, Camellia, and many others
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Albizzia, Allocasuarina, Bauhinia, Bixa, Brachychiton, Caesalpinia, Callicarpa, Cannanga and many others
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Conifers - covering 9 genera
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Climbers - covering over 30 genera
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Orchids, Ferns and Bromeliads
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Guidelines for orchid culture
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Temperature
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Light
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Ventilation
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Watering
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Feeding
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Potting media
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Epiphytes
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Cattleya
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Epidendrum - crucifix orchid
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Cymbidium
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Dendrobium
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Odontoglossum
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Oncidium
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Paphiopedilum -slipper orchid
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Phalaenopsis
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Pleione
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Vanda
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Orchid pests, diseases, viruses
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Bromeliads - culture
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Ferns - culture, genera, ferns as indoor plants
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Tree ferns
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Rock ferns
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Terrestrial Filmy ferns
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Other ferns
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Epiphytic ferns
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Fern families
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Sun tolerant ferns
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Dry soil ferns
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Aroids
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Tropical Herbs, Vegetables and Fruit
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Growing methods
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Organic
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No Dig, Sheet mulching, raised bed
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Hydroponics
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Permaculture
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Container growing
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Greenhouse growing
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Plant needs - light, temperature
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Choosing a good site
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Selected vegetables for warm conditions
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Cucumber, melon, watermelon, zucchini, sweet potato, Taro, Yam,
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Tropical herbs
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Galangal
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Ginger, Lemon grass
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Coffee
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Vietnamese mint
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Tea
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Tropical Fruit Trees
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Avocado
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Banana
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Carambola
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Custard Apple
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Guava
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Fig
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Paw Paw
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Pepino
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Macadamia
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Mango
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Pineapple
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Passionfruit
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Peanut
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Pecan
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Rosella
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Other fruits
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Growing Tropical Plants Outside of the Tropics
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Comparing indoor and outdoor growing
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Indoor plants that adapt to varied light and temperature
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Review of important indoor plant families
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Problems with indoor plants
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Potting mixes for indoor plants
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Landscaping with Tropical Plants
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Landscape principles - unity, balance, proportion, harmony, contrast, rhythm
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Qualities of landscape components - line, form, mass, space, texture, colour, tone
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Creating landscape effects
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Garden styles - formal, informal, natural
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Pre planning information
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What do you want from a garden
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Cooling effects
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Design procedure
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Producing drawings to scale
Aims
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Explain the nature and scope of tropical plants.
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Discuss cultural characteristics that are often peculiar to tropical plants.
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Describe the taxonomy and culture of a range of soft wooded tropical plants including annuals, perennials and bulbs.
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Describe the taxonomy and culture of Heliconias and gingers.
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Describe the taxonomy and culture of palms and palm-like tropical plants.
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Describe the taxonomy and culture of climber, tree and shrub tropical plants.
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Describe the taxonomy and culture of orchids, ferns and bromeliads.
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Describe the taxonomy and culture of herbs, vegetables and fruits in tropical conditions.
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Determine ways to grow tropical plants outside of the tropics.
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Explain the use of tropical plants in landscaping.