Bring On The Heat
While for most of the year San Diego is pretty mildly weathered at 75 and sunny, in the past few years however we have witnessed an increase in both humidity and heat during the mid summer/ early fall.
We feel the heat and humidity and so do our houseplants, they actually feel it twice as hard as the heat reaches them both through the air and the soil.
When choosing indoor plants for hot rooms, or hot weather in general, you have ample choice in plants that thrive in hot conditions.
Even if you don’t have time for that sun soaked paradise vacation, you can recreate the feeling by filling your indoor space with lush, tropical plants that will bring paradise to you.
Here are some of the best heat friendly plants to splurge on this summer:
CROTONS
Crotons bring a pop of color to warm and sunny indoor spaces with their bright multicolored foliage.
They are native of southern Asia and their foliage is smooth and glossy and their leaves come in different shapes including curly, long and thin, oval and oak leaf-shaped. They range in color mixes from red, to yellow, pink, burgundy, green and orange. When grown indoors and at maturity, crotons can grow around 3 to 4 feet tall.
(Find other great plants used to add pops of colors throughout your living space : 10 BEST HOUSE PLANTS TO BRING COLOR TO YOUR HOME )
To keep indoor crotons performing at their best, grow in a rich, well-drained potting mix and in containers with drainage. For the best-colored foliage, situate in a sunny location where temperatures average between 65°F and 85°F.
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch and feed monthly during spring through summer with a water-soluble houseplant blend, ceasing during winter. These are tropical plants that require humidity, so mist with water several times weekly, or place the pot on a tray of pebbles.
2. UMBRELLA TREE (Schefflera actinophylla)
The Umbrella tree is native to the tropical rainforests of Australia, Java and New Guinea.
It gets its common name from the glossy green leaves containing up to 16, 12-inch leaflets that radiate downward and resemble an umbrella.
Indoors, they can grow up to 15 feet tall, making it great for large spaces, and with its tropical good looks, it’s bound to catch everyone’s eye.
When in preferred conditions, Umbrella Trees are hardy and low-maintenance plants, they will thrive indoors situated in full sun and with temperatures between 65°F and 90°F, making it an ideal indoor plant for hot rooms.
They require a rich, well-drained potting mix and use containers that drain.
Water when the top inch of soil becomes dry and fertilize monthly, spring through summer, with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. Cease fertilizing in fall and winter when growth slows.
Its native environment is hot and humid, so create indoor humidity by misting the Umbrella Tree.
3. ZZ PLANT (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
If your indoor room is on the hot side and has a location with low, indirect sunlight, it’s the perfect situation to grow the tropical ZZ Plant.
ZZ Plants are native to Tanzania, Eastern Africa and South Africa.
They are stemless but its glossy green leaflets lining the petioles that rise from the center rhizome in an alternating arrangement, gives it the appearance of forming a letter Z, thus its common name.
ZZ Plants add an interesting appeal wherever it is used indoors and they are hardy and low-maintenance plants, making them the perfect selection for the lazy gardener.
( Find other easy to care for indoor plants here: 6 OF THE EASIEST PLANTS TO CARE FOR )
Because of their tropical nature ZZ Plants prefer an indoor environment with temperatures between 65°F and 90°F and perform well in low light locations.
Grow in a peat-based potting mix that drains well and make sure the container has bottom drainage. This is a drought-tolerant plant, so you only need to water when the soil becomes dry.
In addition, its feeding needs are low, so you only need to fertilize twice yearly with a liquid houseplant blend. This very forgiving plant will add a green tropical feel to an indoor location that is warm.
ZZ Plants are currently in stock at the studio or you can purchase them here : ZZ PLANTS
4. POTHOS
I literally can’t think of any circumstances where a Pothos, beside for outside in full sun, doesn’t thrive.
Pothos is arguably one of the easiest houseplants to grow, even if you're someone who forgets to water your plants often enough.
This trailing vine is native to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific and boasts pointed, heart-shaped green leaves that are sometimes variegated with white, yellow, or pale green striations.
Pothos can be planted or tended to indoors throughout the entire year and will grow quickly, often adding between 12 and 18 inches of length a month. While pothos likes bright, indirect like, it can also thrive in areas that don't get a lot of sunlight or only have fluorescent lighting, making it an excellent option for locations such as offices and dorm rooms.
Caring for a pothos plant is very easy and they're pretty tolerant of neglect and growing environments that are not totally ideal.
In addition, pothos is usually pest-free. However, they can occasionally get infested with mealybugs—insecticidal soap works against them, but the easiest method is to simply dab the insects with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab.
5. PONYTAIL PALM
The Ponytail Palm is drought tolerant, slow-growing, and requires very little care.
making it an ideal gift for people with not so green thumbs or who travel regularly.
The Ponytail Palm will thrive just being watered every couple of weeks and left alone to soak up the sun rays . The bulb-like trunk is used to store water and the long leaves that grow from the top of the trunk resemble a ponytail thus the common name.
This whimsical plant adds a touch of fun to any room in your home.
FUN FACT
The Ponytail Palm is neither a palm nor a tree—it’s actually a member of the Agave family, native to the southeastern desert of Mexico!
