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Outdoor Light Exposure for Tropical Plants

May 24, 2017

Light Exposure For Tropicals Outdoors During the Summer

Is your plant being introduced to the outdoors from indoors (even an indoor greenhouse)? Tropical plants that require full sun will need about two weeks of acclimatization. Put the container in a shady area first and slowly move into full sun.

Temps should be consistently above 60º before leaving tropical plants outdoors. It’s often good for the plant to move in and out of your home until the temps are reliable.

Full Sun Tropical Plants

Banana

Bougainvillea

Brugmansia

Canna

Full to Part Sun Tropical Plants

Abutilon (Flowering Maple) Full sun will allow Abutilon to bloom more profusely even though they tolerate anything from full sun to part shade.

Colocasia (elephant ears) Can be grown in full sun if the plant is acclimated very carefully. Without time to adjust leaves will brown. They shouldn’t be allowed to dry out and can even stand in water if you have a pond.

Passiflora (passion flower) Passion flowers need at least 4 hours of full sun each day. Like all flowering tropical plants that need full sun, passion flowers will produce many more blooms in the optimal light conditions.

Tropical Hibiscus Although you can grow hibiscus in part sun, they will bloom more profusely with 6 hours of full sun a day.

Mandevilla & Dipladenia full sun will allow mandevilla to bloom more profusely even though they tolerate anything from full sun to part shade.

Thunbergia Full sun will allow thunbergia to bloom more profusely even though they tolerate anything from full sun to part shade.

Tibouchina Full sun will allow tibouchina to bloom more profusely even though they tolerate anything from full sun to part shade.

Full Sun to Part Shade Tropical Plants

Cordyline

Croton

Part Shade to Shade Tropical Plants

Anthurium

Alocasia

Dieffenbachia

Dracaena (lime green or variegated varieties)

Ficus

Monstera deliciosa

Full Sun Palms

Areca Both Sun & Shade

Chinese Fan

Coconut

Madagascar

Ponytail

Spindle

Part Sun Palms

Sago

Shade or Part Shade Palms

Areca Both Sun & Shade

Bamboo

Cat

Kentia

Lady

Majesty

Parlour

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