4 Easy to Grow Flowering Tropical Plants

This bursting ball of vibrant orange goes by many names. Around our home, we call it Star Fire. It is also called African Blood Lily, or Blood Lily for short, and Fireball Lily. No matter by which name it is called, it will always answer to its botanical name, Scadoxus multiflorus. The Star Fire is not a single flower, this large ball is a thousand flowers arranged in a globe.

We live in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9 and our Star Fire lilies begin to push through the soil in May. By early June, the giant 6 inch diameter balls of bright orange flowers are in full bloom while the plant's green foliage is still in the early stages. Within a couple of weeks, the flowers fade away but the leaves adorn our garden until the late Winter.

The Star Fire bulbs can be grown in containers or planted in a sunny spot in the garden. We have had success with both methods.

• If you live in a colder climate and would like to grow these lilies, the Missouri Botanical Garden has a fact sheet with detailed growing directions.
• For an in-depth look at these plants, the University of Florida published a study for commercial growers on the effects of day length, shade and other variables.

How to care for a Desert Rose

Other than regular watering, our Desert Rose plants get attention twice during the year.

• In the early Spring, before the plant sprouts new leaves, we lift the plant out of its container, remove 1/2 inch of the soil from the cadex (the trunk area just above the soil line), add some soil to the bottom of the container, and re-pot the plant.
• After the plant has been re-potted, time-release fertilizer is sprinkled on top of the soil.
• In the late Summer or early Fall, after the plant has finished blooming and quits producing new leaves, it is time to prune the plants. The branches on our plants are kept short. Long and leggy branches are cut off.

When the weather is hot and humid, be on the lookout for aphids, one of the few pests that infest these plants. The aphids are easily washed away with spray bottle mixed with 1 tablespoon mild dish soap and 1 quart of water.

Learn more about the Desert Rose plant

The University of Florida has several publications on the care of Desert Rose plants.

• Check out this short fact sheet on House Plant Care for Adenium obesum.
• Here's a longer, in depth fact sheet covering plant origins, planting and care tips, propagation methods and pest problems.

Here are a few care tips for the Silver Vase plant

• Do not water the soil around these plants. Add water to the vase formed by the leaves.
• Mosquitoes can become a problem. These pests like to lay their eggs in the water held inside the plant vase. Flush out the plants every few days with a garden hose.

For more information

Clemson University has an excellent publication on how to grow bromeliads. It contains growing information that pertains to all bromeliads and a section on the Silver Vase Plant.

The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) isn't the most colorful flower in our garden, but it is one that has special meaning to me and one that many people use to send sympathy to loved ones.

Caring for Peace Lilies

• Peace Lilies love growing in clumps of several plants bunched tightly together.
• Keep the plants in an area that gets bright, indirect light.
• In the early spring, add compost to the soil. This fertilizer gives the plant an extra boost before the blooms start to appear.
• Container grown plants can go two years before moving the plant to a larger container.
• Peace Lilies love water. When the plant begins to wilt, it's an indication that it may be time to water the other container plants in the garden.

These resources will help you care for your Peace Lily plants

• This University of Florida Extension Office fact sheet covers care requirements for indoor and outdoor Peace Lily plants.
• This Clemson University fact sheet contains care information and a list of popular Peace Lily cultivars.