The tropical Ghanaian climate can make gardening a bit tricky but there is hope.

Many of us may want to try our hands on gardening but are uncertain about the favorable conditions in our part of the world or the suitable gardening for our tropical climate.

Well, Jumia House presents you with some gardening tips and ideas on tropical gardening.

The great news is tropical gardening does not have to be as tedious, because it actually does not require much special care. Our amazing weather mostly allows for a majority of the basic plants and gardening elements. These are light (the amazing constant sunlight), good soil, water (the humid weather provides more moisture) and proper fertilization. With all these elements however, you still need to put in that little effort to maintain your plants and flowers to keep them blooming.

Healthy Soil

It is always important to first consider the quality and fertility of the soil for the desired plants or flowers. Don’t worry if they don’t fully meet the required standards, there are various ways of ‘fixing’ soil these days such as simply adding newer or more fertile soil to the old one.  These can be purchased from garden shops or simply borrowed from a friend’s backyard.

Do Not Over-fertilize

With hot or tropical climate, comes bugs and other microorganisms ready to destroy your plants but contrary to popular belief, too much fertilizer can actually impede the growth of your plant just as these organisms. Know the right kind and amount of fertilizer needed for your plant and dispense just the right amounts and no more. It is also advisable to opt for organic manure where appropriate to help fertilize your plants, the more natural the better!

Just Enough Water and Light

As much as tropical areas tend to have plenty of sunlight and humidity, it is crucial to allow the appropriate amounts of these elements for your plants. Some plants may require more sunlight whereas others require some amount of shade also. Other plants need extra water in addition to the moisture from the humidity, it is proper however to water your plants during late afternoons, especially after sunset. And remember not to pour over the flowers to help prevent them from staining or opt for a drip water system to save you the time. In the rainy seasons you can opt to grow plants and flowers in pots or other appropriate containers, making it easier to move around and away from the open spaces when the rains get too much.

Weeding

Plants tend to grow pretty fast in tropical climates and just as these plants grow fast, weeds also grow just as fast.  As frustrating as it may be to weed, it is still crucial to your plants’ growth to take out weeds and helps allow plants to grow. Cutting and trimming your growing plants and flowers regularly also help maintain and keep them looking appealing.

Permaculture in gardening is all about working with nature to grow the most suitable plants for your environment. That being said, tropical climates are great for most vegetable and fruit gardening, houseplants and some amazing flowers such as African Tulips, Moons, Begonias, Dahlias, Hibiscus, Lotus, Morning Glory, Lilies and Daffodils are sure to grow.

References:

www.theflowerexpert.com

www.gardeningknowhow.com

www.bhg.com