Did you happen to notice that most indoor plants used inside commercial buildings are those that don’t necessarily require a lot of water? Cactus, for example, is a type of plant that you don’t only see in deserts. You can also see cactus at home, in an office, or even in a backyard because these are quite easy to take care, especially if you live in a place where scarcity of water is somewhat a regular experience. While cacti plants are somewhat scary to look at because of its thorns, it’s actually a better alternative to gorgeous plants that don’t only need much of your time for tending, but also needs much water supply to grow beautifully. These plants my friend, are a no-no if you don’t want to grow plants that’ll dry your water supply.
Plants that grow in tropical climates
Firstly, always opt out those beautiful plants that grow in tropical climates. While these plants can naturally make any barren land look lovely, they would also need a lot of moisture to thrive, which can technically dry up your water supply when you don’t have enough of it. Here are some popular plants that are worth checking out before officially putting it in your garden.
Hibiscus – Coming from the mallow family and often called as rose mallow, hibiscus is usually recognized for its vibrant colored, large, trumpet-shaped flowers with its pollen sticking out in the middle. It is a popular plant in landscaping and in gardening because of the colors of its flowers, which range from yellow, orange, and red. Apart from that, hibiscus can also be processed into tea and into some foods, and is even considered as a delicacy in Mexico, believing that it is a natural diuretic. Being such, it is said to contain Vitamin C and minerals that help treat kidney woes. However, it is not the best plant for a place that lacks enough water supplies because it naturally grows in areas where there is abundant supply of rain. On the one hand, hibiscus is called gumamela in the Philippines, and is recorded as the national flower of South Korea and Malaysia.
Flowering maple – There is no doubt that flowering maple has one of the most beautiful flowers in the world; thanks to its bell-shaped flowers that come in plethora of colors in red, orange, yellow, and pink. Its size varies as some can as short as a toddler and some can reach 15 feet tall. Maple flower grows best in areas where there is good supply of sun and water. Its bed should always stay moist and it should be directed to sunlight for at least 4 hours each day. Just like the hibiscus and the rest of flowering plants that thrive in tropical areas, flowering maple also needs a steady supply of water because its soil needs to be moist all day. When undernourished, its leaves start to fall and it may stop producing flowers, too.
Bromeliad – Bromeliads are easy to identify because of its widely-opened, slim leaves and large, multihued bracts or flowers that bloom in its middle. Aside from being a staple in landscaping, this type of plant is also best when used indoors because of its welcoming appeal. However, it grows best when its roots are tied to an orchid bark or when their pot is smaller than its body. This is because they can collect lots of moisture this way. Leave it dry for a few days and it will surely die.
Banana – A lot of pros in landscaping would claim that banana trees are indeed beautiful when infused in a landscape, but it takes a lot of pain for it to grow well. Its large and attractive leaves are the main reason that makes it a staple in landscaping, but its immense need for water and moisture makes it quite an attention getter. Furthermore, it needs a large space to grow, so careful consideration of the lot size should be made prior to planting it.
Plants that are Exotic
Alocasia – This type of plant is renowned more for its leaves than its flowers. Its leaves are big, very attractive in its rich green hue, adding a different appeal to a garden. Its leaves are not only green-colored though because there are also those with yellow green and green-violet colors that never fail to add more life to any barren spot.
Philopendrons – From its name alone, we can already sense that it’s one heck of an exotic plant. Just like alocasia and the rest of those exotic plants that are generally found in tropical rainforest, philopendrons are also known for their big leaves that come in dark tones. There are deep violets to olive greens while there is also a mixture of red violets to lime.
Zamia Cycad species – This species of plant is popular for its huge and welcoming leaves that come in a wide variety of shapes.
Annual plants are not only popular for its beautiful flowers and exotic look, but are also known for its constant need of water. Here are some examples of common annual plants that you should avoid when you think that your water supply cannot provide their need. General knowledge about annuals: it stops flowering and then dies when an inch of its soil is dry most of the time. In fact, watering them is the most challenging part of growing them.
African daisy – There is no doubt that daisies are always beautiful. They originate from South Africa and in places that have constant rain distribution and when summers are not too hot.
African marigold – With its big, round bloom of full color, marigold never fails to attract onlookers and landscapers. It resides in places that are moist and well-watered. It grows up to three feet tall only with its leaves looking crisp and beautiful all the time.
Balsam– Usually described as an unusually attractive plant, balsam is considered as an old-Victorian charm. It thrives well in pots and in small containers and its pink flowers will always be in full bloom if you keep its soil moist and well-watered all day.
Castor bean – Known as the biggest of all annual plants, castor bean is the fastest-growing annual plant there is and it can be as huge as 20 feet, which makes it best when placed in the corners or when wanting to come up with a plant division in the yard.
Coleus – Although coleus is generally known as a sun-loving plant, it is also known for its love of moist soil all the time. Because of its gorgeous, rich colored leaves make, it’s a staple in almost every landscaping commercial project in most countries. It loves to be in the shade and can also be used as an indoor plant.
Finally, you can tell the need of the plant for water just by looking at its foliage. Usually, plants with thicker and greener foliage are having higher and constant need for water supply because its leaves tend to absorb sunlight easily. Plants with fleshy trunks, like banana trees, tend to absorb more water also. You can opt for plants with silvery and smaller foliage since majority of them don’t absorb heat hastily. Choosing the right plants for your garden or yard may not be very easy, but if you know which ones can thrive well in your place, you will not have to worry on other major things such as water supply.