The Plight of my Tropical Plants
Will tropical plants thrive in a grow tent? I first asked this question when nighttime temperatures started dropping below 50 degrees. This happened sooner than I expected. In Florida, hot days and hot nights go together. In Iowa, warm days and chilly nights are often paired.
Although I am absolutely thrilled with my family’s move to the Funny Farm in Iowa, my tropical plants feel differently about the locale. As fall temperatures set in, I could tell they were unhappy outdoors. My turmeric foliage yellowed on the edges. The gros michel bananas’ growth slowed. My vanilla vines shriveled. I knew I had little time to find a solution or risk losing my beloved flora. My original plan was to build a greenhouse. However, winter’s hasty approach combined with my newfound ambitions of constructing a geothermal structure left this intention unaccomplished.
Choosing a Grow Tent
I decided the quickest and most affordable option for the current situation would be a grow tent. The internet offered several options, a few of which I quickly passed over for aesthetic purposes. (I had no desire to have a tent with a large marijuana leaf decorating the side; I think my bananas would be offended by the false advertising.) After reading several reviews, I settled on this VivoSun tent: VIVOSUN G848 Upgraded 8×4 Mylar Grow Tent with 22mm Poles, 96″ x 48″ x 80″. This size tent fit perfectly in the strange carpeted closet upstairs. I chose the upgraded tent for durability.
The next step was choosing a grow light. I purchased the VIVOSUN VSF6450 Foldable LED Grow Light for its portability. It boasted full-spectrum lighting with a design that allows for illumination of the entire 8×4 tent. Additionally, the light included a timer and hooks to hang it from the tent poles.
Overall, I’m happy with this purchase so far. Tent construction was easy and the tent materials are durable. Although I had a minor issue with a stuck zipper during setup, VivoSun customer service provided assistance within a reasonable timeframe. The grow light is BRIGHT. The dimming knob broke on the first day of use, but I can still use the plastic piece underneath to change the light settings. The timer works great and keeps my plants on a schedule.
Tropical Plants in the Grow Tent
The inside of the tent is roomy and fits my entire (admittedly small) current collection of tropicals. After several weeks, many tropical plants have perked up with the current grow tent setup. A few continue to struggle.
Happy Tropical Plants
Black Ginger/Krachai Dum/Thai ginseng (kaempferia parviflora): this little plant has impressed me with its resilience. It seemed fine in a sunny window prior to the tent’s arrival. It even threw out the occasional white and purple flower. Now it continues to shoot out new brightly colored leaves in the shaded area of the tent. This one is a winner!
Gros Michel Banana Pups (musa acuminata; AAA Group): my two pups have resumed vigorous growth now that they are in the grow tent. The leaves appear greener and healthier. I am hopeful that I may be able to grow these historic bananas in Iowa. Time will tell.
Monstera Deliciosa (Albo and Thai Constellation): these fancy monstera plants appear content in the tent. Both have new growth and healthy color. I doubt I’ll have room to develop these into large, fruiting plants, but their leaf patterns bring me joy.
Tumerics (curcuma amada, curcuma caesia, curcuma longa): previously yellowing plants are shooting out new green leaves. The curcuma amada seems especially green and healthy now; the caesia and rare longa colors (i.e., green turmeric) have been a bit slower to recover. It is my goal to keep my collection of rare turmerics flourishing, despite living in the Midwest. Keeping these plants happy is priority.
Variegated Dragonfruit (hylocereus undatus): these small, rooted cuttings have started growing new sections. Their green color has improved and the plants appear to be thriving.
Not-So-Happy Tropical Plants
Miracle Fruit (synsepalum dulcificum): this plant seems unimpressed. Miracle fruit are typically slow growing, but this one seems to be hibernating. Yellowed leaves remain. I’ll give it time, however, before deeming this one a complete failure.
Vanilla Bean Orchid (vanilla planifolia): neither my variegated or regular green vines have shown any growth. Leaves are somewhat shriveled and browning. I will continue to try to nurse these plants back to health, but they may need their own higher-humidity tent to thrive.
Other Happy Plants
Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa): I am experimenting here, with a goal of providing delicious winter berries for the family. I’ve placed several Old North Sea strawberry plants in the grow tent and their growth has exploded.
Have you successfully grown plants in a grow tent? Were they tropicals? Were they cold-tolerant plants you coaxed to fruit in the winter? I’d love to hear about your grow tent adventures!
