A Look Inside Our Growing Tents

At GrowTropicals, we’re proud to be nurturing over 10,000 species of tropical houseplants, which include some of the rarest and most fascinating tropical plants in cultivation today.

Today, we’re giving you a peek inside our growing tents. We’ve taken a walk through the nursery and picked out a few corners and specimens that are really standing out right now.

Enjoy!

Begonia Table

Our Begonia table is bursting with colour, texture and variety. It’s one of the most vibrant sections of our tents — and easily one of the most photographed.

Some of the current highlights include:

• Begonia paulensis – With its textured, deeply veined leaves and compact growth habit, this one’s a favourite among collectors.
  

• Begonia burkilli – Unusual in shape and velvety to the touch, this variety brings a jungle feel to any space.

• Begonia scapigera – Delicate and charming, with a trailing habit that makes it perfect for hanging displays or elevated shelves.
  

Rare Aroids Table

Just opposite the Begonias, you’ll find our Rare Aroids Table — an area dedicated to species that are as intriguing as they are demanding. These plants share similar care requirements, so grouping them together helps us meet their needs with precision.

Some current residents of this table include:

• Syzygium sp. – Known for its glossy foliage and rare appearances in cultivation.
  

• Pseudohydrosme gabunensis – A true collector’s gem, native to Gabon and incredibly hard to find.
  

• Labisia pumila – A small, unassuming plant with medicinal uses and deep cultural significance in parts of Southeast Asia.
  
  

[Labisia pumila]

Anthurium & Philodendron Tent

We’ve recently reorganised our Anthurium and Philodendron tent, creating more space for new arrivals and home-grown hybrids. It’s a space where careful curation meets botanical experimentation.

Some standouts in this section include:

• Anthurium ‘DocBlock’ – Our newest release, and already a customer favourite.
  

• Anthurium papililaminum 'Marie' x luxurians – A hybrid with striking veining and rich texture, pictured below.
  

• Anthurium kunayalense – Sleek, dramatic, and just the right level of moody.
  

• Philodendron billietiae – With its long, narrow leaves and orange petioles, it brings structure and contrast.
  

• Anthurium pallidiflorum – Known for its long, pendant leaves and velvety finish.
  

We love seeing how these plants grow and evolve — especially when we get to share cuttings in our monthly Really Rare Restock.

 [Anthurium papililaminum 'Marie' x luxurians]

Quick Fire Tent Facts

Q: What temperature do you keep the growing tents at?
A: We maintain a range between 18°C and 24°C. It varies slightly depending on time of day and season, but this range suits most of our collection.

Q: What are the humidity levels inside the tents?
A: Humidity is consistently kept between 70% and 80%, which is ideal for the tropical species we grow.

Q: Which grow lights do you use?
A: We use high-efficiency LED grow lights, carefully selected for each tent’s specific lighting requirements. They provide a full spectrum of light while staying energy-efficient and are turned on daily via a timer.

Q: What soil mix do you use?
A: We use our own blends, developed in-house and tailored for the needs of aroids, begonias, and other tropicals. You can purchase these mixes directly from our website.

Q: How can I get into collecting rare houseplants?

A: Our advice is simple: start slow. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement, but rushing in often leads to stress, feeling overwhelmed and could end up in a few plant casualties. Here are our team’s top recommendations:

Jack: Start with a few manageable species that are known to be easier to care for, before jumping into super rare plants. 

Otto: Make sure your setup, including light, humidity, airflow, is solid before adding plants into the environment.

Jacob: Do your research. Knowing a plant’s origin and growth habits makes care much easier to mimic. 

Sonia: Focus on what you like, not just what’s trending online

[Anthurium pallidiflorum]We hope you enjoyed this little tour through our tents! If anything caught your eye, let us know in the comments or follow us on social media, where we post regular behind-the-scenes updates, sneak peeks, and restock announcements.

P.S. Every month, we propagate a selection of these rare beauties for our Really Rare Restock. If you saw something here that sparked your interest, keep an eye on our restocks.