While I have often showcased the garden, in this case, I highlight the pots on the patio. I didn’t discuss soil blends, even though I should have. Suffice to say, I mix roughly 50% compost with 50% potting soil, usually peat based, and use very little fertilizer at the time of planting. I live in zone 6a, so all these glorious tropicals (at least the ones who showed they were worth a damn) get brought indoors for the winter. Some get left out for the winter cold, if they repeatedly don’t perform over 2-3 years.

I also don’t have many of my prized aroids because they got infected with mosaic virus, and died. Thanks to one unscrupulous seller (Brian’s Botanicals) what this did allow was for me to enjoy more Calatheas, gingers, and palms. Many of the patio planters change and get shifted around as the sun moves throughout the season.