Tips for success with tropical house plants. 1) Choose the right pot – similar in size to it’s current size or one size larger. 2) Your pot must have drainage holes and a tray underneath to collect excess water. 3) Use the plant appropriate soil – sand, bark, or peat – always a porous texture. Do not use outdoor garden soil. 4) Place in the plant appropriate location – either full sun or indirect sunlight. 5) Watering is critical – too much or too little can cause mortality. Make a watering schedule and stick to it. 6) Fertilize once or twice a month with a 20-20-20 house plant fertilizer or a species-specific formulation Bernie Whetter,