Exotic Angel Plants aren’t a plant as such. At least, not one particular kind of plant. Rather, they’re a registered trademark of Hermann Engelmann Greenhouses Inc. The trademark is used against a huge variety of different hybrid plants… and when we say huge, we do mean huge. Around 400 plants in total have earned the title of Exotic Angel Plant, with some of the best-known types including the Chinese evergreen, Laceleaf, Dumb Cane, Dragon plant, and Fig.
All of the plants share tropical origins, and all of them have been bred to be grown either indoors as a houseplant or in greenhouses. Fortunately, caring for an Exotic Angel Plant isn’t too complicated. Providing you know your way around a watering can and a bag of fertilizer, you shouldn’t have too many problems in getting them to thrive. If you’ve recently bought an Exotic Angel Plant into your home, here’s everything you need to know about Exotic Angel Plant care.
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A Little Bit Of History
Before we get into the hows and whys of caring for an Exotic Angel Plant, a little bit of history. Exotic Angel, as mentioned, is a brand name that covers over 400 varieties of houseplants developed by Hermann Engelmann Greenhouses, Inc. As Hunker explains, Hermann Engelmann is an old and respected name that will be well known to plant history buffs. During the 1970s, Engelmann decided to move from northern climes to Florida, where, inspired by the glorious weather and the ideal growing conditions, he set about capitalizing on the houseplant boom of the 1970s, a period in which you were no one if you didn’t own at least one cheese plant. Before long, Engelmann had increased his business to the point he was operating almost 3 million square feet of greenhouses in Apopka.
As keen a businessman as he was a horticulturist, Engelmann succeeded in doing something that had always proved almost impossible for other growers: he established a private label, or ‘brand,’ for his plants. Each plant that bears the ‘Exotic Angel Plant’ brand name is grown exclusively in Engelmann’s greenhouses. Although the care instructions they come with aren’t unusual, the unique angel logo that’s stamped on each label certainly is. As, too, is the care that goes into their development.
Business was Acquired
In 2014, Hermann passed away. The business was subsequently acquired by Costa Farms, a third-generation family-owned business based in Miami, Florida. At the time of the acquisition, they promised they would continue to build on Hermann’s good work by supporting the Exotic Angel brand. In 2017, Costa Farms entered into a partnership with Markel Ventures to allow them to further expand their operations.
Thanks to the partnership, Exotic Angel Plants are now more popular than ever. And little wonder. As there’s no possibility of passing off any defects when your brand name is stamped on the label for everyone to see, the company goes to huge lengths to ensure its plants are strong and healthy. The company even conducts extensive market research to make sure everything from its pots to its packaging to its plant selections are meeting expectations.
Care Requirments
There’s no set standard for caring for an Exotic Angel Plant. Each of the 400 varieties requires slightly different types of care, depending on the species they come from. If you get an Exotic Angel Plant fig, you can expect it to require the same care as any other fig. If you buy an Exotic Angel Plant pothos, it’s going to need the same watering, the same amount of light, and the same quantities of fertilizer as the pothos you’d get from anywhere else. Ultimately, the only thing different about an Exotic Angel Plant and any other plant of the same species is the brand name: everything else is the same. All that being said, there are certain care requirements you can expect to apply regardless of the species. These include:
- Soil – As plantophiles.com writes, the majority of the families in the Exotic Angel Plant lineup require a moist soil that’s not overly saturated. Plants can easily rot if they are left to stand in water for long, so always look for well-draining, peat moss-based soils that are rich in organic material.
- Light – Most Exotic Angel Plants benefit from indirect sunlight. Many flowering plants will burn or scorch when placed in direct sunlight, but will still require plenty of natural light to grow evenly and produce vibrant blooms. Some variations require less sun than others, so be sure to check the care instruction label that comes with the plant for further details. The label even gives you a very helpful color-coding instruction guide so you can judge exactly how much sun your plant needs.
- Watering – Regardless of species, all Exotic Angel Plants require a moderate amount of water. Young plants should be watered around 2 to 3 times a week (more if you live in a very dry climate), while adult plants will benefit from weekly watering sessions. To avoid the pitfalls of either overwatering or underwatering, touch the surface of the soil with your fingertips. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it feels soggy, cut back on the watering sessions for now. If your house is very dry, you can increase your plant’s ability to hold moisture by setting the plant container on a bed of pebbles soaked in water.
- Feeding – Like all plants, Exotic Angel Plants will benefit from the occasional application of fertilizer. In most cases, this will need to be done in spring. However, as the needs can vary significantly depending on the particular species of plant, be sure to check the care label before you start getting too liberal with the nitrogen.
- Consistency – According to costafarms.com, the one thing no Exotic Angel Plant likes is a change for change’s sake. Once they find a spot they like, they like to stay there. If they have to move around, it can take them a while to adjust to the new location. Once you bring your new plant home, give it time to settle in its new environment before you start moving it around different spots in the house. Too much moving around will leave your plant stressed and unhealthy.
- Positioning – Other than finding a spot with the perfect amount of sunlight for your plant’s needs, be sure to pay attention to the general environment. If it’s near a heat or cooling vent, your plant is unlikely to be happy. Neither it is going to be too thrilled if it’s in a draft.
You can also read:
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- The Ultimate Guide to Growing and Caring for Sky Plants
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