We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Raffaele DiLallo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Raffaele below.

Raffaele, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

My business, Ohio Tropics, started with a website back in 2017. I wish I had started it earlier because I would have benefited from the “golden days” of blogging but as they say, today is the next best time to start anything. The online world has changed rapidly since then, and it’s part of the business and adaptation is really important. The catalyst to start my website came from a friend. She called me and said “You know so much about plants. You should start a blog.” I had been thinking about it for a while, but the day after that phone call, I started ohiotropics.com and it was the best thing that I did. I proceeded slowly. The first thing I did to monetize my business was create a very short eBook with NO pictures and it STILL sells well to this day. It’s called Moth Orchid Mastery. After that, I monetized my website. Since then, I have published a book with Countryman Press (Houseplant Warrior: 7 Keys to Understanding the Mysteries of Houseplant Care). And almost 2 years ago, I launched my online orchid care course called Become an Orchid Master, which now has over 500 members. It focuses on the care of Phalaenopsis orchids. I am also active on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. It has been a wild ride, and I was able to quit my corporate job as a chemical engineer back in 2022 to focus on Ohio Tropics full time. I’ve added a Shopify store recently (ohiotropics.shop) and I routinely give talks and workshops locally on plant care, orchid care, and more. I truly enjoy what I do.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Besides my website (ohiotropics.com), I’m most proud of two products:

1. Houseplant Warrior: 7 Keys to Unlocking the Mysteries of Houseplant Care came out of a simple frustration: most houseplant books are too vague to actually help anyone. They recycle the same generic advice without ever explaining the reasoning behind it, and struggling plant parents are left guessing. I wrote the book I wish I’d had decades ago.
With a large and engaged social media following, I had a unique advantage most authors don’t: direct, ongoing access to the exact problems real plant owners face. I didn’t have to guess what was confusing people. I could see it, in real time, in the thousands of questions and comments that came through every week. That shaped every chapter. Published in 2022, Houseplant Warrior goes beyond the surface-level care tips that fill most books. The first half is dedicated to the foundational principles of plant care, including topics most books skip entirely. I cover light, watering, soil, humidity, and more, but I explain the why behind each one, because understanding the reasoning is what turns a struggling plant parent into a confident one.
The second half features real case studies drawn from actual problems people have brought to me over the years, along with profiles of some of my favorite houseplants to grow. It’s practical, grounded, and built around the way people actually learn.
I’ve been growing plants for as long as I can remember, indoors and outdoors, and I’ve spent years helping others do the same. This book is the distillation of all of it, and the response from readers has been everything I hoped for.

2. Become an Orchid Master is my flagship online course, and honestly, it’s one of the things I’m most proud of creating.
Launched in summer 2024, the course is built around one goal: taking someone who has struggled with orchids and turning them into someone who genuinely understands them. It is grounded in experience and science, not gimmicks and vague advice. Just close to three hours of clear, practical, science-backed guidance focused entirely on Phalaenopsis orchids, the most popular orchid in the world and the one most people bring home without a clue how to keep alive. You get lifetime access and can work through the material entirely on your own schedule. But the course is only part of it. Every member also gets access to a private Facebook community where you can ask questions, share your progress, and connect with other orchid growers who are on the same journey. It has grown into a genuinely warm and engaged group of people who love their plants, and that community aspect has become one of the most valued parts of the whole experience.
Since launching, over 500 people have gone through the course, and the response has been overwhelming. What means the most to me is that a meaningful portion of new students find their way here through word of mouth. People are recommending it to their friends, and in the world of online education, that is the clearest sign that something is actually working.
If you have ever felt like orchids were out of your reach, this course was made for you.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Running an online business is always challenging and it changes really quickly, especially in this age of AI. For years, I had relied too much on traffic from Google traffic going to my website. But back in September of 2022, Google issued an algorithm update, dubbed the “Helpful Content Update” that devastated the traffic of so many small online publishers. Fortunately, I had monetized my business with other methods, but I took a huge hit. It was because of this update that I had to pivot and it prompted me to finally create my first online course, Become an Orchid Master. Since this issue, I’m much more aware to never put too many eggs into one basket. Things online change quickly, and only those that pivot and constantly keep a pulse on things will be successful.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My biggest social media platform is Instagram. The best way to grow is by regularly creating reels. And be CONSISTENT. Algorithms like consistency and engagement. You do have to post regularly (daily if you can) and also look at analytics. See what is working, and do more of that. Then rinse and repeat. In a nutshell, it sounds easy, but it really is as simple as that. Don’t chase the “algorithm” and use it as a scapegoat for why your account isn’t growing. Be genuinely helpful and informative (or entertaining, whatever your shtick is) and your following will come. Most things are really simple and straightforward in theory, but people that develop processes, have dedication and consistency in their work will win. Success isn’t luck. It’s hard work, consistency, and strategy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ohiotropics.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohiotropics
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhioTropics
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ohiotropics
• Other: Here is my online flagship orchid care course: https://raffaele-dilallo.mykajabi.com/become-an-orchid-master