This study was carried out in the Tropical Plant Resources Research Center of Korea National Arboretum to determine the optimum edaphic environment for the growth of tropical and subtropical plants. The physicochemical properties of artificial substrates and the growth characteristics of tropical and subtropical plants were investigated. Subtropical plants exhibited a high growth rate when cultivated in a substrate of Dry Zone that had physical properties similar to those of arid native soil. Mediterranean plants showed a low growth rate when grown in a substrate of Subtropical Zone that required changes in acidity. The substrate of Tropical Zone had high organic matter and mineral contents and therefore had good physical properties:this substrate has a good environment for the stimulation of the growth of tropical plants. Our results indicate that the chemical properties such as pH and mineral contents of most artificial substrates need to be more urgently improved than their physical properties in order to ensure better growth of tropical and subtropical plants. Initial management strategies for the construction of new tropical greenhouses were formulated, and data from monitoring studies will be continuously gathered and incorporated in the manual to keep it updated.