Tropical Gardening

Tropical Gardening

You don?t have to live on a lush island to have a beautiful tropical garden; with careful planning and diligent maintenance, anyone in every climate zone can have their own tropical retreat. Tropical gardening is a rewarding, satisfying and often hair-pulling adventure that many outdoor plant enthusiasts shy away from. Your problem is the further your local weather is from a tropical climate, the harder it will be to keep. Tropical gardening isn’t as difficult as you think; you just need to follow a few rules.

Plan, plan, and plan - first and foremost. Yes, planning is the key to success for any gardening theme you want, especially a tropical garden.

Location? it must be sunny and in a highly visible area. Tropical gardens are always the focal point of your yard due in large part to the plants being used.

Soil:? till the entire area and remove any debris. Add in some sand and a good deal of compost; you want the soil nutrient rich. After planting, top off with some dark mulch to help keep in some humidity.

Irrigation ? decide how you will water as tropical plants require a great deal of moisture on a daily basis. You may want to install soaker hoses under the soil as well as giving your beauties a nice long drink by hand watering. WARNING ? do not over water ? have better than adequate drainage set up.

Layering ? this goes directly to plant selection. Higher plants in the back, medium sizes in the middle and smaller shorties up front or in containers.

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Garden Tip...

Seeds that are exceptionally fine, like those of Lobelias, Petunias, Ferns, and other very tiny seeds, ought never to be covered deeper than the sixteenth of an inch, with very fine soil sifted on them through a fine sieve; the soil should then be lightly patted down with the back of a shovel. This will prevent the seeds from shriveling before they start to germinate.
~ James Sheehan
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Winterizing ? plants you know will need to come indoors during the winter nay be best planted in pots. Not only will this add depth and dimension to your garden but will also make winterizing easier.

Once you have the tropical garden area set up, it is time to purchase your plants. Tropical plants are far more unusual looking than many other plants having broad leaves, succulent stalks and gorgeous flowers. Why not get started with a selection of the following:

Banana trees (get the dwarf variety unless you want huge trees)
Elephant ears (a wide variety of colors and sizes available)
Purple-heart (Secrecia)
Croton (will need to take indoors during the winter)
Kalanchoe (come in a variety of colors)
Ornamental grasses (Cardinal Lobelia, New Zealand Flax, Miscanthus Cabaret)
Agave
Carpet Geraniums
Bamboo (Golden Goddess)
Ferns
Cannas (many colors to choose from)
Ginger plants

If your local climate is very cold during the winter months, it will be best to remove many of your tropical plants and bring them indoors; not only will you save their life but you will create a wonderful ambiance for yourself during those dreary days. You will need to do this will all the bulbs as well; constant below freezing temperatures will kill them. Every spring, be sure to turn the soil and add in fresh compost in order to keep your tropical garden nutrient rich.
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Garden Tip...

All individuals of the vegetable world are so created as to reproduce themselves from seed or its equivalent. Every plant that grows seems to possess the power to perpetuate its kind. All kinds of flowering plants can be grown from the seed, providing good, sound seeds are obtained, and they are placed under the proper influences to make them germinate and grow.
~ James Sheehan
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