How to Plant and Grow the Star Magnolia - Magnolia stellata

The wonderful Star Magnolia - Magnolia stellata is arguably the best of the early, small ornamental flowering trees in the business. Native to the stream-sides and moist, boggy areas of Japan largest island, Honshū, Magnolia stellata is one of the smallest of the magnolia species and is a great addition for the suburban garden. However its most noticeable and ornamental feature are its blooms. It flowers very early on in the spring making it one of the first trees to break flower bud, the flowers are large and conspicuous and it produces its blooms before the leaves break bud which all together make for a very striking show - hence its ongoing popularity.

Although not from the Ericaceae family it will require acidic to neutral soil conditions so plant in a deep hole backfilled with ericaceous compost. Plant it in a sheltered position so that the blooms are protected from freezing wind and rain which can damage the petals. The soil will need to be regular damp but well-drained.

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Tropical Gardens UK: Top 5 Five Exotic Plants for March

The typica exotic garden has little to show in the spring so wee went to RHS Wisley garden to see what their top 5 five exotic plants would be in March. English Horticulturist Lorna investigated what is arguably one of the UK's finest exotic gardens and deceided on her top 5 five exootic plants at this time of year. These included two palms, two conifers and an evergreen shrub, all of which stood out during this visit.

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Vegetable Gardening UK: How To Grow Cucumber from Seed - The Best and Ea...

Given the right equipment and seeds this video covers the best and easiest way to grow cucumbers from seed. It is all about using quality F1 hybrid cucumber seeds, keeping all of the equipment clean and sterile, and sowing into sterilised compost. However perhaps the mosting important things are sowing at the right time and using a heated propagator.

But there is a little more to this than initially seems at face value. Cucumbers are a tropical plant and when you are trying to grow them in the UK you have to manage the temperature requirements of this plant. Temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius can shock this plant into a conditions where it just refuses to grow. Any lower and cold damage can occur and you will easily lose your plant. There are of course cultivars available now which are more capable of surviving in the UK without the additional heat provided by a green house but you will never get the yields achieved by a quality cultivar in a green house.

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Tropical Gardens UK: Our Exotic Garden on the First Day of Spring

We have been waiting patiently for the first day of spring to arrive in the hope that the tropical effect plants in our Exotic garden will start to show some signs of life. However with the long, cold winter still holding on by the tips of its icy grip very little has happened - or has it. English horticulturist Simon takes a closer look at the garden to see what plant-based miracles are beginning to emerge.

With the longer days and just a little more warmth in the air, the first of the spring bulbs have come into flower while other are just beginning to emerge from their seasonal slumber. Deciduous plants are just beginning to break into leaf and a number of herbaceous perennials are just poking their new growth above the soil line.

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Tropical Gardens UK: How to Plant and Grow Exotic Lilies from Bulbs

If you want to bring a tropical look to your exotic garden then why not plant and grow lily bulbs? They are inexpensive, readily available and easy to grow. Just make sure that they are in a sunny position (although they will tolerate partial sun) and a well-drained soil.

Be aware that there are a huge variety of cultivars available from dwarf lilies up to 9 inches high to towering tree lilies which can easily achieve 5ft or taller. Whatever you choose make sure that they are planted deep enough so that the stems have enough support. Furthermore provide good drainage to ensure that your bulbs will survive and flower year after year.

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Tropical gardens UK How to Pot and Plant Exotic Nerine (Guernsey Lily) ...

Native to the tropical climates of South Africa, Nerines (Guernsey Lilies) have different needs when you pot them on or plant them in an exotic garden. In this video English horticulturist Simon explains the conditions required to get the very best out of these wonderful bulbs. 

Apart from the extremely hardy Nerine bowdenii, it just isn't recommended to plant these gorgeous bulbs outside in the UK so in order to provide the best environment for flowering they will fair far better in a greenhouse. This is because the require warmer temperatures (especially over the winter) and dry winters.

On the other hand, Nerine bowdenii is as tough as old boots, at least in the south of England, where it can stand up to the worst our soft winters can through at it. Simply plant it in a sunny position (preferably against the protection of a south-facing wall) in a well drained soil.

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Vegetables and Salad Crops UK: Easy Mistakes to Avoid when Growing Tomat...

Germinating tomato seeds can always go wrong so check out these five (5) easy mistakes to avoid when growing tomatoes from seed. Get them wrong and you could lose a batch of seedlings, however these techniques are not just for salad crops these principles are relevant to the majority of seed grown plants.

Timing is extremely important, because if you leave sowing your tomatoes too late then you risk not having enough of the growing season left to allow the plant to produced ripened fruit. Sow then too early and you risk having your seedlings damaged or even killed by late frosts!

But it doesn't stop there as the importance of having sterilized equipment and compost cannot be underestimated as you can easily lose a batch of seedlings to fungal infection.

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Avoid these 5 Mistakes When Growing and Planting Camellias

Camellias are arguably the most impressive of all the early flowering shrubs but to get the most out of them you will do well to avoid these five mistakes when planting and growing them. Perhaps the most common issue with camellias is yellowing of the leaves which can reduce vigour, and flowering. This is followed by lack of water over the summer, scorching of leaves through planting in the wrong location, and incorrect pruning.

Get these things wrong and you can have stunted growth, discoloured leaves and even lack of flowering.

To find out more about these common problems to avoid check out the above video where English horticulturist Simon explores the common issues which this genus when planted as a garden plant, as well as how to avoid them.

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Five Mistakes to Avoid When Planting Calla Lilies (Bulbs) and How to Pla...

Calla lilies are a beautiful addition to any garden but to get the most out of your plants try to avoid these five mistakes when planting them. By following these tips you will ensure greater success and earlier flowering. 

Calla lilies can bring an amazing tropical look to the garden and despite being able to survive a mild winter here in the UK, they will not be able to cope with an extended period of freezing conditions. Of course the garden retailers like to have Calla lily bulbs out for sale as early as February but do not be tempted to plant them outside yet as the chances are that they will rot in the ground before the weather warms up! So check out this video above to avoid wasting your money.

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Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Plants Winter Death and Disasters!

With spring around the corner it is time to deal with the death and disasters of our exotic garden plants. With the worst winter in at least ten years behind us we can finally assess the damage of our so-called cold-hardy tropical effect plants. Its not good as many of our overwintering plants in the greenhouse have failed along with a number of those left outside under protection.

So we have a garden with plants that we know have died, yet still have many corms, tubers and bulbs which are still under the ground that we don't know whether they have survived or not. However the warmer weather of spring is inevitable even though there is no sign of the freezing weather moving on.

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How to Repot an Unruly Monstera deliciosa - 'Swiss Cheese Plant'

The Swiss Cheese plant - Monstera deliciosa, can become quite unruly when grown as a houseplant which means that at some point you will need to repot it to get it back under control. In its native habitat young seedlings naturally grow towards the shade in order to find suitable support such as the trunk of a tree or a cliff face. This means that the juvenile plant is ideal for growing in shady conditions such as those experienced in a home. This is why Monstera deliciosa makes for such a good house plant

In this video horticulturist Simon will explain how he goes about this as well as adding his top five facts about this magnificent plant.

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Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden February Walk-Round

Longer days and milder nights are starting to take effect in our exotic, cold hardy, tropical effect garden which means it's time for a February walk-round. Join horticulturist Simon as he checks out what is emerging in the garden.

Bulbs are the key plants that are making the most effort but some of the deciduous shrubs and climbers are emerging new leaves too.

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HOW TO PLANT AND GROW CORDYLINE AUSTRALIS

If you are looking to plant and grow Cordylines in your garden then you are in great company as this is one of the hardiest and most attractive architectural plants you can grow. Commonly known in the UK as the cabbage palm Cordyline australis is an evergreen ornamental tree endemic to New Zealand.

It has proven to be hardy enough to cope with UK winters and does so well on the south coast of England that it has now become naturalised. This means that it can produce viable seed which will germinate and grow on into mature trees. So good is its performance in the UK it has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit not just for the true species but also the following cultivars: 'Albertii', 'Sundance', 'Torbay Dazzler' and 'Torbay Red'.

When choosing your site for planting look for a position which is either in full sun or at the very least semi-shadeed. Avoid shade as this will encourage weak, extending growth. Soil type is not too important although avoid heavy clay as this can stunt growth. Try to pick a area of soil that is moist but well-drained. Dry soils can be improved by digging in plenty of organic matter beforehand, whereas waterlogged soils can be managed buy planting into a raised bed.

In the first couple of years you will need to water your plants during periods of drought. If temperature look to drop below 8 degrees Celsius consider protecting the crown with a horticultural bag or fleece.

Elche Mediterranean Gardens, Spain Slide Show - Home to Cacti, Succulent...

Welcome to our slide show of  Elche Garden - Huerto del Cura, Alicante Spain. This wonderful garden is home to a fantastic display of cacti, succulents, Tropical, Exotic and Mediterranean plants. The undisputed star of the garden is the specimen of Phoenix dactylifera known as the 'Imperial Palm', a date palm with 7 arms that emerge at a height of 1.50 m from the main trunk and an age of about 165 years!

This was my second visit to Elche gardens and I can genuinely say that the standard across the whole of the garden was much improved. The displays looked well maintained and the plants themselves seemed stronger, healthier and in much better condition. However the last time I was there Spain was in the middle of a heat wave with temperatures entering the low 40's Celsius and no one like that including most of the plants.

So if you are in the area I would definitely recommend a visit as it is arguably the best garden in the area - just remember to always take water with you.

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How to Grow, Plant, Transplant and Re-Plant Cordylines Without Killing Them

There is always a risk when it comes to planting, transplanting or replanting cordylines and of course no-one wants to unintentionally kill them if they can help it. In this video English horticulturists Simon and Lorna explain the importance of reducing water loss from the leaves while the roots are inevitably damaged during the lifting process.

This cordyline is an established plant that has been lifted from an existing border and in this video we explain how to replant it in an other border using various techniques that will give it the best start in its new life.

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How to Grow Indoor Amaryllis from Bulbs

Who doesn't love Amaryllis and wouldn't want to grow them indoors from bulbs? Well if you don't then this video is not for you. Monstrous bulbs combined with massive architectural blooms is a heady mix and I for one absolutely love them. So to find out how easy it is to grow them indoors from a bulb I have asked Lorna to share her wisdom. Her secret? The airing cupboard!

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Tropical Gardens UK: Giant Arum Lily - Zantedeschia aethiopica 'Hercules...

This giant arum lily was an absolute surprise when we saw it at Wisley last year. So impressive was it that I had to buy one myself. The trouble is that very few nurseries were growing it but luckily I manage to pick up a specimen albeit a small one. Now there has been some issue regarding the name as mentioned in this video, plus I have been contacted by one of our viewers who states that Wisley does have it right and Champion plants who supplied the plant has it wrong. It is very difficult to say as nursery that introduced this plant is now calling both plants the same cultivar!

Anyway, what is important is that this plant is and absolute eye-catcher and is listed as hardy down to -5 to -10 degree Celsius, which means that it will grow in large parts of the UK.

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Tropical Plants Glasshouse - Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Welcome to the wonderful tropical greenhouse at Birmingham Botanic gardens with your horticultural hosts Lorna and Zoe. This tropical greenhouse is wonderful surprise housed in the Midlands, making the delights of quality horticulture more accessible to Brummie, like-minded gardeners who would otherwise have to rough it with southern posh-os in that there London! So enjoy this walkround where Lorna and Zoe point out anything that catch their interest.

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Tropical Gardens: Monte Palace Botanical Gardens, Madeira, Spain

The botanical gardens found at Monte Palace, Madeira were an absolute delight. We found them by making a trip adviser search before we arrived but we were blown away by just how good they were on our real-life visit. Of all the gardens we visit, and to be fair they were all great, this one was by far the very best. In fact I would go as far and say that this was a would class garden!

Now there are a number of water features here which have caused a problem with the microphone in places but despite this we hope you enjoy this garden which I believe was one of the first videos we ever made - hence out lack of  presentation skills.

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How to Grow Mistletoe from Seed

The hanging of mistletoe at Christmas to steal a kiss from a maiden may be considered sexual violence in today's society but please don't blame the mistletoe. Mistletoe is having a hard enough time! With the ever-dwindling UK apple industry meaning less and less host plants from which to grow on and steal nutrients and water from without giving anything back. So mistletoe are desperate for a helping hand!

With this in mind why not consider growing your own mistletoe from seed - assuming you have a suitable host tree and a pair of organic disposable gloves? The best time of year for this is February/March and you should be able to get hold of viable seeds from on-like retailers.

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Tropical Gardens UK: January Upgrades for our Young Exotic Effect Cold H...

Even in the cold depths of winter January has forced us from our heated blankets to do some  time-sensitive work in the garden. However if we don't do it now we risk damaging the emerging bulbs planted last year as well as lose an opportunity to move some ill-placed plants while they are still dormant. We also made an Avatar tree!

The opportunities where soil conditions are reasonable and its not too cold to work in are rare, so it makes sense to create a hierarchy of jobs that can be actioned quickly when conditions allow. Dipsite still technically being winter, walking around the local area we can see daffodils, snowdrops and a few crocus coming into bloom so you have to be really careful about not damaging the emerging bulbs when you are walking on what looks to be baron plant borders.

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Orchid Cactus (Disocactus ackermannii) Winter Disaster

Oh my goodness, my orchid cacti have been absolutely fine wintering outside for the past 6 years, then this year they have been absolutely smashed! 

If you didn't know before, Orchid cactus - Disocactus ackermannii is an species of epiphytic cactus that occurs in the cloud forests of Veracruz and Oaxaca, in Mexico. It is a gorgeous, evergreen plant with an arching trailing habit and produces dark green, long, flattened leaves which are only 2-3 inches wide but up to 36 inches long! Usually tough as old boots I like to grow it outside hanging from my trees.

This year however a polar vortex descended on the garden and stayed for a couple of weeks, just long enough to kill a lot of my 'on-the-edge' hardy plants. Even the back up plan cacti in the greenhouse were frozen to mush! Luckily it wasn't a complete disaster as you will find out in this video.

Cacti and Succulent Collection at Birmingham Botanic Gardens

Welcome to the cacti and succulent collection at Birmingham Botanical gardens with your horticultural hosts Lorna and Zoe. In this video they take a walk around the cacti and succulent collection pointing out the things of interest.

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Cactus Garden (Jardín de Cactus) Lanzarote César Manrique - Beautiful Sl...

If you find yourself at a loose end on the Cany island of lanzarote then hire a caba and check out this truly gorgeous, and well thought-out cactus and succulent garden designed by local Lanzarote artist Cesar Manrique. It is a jewel in the crown of this island and I would recommend to anyone who is horticulturally minded.

Sited in a disused quarry, the excavated sides and man-made terracing dramatically compliment the specimen cacti and succulents therein.

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Snake Charmers Traditional Moroccan - Marrakesh (Marrakech) - Jamaa el F...

This short film is part of our lost video collection from when we first visited Morocco in 2010. It was a little wild in Morocco at that time and being tall Europeans we stood out like a sore thumb making us an absolute target for the locals. The whole time we were then we were being approached by unwanted salesmen, scammed several times until we realised what was going on, and generally ignored in the cafes and restaurants presumably because of either local religious reasons or because I was with my wife.

That being said we visited a few years later after the King of Morocco wanted to create an environment that would attract more foreign visitors and we found it felt a lot safer with much less unsolicited encounters.

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Tropical Gardens UK: Tree Fern Winter Maintenance - Dicksonia antarctica

Once we have completed our winter protection of Tree Ferns we tend to forget about them until the spring when we have to take it off again. Now, depending on the prevailing temperatures, weather and type of protection provided a certain amount of maintenance may be necessary - especially if the fronds are wrapped. In this video we discuss what can be done to make sure that come the spring, your tree ferns start the year in the best condition possible.

This is so important, especially in years where there are unseasonably low temperatures or late springs otherwise your tree fern can struggle to get back to conditions and in extreme cases severely damage the plant. So by giving your tree ferns a head start you will have a luxurious canopy in no time!

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Tropical Gardens UK: Nerine Collection at West Dean Gardens

Its rare to come across any nerine in the UK unless it is the ubiquitous (and the only species proven to be hardy in the UK) Nerine bowdenii - the Guernsey lily, name as such despite its South African origins! However there are approximately 20–30 other half-hardy and tender species in the genus, the exact number of which is still being debated by scientists.

As you would expect from a genus with such a showy blooms, Nerines have been widely cultivated and much hybridized worldwide, especially Nerine bowdenii, N. masoniorum, N. sarniensis and N. undulata. Notably, the hybrid cultivar 'Zeal Giant' with its umbels of deep pink flowers up to 5 cm across has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. However most of the other 20 species are rarely cultivated and very little is known regarding their biology. 

In fact many species are threatened with extinction due to the loss or degradation of their habitat which is why the collection of Nerines on show in the Victorian glass house is something very species indeed. Where else are you going to see such a range of quality plants in bloom?

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Tropical Gardens UK: How to Overwinter (Winterize) Glory Lily, Flame li...

Most gardeners responsible for exotic gardens dread the late autumn as with it come a huge amount of plant winterisation. One such plant is the Glory lily which cannot be left out in freezing, wet conditions otherwise the root tubers will easily damage and rot! There are a few techniques which you can employ, usually I tip the pot over mid-autumn to prevent rain water from soaking the root-ball then I bring the pot into the greenhouse and leave it to dry out until I bring it back in the spring. This year I have done it differently as I am out of space in the green house which turned out to be perfect as a number of my hardy exotic have been damaged despite being in the greenhouse due to an exceptionally cold spell!

So now the tubers have been washed clean, dried and stored in a drawer in the kitchen. Once the threat of late frosts have passed they will be potted on again, placed outside in full sun and watered thoroughly.

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Tropical Gardens UK: Simon's Top 5 Cold Hardy, Tropical Effect, Exotic P...

Welcome to my current Top 5 list of my favourite tropical effect plants with hardy bananas going straight to the top spot. All of these are tried and tested for their ornamental value, hardiness and 'tropical look' so you can be confident in planting them in your own garden and not worrying to much about whether they will survive or need much maintaining.

If you are interested in such things then the garden we are in is the Exotic garden at RHS Wisley and is one of our top favourite gardens here in the UK.

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Tree Echium (Echium pininana) winter Maintenance and caterpillar Damage

Ahh, Tree Echiums or as I clearly like to call them 'Giant Echiums', which of course they are! The problem with growing them on the south coast of England is that they live on the very edge of where they can survive. This means that a harsh winter here can really damage them. So in order to survive into the following season they will need some frost protection - which creates its own problem. When left hidden under cover, it is possible that caterpillars are in there too meaning that they can happily munch on the succulent new growth throughout the winter leaving you with a damaged, poor quality specimen come the spring!

No at first sight your specimen my look absolutely fine, and of course these plants really want to grow so will happily produce luxurious side shoots as soon as the weather improves. The problem is that these side shoots are always weakly connected to the main branch. So as they grow upwards to produce the flower spike they will not be able to hold themselves in strong winds resulting in fallen spikes which has snapped where they join the trunk.

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Majorelle Gardens, Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech (Marrakesh), Morocco, Exo...

We have visited Majorelle gardens a couple of times, but for this first visit the gardens were exceptional! Everywhere was so tidy, staff were around clearing the paths, it was like a breath of fresh air. Typically Moroccan, as you would expect, it was fantastic to see gardeners using different techniques to us in northern Europe to cope with the hotter dryer conditions.

Recently Lorna had reminded me that I have taken some footage here, something that I didn't remember doing - which was fair as it was 13 years ago!  However, after an argument, I was made to go into the loft and drag out the old video camera. Of course Lorna was right, there was enough footage to make this short video from the previously lost footage.

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Quickest, Easiest Way to Overwinter (Winterise) Hardy Banana - Musa basjoo

The hardy Japanese banana is often the jewel in an exotic garden. So if an unexpected cold spell is forecast that could damage your prized specimen you will need to provide adequate cold protection and fast! So here on the south coast of England winters are generally mild, but on occasion significantly cold temperatures a can arrive which will need managing. In this video, English horticulturist Simon explains the quickest and easiest way to save the day and hopefully your banana pseudostems for a more established exotic garden in the spring. Just make sure you have the required paraphernalia to hand! Remember that this is at the lower end of winter protection and the colder the region you live in the more cold protection will need to be put in place!

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Tropical Gardens UK: Lornas Top 5 Must-Have Exotic Plants

If you are thinking about creating a cold hardy, tropical effect, exotic garden and are looking to find out which plants are going to give you a great ornamental effect then why not check out English horticulturist Lorna's top 5 plants which are among the toughest and eye-catching available?

In this video Lorna has journeyed to RHS Wisley to check out their magnificent exotic garden and see which plants are looking the most impressive. Bearing in mind that this was filmed in December it was easy to pick out her top 5 outstanding cold hardy, tropical effect plants.

If you have any great suggestions for your own top 5 cold hardy, tropical effect, exotic garden then why not let us know in the YouTube comments?

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Gorgeous Alpine Garden at Nymans - We were Barred!

The alpine garden at Nymans in West Sussex is one of the key features here. Unfortunately and despite being a glorious autumn November day we found that we were barred (along with all the other visitors that day) from visiting this part of the garden! Why? Well the ground here was so wet that water was beginning to pool on the surface so anyone walking across it will cause damage. 

That being said you can see the overall landscape in which the alpine garden sits which will give you an indication of how good these gardens really are.

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