MASSIVE UK Tropical Garden Autumn Overwintering Tour - Winter Care for my Exotic Plants

Today's video is an autumn tour of our UK tropical jungle style garden looking at how I overwinter and provide winter care for a lot of the exotic & unusual, sometimes hardy and sometimes tender plants that I grow to create this look. I try to cover when I take them in and give protection, what comes inside for winter, what goes into the polytunnel / greenhouse and a few tips for looking after the tougher plants which stay outside. Links to specific plant care sections below:
0:00 Intro
5:15 Persicaria winter care
5:58 Fatsia japonica winter care
6:36 Trachycarpus wagnerianus winter care
8:22 Salvia Amistad winter care
9:25 Tetrapanax T-Rex winter care
11:19 Musa basjoo winter care
12:18 Trachycarpus princeps hybrid winter care
12:51 Alocasia winter care
13:33 Cyathea medullaris winter care
14:59 Overwintering small Ensete ventricosum Maurelii
16:13 Coleus - Overwinter or not?
17:06 Garden Tropicals and Houseplants come inside for winter
17:31 Hedychium gardnerianum winter care
18:48 Dicksonia antartica tree fern winter care
21:54 Hardy Schefflera winter care (for larger plants)
23:08 Fatsia polycarpa winter care
24:02 Zantedeschia Hercules & White Giant winter care
26:01 Bamboo winter care
26:55 Pseudopanax winter care
27:52 Potted Palm winter care
28:28 Aloe polyphylla winter care
29:33 Agave & Mangave winter care
31:08 Phoenix canariensis date palm winter care
32:47 Butia odorata winter care
34:01 Cycas revoluta Cycad winter care
34:19 Musa Dwarf Cavendish banana plant winter care
35:05 Potted Cyathea brownii tree fern winter care
35:26 Large Ensete ventricosum Maurelii winter care
39:15 Canna winter care
41:43 Brugmansia winter care
42:15 Citrus winter care
43:55 Gunnera manicata winter care
45:33 Trachycarpus fortunei winter care
48:04 Butia eriospatha winter care
48:48 Overwintering Colocasia esculenta & Pink China
51:06 Overwintering Dahlias
52:25 Miscanthus giganteus winter care
53:43 Hardy Yucca gloriosa variegata winter care
54:06 Chamaerops winter care
54:33 Agave Ovatifolia & Montana winter care
55:32 Jubaea chilensis winter care
56:40 Echium pininana winter care
58:17 Aeonium winter care
59:55 Hardy Aloe striatula winter care
If you've enjoyed my content and would like to say thanks for the price of a coffee then please head over to my Ko-fi, any kind donations would be appreciated and put towards creating more exciting content (or treats for Max if you wish!): ko-fi.com/georgesjunglegarden​​
Thanks,
George

[@tomedwards5132]

Great stuff. Good for us gardeners who need refreshing every winter. Thanks 🌴

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Tom, I'm pleased it was helpful!

[@zalehaburude7752]

Truly wonderful.... Thank you for sharing your great Tropical garden...George's Jungle.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, that's very kind of you!

[@mrchuffy6535]

This is such a staple video for me, I often come back to it as a reference, thank you George!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and apologies for my delayed reply! Thank you very much, I'm pleased to hear it's continuing to be helpful. I might try to do an updated version one day with the learnings from last winter etc. Are there any plants you think more advice should be given on?

[@mrchuffy6535]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden I think it covers all the basics and most the common plants pretty well that's why I use it, perhaps your next rework of it could be done slightly later in the year so you go round and show what you have actually done. Visually not very appealing but still important info. Thanks George hope you well

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@mrchuffy6535 Thanks and that's a good idea. It's always tricky trying to balance videoing what you're doing in a certain season in a timely way to help other people but without doing it too early yourself. There's maybe value in showing what I do before a real cold snap though, thanks for the idea. All is good here thanks, hopefully some more frequent videos coming soon. I hope everything is good with you too.

[@YorkshireKRIS]

Enjoyable tour and info. Looking forward to seeing the polytunnel

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Kris, I’ll probably put it up next weekend, very utilitarian but it does the job!

[@emmagunston446]

George thank you, thank you, thank you! You are sooooo good to us gardeners, sharing your tips and holding our hands virtually. The effort and time this must take you is seriously appreciated.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much again Emma, great to know it’s appreciated! I knew I wasn’t going to have chance to do vids on every plant this year so thought I’d combine them into one!

[@robertoughton9037]

Thanks George great video, i think now I'm ready for winter .

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Robert! I’ve got plenty to do here haha!

[@palmsexoticsuk2194]

“If there’s anyone still watching at this point” at about 56minutes in 🤣🤣 that’s how I feel with some of my (much shorter) videos except it’s probably actually the case with many of mine! Great video, as others have said 😀

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks for both your compliment and endurance! Don't put yourself down, I haven't watched too many of your videos (trying not to watch too many other plant videos currently so they don't influence mine!) but what I have seen has been very interesting and well put together. Happy gardening and all the best for 2022, keep it up!

[@palmsexoticsuk2194]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks George, for your kind words! Happy New Year

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@palmsexoticsuk2194 Thanks! All the best 😃

[@johnwilson4899]

Really enjoyed the video very useful information. Thanks George

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks John, I appreciate it 😃

[@robertcornelius8056]

Thanks for sharing your tips

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for watching! 😃

[@TheRanch4Life]

Brilliant George!! So helpful, thanks

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, I’m pleased it was helpful 😃

[@hayleywilson5109]

Very informative and very helpful. Thank you :)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Hayley 😃

[@oldgold5848]

Awesome info George. Well done.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, I appreciate it! I did try to cover as many plants as possible without it being a crazy run round the garden 😂

[@missdimples1982]

Still watching at 59:00 I think they look great and really suit the other plant's

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Wow, thank you for sticking with it! Thanks, I think so too, I’ve gone from thinking about removing them to thinking about dividing them to make more next spring! 😃

[@missdimples1982]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden I think that would look great, they add a striking clash of colour and look very exotic amongst the true exotic green

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@missdimples1982 Definitely, thanks. Plus the bees seem to enjoy them too!

[@aquachimp1]

Hi, Great videos; valuable info; many thanks.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and thank you very much, I'm pleased they're helpful!

[@anotherone53]

Beautiful 🥰👌

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much 😃

[@barbarahurrell418]

Thank you so much. First year of tropical for me and that was very useful 💚💚

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much for watching, that’s great to hear 😃

[@vtriplej8334]

Beautiful stroll around your garden plus I'm so thankful for your information and help tips 🏝🎃

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much 😃

[@orchidyounes5400]

I truly enjoyed your overwintering tour. Your garden looks amazing ☺️

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, I really appreciate it! It’s come together nicely so far but I’ve already got plans for next year 😃

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

Great job. A super collection of really useful advice👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you for watching as always 😃

[@dianewhitworth4953]

Great video, thank you George, really helped me with some of my plants and what choices to make

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That’s great to hear, I’m pleased it was helpful Diane!

[@geoffsweeney1728]

Great video looking good. Just keep them coming.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Geoff! 😃

[@ThePalmDude]

Great video as always George, very informative, picked up some great useful little tips. Thanks.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, that's great. Thanks Jake!

[@davidbanner9001]

Thank you so much George. The fact that you make these videos is great. This one in particular must of taken ages to put together. As you mentioned the talk this time of year, more than any other plant is the Ensete. It's my first year growing them and indeed overwintering. So, I'm going to experiment a little and dry store one and then pot another up and not water it. Both are about the same size. So lets see how they both get on. This will then enable me to know which process is best "for me" with "my facilities" for the coming years.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Cheers, I appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment. It wouldn’t have taken that long but my laptop struggled a bit so that’s why it’s up on a Friday, not earlier in the week! I think you’re doing the right thing with the Ensetes, neither method is guaranteed obviously but you should have a good chance. Good luck and you’re completely right, it’s all about finding what works for you and your setup 😃

[@monikalange4486]

Thanks for great information 👏👏👏 garden looks amazing

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Monika 😃

[@missdimples1982]

Your garden is amazing

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, that’s really kind of you! Hopefully better again next year 😃

[@nigelward4721]

Great information thanks

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Nigel 😃

[@ronaldchan9522]

Highly informative video! And wow an hour long... the effort you put into these vids is astonishing. 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! It was actually an attempt at efficiency, with it being my first year on KZbin I wanted to get as much overwintering info out there in one go as it’ll be a while before I can do separate detailed vids for each plant!

[@oliverblackhall]

My colocasia esculanta in Devon is fully hardy in the ground. It's huge and is starting to naturalise which is really fun to see. I wonder what pink China would be like...

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one! I’ve tried at our old garden with no joy but it could be that it’s just too cold or wet up here. Pink China would definitely grow well for you!

[@joezimmerman1089]

Love the way the Hylotelephiums look in your arid patch, they really do help capture the Mediterranean look with the Agaves, Euphorbia myrsinites and feather Palms. I like the Hylotelephium 'Sunsparkler' range, especially 'Lime Twister', 'Wildfire', 'Dream Dazzler' and 'Blue Elf' - can really help get that brightly coloured succulent look you see in gardens from places like Spain, Australia and California. 'Frosty Morn' and 'Mojave Jewels Sapphire' are also nice cultivars. They look great growing out of a flowering bed of Delosperma too if you have enough sun to get the flowers to open.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Joe! I’ve gone from thinking they were a good idea to half thinking about removing them to then seeing them flower and loving the shade against the other arid plants. Thank you so much for the plant recommendations, there’s a couple there like ‘Wildfire’ that really jump out at me, they’d be a perfect step down from the larger Hylotelephiums I’ve already got! As much as I think arid plants look great with space around them, I’m a big fan of that packed brightly coloured succulent look too 😃

[@joezimmerman1089]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden 'Wildfire' is great, a little slug prone at first but gets tougher with age. The smaller size definitely would be a good fit as a step down from your existing Hylos.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@joezimmerman1089 Nice one, I’ll give them a go! Hopefully the sand around them puts the slugs off for a while at least! Thanks again for the suggestions.

[@barryjohnson1762]

Watch alot of your videos live 2 hours south of Chicago. And it gets super cold have been growing bananas and other plants for 3 yrs. Your yard looks great

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Barry! You definitely have a challenging time of things with the weather then! I guess you have a bit more summer warmth to get the big leaves growing though?

[@plantloony]

Really informative video mate and great info on ensette. Do you grow melianthus major at all as I have not seen it in your garden. It is such great looking plant for a tropical garden and so easy to propagate from cutting or seed and a fast grower.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Graham. I do indeed, it’s at the back of a couple of borders. A really nice looking plant but probably one that needs a bit more sun than most of my garden gets unfortunately!

[@steverichardson4374]

Nice one bud looking fantastic we'll done you put some time and effort in

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Cheers Steve, it’s come together well but already thinking about the next projects 😂

[@alanhunter2009]

Once again George, a very informative video. I am jealous of your Aloe polyphylla which I find impossible. I lost one in the greenhouse, and a couple in a semi-sheltered area under the eaves of the house which were happy enough and getting bigger until several snowfalls rotted them off. I might buy another and plant it at a 45 degree angle..........

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Alan. After seeing some bigger ones planted out at a 45 degree angle in an exposed part of Yorkshire I’m sure that’s the way to do it. I think overhead cover is potentially useful but any other kind of protection seems to cause as many issues as it solves. Mine got marked last year but it was a wet and then chilly winter which isn’t ideal.

[@davegilman6046]

This is definitely one of the best videos you've done George. It just felt like a knowledgeable friend taking you around their garden and having a chat - perfect! One question on the ensete overwintering - I am doing what you do, keeping them in a dry pot over winter (still in the process of drying out at the moment)! I was planning to put them in the loft to keep them cool but frost-free but, obviously, there will be little to no light up there - do you think they'll make it through with such low light? I can't see it's any different than putting them in a garage?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Dave, I’ll try and do more in this style! As for the Ensete, the cooler and drier they are, the less light they need. You only want them in the smallest pot possible though because if there’s no light you’re basically dry storing them up there. I keep mine in pots as I don’t have anywhere cool but frost free to keep them and the warmth inside means they inevitably want to keep on growing so I have to support that a bit.

[@murph6510]

Many thanks George, really useful and watchable video as usual. How about cordylines and phormeums?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! To be honest they only got a brief mention at the end because I don’t really protect them. The more colourful varieties aren’t as tough but I don’t worry about the green cordyline australis or any of the Phormiums I grow. If its going to be a really cold (less than -5) night I’d put some fleece over some of the more colourful cordylines but that’s about it.

[@Valko67]

very nice garden and magnificent huge tree ferns , whoooow , mine is are duo babies in comparison to yours , i wish mine would be already as big ;-) greats from Carl , Belgium

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Carl, I appreciate it! The tree ferns are lovely for sure, one of my favourite plants and I do everything I can to look after them well. They definitely add an exotic vibe like few others plants can don’t they!

[@Valko67]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden yes so true , the alocasia's are also bringing a huge improvement to tropical look ,i love them and are relatively cheap when buy in bulbs , and you can chosen already the size you want , mine coming from the U.K 😉, have a sweet day George , and i looking forward to your next videos , i like watching you 🙂congrats, Carl

[@Valko67]

thank you George

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@Valko67 Excellent, yes, Alocasia are certainly very tropical indeed! Interesting to know yours are coming from the UK. Thanks again Carl and I'll hopefully have an interesting video coming up later this week!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@Valko67 No worries Carl!

[@waynepeake5683]

Another great video George . Great advice which I will be using . Thanks for going into detail With each plant and what you do . First year for me so really didn’t label the plants . Now I can just follow the video with each plant you show and match it with what I have . Question mate I have about 9 small different bamboos in pots some 2 feet done 12 ins I remember you saying buy small it’s cheaper that way . Will I need to cover for winter or will they be ok It’s the black red and yellow bamboos Once again cheers for the advice Appreciate it !

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, thanks Wayne. The bamboos should be fine, don’t let them dry out and ideally if you’ve got somewhere sheltered or even a greenhouse / polytunnel to keep them they’ll be OK. They’re hardy but during very cold spells can dry out quickly in pots, especially when it’s windy or they’re frozen.

[@shineamenmbs3107]

21:55 I like this little corner so much! A lot of elegance! Well, actually the whole garden is elegant! The sedums/succulent plant area is very nice as well! I like Aeonium arboreum atropurpureum. Sad that the under zero temperatures may not suit Aloe arborescens. I saw a small other Aloe @ 57:20 Fantastic job you did in the garden and with this video! Thank you!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, that is one of my favourite parts too! Everything works so well together there! A happy accident… That Aloe is Striatula, very tough even in brief subzero temps. Thank you very much for watching and I hope all is good with you 😃

[@shineamenmbs3107]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thank you George, everything is fine here near Paris. On my small terrace, i had some seeds giving me nice Schinus molle and Rhus lancea. I will have to take them indoor when temperature gets below - 1 C° . The Chamaerops Vulcano I grow is fine in winter time. I hope Gaïa will be nice with temperatures in your place! The huge amount of work you have to do in Winter shows your strength!... All the best! Bravo for the amazing videos and work you do.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@shineamenmbs3107 Lovely, sounds like you’ve got it all planned out! Thank you very much and I hope you have a great week.

[@PaulSmith-io3nu]

Brilliant thanks George! What do we get for watching to the end?! 🙂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! Wow, you win Paul! No idea what but I’m pleased it was watchable enough 😃

[@TwistedVegans3Dvids]

Thanks George, really enjoyed that, wondering if you have any cordylines at all? I've got all sorts in exposed and sheltered positions but still undecided on whether to fleece any of them.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Gavin, thank you for watching! I do have quite a few dotted throughout the garden and my general rule for a normal winter is if they’re green they should be fine, small red ones might get a fleece at -4/5 or below or sustained cold and more colourful ones at -3 ish to give you rough numbers. The green Australis should be tough enough though.

[@KARLSEN-vj9xt]

Hi George, Fantastic video! Very enjoyable informative viewing. I have a small Tetrapanax Papyrifer Rex in a 2 litre pot, can I overwinter it by the house outside with my potted Trachycarpus or should I bring it in the house or shed? ( I don’t have a green house) Cheers.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and thank you very much! I’m pleased it helped. The short answer is it depends on how cold the winter is and you don’t really want to be bringing it in and out. Hard to say for definite but if it’s a very small plant I’d bring it into the house, if it’s got a foot or so of trunk then I’d maybe keep it somewhere sheltered outside.

[@KARLSEN-vj9xt]

That’s great, thanks.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@KARLSEN-vj9xt No worries ☺️

[@colinwilson7134]

George, great video and tips mate 👏👏 that was a long video and thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and garden with us all 👍👍 I am in the middle of changing the garden and still have lots of stuff in pots, can I simply dig a hole and plant the pot for winter, and mulch on top, it’s my Cannas, gingers and Pink China ? 🤞👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Colin! I realised there’s no chance I was going to get lots of separate vids in time so one big one it is for now! I’d be tempted to keep the pots somewhere sheltered - in a greenhouse/ garage / close to the house etc.

[@colinwilson7134]

Thanks George, and I don’t have a greenhouse and my garage doesn’t have any windows, would that still be okay. Do they need any light during winter ? Cheers mate 👍 ps Your garden is looking absolutely stunning mate, and I liked the sedum beside the butia, great colour 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@colinwilson7134 Thanks! The sedum isn’t exotic but well worth worth growing for the autumn colour and pollinators, plus it kind of fits the Mediterranean vibe. Your plants should be alright without light but I’d only keep them in there as long as you need to and ventilate when you can to help stop them rotting off.

[@colinwilson7134]

George, thanks for getting back to me and great tips 👍👍 I also have sedum in my garden and love the colour and so easy to grow.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@colinwilson7134 No worries! Yep, they are indeed ☺️

[@craigwagstaff4625]

Ay up George, great vid as always l had a bit of a disaster last year dry storing ensete in the loft one quite big the other really small,this year lve got eight to over winter now thanks to Kris and yourself lve got a bit more information to work with,think l was guilty of storing to early hopefully lesson learned.l also put pipe insulation lagging round my then very small T.rex plants and it worked a treat last year but again l'll take the advice and leave them this year

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Mine were stored too long last year, obviously it depends on when it’s frosty but when things are milder like this year you’ve got to take advantage! It’s all a learning curve and experimentation. As for the T-Rex, again if that worked for you then do it but I imagine the keys are not wrapping it too long and good airflow round the growing point for most of winter.

[@craigwagstaff4625]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks for the reply George,like you said everyone's circumstances are slightly different so it's a case of sharing good info and a bit of luck l guess.just another question though will you eventually plant your cyathea out or leave it as a pot plant?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@craigwagstaff4625 No worries and that's it. I've already got the Cyathea Medullaris planted out, I've not made my mind up about the Brownii yet. I don't want too many plants in the ground that require serious protection but equally I don't think it's a plant that deserves to be in a pot long term. It'll probably be make my mind up time next year, whether it gets a sheltered spot and I take my chances or I sell it on, we'll see!

[@craigwagstaff4625]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden yet it's a tough one and l do get your point,ok nice one George ta mate👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@craigwagstaff4625 No worries Craig 👍

[@alisonconway2051]

Hi George great video as always,this year i got a 1, 2 and 3yr old Dicksonia antarctica ive them in the ground i'm just wondering best thing to do for winter thanks

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Alison and thank you. I assuming you’re meaning very small plants without a trunk? They aren’t as hardy as older plants and to be honest something I missed out on in this vid. Personally I’ll fleece my younger plant through any frosty weather and if it looks like it’s going to be very cold then insulate it with a lot of straw under a plant pot or something like that.

[@alisonconway2051]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden yea no trunks yet on 1 and 2yr old, 3yr is just starting Really dont wanna be losing them thank u so much,here's hoping my babie's make it thru horrible winter lol

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@alisonconway2051 Yeah, definitely! I’d do the above. Try to keep them covered from the frost and through freezing spells, they should be fine.

[@darrenventham5650]

Hey , great video, was just wondering how you would treat Musa lasiocarpa, last year i kept a small one in a pot in cold polytunnel , it is in the ground now , was thinking of mulching the base and fleasing the stem if gets really cold ?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Darren and thanks! I only ever overwintered them in the polytunnel too but I’ve heard of a couple of people that have got away with fleecing them and mulching. I honestly think it’ll depend on how cold the winter gets, a mild one you may get as away with it, serious cold and i suspect it won’t be happy!

[@charnsta]

Thanks for the great info I always get from your vids which I've recently started watching. Planned to have a tropical style garden for years and am now lucky enough to have a garden where I can develop one. So as a novice I recently purchased a Musa basjoo and Fatsia japonica and just wondered if you suggest keeping them in the pots till next year rather than planting them this late in the year? I haven't got a greenhouse so am hoping my shed (with a pretty large window for light) will be ok to keep them in!?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much for watching! Exciting that you’ve now got your garden to develop! Personally I’d keep them in pots if they’re small, yes. The Fatsia should be fine outside until it gets frosty or freezing, the basjoo might be best off in there when the first frosts are forecast for you. Alternatively they could both be houseplants if you’ve got a bright bathroom etc!

[@charnsta]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden brilliant, thanks for the advice.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@charnsta No worries 😃

[@onestophoopshop8978]

Brilliant video, thank you George. You covered everything in great detail and I feel better prepared for my first year of overwintering tasks. One thing I'm not too sure about is when you bring the red banana in from the cold after removing the leaves and drying out, should it be kept in the dark or does it not really mind? Also would you use the same method for a lasiocarpa?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, thank you. I'm pleased it was helpful. I don't think the Ensetes require dark, mine have always been in a brighter spot. They don't need the light if they're dormant but the issue is that most lighter rooms tend to be warmer which will lead to the plants wanting to grow which isn't ideal. So in theory, cool, dry and frost free is ideal for keeping them ticking over, the light doesn't really matter I guess as long as you keep those three factors right. It's all a game of experimenting though!

[@onestophoopshop8978]

Thanks, that makes good sense. It was the first tropical plant i bought and it spent last winter in its original pot in my unheated conservatory. I put it in the ground this year and it's grown well but will definitely follow your advice for this year, dig up, dry, prop in a pot just big enough to hold it with some coir/compost mix. Sorted 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@onestophoopshop8978 Sounds like a plan! You just want to keep it ticking over. I’ve never tried completely dry storing lasiocarpa but somewhere frost free and on the drier side should be OK.

[@OssyDL]

Great video George. Very helpful. Have you any advice on seedlings overwinter? I had quite a few seeds sprout late and a few very young c. pink china and c. Gaoligongensis at the monent i have 2 large clear storage boxes with a tube heater under them in a pvc greenhouse.can things be kept overwinter this way depending on species am i just wishful thinking lol

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Danny! To be completely honest you might struggle. The only reason these plants are hardy is because of the reserves they have built up inside the ‘bulbs’, young plants won’t have that and need more TLC. Personally I’d say inside or in a propagator in a greenhouse would be better!

[@OssyDL]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks George will look into a propagator. Garden looks awsome by the way love the zantedeschia hercules.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@OssyDL Thanks Danny. They’re awesome plants, well worth a look 😃

[@lucythompson8066]

Saw this link on fb (tropical style gardening uk)...brilliant overwintering tour of your garden, thanks so much! Quick question, I've a must basjoo in a pot, about 3 ft. Should I fleece and put in shed, or fleece and put in sheltered spot nr wall of house. Last year I put in shed, unfleeced, it rotted and died, even the root 😢

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Lucy and thank you! Small basjoo plants are quite a tricky one to suggest a guaranteed method for, I generally keep mine in a polytunnel on the dry side and nearly frost free. In theory in your shed without fleece would be fine but if it’s a cold winter or damp environment it cause issues again. Do you have a garage next to the house or anything like that?

[@lucythompson8066]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden hi George, unfortunately I don't have a garage, only a shed. I've never noticed frost in my shed before...but the basjoo just ended up a mushy stem that eventually flopped over. Thinking I may need to befriend a greenhouse owner 🤣

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@lucythompson8066 Ahh right. It’s not so much actual frost in the shed but more that the temps in there through winter nights won’t be much warmer than outside. Being cool and dry would work well but I imagine a shed gets to less than freezing quite easily and there probably isn’t enough airflow to stop rot. A greenhouse could be better as people generally ventilate them when it’s mild and the average temperature would be warmer due to the sun. Like I said though, small basjoo plants can be a bit tricky unfortunately, hopefully one that’s 3ft tall has a better chance 🤞

[@lindadevuyst9311]

My castors grew beautifully and produced lovely seed pods But in our rainy west coast they moulded 😭 before they could ripen…any suggestions? Could I cut the stem and hang them to dry…too late for me to experiment this year but hopefully next. Yes a long video but tons of good info..thanks

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Linda. I don’t always count on getting seeds off mine but it’s a bonus when I do! Are the actual seeds inside mouldy or just the casings - it could be worth checking?

[@jameswhite7851]

Hey George, another brilliant video! I have two new Musa Basjoos but already they're hitting 5-6 feet. Currently in a raised bed and I am in West London with a pretty sheltered garde - do you think I am ok to leave them to their own devices?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi James and thank you very much! I’d be tempted to leave them to it at that size and location. It can’t hurt to have a bit of fleece on hand for the coldest nights if it does get really cold but it’s certainly worth taking a chance on it being a milder winter at this stage.

[@jameswhite7851]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks George, much appreciated - genuinely couldn’t believe how big they’ve got despite the small space we have - you and the tropical Facebook group have been a constant source of inspiration so kudos to you! Thank again James

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@jameswhite7851 That’s fantastic and yes, it’s incredible how well they grow in even a small amount of soil! That’s amazing, thank you for watching and I’m pleased my vids have helped in some way 😃

[@nicoleormrod4307]

Hi George , excellent video as always, I have a couple of questions , firstly I've got a young euphorbia mellifera planted out & i believe this maybe not as hardy , how should I protect it Also I've 3 young tetrapanax , a schefflera taiwania , a catalpa , a paulownia & a melianthus major , all bought this year , all small & all still potted that I'm not sure how to protect , im in Manchester ( 6 miles or so from central Manchester ) i have a north facing garden however ive a bit of woodland to the north & north east sides so a little protected from the winds at least , no greenhouse , polytunnel or conservatory , but I have an attached outbuilding which has a small south facing window, & my boiler is in there , so I'm assuming it will be frost free , help please 😀

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Nicole and thanks. I planted out a Euphorbia mellifera here last autumn and it went through last winter OK without any protection in an exposed spot but it was a couple of feet tall having grown it in a larger pot for a year. It could be worth fleecing yours when it’s freezing or below but they’re not completely soft plants. As for the rest of your plants, personally I’d keep them tucked in somewhere sheltered close to the house and that’ll shield them from the cold quite a bit. Then potentially move them into the outbuilding if it gets below freezing or there’s extended cold. You don’t want the catalpa particularly to start back into growth in too much warmth but sometimes somewhere enclosed with a tiny bit of heat is all the more tender young plants need to keep ticking over when it’s potentially damaging weather outside.

[@nicoleormrod4307]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thank you so much , il leave them under a covered pergola against the house unless its really cold/ frosty

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@nicoleormrod4307 No worries, sounds like a plan!

[@oldgold5848]

George....a question from Mrs OG re overwintering cannas...is your polytunnel heated? . Done well with the cannas this year, some from roots and 3 from seed!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, that’s great! I have a heater in there and it’s on the lowest setting (2/3 degrees) and only switched on when it’s below freezing anyway. Not entirely frost free but nothing should freeze through in there and anything too delicate comes inside.

[@sharonketley8707]

Great video - thank you! First year of our new garden with this being our first winter with tropicals! After initial panic (and potentially fleecing up our bananas too early 🤦‍♀️) I’m now feeling far more relaxed as most of what we have planted out will manage ok with minimal protection (the rest already at home in greenhouse). Quick question - we’re in Berkshire, had a couple of frosty nights (hence the banana panic!) and cut off the wilting/blackening leaves and fleeced up, covered with washing line cover. Now it’s milder, can I unwrap them intermittently or will that put them at more risk now I’ve cut the leaves off?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Sharon and thank you, it’s me that’s late with everything this year so don’t worry! I’d probably wrap it with fleece and straw now to be honest, it won’t grow much now so might as well get it wrapped ☺️

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I’m assuming it’s Musa basjoo by the way. The washing line cover might be OK as long as the plant can breathe and you’re not trapping too much moisture in.

[@sharonketley8707]

Yes - basjoo. It’s a water resistant rather than waterproof cover so hopefully ok. Thanks so much for replying so quickly. Looking forward to seeing everything spring into life next year, although the gardens still looking surprisingly green overall 😃

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@sharonketley8707 That should be fine, as long as there’s some gaps to let the plant breathe. Things are definitely far greener than usual for November here too but I know it’s only a matter of time before that changes now!

[@Salsa_Souls]

Hi George, The tetrapanax small leaves you looked at, is that the papyrifer version of the plant you have or "Rex"?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Stellan, I’ve got some of each along with some steroidal giant versions in the garden, I couldn’t tell you which is which as sometimes the characteristics overlap. I think that one might be a Rex as the leaves are quite deeply divided. They’re all nice plants!

[@Salsa_Souls]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks, I was wondering as it has a ginger indumentum, people say it's not rex if that is the case. Then again people don't seem to really know which is which from the discussions I read on the groups. ;-)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@Salsa_Souls The ginger is a good clue it’s not Rex but then again I’ve seen some Rex plants owned by knowledgeable people that are ginger rather than silver. It’s a tricky business! 😂 Honestly, they’ve all got the potential to be absolutely show-stopping plants so I’ve put a mix of them all in!

[@valougame3175]

Reeaally nice video ! I have a small question , i search a small « tree » , with evergreen foliage to create a canopy and protect plants under it . I thougt Fatsia but too slow (i want a 3-7 meter plant) or eucalyptus but too BIG !😬😂 but i’m sure you have a solution ! (9a climate)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! Have you thought about one of the smaller Eucalypts? They’re not all massive but are about one of the only plants with the growth rate and ultimate size you’re wanting if your overhead protection needs to be plant based.

[@valougame3175]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden i added a Eucalyptus niphophilla in my garden this year, he supposed to be small (for eucalyptus , like 8 meters, and grow quickly of course) but if i put another one in the place i speak here ( between my house and the neighboor ) i’m afraid that this roots are too powerfull and break some foundation. For exemple with fatsia roots or even shrubs roots , you don’t have this problems in theory, but let’s see what you have to say about that 😂🤔

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@valougame3175 Hmmm tricky, I didn't know foundations are involved and that could make things less straightforward for any large tree or shrub that could potentially get to the height you need relatively quickly. There are even small Eucs that could be worth a go or it could be worth changing direction entirely and maybe trying some clumping bamboos? It's hard to say without knowing the details of the foundations - it could be worth speaking to somebody who's an expert in Eucalyptus for their thoughts...

[@valougame3175]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden i will send you pictures on instagram , the foundation are not a BIG problem, but i don’t want put a verry large tree with powerfull rootsystem that could potentially damage somethings 😉

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@valougame3175 Thanks, I’ll have a look shortly.

[@VFRRiderFT]

Hi Guys, I've just lifted my Canna "General Eisenhower", I grew it this year from a small plant I bought in a 1Lt pot, I immediately planted it on into a 50Lt pot and it filled the pot and grew to 2m in height. Having cut off all the foliage and lifted it, I have found that the root ball is massive and it was more than pot bound, I am planning to wrap in hessian and store in my garage, question is, and because of the size do I wrap as is or do I try and divide it up a bit before storage?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Chris, that sounds like it’s grown well! I’ve actually got a vid featuring cannas going up later today but as a general rule I wait until spring to divide them. It reduces the risk of exposed areas of rhizome rotting and it’s easier to get smaller sections going with spring heat. They should be OK stored that way I suppose, I keep mine potted in the polytunnel. They don’t want to completely dry out but equally they may need a bit of ventilation so they don’t rot off.

[@VFRRiderFT]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden, Thanks for that, typical of me, run before I can walk lol. I'll make sure I watch your video later, I'm sure it'll be full of useful information as always.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@VFRRiderFT Don’t worry, we’re all running before we can walk but that’s fine 😂

[@harveyyoung2612]

Where did u get ur C. Medularis? I can’t find any seemingly anywhere

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, I got mine from Bowden Hostas as a small plant around 4 years ago but they seem to be a bit trickier to find in anything other than large expensive plants right now. If I hear of any I’ll let you know.

[@VFRRiderFT]

Thanks as always George, I have a question, I have just gained 4 Hedychium Gardnerianum rhizomes for next season, they are a bit dry, but they do have some shoots, the question is 'What should I do with these over winter, should I just leave them in the bag or should I pot them up in dry compost and shelter them? Any thoughts welcomed.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Chris, I’ve not started any at this time of year before and dry ones can really take some time and heat to get going. I can’t give a definite answer but if you’ve got the room inside to get the growing in the warmth then maybe go for it, if not I’d keep them dry and ventilated until Feb / March then do the same.

[@VFRRiderFT]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden, thanks George, well since I have 4 of them, I will try both methods and see how it goes 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@VFRRiderFT Sounds like a plan! Please do, thank you Chris 😃

[@valougame3175]

The Cyathea medullaris put out how many fronds this year ? To compare with my new C.cooperi and imagine how many fronds i will get next season (if she’s still alive)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, maybe 4 or 5 but it was set back quite a bit from a late frost. Hopefully more next year! How big is your Cooperi?

[@valougame3175]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden i sent you some pictures on Instagram 2 monts ago approximatively, she put out 5 fronds in the season ( i bought it late in the season ,like july if i remember well 🤔) for his first year it’s nice for me, i hope 10 fronds next year because she supposed to grow up quickly (up to 1 foot trunk by year) putting out fronds during all year around

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@valougame3175 Oh yes, they're definitely fast growing and certainly put out a large number of fronds while they're small. I'm sure it'll grow faster for you than it would up here!

[@valougame3175]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden haha great so ! If your cyathea stay outdoor and manage to survive she will be incredible ! In my city we have a botanical conservatory (in Brest if you wan’t to make research) with huuge tree ferns ! And there is 2 cyathea meddularis, they are just amazing ! Huge fronds , black stems and lush slender foliage 👌🏼

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@valougame3175 Amazing 😃 Hopefully! If it does it’ll be worth the effort protecting it I’m sure!