Mark's Crazy Tiki Garden - Autumn Tropical Garden & Greenhouse Tour

[@cindyrichards9471]

Hi George, another very funny video. We can never see enough of this garden. Thank you for remembering to ask about the hanging baskets. We are very sad they have been taken off the market.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Cindy and thank you very much! Yes, it's always entertaining having a chat with Mark and seeing round his lovely garden. It's a shame about the hanging baskets but hopefully you're able to track down something similar.

[@rosehill1595]

I'm in Florida and you'd think a tropical garden would be easy - it isn't, if you got nothing but sand, not enough shade and an insane climate change summer with 100-degree F weather. After twenty years I have good soil but the plants really struggled during the brutal heat and lack of rain this summer. It was lucky that I added more shade and allowed some areas to naturalize in the past three years. Thanks for all the great tips on gingers. It was a treat to see Mark's tropical garden at the end of the season. It's amazing and always a thrill to see gardens change and evolve from year to year. I totally agree about rejoicing over all the successes and continually learning from failures and experimenting aka chasing your ever-elusive dream garden. My experiment this year was tree ferns, I still can't believe I managed to get them through the summer alive. A Buddha belly plant that tripled in size was a surprise success - a cool plant for a tropical garden. Thx for the tour!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for your kind words and Florida gardening insights, there's a couple of other commenters from your part of the world that have mentioned similar things. No climate or area is without it's challenges I suppose and it's definitely a novelty hearing your challenges to get plants (especially tree ferns) though summer, usually winter is the battle here but last summer was hard on a few of my larger-leaved plants. It sounds like you've done a great job with your garden and I'd definitely follow a similar course to you, adding shade and going with the flow. Every garden is a journey isn't it and although nobody enjoys having to make unplanned changes, it's definitely worth having that analytical eye at the end of the year and as you say, chasing the unreachable dream-garden! All the best with your garden evolutions and journey, hopefully there'll be another update from myself and Mark in the not too distant future.

[@XstaticState69]

Flowering Gingers are fantastic! I keep them in pots in an unheated greenhouse and bring them out when in flower!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

They are indeed and that's basically what I do (only kept to around 2 degrees for other plants in winter) - I think it's the spring head start that really sets them off isn't it.

[@Omlittlebuddha]

Thoroughly enjoyed you guys, so entertaining! ❤

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, I'm pleased it was a fun watch!

[@missdimples1982]

I wish you two had your own TV programme, would be great 😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, Friday night gardening programmes could definitely include a nice link into the later night comedy!

[@mexi7290]

'i'm not at that stage of life yet' 😂😂😂 #hangingbaskets

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, no comment but happy to wind Mark up where I can!

[@missdimples1982]

Loved the banter at the end, great video chaps, loved it

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, I'm pleased you enjoyed it - you've got to have a bit of fun haven't you!

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

Great video guys. Love the low-level abuse you give each other. Absolutely quality. Great laugh and a fab video. Cheers 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Mr Calzone, I'm pleased you enjoyed it! As you can probably tell, it's literally a case of turning up at Mark's, go through a 30 second plan and start filming - I generally leave it all in these days, for better or worse! I do try and get more abuse in during the edit to make up for having to half concentrate on the audio and filming while we're recording!

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

@GeorgesJungleGarden 🤣🤣. Abuse is key, winding him up must be really enjoyable 😁

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, it's a two way street I'm sure!

[@mathewbetts4756]

Was crying at the Yorkshire Kris Meme😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hahaha yes, that did make me chuckle putting it together - their little smiling faces when they're running through the garden centre and eating bananas!

[@mathewbetts4756]

Lmao😂

[@mathewbetts4756]

Just got round to watching the 2nd half of this clip Pmsl at the wrong plant rap 😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hahaha yes and sorry I missed your reply, it won't be the last bad rap in Mark's videos I'm sure!

[@richardjohnson7984]

Wrong plant wrong place! loving the resurrection hahhaah

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, something tells me it won't be the last time that it makes an appearance!

[@YorkshireKRIS]

Just watched the whole video which, apart from some dodgy banter; was fun and full of interest from start to finish.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Kris, I'm pleased you enjoyed it and persisted with the increasingly dodgy jokes! You know what Mark is like! I saw your arid vid come up, I'll check it out tomorrow as it'll be interesting to see how the area has come together over the year.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Fantastic as always. Great to know about the growing on the smaller ‘Maurelli’! That persicaria would be transplanted into a secluded corner of the garden if it were mine… or “tossed over the hedge”… Mark needs free range lizards in that greenhouse!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you my friend! Montbeliardii isn't really smaller as such, it gets taller if anything but it's definitely a different look with slimmer leaves. Yeah, I think I'd do the same with the Persicaria, Mark's got some wilder bits where it could be moved to very easily and potentially have Coleus, gingers and other lower growing foliage plants in it's place. Haha yes, some lizards or other reptiles / amphibians would certainly add to the jungle feel but I imagine may cause issues with his dogs potentially!

[@markchitty6505]

Keep the Vids coming George, always great, and full with all the info... us new people to Tropical Gardens need :) Deffo the go to guy...

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, I'm really pleased you enjoy them and find them informative! I've got another garden visit vid coming up next week that is pretty mind-blowing, you'll definitely appreciate it!

[@milkweeddreams8828]

You two crack me up, the bantering, lol...of course I love the tiki-ish garden style, it just puts a bit of fun into a garden, but needless to say winter is always a setback and I'm dreading it again...but learning as this will be my 3rd winter here in N. Florida...always enjoy you two in the gardens...btw, my loquat did quite well and is flowering as we speak, hope the fruits make it...!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks, I'm pleased it was entertaining and you're completely right - Mark definitely has a fun garden! You'll be just fine in winter I'm sure, you definitely learn a few lessons every year don't you. Nice one on the loquat - I actually had one of the few fruits on Mark's last year and it was surprisingly tasty!

[@marianne9798]

Brilliant video. Laughed loads. Love the banter. Great garden, greenhouse and plants to die for. Thank u

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks Marianne, I'm pleased it made you laugh! Mark's certainly got a pretty special space coming together!

[@stephanietaylor1572]

Love seeing Marks garden 😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha you’ll be sick of it after watching another hour of it 😅 Nahh, it’s always a good chat with Mark and I hope you enjoy this autumnal walk around his amazing garden!

[@irismoles9369]

Great garden thanks George for the visit

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Iris, I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed it!

[@wesleyhackney]

I wanted to add that I would find it interesting for you to go back to Marks garden maybe in January to see what it looks like

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Wesley, I'll see what we can do although I suspect it'll be similar to the March one we filmed. Ultimately it depends how cold the winter is though as to whether there's plenty of green or things look a lot barer then but good idea thanks.

[@wesleyhackney]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden good point I’ll go back and look at the March video thanks

[@4parsnips976]

Love the banter and the information and tips. Mark's garden is lush. Imagine, GMC Tropical Garden Consultancy! How much fun would that be?!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, I'm pleased you enjoyed it! Mark's garden certainly is a beautiful exotic display and I'm excited to see it evolve. Haha it's funny you say that, we were thinking about ways we can make something work together so who knows, watch this space!

[@wesleyhackney]

Always a pleasure when you feature this garden. Mark is such fun to here talk and l learn a lot from him as well as your input. Thanks again for doing this video

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I'm pleased you enjoyed it! Yes, Mark's definitely got a way with words hasn't he and now that he knows the dodgy bits are likely staying in and people appreciate them - there's no stopping him! Whilst there's definitely a time and a place for purely factual and 'how-to' vids, there's definitely space for a bit of entertainment and light heartedness too!

[@MarkMichalowski]

Loved it - you two are great! (Obviously, one of you is waaay better than the other - but you already know that... Hee hee!!)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks, that's kind of you! Don't let Mark hear that he's your favourite otherwise it'll just go to his head...

[@mrchuffy6535]

Excellent video really enjoyed that George

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you, I'm pleased it was a good watch and I'm sure it won't be the last we see of Mark's garden!

[@PlantMad]

Brilliant you's two are a geg 😂😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha, pleased you enjoyed it, it was a fun walk around and luckily quite restricted editing time this week stopped it getting even sillier...

[@Plant_Mad_Paul]

😂 Great video again lads,, garden looks great as ever 😁 keep the vids coming.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

We certainly will Paul, thanks and I'm pleased you enjoyed it!

[@mattsuktropicalgarden]

Great video love the banter. 😅

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks Matt, I'm pleased you enjoyed it!

[@aquachimp1]

Re the ginger; We got one last year from an "exotic" garden - (like yours and Mike's but not Jungle style). They do a once in the year sale of such plants. It was my wife who wanted the ginger, whereas I've seen how it can grow locally , rampantly weedsome and then looking like a scene of slippery, sloppy, gungy decaying winter - for ages. I stuck it into a lightweight, tall (1.2m) narrow, (35cm diameter) light-grey pot, emptied and almost filled with compost-bin produce; topped off by a very thick layer of shredded prunings and some crocuses found their way in there too, along with an Amorphophallus konjac . It flowered this year. Maybe it was the tall pot. Or that's just a potty idea.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for the interesting info. I understand they're rampant in some areas and it must seem mad that we persist with them for the long awaited flowers! Logically you would have thought a wider pot would suit a spreading rhizome better but you might be onto something. Perhaps the heat absorbed by the sun or the extra moisture retained by the deeper pot really did help it out. The mulching is a good idea and I like your companion planting too, very interesting!

[@rosehill1595]

I may try that idea. It seems like Ginger can be persnickety no matter where you live. I picked up a small cutting of butterfly ginger (because of the wonderful scent! Gorgeous flowers) at a local plant festival and it took two years for it to have three stalks with leaves and its first flowers - and I happen to live in Florida where I know it can spread like crazy - fingers crossed.:) OTOH I grew edible ginger from Peru from ginger roots at the supermarket and voila - so easy. My favorite is a shampoo ginger that yup, just squeeze the red pinecone looking flowers for lotion and shampoo - that one took three years to look happy and is slowly starting to spread. Definitely going to give them a nice helping of compost in fall and spring.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

They definitely take their time don't they! I wish we could grow shampoo ginger over here, they definitely look incredible! Well worth the effort, even in your Florida climate.

[@tropicalstylegarden]

Another fab video! Love the funny banter, and you have given me loads of inspiration and ideas for this gardening year. Looking forward to your next video!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you so much again Julie and I'm pleased you're looking forwards to spring. My vids will be starting up again very soon and I'm sure there'll be a trip to Mark and his tropical garden again at some point!

[@shineamenmbs3107]

The Pleioblatus sp variegata is so elegant. 14:39 Mark is so right, what a view through the Miscanthus lutarioriparius... Paulownia, the monster! Tree ferns are gorgeous! The greenhouse plants and flowers are beautiful too. The wooden face statue is very impressive! Tetrapanax sp, "i'm gonna fight to keep it" Lol Great job Mark for your beautiful Jungle! Congrats for the footage George! 💚

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Bernard and as always, you have a good eye for the highlights (of which there are many in this garden!). Yes, I'm sure he'll try his best to keep the Tetrapanax, maybe the scaffolding could potentially be built around it? I'm pleased you enjoyed the vid!

[@shineamenmbs3107]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thank you George, there are many highlights in his garden, you are so right! edit: "...the Miscanthus lutarioriparius jungle!" See you soon in your own jungle! Cheerio!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, it soon will be a Miscanthus jungle if it continues! Thanks again and you certainly will 😊

[@amphetaminelogic7006]

Truly inspirational again. Time of year for all of us....think next season... 😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, I'm pleased you enjoyed it! Yes, there's definitely an excitement in looking ahead - planning changes and what new things you're going to try next year. I hope it's a kinder winter for both of us!

[@miamianz]

If I win the lottery I’m buying your home plants and all just amazing. 😂 My front yard is subtropical / temperate my back yard is tropical. Central Florida here. There are dwarf papaya varieties. Maybe 4 to 5ft tall. With smaller fruit.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, if Mark won the lottery too I’m sure he’d have a house in Florida, it’s a funny world 😊 Your garden sounds fantastic and we’re definitely a world away from being able to grow fruiting papaya outdoors all year round here in the North of England unfortunately!

[@RichardDavies-g3h]

Wait til Craig hears about Mark and Kris blossoming relationship

[@jerryhorwood7528]

Might end up handbags at dawn 😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha, drama!

[@samanthalonghurst-howes1465]

Another brilliantly informative and very funny video. So many beautiful plants to enjoy and learn about. Marks greenhouse is my dream greenhouse and that flowering Vanda is truly spectacular! Bless you George for sharing your uplifting and inspiring video’s and for always taking the time to respond to our comments. Xxx

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Samantha, I'm really pleased you enjoyed it and yes, Mark's greenhouse is definitely something to aspire to! It's great to hear that the vid is uplifting and although it's mostly just plant chat and a bit of daftness, it's worth it if it's a fun watch and brightens people's days!

[@gordonissocoollike]

Really good I’ve learned a lot

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Gordon, I'm pleased you enjoyed it!

[@richardjohnson7984]

hahah the Yorkshire Kris love affair/betrayal hahhaa

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I'm sure we'll both be back to continue the story haha!

[@wiebestuive824]

Great vid guys. Jungle gardening and comedy at the same time. Perhaps next time you could add a bit of a song and dance and you'll be perfectly entertaining. 🌴

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks! Haha I don't know about that, I'm not sure what either of us could cobble together would be classed as 'entertaining'!

[@juliekennedy6658]

Brilliant video thanks! Brightened my morning! Could you please ask Mark how he deals with pests in his greenhouse? Mine was ravaged by aphids this year and now I see spider mite. I do have some carnivorous plants in there but they won’t deal with those. Thanks!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

HI Julie and thanks, great to hear you enjoyed it! That's a very good question thanks, and something I perhaps wouldn't have considered. I'll ask Mark when I see him next too.

[@garethvanderwesthuyzen6420]

Mark must have done something to The Somme to get the Bananas growing that big in one season...

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I think they're just at that age now where they grow back strongly, aided by the sunny spot, plentiful mulch and regular watering no doubt! They've definitely done better than mine this year!

[@sepehraman5651]

UFO/rocket spotted at the 13:35 mark. Congrats

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, a very fast moving plane that one!

[@christopherjones9826]

Got some lutarioriparia from Big plant nursery

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, it's an awesome grass - just make sure you contain it!

[@PaulConnor100]

Great video again guys and plenty of banter. Mark's Ensete looks the same as height as mine still gambling with them, am I right in saying they should dry store ?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and thank you very much! In all honesty that Ensete is just about on the edge of what I'd say should dry store with reasonable success. If it's a shorter winter and they don't come in until mid-November - it should be OK, but the smaller ones can always be tricky.

[@PaulConnor100]

@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George found it hard enough to source the Ensete's 👍

[@derekscheshirepalmgardenuk5345]

Great video guys....can I ask who's garden did Mark mention in Liverpool....being only 15 miles from Liverpool my conditions are probably similar.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Derek! You will be pleased to hear that yours is the garden in question - apologies you didn't get a named mention in the vid!

[@derekscheshirepalmgardenuk5345]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden I had a feeling it was mine , just the Liverpool mention through me...Although I'm a scouser I've lived in runcorn nearly 30 years.. I think I need to remember to put my location on any posts or videos I do going forward. Thanks again George x

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

No worries - I always remember Runcorn (After Two Pints!) but I can understand the confusion. All the best Derek!

[@wendydolluk39]

Id love a loquat tree, is it hardy and does it need much protection and what soil would it need? I don’t have a huge garden and just starting to change mine from an established cottage garden by adding a few tropical plants. Thanks 😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Wendy and nice one, that sounds like a lovely mixture of plants. Loquats can grow quite large longer term so maybe not the best choice for a very small garden but if you've got a sunny spot with relatively well drained soil and good airflow one should do well. In terms of protection, whereabouts do you live roughly?

[@wendydolluk39]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden I’m in Rotherham South Yorkshire. I’m not sure about banana plants as I really want something low maintenance, I have a Trachycarpus fortunai, only small but really to plant in the garden when the weather suits. I have a few different Fatsia. Contemplated a Tetrapanex rex too. Loving watching your videos by the way, brings some sunshine to such dull days

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, that's kind of you to say and I enjoy making the videos - plenty more planned for when the weather warms up this year! I'm guessing you've been shopping over at Dirt Cheap Plants then? Fatsia and Trachycarpus are a great start for easy exotic foliage, some of the smaller Mahonias like 'Sweet Winter' and 'Soft Caress' might also work really well for a shady spot too. Tetrapanax are tough when bigger and low maintenance once they're in the ground and growing away but they are deciduous. Maybe some smaller Phormiums and grasses could also work well with the look you're going for.

[@richardjohnson7984]

hahah wife did not look impressed!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hahaha nope! I should say, that's his comedy 'ex' from the previous vid and in no way reflects his actual wife who is lovely and puts up with a lot (as all of ours do!). Just thought I better put that out there...

[@DJSupaflyguy]

👌👌👌👌

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you as always!

[@davidbanner9001]

When you boys moving in together?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha, as soon as he gets rid of the Yorkshire Kris statues and artwork he has inside, the garden is just the tip of a very worrying iceberg!

[@MarkMichalowski]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden said "a very worrying iceberg!" Is that a new, mahoosive, tropical lettuce species?

[@davidbanner9001]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden lol

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha @markmichalowski - who knows in Marks' garden!

[@MarkMichalowski]

Here's a question/theme for you: if you were starting with a completely bare garden (say half the area of Mark's) and had £100 to spend for the first year to kick start it all, what would you spend that £100 on?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Interesting question thanks and something that I may have planned in to look at in spring! It would be interesting to hear Mark's views on the topic too.

[@MarkMichalowski]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Looking forward to it already!

[@YorkshireKRIS]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha I did try dabbling in a bit of amateur AI image generation to come up with the base of those images, some of the results I saw will scar me for life! I'm sure Mark will welcome you back with open arms next time, I know what he's like...

[@39chevy44]

Fantastic video and garden, I love the idea of having a exotic garden with a small lawn. Please could you tell me how you irrigate the tree ferns mains or solar. Cheers Paul.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Paul, I'm pleased you enjoyed it! Yes, the lawn definitely sets off the planting around it, creates the views and makes it feel more like a 'garden' than a full on jungle. I'm 99% sure his irrigation is connected to a timer off the mains. As good as solar is for certain purposes, personally if I was using irrigation and relying on it when away etc. then I'd probably go for the security of mains control.