U.K. Tropical Garden Ideas & Inspiration with Dirt Cheap Plants

[@gordonissocoollike]

I agree George. Great to hear this lady’s enthusiasm

[@dirtcheapplants]

Thank you😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Gordon, I'm very pleased I went to see their garden and it's great to hear you enjoyed the video!

[@milkweeddreams8828]

WOW, amazin' how thing evolve...I had a couple from Thailand stop by when they saw me in the yard, asked if they could buy some banana starts, they were blown away at the sizes my bananas had grown after the 4 day freeze last winter. They are new to N.Florida and recognized many of my plants from their home country...is this how a biz gets started, lol...what a delightful, knowledgeable woman, bet it was hard to walk away...this was great George...!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Yes, it definitely is, they’ve been on an amazing journey the last few years! I guess it must have been a shock to the couple to see your summer banana growth rates approaching Asian ones after such a cold snap, it is impressive how they can bounce back after cold. Potentially a missed business opportunity for you there haha but I know you’re enjoying every bit of your outdoor space as a garden without compromise! Thanks, that’s very kind of you to say so, it was a lovely chat and great to see just how much can be done in a relatively small space 😃

[@georgieclare1578]

Thanks George, and Janet, we're loving your Tropical Jungle gardens, inspirational

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, I’m pleased you enjoyed it 😃

[@dirtcheapplants]

Thank you😊

[@richardjohnson7984]

What an inspirational lady with a wonderful show garden and stock. Thank you for making and sharing the video.

[@dirtcheapplants]

Thank you for the lovley comment 😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Richard, that's very kind of you and I'm pleased you enjoyed the vid. Janet has done an amazing job to create such a beautiful garden, keep such healthy stock plants and grow their business alongside!

[@andrearevill6679]

Visited here twice ,purchased a cycad ,mangave and agave americana. Fantastic garden, well worth a visit.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, it definitely is and that's a exciting list of purchases!

[@tumtumarbre]

What a fascinating and truly inspirational garden. Thank you for the tour, loved it!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It certainly is, it’s definitely a lush and colourful piece of paradise which has developed relatively quickly 😃

[@samanthalonghurst-howes1465]

Another excellent and interesting video and what an unexpected and beautiful garden. Thoroughly enjoyed watching this! Another place that I will have to visit! Thank you once again for all that you do George. Xxx

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks again for watching and your support haha! It was a very beautiful garden and I can see how it must help them sell a lot of plants to newer growers and gardeners who don't grow a lot of tropical style plants already. No worries, I'm pleased to have the time to be making videos more consistently again!

[@GO-PIES-r6k]

The most professional KZbinr 🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, I'm not quite sure I deserve that title but I try my best!

[@stevebacon1026]

Hi george . Interesting vid, things are starting to change at this time of year. My muso bajio bannana is about twelve feet high, and ive got a lovely bunch of bannanas growing on it, but there only about two inches long! Ive removed the flower, what a complex part of the plant that is/ amazing!. Looking foward to watching whatever you do. All the best . Steve👍🌴

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Steve and thanks, yes we’re definitely at that tipping point aren’t we. Flowering Musa basjoo are certainly a spectacle, such a bizarre and alien-like display for sure! Thanks for your support as always, my vids won’t change much but I’d like to do more visits and work on improving that format over time 😃 All the best to you too, I hope you have a great weekend!

[@DJSupaflyguy]

Quality video again an nice garden, I think I’ll be getting some plants from her next year 🙏 🤞 😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! I can't blame you haha, I'll probably end up heading over for a sikkimensis and something else!

[@J4zzlady]

Oh my, what an amazing place! I'm just starting my jungle garden journey, but I took loads of notes from this one place alone! Thank you 😊🤩

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for watching and apologies for my delayed reply! There's so many great ideas in this garden and I've got another garden tour going up on Sunday which I'm sure you'll also enjoy. Good luck with your jungle adventure!

[@irismoles9369]

Wow that was a great garden thanks for sharing

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Iris, it was definitely a lovely use of the space and a real balance between flowering plants, canopy and big leafy exotics - an amazing transformation over the years!

[@sfraser12]

Inspirational! Great video.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, I'm pleased you enjoyed the vid and seeing their great garden! So many lovely plants and a fantastic atmosphere.

[@cindyrichards9471]

Oho George my darling, you have done it again. We absolutely love her garden. She is a lovely lady. Does she sell to people in London?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Cindy and I'm happy you enjoyed it! They do sell and deliver to London I believe as long as the order is a larger one or they can group it together. They're only a small family business but try to be accommodating so worth getting in touch!

[@gloriousgloria3327]

Really enjoyed this episode 👌

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, it's a lovely garden and Janet was certainly enthusiastic to share a lot of her knowledge, experiences and amazing plants!

[@wesleyhackney]

Thanks for sharing this place love to see the garden plus the other plants for sale I think you guys have lots of neat places to buy plants more so than my area here in Pensacola Florida think we would be loaded with tropical plant places but we aren’t . Anyway this was lots of fun. I’m adding persacaria to my jingle next spring even if I have to buy it online

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Wesley, I appreciate your comment as always and yes, Persicaria will grow easily for you I'm sure! That's surprising, I thought there would be loads of tropical style plant places near you. I guess a lot of the more common big stores stock generic plants like our DIY shops do, some may be exotic but for the real exciting plants you generally have to hunt down the specialists don't you. It's always fun to visit cool little nurseries with interesting plants!

[@wesleyhackney]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden it does seem like the big box stores for us that’s Lowes and Home Depot are starting to carry a few more tropical plants but it’s still not much. We have a couple of mom & pop nurseries that are better and carry more of the palms like we are looking for but they are $$$. I have found they carry a few smaller palms for cheap like 1-3 gallon size but they take a while to get big enough to make an impact. At age 67 you like to see results a little sooner. Example if smaller was I bought recently 3 Chinese fan palms in one gallon pots for $5

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

We’ve probably got a similar mix of options here but are lucky enough to have a good few specialists dotted around too. There are still bargains to be had though as you’ve found and you’re completely right, there’s nothing wrong with wanting some quicker growing or larger plants for impact 👍

[@heatherfindler6950]

Hi George, what an amazing place. The garden is incredible. It's such a pity its too far away for me 😢 it's really hard to find tropical plants locally in garden centres. I think if I lived nearby it would be lethal, I would spend all my money lol. Thanks for sharing!!

[@dirtcheapplants]

Hi, where abouts do you live as we travel up and down the country? 😊

[@heatherfindler6950]

@@dirtcheapplants hi I live in orrell near Wigan.

[@dirtcheapplants]

Hi, yes we have delivered over around your area before.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

There we go Heather haha! It's certainly an amazing garden and I was impressed by the collection and quantities of stock plants they had, I might have to give a sikkimensis another go again myself!

[@heatherfindler6950]

@GeorgesJungleGarden Don't lol this means alotnof cash. I will have to re watch the video and make a list!!!

[@missdimples1982]

Oh wow! So close to me too and I never knew

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I know, lovely isn't it, you'll have to pop over next time they have an open day!

[@sumindrapun1904]

Gorgeous, thank you for showing, How can we visit?where is it and how to book an appointment please?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, I'm pleased you enjoyed it! If you search for Dirt Cheap Plants on Google or Facebook, they've got a page and will let you know the arrangements for visiting! You won't regret it.

[@dirtcheapplants]

Hello, we have open days every week. If it's not an open day it's visits all year round by appointment. 😊

[@amphetaminelogic7006]

Cudos on that syagrus palm. I found it too challenging in sw- netherlands een though winters may be quite similar. They really need summer heat and winters preferably above 0, w/o the excessive moisture we have... even in a 1-2c barn that does not see freezing mine did not make it through long winters....

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Yes, it’s certainly an optimistic plant choice and it’s done really well to survive the events of last year and start to bounce back during such a cool summer. Potentially it’s tougher with it being a good size but I think you’re right, even with winter protection smaller plants are likely to struggle.

[@vanessasimmons5038]

I love your tshirt

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks Vanessa, I think it's an Amazon special!

[@Dannoo360]

I love the look of those pines, do you know which type they are?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, I do too, I believe they’re Pinus wallichiana 😊

[@richardgoodge7666]

What a truly amazing place just wish it wasn’t so far away

[@dirtcheapplants]

Where abouts do you live as we travel all over the UK. 😊

[@richardgoodge7666]

@@dirtcheapplants just by Epsom downs in Surrey

[@dirtcheapplants]

We deliver down you area. The size of the order has to warrant the distance we travel. If we can tie deliveries in we do to save on delivery charges.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It certainly is Richard and as Janet / Graham have commented below they do deliver further afield as long as it's worth their while!

[@mrchuffy6535]

Im so pleased you did this video, I have seen these advertising so many times and I have always been interested. I now I know so thanks! Id love to know whats on your list of plants you asked her to find!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks! Yes, I'd seen them too, noticed how popular they were but never really looked closely until I saw a vid of the garden and found out more about their story. Worth a trip across if there's anything Linden don't have and you can tie it in with a day out! Haha truth be told there was no list from me, having to save up currently so no purchases this time round but I imagine I'll be back again at some point!

[@mrchuffy6535]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden I understand, I may travel across sometime next year. Thanks again

[@etihadwizards]

Called in today, 4th time i've been and bought 2 fatsia camouflage 👍

[@dirtcheapplants]

It was nice to see you again yesterday 😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Amazing, great choice!

[@John-qw1wi]

Good morning always enjoy your videos. Could you make a video about the less fun things about gardening? the vermin, I now suffer from bamboo mites and that spoils the fun.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi John and thanks, as mentioned if I'm able to help I'll definitely share the info in a future vid!

[@JoshuaNoble-sk3tr]

Another Fantastic video George!! Does Janet heat her lean too green house during winter ? with all the bananas inside as she said she had the “Thai Black” variety

[@dirtcheapplants]

No it's not heated in winter. The bananas will be moved to an unheated polyTunnel and wrapped in there in straw like I do outside. The Thai black will come indoors for it's first winter then dry stored after that.

[@JoshuaNoble-sk3tr]

Thanks for taking the time to reply to me. I will try to replicate this in my greenhouse 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Joshua and pleased you enjoyed the vid! Thanks for the advice @dirtcheapplants

[@DoNotForget45180]

We grew bananas here..the good one

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, the edible sorts?

[@GrowTropicalMK]

Hi George another fantastic video :-) You mentioned that Yucca Rostrata size up quite quickly. I have ones grown from seed, which are about 10 inches and planted in the spring. One that I bought from a garden center with no visible trunk at just over a foot each way. Another that I picked up in an october sale which spans around 2ft, again with no visibile trunk. When I first started growing the seeds I read that it will become full size in 10 years and since doing more research it appears to be around 80 years! will I see my saplings get to full size in my lifetime? What are your thoughts on time from seed to say a 3 foot trunk?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and thank you very much! Yes, rostrata do grow quickly in the context of arid / yucca type plants. There's definitely a difference between an impressive plant and what they're classing as 'full size' and that's really the difference between the 10 & 80 year suggestions. 80 years would be a very old plant I imagine! They take several years to grow from the height of your seed grown ones (well done by the way!) to form a nice dome and then another few years before they'll get to that 2ft span. That 2ft size is really the sweet spot for planting them in my eyes as they go from a half dome shape to visibly growing upwards within a few years. Obviously growth rates vary depending on climate / weather / planting conditions / the condition of the roots when they planted but for both your sizes you'll have nice plants in the 10 year period. I couldn't say an exact time to 3ft of trunk as I haven't experienced it here but they seem to pick up nicely once they start growing up so I wouldn't be afraid of starting small, just don't expect them to be tree-sized in 10 years.

[@GrowTropicalMK]

Hi George a great insight to the wonderful world of Yucca Rostrata. Thanks for taking the time to reply to me, I do genuinely feel honoured! I am piecing together a garden tour at the moment and will ensure I capture some of this great information in it. :-) @@GeorgesJungleGarden

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

No worries, I try to get back to everyone - I don't claim to know everything (far from it) but we're all just experimenting and learning from experiences aren't we. Good luck with it!

[@GrowTropicalMK]

​@@GeorgesJungleGarden Mine are looking pretty fresh 5 months on. I agree even a small one is a great investment. Dirt Cheap Plants are fantastic :-) i

[@mexi7290]

George I have a question, - Is it ok to plant a tree fern at angle? I know some tree ferns have a bit of lean, but can this be created by putting them in the ground so they are not straight? Love where your garden is going...Wish i had the space you do!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and thanks - a word of warning though, no matter how much space you have you'll always want more! As for your question, I've got a couple planted like that and it should be just fine, yes. Just keep in mind that they generally tend too grow straight upwards from the growing point so you don't really want to create a completely unnatural looking angle unless you're pointing it over water or trying to create the impression it's fallen over and is regrowing.

[@mexi7290]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Hi George, really appreciate you answering the question and congrats on the new(ish) arrival and the progress with the fire pit 🙌🏻

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and no worries, apologies for the delayed reply! Thank you very much, that’s really kind of you 😊

[@theimbiber]

First for dirt

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, you got in there quick 😂

[@palmdaddy]

What camera do you use for shooting? DSLR?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, I use Canon mirrorless for most of my vids 😊

[@palmdaddy]

cheers @@GeorgesJungleGarden

[@RichardDavies-g3h]

It is a great shame that you do not allow the pawlonia to flower as they smell like parma violets

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That's interesting to know! I guess the main attraction here, especially in a smaller tropical style garden, are the huge leaves but with enough space you could definitely enjoy their colourful and scented display when larger.

[@kalpnashah4030]

Are these invasive in uk ?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, which plants in particular? The Tetrapanax and bamboo can spread but others like the Hedychium ginger are well behaved over here as we’re not really warm enough for them to get too rampant.

[@liz3putt]

I’m in shock! Your garden looks amazing! 😳 I had no idea that these plants could survive in 🇬🇧 We have a new build and have slabbed the majority of our garden, so hoped to have tropical plants in pots so having a bit of a think as to what will survive 🙄🫢🤔🤔 need help and advice

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and yes, this isn't my garden but the garden over at Dirt Cheap Plants and it's pretty fantastic! There's a surprising array of tropical style plants that can survive our normal winters just fine and even more than can usually come through with a bit of care. You can certainly grow a good few in pots, whether that's the more slow growing and drought tolerant plants like Chamaerops or summer displays like Cannas. I'd definitely check out some of the Facebook groups like Tropical/Jungle Style Gardening UK and Hardy Tropicals along with some of my other garden visit videos for ideas and inspiration!