Ever wish you could pull off growing a tree or plant that only grows further south? If you’ve read this blog for very long, you know that’s a passion of mine.In my latest article for Natural Awakenings magazine, I go further in depth on how I do it:
http://issuu.com/gonaturalawakenings/docs/august2013/27?e=0
As a side note, I went to Kanapaha Botanical Gardens for my birthday last month and came across a white orchid tree growing outdoors without protection. From everything I’ve ever read or been told, it’s impossible to grow those this far north… but we’re still close to their range, so somebody decided to try – and it worked.
You really don’t know if something is truly impossible until you give it a go yourself. And if you fail, try, try again.
For more information on growing tropical plants outside of their normal range, check out my book Push The Zone.
4 responses to “August Natural Awakenings article: Growing tropical plants out of their normal range”
Great info!
Thank you. It's a passion.
Lots of good ideas, thanks.
Next winter I was also thinking of piling a large load of fresh woodchips near my banana trees.
The heat they generate while composting for the first 3 or 4 months is large.
I have even heard of people running water pipes through a pile to get hotwater.
Not sure if it would help protect plants from frost though.
That's a great idea. Any little bit helps… try two or three things at the same time and you're likely to bump up a growing zone or two.