There are many ways to make your garden exotic with spending small or no money. I’m a midwest gardener, but I like to go to exotic gardens to remind me of more romantic times. Through experience, I have found many simple and cost effective ways to bring this feel to your own garden.
One way is to keep tropical plants in your house. If you have a nice sunny window, you can often keep a substantial house plant alive through the winter months. Plants such as a rubber plant or a ficus require small care and are often on sale at local markets and grocery stores.
For the landscape, some plants are hardy enough to keep in a cold climate garden. Cannas have that feel of the jungle and can give a tropical feel to any garden when planted as a foundation or backdrop. These are bulbs that are available at your local garden store and are relatively inexpensive. If you know anyone who is growing this plant, wait for the seeds to dry and plant them in your own garden. They should come up with fantastic success if they aren’t allowed to dry out. Small maintenance is required, and you can’t beat the price.
Banana plants and palm trees are another option for that exotic feel. One or two around the pool can remind you of the last trip you took to Florida. Repot palm trees when the soil temperature starts to drop. I’ll wait for the average night time temperature to reach about 50 degrees fahrenheit before I start preparing them for the indoor garden. A banana plant can be kept in sawdust or sand in the basement as long as the temperature doesn’t fluctuate to greatly. Wait for the tops to yellow and cut about a foot away from the bulb, leaving some of the original stalk, pack them away and bring them back out in the spring.
Another way to achieve the foreign look is to bring the inside to the outside. If you do keep indoor plants, take them out in the summer months. You’re plants will thank you and you’ll be able to grow them larger, and quicker. Simply plant in their pots in opportune places in the landscape. Don’t forget to provide enough moisture, Plants kept in pots outdoors will dry out quicker than ones grown in the soil.
Planting bright colors such as red and yellow can give you a wild feel. These colors are quite noticable to exotic animals such as the ruby throated hummingbird, which can migrate from as far south as Brazil. Cardinal flowers are among my favorites for red. Try a cone flower or a black-eyed susan, for the yellow scheme.
Fragrant plants like ginger or honeysuckle can often give you an imported feel. The sense of smell is a fantastic way to transport the mind to fascinating lands and cultures. And they cost a lot less than the air fresheners they’re marketing as exotic perfumes to fill the home.
Although a greenhouse is not an option for most people, if you are lucky enough to have one, you can know the calming effect that the smell of fresh earth can have on the soul. Especially in the dead of winter, when snow covers the sleeping garden outside. There are hundreds of options for a cheap greenhouse, look around. I’ve seen plans for a greenhouse using cattle panels as the frame that can be built for less than $500. Heating it, of course, is another bill. A greenhouse will give you know limits on how exotic you want to make your own garden.
As you can see, there are many options for the gardener on a budget to bring that exotic feel to their own garden. The key is to keep your senses open. Next time you come across a plant or object that gives you an adventurous feeling, be adventurous and place it in your garden.
Tags: Backdrop, Banana Plant, Banana Plants, Cold Climate, Exotic Gardens, Ficus, Grocery Stores, House Plant, Indoor Plants, Local Markets, Midwest Gardener, Night Time Temperature, Palm Trees, Romantic Times, Rubber Plant, Sawdust, Soil Temperature, Stalk, Sunny Window, Tropical Plants
