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Gardening in a warmer climate has it's advantages and
disadvantages Firstly you will be able to landscape your
garden with a wider variety of more exotic plants and
shrubs. the down side to this is you may not be familiar
with how they are to be cared for and while your
gardening books may give some tips this is usually for
species grown in conservatories or greenhouses.
Until
you get to know your property's land, it can be
difficult to plant your exotic shrubs in case they die
off due to exposure to the wind or not enough exposure
to the sun. Therefore below, thanks to trial, error and
a lot of research with Portuguese neighbours
Gekkoportugal
has started an exotic plant care list to help your
garden grow. We will add to this list as time goes by,
however if you have any top, planting tips for any
exotic plants in Portugal, then contact us at
info@gekkoportugal.com.
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Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia)
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The
Strelitzia or Bird of Paradise
as it is more commonly
known can flourish in Portugal. A native
plant to Africa the Bird of Paradise don't enjoy being
over watered.
Soaking
the planting and then leaving until the soil around is
almost dry mimics the plants native conditions. Bird of
Paradise prefer sheltered, south facing positions and
can grow up to two metres tall. |
Bougainvillea
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Bougainvillea are native to South America and are named
after the French Admiral Louis Antoine de Bougainville,
who discovered the plant in Brazil in 1768.
The
plant has 18 different varieties and flowers in a
variety of colours including magenta, purple, red, pink,
orange, white and yellow. A fast growing, thorny, wood
plant and grow up to 12 metres in height in optimum
conditions.
Bougainvillea grow best in moist fertile soil, though if
over watered the plant will not flower and may lose it's
leaves and eventually die due to root rot. |
Banana Tree
(Musa acuminata)
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The
Banana Tree is in fact a perennial herb and it is
something one associates immediately with an exotic
location or garden. the Banana tree prefers warmer
climates and should be protected against the frost if
kept outside during a harsh winter.
The
Banana tree is hardy, likes sheltered areas and needs a
lot of water. However over watering it can cause root
rot. Keep the soil around the tree well drained and
moist, but not soggy. Banana trees prefer acidic soil
and you should fertilise the soil once a month.
The
Banana tree is sterile so propagation is by the removal
of suckers from the original plant.
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