in the summer. Most conservatories are not well designed in this department, offering just one or two feebly inadequate vents in the roof, if you’re lucky. It is worth paying extra to have as many fixed panes of glass in the roof as possible converted into movable ones that open. If the design allows, have some side vents fitted as well, to catch the breeze from all directions.
Flooring
As all plants are much happier growing in the ground than they are in containers, leaving some space in the conservatory floor, where small trees and faster-growing plants can be planted directly into the soil, is something worth thinking about when you are planning your conservatory. The roots would have the benefit of being able to spread out naturally, while the glass overhead would protect tender foliage from the frost.
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Tropical, lush verdancy is what we’re aiming for in a conservatory.
Also consider choosing the sort of flooring that can be hosed down in the summer. This would help to lessen the heat while increasing the humidity, both of which would benefit the plants. Fluffy rugs might look okay flung on the conservatory floor, but they are not exactly practical.
Watering
Having a hose pipe right where it is needed will make watering much less of a chore, and your plants are therefore more likely to be irrigated when they need it, rather than having to wait until it is convenient.
Automatic irrigation systems have improved hugely during the last few years. Available from all good garden centres, they are easy to install, reliable and reasonably priced. A main pipe is placed all around the conservatory, and from this numerous drip nozzles can be pushed into each container. The timer is as easy as any domestic central heating or hot water system. They are the perfect solution for anyone who is frequently away from home or who would prefer spending their time doing other things.
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Strelitzia reginae adds an exotic air to any conservatory.
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The size, aspect, ventilation and maintenance of a conservatory have a direct bearing on what can be grown successfully.
Heating
From being boiling hot in the summer, the temperature in many conservatories plummets during the winter when the heat is quickly lost through the glass. Many plants can cope with almost freezing conditions, but a few degrees above freezing will make life more pleasant for plants and humans alike.
Whether the conservatory is heated by leaving the door to the adjoining house open, or by radiators, hot pipes, portable gas heaters or anything else, it is important to remember that plants do not like direct heat, so keep them some distance away from any heating source. Avoid heating systems that blow hot dry air directly onto the plants’ foliage as this can make the leaves turn brown and crispy.
If possible, avoid underfloor heating as well. Although this is nice for cats and people to walk on, plants hate this much heat so near to their roots – they will start to shed their leaves almost immediately. The only plants able to tolerate underfloor heating are spiky and succulent ones that are used to coping with the heat of their native habitats, such as the Sonoran Desert in Arizona or the warm plains of South Africa. Lovely though these plants are, most gardeners prefer to grow a variety of plants under glass, and the sharp spines of Yucca and Agave can be inconvenient indoors.
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Sparmannia africana is a fine plant for filling a corner of a large conservatory.
Conservatory plants
By checking the cultivation requirements of the various plants featured in this book and by reading the section on how to grow plants in pots (see pages 20–27), you can soon assemble a list of suitable plants for growing under glass. If the heating, ventilation and irrigation topics have been addressed, you will have more than a sporting chance of attaining the dream of a conservatory filled with lush, healthy, exotic plants.
The single most useful and beneficial thing that you can do in the heat of the summer is to move all your plants outside for the hottest months. They will appreciate not only the fresh air, but also the rain, which helps to clean any dust from the leaves.
Pests & diseases under glass
The unnatural conditions of being under glass, the hostile environment of fluctuating temperatures and the problems of growing plants in containers mean that pests and diseases are virtually guaranteed at some time or other. Once bugs are happily ensconced, they can breed with alarming rapidity. Some insects, such as whitefly, can produce another generation mature enough for laying its own eggs within three days.
Check all plants at least once a week, looking not just for insects, but also for any signs of fungal infections, moulds, rotting or any other maladies. Dealing with any problems at the very first sign saves all sorts of trouble for the future. There’s no point ignoring it and hoping it will go away – it won’t. The more an infestation takes hold, the harder it is to deal with.
The chapter on pests and diseases (see pages 334–347) gives more comprehensive information, and there is also a Rogues’ Gallery (see pages 340–347) to help you identify exactly which horrors to look out for.
Professional maintenance contracts
The difficulties of looking after plants grown in conservatories are well known in the horticultural trade. As a result, teams of marvellous people are always available to help gardeners keep everything looking healthy. They will visit your home regularly to check that all is well in the conservatory. They will water, feed and clean plants whenever necessary and dispense valuable advice at the same time. They take all the hard work out of looking after plants, leaving you just to enjoy the results.
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Tibouchina urvilleana adores lots of heat and humidity.
Architectural plants in the garden
Gardening with architectural plants is no different from any other type of gardening, but I can appreciate that planting a garden with unfamiliar plants might be a bit daunting. The usual rules still apply, although I prefer to think of them as tips and helpful advice.
Walking into an architectural plants nursery for the first time can be overwhelming. When faced with plants that look so big, bold and different, it’s easy to assume that all those on sale are
