The cacti side of the arid house has been landscaped using existing basalt columns to create raised planting bays for cacti to be displayed in. The central house is going to be more of a palm and cycad display. Favourites, such as bananas and coffee, will still be there and others, such as the big smelly corpse plant, will be displayed when in leaf or flower.
A lot of work is needed to be done before planting. The soil inside was covered for protection during the renovation work but became compacted , so needed to be rotary hoed and have compost added to aerate the soil again. It's also very dry, so we will need to slowly rehydrate the soil over a few days before getting plants in the ground.
A planting plan is essential. Some research is required if you're unfamiliar with the plants to make sure you plant them in an optimal position with conditions they need to thrive, such as space which can be very restricted in a glasshouse.
Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden. For further information contact Stephen Bishop.
