2017, We're growing Vertical!

After a quiet year in 2016 following family troubles, Plant A Tree Bangkok is back with new energy, and needs you more than ever!

Since I don't have a place and a regular lifestyle to grow trees, I have none ready for the coming raining season. So, we're going to proceed a little differently this year: I would like all of you to grow trees directly at home! If each and everyone of us grows 2-3 trees, we'll have enough to plant a Forest!

It's easy because we're going to use very hardy trees, for a very specific purpose: plant a vertical forest, Guerrilla Style as usual, in one of Bangkok's abandoned towers! These trees (Ficuses of all kind) can be found readily in Bangkok streets, we'll take them there.

I will show you how to grow them, and tell you more about this year's plan during this first meetup (Facebook Link). Comment below if you don't have a FB account and would like to be informed ;)

How to grow seeds in a plate

No pots, no soil available, and these seeds I want to plant! What can I do?


When this happens, don't lose your cool, even when a heat wave threatens to boils your brains out: grab a container, even just a plate, and some tissue! Lay the tissue, then the seeds. Fold the tissue layer only once over the seeds. Water lightly.

You're all set!
Just keep it moist, magic will happen soon!


Great simple activity to do with your kids: they love to watch seeds sprout and grow and time after time change into a tree!


When it's as hot as it is now in Bangkok, you may want to soak up your system morning and night, to make sure it will stay moist as long as possible.

Spread seeds evenly, keep moist, love unconditionally :)

#growseedsinaplate #growseedsintissue #growstuffinaplate #kidsgrowseeds

How to grow stuff to plant in the streets? :D

People often ask me how I find the trees I plant in the streets. Really, there are lots of sources, but the easiest and most fun way to find a tree is to grow it at home! If you have children, they will love playing with the soil, watering the pot, and they will  marvel at the seed growing into a small tree that gets bigger every day! Kids will love it even more if you get the seed from fruits you eat together!

Fruits easy to find now: lamyai, tamarind...

Now, if you want to keep your tree longer, or transplant it to the streets, other containers might be more appropriate, such as plastic bottles, coffee cups with a cap, milk boxes, plastic bags...

The idea is to be able to remove the tree from the container without damaging the roots.

I also like the idea to reuse something we otherwise just use once and throw to the trash. When we reuse it, we give it a second life, a second purpose.

Plastic dinosaos will do to! :D

Plastic bottles, coffee cups & empty coconuts

Bigger bottles are better. Keep the cap on top,  to keep moisture in

easy ! :D 

It's good to have something to keep water under your pot, especially if you grow on a balcony or a window sill. Growing conditions on balconies are very difficult: strong sun or full shade, walls that keep the heat, wind that dries everything and can make your tree fall (tie it up well!)...

If you have a plate, or a cup, or a plastic sheet under you pot, the soil will keep moist longer, and your tree has more chances to survive. Plus, you don't have to water everyday, you can relax and check only once every few days! :D

For highly motivated tree planters: how to set a Guerrilla Planting Nursery! :D

By definition, if it's guerrilla, you don't ask for permission, you just do it!

If you have a house, you're lucky! Just find a spot near water faucet, 50% shade. Here is a picture from P'Jude nursery, very simple & efficient setup!

P'Jude planted hundreds of trees in Bangkok, his nursery works super fine! :D 

If like most of us you live in a condo, things get a bit more fun!

I've never had problems with the management, and i don't think you will, provided you keep a few things when you choose the right spot in your condo. Choose a spot where:

. trees do not bother anyone (don't take a parking space)
. water won't damage anything when you water the trees

Now, to give your trees the best chances to grow, choose a spot that:
. is not all the time in direct sunlight . is close to water source (be lazy!)
. upstairs parking lots! if there is some light coming in, it will make a great nursery! On upper floors, the parking might not have reached full capacity and there could be lots of space to install a guerrilla nursery! You most likely will meet resistance from the management, so if they bother you after you set up the place, try to negotiate staying just a few weeks (don't be specific, you need 3 months minimum), and you might get a reluctant acceptance.
That's all you need, party time! :D

If you're not sure you found the right spot, my way to proceed is to start somewhere, not far from the condo security guards. When they see you set the place up, they will come to talk, and if they don't like the spot you chose, they will advice you another one. Most people are kind, give them a chance to help you, you will be surprised! ;)

It will not work everywhere of course, especially the new condos with extreme and stupid security rules. Still worth trying it, isn't it!?!



Here are a few pictures from the nursery I set up in my condo a few years ago. Total budget less than 500 bahts, including everything: soil, bamboos...

Perfect setup: about 1x2meters, water nearby, not bother anyone, 50% shade 

Roof opens up easily

Plastic sheet to keep all bottles moist - too busy to come every day!

#growstuff #growstuffforcheap #guerrillanursery #guerrillatree #guerrillatreeplanting #growstuffonyourparkinglot #plantatreebangkok