Growing Tropical Plants in a Greenhouse in the High Desert
Arboles, Colorado, is not a place where most people expect to see lemons, grapefruits, or oranges. Avocados feel unlikely, and a five-foot-tall bird of paradise feels impossible. Yet all of these plants thrive inside Lisa Price’s 42-foot Growing Dome.
Lisa built her greenhouse in 2005. Over nearly two decades, she poured time, care, and patience into building healthy soil and stable growing conditions. What began as a place to grow food slowly became something more. It became a sanctuary. Her experience shows that growing tropical plants in a greenhouse is possible even in the high desert.
When Fire Threatened Everything She Built
In 2024, disaster struck. An act of arson destroyed Lisa’s Dome. Charred remains replaced what had once been lush and green. The east side burned so badly that the structure itself shifted. Lisa feared she would lose it all. Years of soil building, mature trees, and decades of memories seemed impossible to save. The entire system she had created for growing tropical plants in a greenhouse was suddenly at risk.
Rebuilding and Choosing to Grow Again
What could have been the end became a turning point. Lisa’s homeowners insurance helped cover the loss, and Growing Spaces stepped in to rebuild the Dome.
Rebuilding a greenhouse from the literal ground up around existing plants and trees is difficult work. With careful planning, much of the plant life was preserved in the new structure.
That is the thing about Growing Spaces. We aren’t just here to sell you a product. When you buy from us, you become part of our community, and we come together and support each other when disaster strikes. The Growing Dome was designed to be repairable, and while we can’t promise we will be able to save everything, we will always do our best.
A Greenhouse That Performs Better Than Before
Today, Lisa’s greenhouse is thriving. Her lemon tree now blooms and produces fruit throughout the year. This never happened before the rebuild. The improvement came from thoughtful upgrades, including evaporative coolers that keep summer temperatures comfortable even when outdoor heat climbs above 90 degrees.
During winter, three propane heaters protect the plants during the coldest nights. The temperature rarely drops below 40 degrees in the greenhouse, so these serve more as a piece of mind than necessary components. This steady environment allows citrus, avocados, and other tropical species to grow while snow falls outside.
How Growing Tropical Plants in a Greenhouse Works Here
Lisa’s success comes from a few simple principles working together.
The Dome design helps moderate temperature swings through the seven features built into every kit. Evaporative cooling keeps plants from overheating in summer. Backup heat prevents damage during winter cold. Raised beds and living soil support long-term plant health.
Instead of forcing plants to survive, the greenhouse creates stable conditions where tropical plants can settle in and grow over time. This approach makes growing tropical plants in a greenhouse more sustainable and less stressful for both plants and the gardener.
Plants That Hold Memory and Meaning
Many plants inside the Dome carry personal meaning for Lisa.
She dislikes grapefruit, but her late husband loved them, so she continues to grow them in his memory. Amaryllis bulbs line the southern beds as reminders of their life together. For Lisa, growing tropical plants in a greenhouse is as much about connection as it is about food.
Her husband also loved the space to feel wild and full like a jungle. Lisa lets certain plants grow freely, just as he preferred.
A Shift From Production to Peace
In the early years, Lisa focused on vegetables and food production. Beds were full, and harvests were shared with friends and neighbors. Over time, the constant planting and re-planting became tiring.
She realized she wanted something different. She wanted beauty, permanence, and calm. Growing tropical plants in a greenhouse gave her that balance. Today, her space blends food with joy. You too can have the best of both. As Lisa says, “Make the space what you want it to be.”
A Living Ecosystem Under a Bubble
The Dome is full of life. Herbs grow in abundance. A tomato tunnel on the east side utilizes the dome’s vertical space. Cabbage, peppers, lavender, and a large monstera fill the beds.
The monstera was badly damaged in the fire. Lisa saved it with a single cutting. Less than a year later, it reaches upward with large glossy leaves. It stands as proof that patience matters when growing tropical plants in a greenhouse.
At the center of the Dome, the above-ground pond supports hardy goldfish, all while helping to regulate the temperature of the greenhouse. Water hyacinths rise more than a foot above the surface. The space feels more like a conservatory than a private greenhouse in the high desert.
Lessons Learned Through Patience
The trees, too, carry their own story of patience and persistence. They began their lives in pots, where they languished for years, unhappy and slow to grow. As a last-ditch effort, Lisa transplanted them into the raised garden beds.
To her surprise, they flourished. “If I had known how well it would work,” she admits, “I would have spaced them out better, but everything just took off.” Her advice to others? Don’t give up. Trust the process. Gardening is not about perfection, but progress.
Honest Advice for Growing Tropical Plants in a Greenhouse
Lisa enjoys sharing her greenhouse, but she is honest with visitors.
“This takes work,” she says. “It’s like going to the botanical gardens. People walk through and see the beauty, but they do not always think about the effort behind it. I am out here every day, and I love it.”
Her advice is simple. If you do not love gardening, or if it is just one of your many hobbies, start small. Growing tropical plants in a greenhouse is rewarding, but it requires time and care.
A Living Example of What Is Possible
For Lisa, her Growing Dome is more than a greenhouse. It represents resilience, memory, and dedication. It is a sanctuary. Through patience and daily care, Lisa continues growing tropical plants in a greenhouse. Her story shows that even in harsh environments under challenging circumstances, abundance can take root.
