Why is it called Star Apple? Caimito Star Apple (Chrysophyllum cainito) - do not confuse with Start Fruit (Carambola) - is hard to find exotic fruit tree. A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
Why is it called Star Apple?
Caimito Star Apple (Chrysophyllum cainito)
⭐️ Why is it called Star Apple?
🍏 Caimito Star Apple (Chrysophyllum cainito) - do not confuse with Start Fruit (Carambola) - is hard to find exotic fruit tree.
🍏 It is a favorite in the Caribbean and Central America as well as Southeast Asia.
🍏 The fruit has a mild grape-like flavor, and is best eaten fresh.
🍏 Inside the fruit looks like a star when cut across!
How a fast-growing screen becomes a honey-fragrant wildlife attractor How a fast-growing screen becomes a honey-fragrant wildlife attractor
Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa - is a delightful evergreen shrub that's as tough as it is charming! A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
How a fast-growing screen becomes a honey-fragrant wildlife attractor
Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa
😊 How a fast-growing screen becomes a honey-fragrant wildlife attractor
🐝 Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa - is a delightful evergreen shrub that's as tough as it is charming!
🐝 This large, multi-stem shrub can reach 15 feet tall and wide and sports thorny branches - a real character with a wild streak! But don't let the thorns scare you off; it offers rewards aplenty.
🐝 Its canary-yellow, powder-puff flowers bloom all winter through spring, filling the air with a honey-like fragrance that attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
🐝 This plant doesn't just survive - it thrives in poor soils, tolerates drought and alkaline conditions, and grows incredibly fast!
🐝 Whether you're planting it as a privacy screen or just looking for a pop of cheerful color during chilly months, this hardy shrub keeps its evergreen leaves even through cold snaps when other plants throw in the towel.
🐝 Native to Mexico and Central America, Sweet Mimosa has spread its charm far and wide, becoming popular in southern U.S. landscapes like Florida, Texas, and Arizona. It even finds use in perfume production with its flowers contributing to the fragrance known as "cassie" in Europe.
🐝 Every gardener should have this resilient plant ready to brighten the garden and attract wildlife year-round!
How to make your Hibiscus plants thrive and bloom How to make your Hibiscus plants thrive and bloom
"If your plant isn't flowering, feed it. A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
How to make your Hibiscus plants thrive and bloom
Sunshine Boosters Megaflor
🌷 How to make your Hibiscus plants thrive and bloom
💬 Among gardeners, Hibiscus plants have a reputation to have couple maintenance issues:
they can get bugsy (because they must be so tasty!)
they can get leggy, especially fancy grafted cultivars, and after a while they don't look as perfect as when they came from a nursery.
‼️ Tips for healthy and pretty hibiscus plants (can be applied to other flowering shrubs)
🟡Full sun. Essential for profuse flowering and keeps away diseases.
🟡Pruning. Keep it pruned and it will get bushy and produce more blooms.
🟡Well-drained soil. Hibiscus likes regular watering but hates wet feet.
🟡Nutrition program. Hibiscus plants are heavy feeders. But keep in mind that if you just keep pushing granulated plant food, you can over-fertilize the plant. Excessive salts will accumulate in soil and you will end up with a sickly looking plant.
⚠️ Keys to balanced plant food and bloom booster
💋Use liquid fertilizer, preferably amino acid based, it won't create nutrients lock up
💋Fertilize on regular basis, it's better dilute concentration and add food with every watering
💋Always add micro-elements - they are essential for plant health
🌞 If you do this right, the result will be:
⏺healthy, green plants, like they just came from a nursery
⏺reliable blooming circle
⏺better cold tolerance and disease resistance. Remember that a strong plant will be less ⏺stressed and less "bugged" by bugs!
😎 We suggest Sunshine Boosters Megaflor - scientifically balanced liquid fertilizer that is amino acid based = natural and organic, can be used for both flowers and edibles, and what's most important - year around. It is safe to use virtually with every watering, all year around!
🔥 This is all you need for healthy plants and lots of flowers!
Five
Extraordinary, Show-Stopping Flowering Shrubs
Q: I'm looking for something fresh and exciting -
something my neighbors won't have! I have both sunny and shady spots in my
garden. What unique flowering shrubs would you recommend?
A: Why settle for ordinary when your garden can
be extraordinary? Here are five fabulous flowering shrubs that will set your
landscape apart. Whether you're dealing with sizzling sun or cool shade, these
beauties will add color, character, and charm year-round. Let's dive in!
1. Lobster Claw - Simply Spectacular!
Heliconia
rostrata - Lobster Claw. This exotic plant makes a bold statement with its
parrot-like blooms. The colorful, dangling flowers last long and are perfect for
bouquets. Growing up to 7 feet tall, it thrives in large pots or tropical
landscapes, handling temperatures in the high 20s. Just give it room to stretch
those stalks!
Tacca
chantrieri - Bat Head Lily, Black Tacca. Looking for something mysterious? This
plant's dark, bat-shaped flowers and trailing "whiskers" will intrigue everyone.
It prefers filtered light and high humidity, making it a great pick for
shaded areas or a greenhouse. Available in striking colors like black, white, and
green, it's a conversation starter in any garden.
Combretum
constrictum from Thailand, called Ball of Fire - is one of our favorite tropical
flowering shrubs that is constantly in bloom and is so much different from
anythings else. With constant blooms and fiery red flowers, this tropical
shrub shines bright. Though it might fool you from a distance as a Powderpuff
plant, it's a whole different species! It can be shaped into a small tree,
handles pruning well, and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Easy to grow, it
only needs regular water to get established.
Eranthemum
pulchellum - Blue Sage, or Lead Flower. This winter heavy bloomer thrives in
shady spots with its vibrant gentian-blue flowers, a rare color in the tropics.
It's compact, easygoing, and the more you prune it, the bushier it gets.
When other plants are napping, Blue Sage adds a splash of cool blue, making it
perfect for carefree gardeners who want a touch of magic.
Senna alata -
Empress Candle, Candelabra Plant - is a fast-growing shrub that brings
sunny, candle-like flowers and massive leaves to your garden. It's a weed-fighting
hero, shading out invaders with its wide canopy. Butterflies and bees love
its golden blooms, and the plant can grow 10 feet wide in just one season! If
you want beauty and function, the Candelabra Plant is your golden ticket.
Watch the
.
Why my plant turned yellow? And why plants need Micronutrients? The answer is: Why my plant turned yellow? A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
Why my plant turned yellow? And why plants need Micronutrients? The answer is:
🍴 Why my plant turned yellow? And why plants need Micronutrients? The answer is: they need Superfood!
Nothing is more disappointing than when your plant’s bright green leaves begin to turn yellow. Too often gardeners blame pests for these issues, but at the root of the problem is almost always a nutrient deficiency.
Plants need both macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) help plants grow big and strong. Micronutrients (like iron, zinc, copper, and manganese) are just like vitamins, needed in small amounts but are just as important for plant health.
Why are micronutrients important?
📌 They help plants with vital processes like making food (photosynthesis) and building strong roots.
📌 Without enough micronutrients, plants can look weak, turn yellow, or grow poorly.
Let's grow green again - together! 20% OFF post-hurricane discount
"We rise by lifting others." - Robert Ingersoll
Dear Valued Customers,
We're reaching out to let you know that Top Tropicals made it through
Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and we are fully back up and running. While these
storms caused some damages to our facilities and brought down trees, we were
fortunate that our plants and inventory remained safe and beautiful.
After a lot of cleanup and repairs, we are excited to resume shipping your
orders as scheduled!
Thank you for your kind messages and
continued support during this time. If you were unaffected by these hurricanes, we
invite you to support us as we restore our nursery and raise fallen trees.
Every order, no matter the
size, makes a difference in our recovery.
For those who lost plants and trees to the
storms, we've included a 20% discount code below to help you start fresh. Let's
grow green again - together!
Thank you for being part of our community! Use the
code:
SUPPORT
This code saves 20% off all orders over $150
(excluding S/H).
Exp. 10-31-24
In the photos:
Koelreuteria paniculata - Golden Rain Tree, is a winter bloomer that is
starting flowering now and throughout the winter. It one of the most spectacular
trees of subtopics that is actually very cold hardy, drought resistant,
wind-resistant and fast growing - nice solution for a shade tree. According to
ancient Chinese manuscripts, the Golden Rain Tree is crucial for Dragons, as it
is believed to be connected to their existence, guarding and complementing
each other. Growing these plants is considered auspicious and is believed to
safeguard the Dragon family. 2024 is a year of Dragon... Let's please the
Dragon and plant this tree this year so it will protect us from hurricanes in the
future!
Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #3 Noni Noni is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce joint pain and arthritis symptoms. A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
Top 10 fruit youll ever need for your health benefits:
😼 Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #3 Noni 🥔
🟡 Noni is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce joint pain and arthritis symptoms.
🟡Fresh noni fruit and juice are popular in traditional herbal medicine and drinks.
It boosts the immune system due to its rich vitamin C content.
🟡Noni juice is used traditionally to improve digestion and fight infections.
Why Should I Use Sunshine Boosters? Plants need nutrients to grow strong and healthy. A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
Why Should I Use Sunshine Boosters?
Southern Landscape
Sunshine Boosters
😎 Why Should I Use Sunshine Boosters?
⚠️ Plants need nutrients to grow strong and healthy. Nutrients help plants develop roots, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Sunshine Boosters fertilizers provide all key nutrients.
Sunshine Boosters are specially made to give plants everything they need to thrive. They work for both indoor and outdoor plants.
😼 Why Sunshine Boosters are better than other fertilizers?
🟡Easy to use: Just mix with water and feed your plants.
🟡Balanced nutrients: They contain the right mix of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as trace minerals.
🟡No harmful chemicals: Sunshine Boosters are safe for your plants, pets, and the environment.
😎 Benefits of using Sunshine Boosters:
🟡Plants grow faster and produce more flowers and fruits.
🟡Stronger plants can resist diseases, pests, and tough weather.
🟡Sunshine Boosters help plants recover from stress, like after being moved or pruned.
🟡For all types of plants: whether you have tropical plants, vegetables, fruit trees, or flowers, Sunshine Boosters help them grow better.
Sunshine Boosters make your plants stronger, healthier, and more beautiful. By using Sunshine Boosters, you’re giving your plants everything they need to grow fast, resist stress, and produce lots of flowers or fruits. It’s the best way to keep your plants happy and thriving!
Is this Adenium? No, its a Morning Glory! A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
Is this Adenium?
caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis
🌸 Is this Adenium? No, its a Morning Glory!
🌸 This remarkable caudiciform Morning Glory -Ipomoea platensis- is growing from a large caudex! The caudex can be of some weird shapes and forms. Similar to Desert roses (Adeniums), it grows caudex for water storage to survive extended drought periods. This is one of our favorite plants, easy to grow, makes a great conversation piece. It is a perfect for bonsai
📚Learn more from previous post: A beauty from Argentina
