Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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Bleeding Heart Vine surprised everyone this year! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Bleeding Heart Vine - Clerodendrum thomsoniae

💞 Bleeding Heart Vine surprised everyone this year!
  • ❣️ Bleeding Heart Vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae) is not just a winter bloomer! Despite the common belief that it blooms only in winter, this beauty actually flowers year-round in warm climates, putting on a continuous display of red and white "hearts". It bloomed in winter, then in spring, and now - it's a summertime - it is still full of flowers!
  • ❣️ The "bleeding heart" look comes from the striking contrast between the white calyx and the deep red flower inside - like a heart bursting with color.
  • ❣️ It's a vigorous vine, perfect for trellises, arbors, or containers. It can even be trained as a shrub!
  • ❣️ Grows best in bright filtered light or partial sun, and appreciates regular watering - but it's not fussy.
  • ❣️ Pollinator magnet! The blooms attract hummingbirds and butterflies, adding motion and life to your garden.
  • ❣️ Tough and tropical - i'’s hardy, low maintenance, and stays evergreen in frost-free areas.
  • ❣️ It's not shy, not seasonal, and definitely not boring!


📚 Learn more from previous posts:

🛒Get your own Bleeding Heart

#Butterfly_Plants #Shade_Garden #Fun_Facts #Hedges_with_benefits #Container_Garden

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Charming Elephant Ears: Alocasia vs Colocasia. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Alocasia and Colocasia

🐘 Charming Elephant Ears: Alocasia vs. Colocasia - which one is better?

Alocasias and Colocasias, or Elephant Ears, are both remarkable and popular plants that can bring a tropical exotic touch to your garden, pond, or pool area. Why are they so popular - and which one should you choose?
  • 🍀 Why gardeners love Elephant Ears

  • ✔️ Tropical appeal: Bold, architectural foliage creates a lush, exotic atmosphere.
  • ✔️ Striking leaves: Huge heart- or arrow-shaped leaves in green, purple, black, or variegated tones.
  • ✔️ Versatile placement: Ideal for containers, garden beds, water features, or borders.
  • ✔️ Low maintenance: Thrive in part shade with moist soil and occasional fertilizer.
  • ✔️ Big impact: Some varieties reach over 6 ft tall, adding strong vertical structure.


🍀 Alocasia vs. Colocasia - what's the difference?
  • 🟢Leaf shape: Alocasia = upright, arrow-shaped; Colocasia = drooping, heart-shaped.
  • 🟢Leaf texture: Alocasia = glossy; Colocasia = more matte.
  • 🟢Stem color: Alocasia = green; Colocasia = often purplish.
  • 🟢Light and soil: Alocasia prefers bright, indirect light and good drainage; Colocasia loves shade and wet soil.
  • 🟢Cold tolerance: Colocasia is generally more cold-hardy and water-tolerant.


📚 Learn more:

🛒 Go big with giant leaves!

#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden

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The Marble Queen that thrives on neglect. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Epipremnum aureum Marble Queen

The Marble Queen that thrives on neglect
  • Epipremnum aureum Marble Queen - is a regal stunner with cascading vines of creamy white, yellow, and green variegated leaves that demand attention without demanding much care.
  • This low-maintenance beauty flourishes indoors with bright, indirect light and just enough moisture.
  • Often called Devil's Ivy or Money Plant, it's nearly impossible to kill - and brings a luck and prosperity while it's at it. A true queen that rules with ease!


🛒 Bring home the Marble Queen

📚More exciting philodendrons:

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden

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This is what we plant for a compact colorful hedge solution. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Thunbergia erecta - Kings Mantle

💜 This is what we plant for a compact colorful hedge solution
  • 💜 Thunbergia erecta - Kings Mantle - is currently in full bloom in our garden, showcasing its vibrant flowers that last almost year-round.
  • 💜 One of our favorite flowering shrubs, it's compact, easy-going, and perfect for adding a splash of color.
  • 💜 Available in blue, white, and even variegated lavender flowers, King's Mantle thrives in both sun and filtered light, with its dense, manageable habit making it ideal for low-growing hedges or garden specimens.
  • 💜 It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, and with simple pruning, it stays under 4 feet while producing a profusion of blooms.
  • 💜 Hardy to 30°F and suitable for USDA Zones 9-11, it's also great for container gardening in colder regions.


🛒 Shop Thunbergias - colorful flowers for sun and shade

📚 Learn more:

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Hedges_with_benefits #Butterfly_Plants
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What plant is bold, bright, and born to stand out indoors? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Philodendron hederaceum Mediopictum Brazil - Heart Leaf Philodendron

What plant is bold, bright, and born to stand out indoors?
  • Bold, bright, and full of contrast! Philodendron Mediopictum hederaceum Brazil (Heart Leaf Philodendron) turns heads with its striking heart-shaped leaves splashed with vivid yellow down the center, set against deep green edges.
  • Add in the pink-orange stems, and you've got a living work of art that's both elegant and electric.
  • A must-have for variegation lovers!


🛒 Add Philodendron Brazil to your collection

📚More exciting philodendrons:

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden

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The secret of the black magic is unveiled: a black plant that thrives in neglect. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

🖤 The secret of the black magic is unveiled: a black plant that thrives in neglect

  • ▪️This isn't just a houseplant - it's a living spell. The black ZZ plant (Zamioculcas x Black Dragon) is as mysterious as it is mesmerizing, with leaves so dark they look dipped in ink. Forget green - it's all about black - a rare, glossy marvel for collectors who crave the bold and unusual.

  • ▪️ New leaves start green... but don't be fooled. With time, they turn rich, velvety black - a transformation worthy of legend.

  • ▪️ It's not just a pretty face. Unlike any ordinary plant, this one survives on neglect. Forget to water? It won't blink. It stores water in its thick rhizomes like an ancient desert dweller, making it one of the toughest houseplants out there.

  • ▪️ It even shares a trick with ancient relics like Gonatopus - a rare power in the plant world. It's got ancient roots - literally. Its oddball talent of dropping leaflets that sprout into baby plants makes it one of the few plants in the world that can clone itself this way!


🛒 Collectors, the secret is out: bring home the magic of the the black dragon

📚 More from previous posts:

#Nature_Wonders #Container_Garden #Shade_Garden


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How to make your own coffee from homegrown beans. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Coffee Tree in a cup (Coffea arabica)

Coffee Tree in a cup (Coffea arabica)

Coffee Tree with fruit (Coffea arabica)

Coffee Tree with fruit (Coffea arabica)

Coffee beans (Coffea arabica)

Coffee beans (Coffea arabica)

Coffee beans (Coffea arabica)

Coffee beans (Coffea arabica)

Coffee beans (Coffea arabica)

Coffee beans (Coffea arabica)

Coffee cherries on a tree (Coffea arabica)

Coffee cherries on a tree (Coffea arabica)

☕️ How to make your own coffee from homegrown beans

Q: Can you make coffee from your own tree? Isn't there a process involved to prepare beans for it?
A: Absolutely! Yes, it is quite a process... But homegrown coffee lets you enjoy the freshest, chemical-free beans with rich flavor and the satisfaction of growing it yourself. Besides, it's fun! Below is a quick guide how to grow and make your own coffee from freshly harvested coffee fruit (called "cherries").
  • Harvest the ripe cherries

    • Pick the bright red fruits when they are fully ripe. These contain the coffee beans inside.
  • Remove the beans

    • Squeeze the cherries to pop out the seeds (beans). Rinse off any pulp and soak them in water for 1-2 days to ferment and remove the slimy coating.
  • Dry the beans

    • Spread the clean beans on a tray in a sunny, dry spot. Let them dry for 1-2 weeks, turning them daily, until they feel hard and papery.
  • Remove the parchment

    • Once dried, crack and remove the thin husk around each bean. You now have green coffee beans ready to roast.
  • Roast the beans

    • Use a dry skillet or oven. Heat until beans turn brown and fragrant, stirring constantly. The longer you roast, the darker and stronger the flavor.
  • Cool and grind

Let roasted beans cool completely, then grind them just before brewing. Enjoy your homemade cup of fresh coffee!

🛒 Grow it. Pick it. Roast it. Drink it. Buy your coffee tree now!

📚 Learn more from previous posts:

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Discover

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Coffee trees are in bloom! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Coffee trees in bloom

☕️ Coffee trees are in bloom!

☕️ Coffee prices are climbing, supplies are tightening, and drought in Brazil is hitting hard
The best time to plant a Coffee Tree was yesterday - the next best time is right now!

🎥 Our Coffee trees (Coffea arabica) are bursting with blooms, promising a fresh harvest and home-roasted coffee like no other.
It's time to take your morning cup into your own hands!

🛒 Grow it. Pick it. Roast it. Drink it. Buy your coffee tree now!

📚 Learn more from previous posts:

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Discover

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Too weird to ignore, too easy not to grow! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus, flower

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus, flower

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus, leaves

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus, leaves

Too weird to ignore, too easy not to grow!
  • ⚡️Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus. Also known as Anthony's Rick-Rack or Fishbone Cactus, this oddball epiphyte is famous for its zigzagging, succulent leaves that look like a green lightning bolt.
  • ⚡️ In nature, it climbs trees using aerial roots, but it's happy in a pot too.
  • ⚡️Give it bright, indirect light and let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
  • ⚡️In spring, it may reward you with a rare night-blooming flower that lasts just one magical evening.
  • ⚡️ Easy, sculptural, and full of character!


🛒 Add this oddball to your jungle

📚 More about exotic epiphytic cacti:
Disocactus ackermanni - Red Orchid Cactus
Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night
Pseudorhipsalis (Wittia) amazonica - Blue Flame
Epiphyllum guatemalense Monstrosa - Orchid Cactus, Curly Locks

#Fun_Facts #Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

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The biggest in the world Vanilla dilloniana monster grew even bigger! 2025 update. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

The biggest in the world Vanilla dilloniana monster grew even bigger! 2025 update The biggest in the world Vanilla dilloniana monster grew even bigger! 2025 update The biggest in the world Vanilla dilloniana monster grew even bigger! 2025 update The biggest in the world Vanilla dilloniana monster grew even bigger! 2025 update The biggest in the world Vanilla dilloniana monster grew even bigger! 2025 update
👹The biggest in the world Vanilla dilloniana monster grew even bigger! 2025 update.

  • ⭐️ Vanilla dillioniana - The Biggest Vanilla Orchid grown in 100 gal pot by Robert Riefer's "Intelligent Design" in 2017 video got so big that Robert had to step it up again - in a giant 250 gal pool on wheels! Here are some photos of this world-famous Vanilla plant in full bloom.

  • ⭐️The Mother plant originated in 1927, awarded in 2011 with CHM certificate of Horticultural Merit by American Orchid Society.

  • ⭐️ Leafless Vanilla Orchid is an amazing exotic vanilla that forms a multi-branched, leafless vine reaching lengths up to 15 ft. The light green flowers are similar to Vanilla barbellata but the petals and sepals are longer and the fluted lip is a deep reddish-purple with a yellow crest.

  • ⭐️ Vanilla dilloniana is a very rare species and considered vulnerable, endangered across its range.

  • ⭐️ The plants we have for you at Top Tropicals are grown from cuttings of this very plant - in very limited quantities, don't miss the chance to get the offspring of this legendary plant!


🛒 Get your own super rare Leafless Vanilla dilloniana - propagated from this exact historical plant!

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

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