Q: We had a few nights with light frost and some of my tropical
plants look sad, lost all leaves. I scratched the bark and it is green inside.
Should I prune back all branches that look dead?
A: Never prune during winter time, even if some branches look
dead. There is a chance you will be surprised by Spring when they sprout new
leaves. Be patient and postpone all pruning until active growth starts, then cut
off only damaged part, approximately 2" above new growth.
This unique compact plant, perfect for container culture, combines
features of a fragrant flower and tasty desert fruit. Kids love it! Originally
from Central and South America, this rare tropical small evergreen tree bears
fruit which tastes like fresh Blackberry jam. Many claim that it's even better
than preserves. Closely related to the gardenia, its flowers are sweetly
fragrant. This relatively hardy tropical has attractive foliage and can be grown
in a container as well as in the ground. The Randia formosa (or
Rosenbergiodendron formosum) produces as many as 25 to 30 fruits at a time. Since it
blooms for a few months in the fall and winter, fruiting and flowering can be
enjoyed when many other plants are dormant. Large tubular white flowers that
attract nocturnal moths... Read more about this plant...
Dwarf Red Jade vine. If you always wanted to own THE Red Jade Vine, here
is your chance! Also called Cuitelo, Crista-De-Galo (Rooster's Crest), it is
sometimes miss-identified as a Mucuna species. This amazing eye-catcher is
closely related to Red Jade Vine, however, it is much hardier than the
ultra-tropical Mucuna benettii! It is a spectacular fast-growing vine from Brazil
with long pendulous chains of fiery bright red flowers. Heavy vine, it needs
large trellis or pagoda. An arbor is ideal so that the brilliant flowering
racemes can hang down from the ceiling. Blooms in fall and winter. Prune heavily
in spring after flowering. Give full or partial sun with adequate moisture
and fertilizer. It is very easy to grow, can tolerate some drought and light
frost.
2019 is the Year of the Earth Pig, according to the Chinese Calendar,
and it just started February 5!
In 2019, the corresponding element is once again Earth, as it was in
2018. So what happens when you mix the Pig with the Earth Element?
An Earth Pig year combines a realistic but happy-go-lucky sociable pig
combined with the steady and sensible characteristics of Earth, it combines
the relaxed attitude of the animal with a very "down-to-earth" realistic
climate, don't try to push too hard, this is a time to take things in stride. For
the Pig, it was definitely all about the journey and not the destination!
Because of the Pig's willingness to always help others out, it tends to bring
good things to everyone around him. The Pig in Chinese culture represents wealth
and prosperity.
2019 is a good year for giving your garden a fresh start, and especially
for establishing new fruit trees that will bring you the enjoyment of deliciousness and...
always healthy good food on the table!
2019 Super Fruit
This year, to keep the Pig happy and helpful, every tropical gardener
should get a Hog Plum - a fast-growing and easy to care rare fruit tree with
delicious aromatic fruit. It will fruit for you this year!
Good news! The groundhog Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow, that
means Spring will be here early!
Time to start planning for your tropical garden to make sure give your
rare plants an early start, and more time to establish. Check out our New arrivals!
Q: My
tropical plant collection goes indoors for winter. I have over 100 plants now and
all windowsill space is taken. I am planning to build some shelves so I can
also start some rare seeds indoors. Can you advise me on the choice of the
grow lights so I can do it right?
A: Indoor
plants are very unlucky: they have to grow in "caves," and everybody knows
that plants don't grow in the caves. The luckiest plants win sunny windowsills,
but even there they dwell rather like in underbrush under tall trees, where
the sun illuminate them only early in the morning or in the evening, and its
light is diffused by foliage. Usually, domestic plants are in desperate lack
of illumination not only in winter but also in summer. No light - no growth,
no flowering. So, plants need extra light to compensate for the lack of
illumination in the "room-cave" conditions. And here is some science behind it...
Question: I'm hoping you can recommend a lush looking houseplant
which will be happy in an otherwise bright "sun room" which receives only a
little actual sunlight. Something that looks tropical and exotic, and maybe
even makes flowers which are fragrant?
Answer: Perfect timing because at this moment, my much beloved Amazon
Lily (Eucharis grandiflora) is currently flowering spectacularly! I've had
this particular plant for nearly twenty years, and it's one of my absolute
favorites.
Climate change is wiping out the Baobab, Africa's tree of life...
According to The Guardian News and Media, Africa's "tree of life" may not have much
longer left... These highly important species are threatened with
extinction, due to climate change and human development. Some species may not survive
the next century. While plants have generally adapted to extended droughts,
climate change is different, and with the Anthropocene, we are already
witnessing the loss of these impressive trees. Africa's largest, oldest inhabitants,
that have played silent witness to numerous generations, are already paying a
heavy price for the environmental crimes of foreign lands.
Baobab forms an integral part in people's livelihoods. In West Africa,
it is also called the "palaver tree" because of its social functions: when
there is a problem in the community, meeting under the Baobab tree with the
chief or the tribesmen would be synonymous with trying to find a solution to
that problem; it reinforces trust and respect among members of the community.
Its extinction would not simply be an environmental tragedy...
Every tropical gardener should have a Baobab to help to save this amazing species for the planet!
Black Jade Vine is a real gem of a rare plant collection and a
conversation piece when in bloom. The flower color is beyond description, as most of
the Jade vines. This spectacular woody climber is closely related to red Jade
vine (Mucuna bennettii). Branches sparsely velvet-hairy, and blackish purple
flowers hanging in racemes. Drooping flower-cluster-stalks are up to 1 ft
long and 6" in diameter! The blooms appear closely pushed together in grape-like
clusters. Flowers are clustered in threes; each cluster supported by a
deciduous bract. It is a very vigorous woody tree creeper - during warmer weather
it can grow 2 feet or more a week. Cold hardy in Florida to at least zone 9b.
This plant is a must for every rare tropical plant collection. It is
easy to grow and doesn't require much care once established other than regular
watering. In colder climates with a hard freeze, this spectacular vine can be
grown in a large container providing a strong trellis support.
We take this opportunity to extend our grateful thanks to all visitors
and friends of our garden and website. The entire Top Tropicals team wishing
you a Happy New Year with Happy New Plants!
In 2019, Top Tropicals plans include (but are not limited to):
- improved design of the website, online store and shopping cart
- many new introductions of rare flowering plants including Red Jade
Vine, lots of new Adeniums
- rare fruit trees, including Mangosteen, Nutmeg, Clove and more
- extended selection of rare tropical seeds
- many new videos of rare tropical plants
- free and discounted shipping
Stay informed with our Newsletter updates!
New Year Resolutions for Gardeners in 2019
January is the month to plan and dream about your yard and garden. Grow
your garden a few steps at a time each year: pick a few resolutions for 2019
and plan accordingly. Next year, a few more, and so on until you build the
garden of your dreams.
This winter, resolve to:
- Hang a bird feeder.
- Order seeds of some rare plants so you can have an early start.
- Prune a tree into an espalier - it's a perfect time before Spring.
- Ask your grandparents what they grew in their gardens.
- Build a raised bed for succulents.
- If you live in a warm climate, plant a fruit tree or two.
- Start a compost pile.
- Plant a palm tree.
- Try some plant boosters to improve your plants hardiness.
- Chose Flowering trees, shrubs and vines suitable for areas in your garden that still have room...
- Install a rain barrel.
- Eat outside as often as possible.
- Show a child how to plant a tree.
- Provide a water source for bees and butterflies. They are not only
cool, but also pollinators that will help to set fruit and seeds!
- Call TopTropicals for garden advise - what to plant, where to plant,
and how not to kill it!
- Plant a berry-bearing tree or shrubs to feed the birds. Mulberry, Blackberry, Tropicals Cherries - are always good choices. They are 15% OFF now, offer expires 1/8/19.
- Rake and save fallen leaves for winter mulch for your garden beds.
- Save seeds from flowers to plant next year.
- Give plants as gifts all year long.
