Q: I need some advice on which fertilizer(s) would be perfect for
my Cannonball tree and its cousin Heaven's Lotus (Gustavia augusta). I also have fruit trees... soursops, mango, etc. and a collection of flowers including pua keni keni, plumeria, bougainvillea, etc. I am wondering if you can recommend a custom
fertilizing regimen for my garden (especially the cannonball and the gustavia since
they are young).
A: It is a perfect time now to fertilize your plants as they
start active growth. We have suggestions on fertilizing programs for your trees.
You will find here our recommendations for:
1. Young trees
2. Flowering trees
3. Fragrant plants
4. In-ground grown fruit trees... CONTINUE READING >>
How to feed a Mango tree...
and to grow a Dwarf Mango
How to fertilize a Mango tree
Q: My mango trees that I bought and planted last august now have
fruit. I bought 2 types of fertilizer from you and never used it. Should I
use your fertilizer now?
A: It is a perfect time now to fertilize your plants as they
start active growth.
For mango trees, we recommend liquid fertilizer Sunshine Booster - Mango Tango. It is formulated for Mango trees,
especially for container grown. It improves quantity and quality of flowers and
ability to set fruit, reduces bud-flower-fruit drop. Can be used as often as
with every watering. For best results, use in combination with Sunshine Honey and Sunshine Superfood plant supplements. Its scientifically-balanced
stable formula is organic Amino-acid based and has NO EDTA chelators to eliminate
nutrients lockup; it does not affect crop taste.
Additionally, you may use slow-release granulated fertilizer Mango-Food once a month during hot season only. Dosage: 1 teaspoon per
each gal of soil.
Water-soluble fertilizers can be also used, however, those are usually
EDTA-chelated which is not as efficient as Amono-acid based Sunshine Boosters and
may create nutrients build up, especially if overdosed in containers.
For in-ground mango trees, you may use all the above, and slow-release
granulated fertilizer can be applied in larger quantities: spread a handful
around the drip line.
Remember that only liquid Sunshine Boosters can be applied year around.
With other fertilizers, you need to be careful not to overdose, and apply
only during hot weather (when night temperatures are steadily above 65F).
How to grow a Dwarf Mango tree
Q: I received the Ice cream mango tree in great condition (thank you for the ingenious
packing job) on Wednesday and have planted it in a pot slightly bigger than the
root ball. I plan to grow the tree on my front porch, so how big a container
should I ultimately use when the tree outgrows this pot? How big a container
does it need to fruit? I hope to keep it around 6-7 feet high, if possible.
I live in Hawaii.
A: Ice Cream mango is a perfect variety for container culture,
and it should be happy in Hawaii. You did everything right. Keep it in this
small pot for now and wait until it starts vigorous growth in Summer. Once it
starts growing (and you will notice roots growing too, sometimes they try to
grow through the holes in the bottom of the pot), then it's time to step up
into a bigger container (7-10 gal). Eventually you may use container size as
large as 15 gal. Ice cream mango is slow growing and compact, and you will be
able to maintain it under 7 ft with very minimal pruning if any.
Grafted trees, including Mango and Avocado, will start flowering and fruiting right away
Q: It would be easier for us buyers, if we could search for
plants that produce fruit in 2 years or less... I don't have the patience to wait
longer than that for fruit. I'm trying to buy for a fairly good sized garden
but want some fast growers and fruit produced in 2 yrs. Can you help me
out?
A: Fruiting time depends on many factors (growing conditions,
fertilizing, and even specific variety), this is why we can not just put a
simple icon "will fruit within 2 years".
However, most grafted and air-layered fruit trees, including all Mango, Avocado, Loquat, Sapote, Sapodilla, Longan, Peaches and Nectarines - will fruit right away. If you see in our store "grafted" or "air-layered" in plant description
- these trees will fruit soon. Some of them are already flowering and
fruiting!
Some non-grafted trees will fruit within a couple of years or even
sooner (those from cuttings, root division or even seedlings) - such as: Annona, Artocarpus (Jackfruit), Eugenia, Guava, Banana, Dragon fruit, Mulberry, Blackberry/Raspberry. Banana, Mulberry, Dragon fruit,
Blackberry-Raspberry - usually fruit within a year. You may refer to our store directory page for fruit specials.
Over the last few weeks, we've been discussing using this time to engage
in the activities that make you happy, to do more of what you love. Of
course, for all of us at Top Tropicals, we have been singing the praises of
gardening and tropical plants for years and sharing the love with any friends and
neighbors who have expressed an interest in our activity of choice.
Do we have an affect on some people? Do we encourage them to try their hand
at gardening and experience the wonder of plants? Yesterday, we just saw it
with our own eyes. Our neighbor, to whom we once gave an Ylang Ylang tree, has consistently and politely resisted a suggestion
to try gardening herself and put some new and interesting plants in an
otherwise traditionally landscaped builders' home. Even her husband emphatically
stated that he was never going to put plants in, let alone take existing plain
boring stuff out!
What a pleasant surprise when we saw them both and their 2 young children
digging in the garden together yesterday. They replaced a whole section of
generic stock plants provided by the builder and filled the area in with loads
of colorful flowers and even topped it off with a healthy dose of new mulch!
We couldn't believe our eyes and was so happy to see the gardening "bug" made
yet another friend!
We hope our Dream Cart Offer will help someone make their dreams come
true, and this forced vacation time will be well spent on their home and
garden!
Lucie's tropical garden in Montreal, Canada:
"The movement of plants fascinates me!"
Our customer Lucie
Herard shared pictures of her tropical garden with us... Many of you have
beautiful gardens that you are proud of... but this one is... in Canada! Believe it
or not, before winter she digs everything up and brings it inside! Then in
Spring, she starts again every year. Dedication? Determination? Heroism! Lucie
won the Planet Bananiers photo contest for the third time.
Look at these pictures and visit Lucie's Facebook page for more photos and videos of her amazing garden.
Ask yourself: and what can I do? Is my life really that hard with mowing a
lawn once a week and blowing the leaves? You don't have to be a hero to make
something worthwhile in your life. Just take a shovel and start... one plant a
day. And you will end up living in Paradise.
Lucie reminds you: "Ornamental horticulture production activities are
now considered an essential service! Add soil in a pot, water very slightly for
the first two weeks and put closer to the window. That's all, the leaves
will start growing again!"
Tropical Paradise Contest 2020
Share with us photos of your garden. The winner of this contest will get
plants $200 worth, with FREE shipping!
PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: Chief, Employee of the Month
"Can we get to normal World?"
If you visited TopTropicals Garden center, you've seen our Employee of the Month board in the office. And the picture on it... with our
Chief, who is truly an irreplaceable member of our Shipping Crew. He is
definitely the most responsible worker and reliable Chief Supervisor. This week,
while greeting customers, he asked everybody to follow these simple rules
that he established in the Nursery for everybody's safety during COVID-19 alert:
1. Yes, we are open! But If you want to browse the nursery, please call
for assistance at the gate and we will come over to help you.
2. Please NO CHILDREN on the property at this time. If you came with kids,
have them wait in your car while you are shopping. Chief can entertain
them!
3. Nursery is OPEN for browsing, limiting 2 customers at a time on the
premises.
4. If you know what plant(s) you want, just call us directly at our
customer service desk 239-771-8081 and we can bring those plants, for your
convenience, to the office or even to the gate.
Stay connected and we will get through this, all together, and we all
will be just fine! So says Chief.
TopTropicals PeopleCat Club
Thank you everybody for supporting us in helping PeopleCat Community! Donations accepted from our website. Thank you and God bless you and your pets!
PeopleCats ruling TopTropicals Kitchen. Healthy Treats for Humans
TREAT OF THE DAY: The Secret Health Booster: the Real Russian Borsh
While PeopleCats continue ruling our gardens, getting their daily treats and
helping us to survive, they suggested we share some special treats for
humans, besides exotic plants and plant boosters...
It is - our favorite Russian Borsh that we make for our TopTropicals
International team! It is the most delicious and healthy meal ever invented, for
both adults and kids. It boosts your energy, makes you feel warm, wealthy, and
happy!
This soup, along with Russian Vodka, is the secret of Russians'
Survival Mode - how to stay healthy, strong, tough, and resistant to any virus.
The recipe of the Real Russian Borsh involves very simple, inexpensive,
and easy to find ingredients. However, making it right takes a little bit of
time (which we sure have now!), since Russians like to make things
complicated and from scratch... they use whole foods!
Take your time and enjoy the process - it is a part of this secret recipe.
At the end, you will be rewarded with a healthy, tasty meal for the whole
family for the whole week! And, it is only $2 per serving!
And remember, it is spelled Borsh (not Borscht!), according to the real
Russians.
"Hold a true friend with both hands"
- Nigerian proverb -
Cat friends, thank you for your support!
"...Dear Friends at Top Tropicals,
Thank you for your Photo of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles. I did not know about her. Now I can
meditate upon her to help all cats. Our pets, plants, and loved ones will help us
during this world crises. My bees and garden certainly help me.
Again, thank you for your plant advertisements, (they are an education in
themselves) and for your caring about I gatti! Saint Gertrude will help!
All best regards, auguri, di Frank La Rosa Mazza di Del Mar, California"
Mr B is saying Hi and for those asking about his GPS on his collar:
he uses Tractive for his
personal cell service. Mr B makes 2-3 miles a day, staying active and healthy.
Not bad for a 13 y.o. cat!
To the folks at Top Tropicals,
This is not really a question, more of a statement of gratitude. Top
Tropicals has been my go to resource for everything tropical plant related for more
than a decade... You have always been a source of information, knowledge and
of course, beautiful plants. And now, more than ever, in these stressful
times, I find myself returning to the world of plants that I love so much.
Staying out of the public and away from friends and familiar places is hard on
many of us. I guess they are calling it "social distancing" and I understand the
sensibility of it all. So I take great comfort in spending relaxing time
with my other friends and family, my plants. The weather is getting warmer,
Spring is in the air, and I choose to not worry about things I can't change and
instead I will devote time, energy and love to my special plants. Thank you
Top Tropicals for being there for all of us gardeners and plant lovers. I look
forward to browsing your newsletters each week to see pictures of the People
Cats and to pick out my next best friend!
Sincerely, Becky M. - Woodland Hills, CA
Meet PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: King the Hobo
"Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don't be sorry." - Jack Kerouac
King, who has been famous with his ability to get in trouble, without a
doubt is the Cat of the day, week, and month. His recent adventure went
above and beyond our expectations. King decided to take a ride.
He jumped inside the truck of our supplier from Homestead, for very
innocent reason: inspect the quality of plants delivered. No questions asked, he did
his job.
Next thing we remember was the driver calling us on his way to Homestead: "Looks like I have your cat in my truck, and he is pretty happy with the ride!"
Luckily, the discovery of the Hobo happened pretty quickly, before the
truck left Ft Myers area. So King did not get all the way to Homestead as he
planned, his adventure was interrupted. He was dropped off at Edison Estate Botanical Garden. The director Eric happen
to know TopTropicals well, just visiting us a few days before for the Leap Year Celebration
event. He kept King in his office until Onika came to pick him up.
What an adventure!
Dear visitors of Top Tropical Garden Center! When leaving our Nursery,
please check your vehicles for cats! Apparently, they like to travel!
Thank you everybody for supporting us in helping PeopleCats. Every dollar you spend on TopTropicals plants is split
between plant growers and PeopleCats who help us become better people.
