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Index > Garden Blog

Date:

Why should you use Sunshine Boosters?

by Ed Jones, the Booster guy

...You have heard it before, but I will tell you again. Sunshine Boosters are safe to use with every watering. It means that you can use Sunshine Boosters amino acid based fertilizers whenever you water your plants, even in the winter. Why is that so important?..

...We normally stop using dry, timed release, fertilizers around the first of November and not resume using them until the first part of March. This is true in many areas of the deep south where the ground stays above freezing year round...

However, it is safe to use Sunshine Boosters during these cooler months... Temperature does not play a role in the absorption of nutrients when using Sunshine Boosters...

To find out how it works, see Ed's new Article Why should you use Sunshine Boosters. If you want to learn even more in depth, check out his blog: Micronutrients Delivery Systems.

As of this writing, all Sunshine Boosters are on Holiday Sale. There are boosters for all different types of plants. Check them out and -

Give your plants a little something extra for Christmas!

CONTINUE READING >>

Date:

Easy Sunday Morning Deals: Golden Sugar Apple and Jackedak Cheena

What a wonderful way to start the day, and to say Goodbye to 2021! Yes, the Countdown to 2022 is officially underway, only 20 days left in 2021. Let's celebrate with a 20% off savings on any order over $75! You will find the code at the end of this email.

Saving on your favorite plants is Easy.
Easy like Sunday Morning...

Photo above: Senecio confusus - Mexican flame vine is full of blooms this morning!


It's time for our favorite day and another Easy stroll through Top Tropicals' Garden with savings of 50% and MORE!

This week we celebrate with a Rare Tropical Fruit Collection:

Golden Sugar Apple and Jackedak Cheena
50% OFF and MORE!

We've combined the exotic fruit of this rare Annona from Costa Rica - Golden Sugar Apple with the sweet, crunchy and excellent flavor of the Jackedak Cheena. Both rare and unique plants can be yours at considerable savings, but don't delay as there are limited quantities in stock.

Rare Fruit Collection:
two Jackfruit-textured rare fruit!

For this Easy Sunday we have priced these at incredible savings:
The Golden Sugar Apple regularly $39, is on Easy Sunday sale for only $19
The Jackedak Cheena, regularly $49, is on Easy Sunday Sale for only $24 .
Combine the two for your own Rare Fruit Collection and save even more, only $39 for the set!

Jackedak Cheena

Artocarpus x integer (Jackfruit x Chempedak) - Jackedak Cheena has been grown in TopTropicals garden from a seedling and fruited within 3 years from planting. The fruit is the best we ever tasted! It is super sweet, crunchy, with a rich, excellent flavor, with very little latex which makes it easy to handle when cutting up. Our tree survived light frosts as well as 48 hours of 3 ft flooding, with no damage! Cheena is a natural hybrid between Jackfruit and Chempedak with low and spreading growth habit, can be maintained at 8 ft with annual pruning.

Picture of 3 y.o. Cheena at Top Tropicals garden, loaded with fruit:

Golden Sugar Apple

The Golden Sugar Apple or Pineapple Annona originally was brought to us by our customer from Costa Rica. We believe it to be a natural hybrid between A. muricata and A. glabra. It is a very ornamental small tree similar in growth habit to A. muricata, A. montana or Rollinia. Fast growing, forms nice bushy specimen. Fruit is very large, up to 1 lb, golden to orange when ripe, with strong Pineapple scent, and resembling Jackfruit in texture, with pineapple, papaya, apricot and melon overtones. The tree tolerates flooding and is cold hardy at least to upper 20's. Very interesting for rare fruit collectors as much more hardy and water tolerant alternative to its sensitive relatives Soursop and Rollinia.

Picture of 3 y.o. tree full of fruit:

Remember, the Easy Sunday special has been extended through Wednesday, December 15th. Limited availability, hurry up! All orders over $75 (excluding S&H) are eligible for 20% off!

For 20% off - use code YEAREND20

Min. order $75 (excluding S&H). Good through December 15th

Enjoy your Holiday Tropical Fruit!

Photo above: Jim is Holiday decorating with super-sweet tropical fruit balls - Pom-Poms!

Date:

Event Mementos (Saturday 12/4)

We thank all of our guests for joining us last Saturday for the Holiday Sale. We met lots of great people who got lots of great plants and goodies! Our vendors offered wonderful treats and entertainment and everyone could find something special! The food was not only tasty but also COLORFUL!
Special Thanks to our PeopleCats who ran the show, as always!
Come back again to our next event in a few months, info coming soon.

SEE EVENT MEMENTOS >>

Date:

New Video:
Peanut Butter Tree

For our most recent Easy Sunday Deal we featured Peanut Butter Tree and Blackberry Jam Fruit, and guess what - within just a few hoursday we almost ran out! Now that most of our customers have these plants, you've started asking how to grow them. So today we will share this new video with you - how to grow Peanut Butter Tree.
And if you missed the Easy Sunday Sale - we still have a few plants left.
See also Article: Bunchosia - Peanut Butter Fruit Tree.

WATCH NEW VIDEO >>

Stay updated with TopTropicals Videos by subscribing to our channel at YouTube.com/TopTropicals and get our latest video news of what is fruiting and blooming!

Date:

Sunday Breakfast with Peanut Butter and Blackberry Jam...

It's time for our favorite day and another Easy stroll through Top Tropicals' Garden with savings of 50% and MORE! What a wonderful way to start the day.

Speaking of wonderful, is there any memory as wonderful as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from back in the day?! PB&J's, a true Classic, easy, savory and delicious and a universal favorite... And for a truly Top Tropicals variation of the Classic sandwich, have we got something special for you...
Bunchosia argentea and Randia Formosa. OK, we admit it may not roll off the tongue quite as easily as PB&J, but your tongue and taste buds will be thankful for the delicious flavors of the Peanut Butter Fruit Tree - Bunchosia argentea, and Blackberry Jam Fruit - Randia formosa.

Combine the rich and creamy delicious Peanut Butter with the not too sweet and fresh pulp of the Blackberry Jam Fruit and you have a unique and tasty combination destined to be a classic of its own while making your garden look even more beautiful!

Saving on your favorite plants is Easy.
Easy like Sunday Morning...

For this Easy Sunday we have priced these at incredible savings:
The Peanut Butter Tree, regularly $49, is on Easy Sunday sale for only $24
The Blackberry Jam, regularly $39, is on Easy Sunday Sale for only $19

Classic Combination

Combine the two for your own Classic Combination and save even more, instead of full price $88, it's only only $39 for the set!

Blackberry Jam Fruit

Randia formosa - Blackberry jam fruit, Jasmin de Rosa - fragrant white flowers of this Gardenia relative and edible fruit that tastes like blackberry jam... Kids love the fruit! Many claim that it's even better than preserves. This exotic shrub will fruit in a container within a year and produces as many as 25 to 30 fruits at a time. It is relatively cold hardy, blooms for a few months in the fall and winter, so fruiting and flowering can be enjoyed when many other plants are dormant.

Picture of 2 y.o. plant full of fragrant flowers, ready to set fruit:

Peanut Butter Tree

Bunchosia argentea - Peanut Butter Tree.
One of the most fascinating exotic fruit, as amazing as Miracle fruit, Peanut Butter Fruit is loved by both kids and adults. Yes, it tastes exactly like peanut butter! Sweet, soft pulp with peanut flavor. The tree is small in size, grows 10-15 ft max, or can be kept as a bush. Starts fruiting within 2-3 years from seed! Keep it in a pot if you have limited space, it can be grown indoors, too. The fruit can be eaten fresh or made into milk shakes. Very rare in cultivation, and relatively cold hardy.

Picture of 2 y.o. tree full of fruit:

Remember, the special prices are good for only 24 hours and expire Monday morning at 7 am EST.
Limited to availability, while supply lasts, hurry up!

Enjoy!

Date:

New Video:
What is a Loquat?

Loquat is one of the easiest tropical/subtropical fruit trees to grow, with delicious fruit resembling Apricots (in fact, from the same family!). This video presented by our video host David Mortimer.

More information on Loquat trees:

Golden Loquat - the symbol of Prosperity
Kristi's Loquat Tropical BBQ sauce
Overlooked fruit: tasty Loquat recipes (PDF from Tropical Treasures Magazine)

WATCH NEW VIDEO >>

Stay updated with TopTropicals Videos by subscribing to our channel at YouTube.com/TopTropicals and get our latest video news of what is fruiting and blooming!

Loquats 30% OFF - this week only!

Many varieties of the Loquat are available from our store The trees we have for sale are in full bloom now, ready to set fruit. You will get the fruit as early as in 3 months! The trees are in 5 gal pots, 5 ft tall, grafted, bushy and full. Loquats are cold hardy - good time to plant them now!

Great chance to collect them all!
Discount expires: 12-5-2021.

Available varieties:


Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Barbie, grafted6080 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Barbie, graftedGrown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Barbie, grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Big Jim, grafted
6424 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Big Jim, grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Big Jim, grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Bradenton, grafted
5219 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Bradenton, grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Bradenton, grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Champagne, grafted
4549 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Champagne, grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Champagne, grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Christmas, grafted
5217 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Christmas, grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Christmas, grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Eds Delight, grafted
4707 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Eds Delight, grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Eds Delight, grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Gold Nugget grafted
4305 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Gold Nugget grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Gold Nugget grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Italy, grafted
4150 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Italy, grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Italy, grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Oliver, grafted
5160 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Oliver, grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Oliver, grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Premier, grafted
4708 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Premier, grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Premier, grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Sherry Woods, grafted
4800 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Sherry Woods, grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Sherry Woods, grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Turkey, grafted
4336 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Turkey, grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Turkey, grafted from Top Tropicals

Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Yehuda grafted
4249 Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Yehuda grafted
Grown in 12-14"/5-7 gal pot, large plant
$69.00  
Sale: $48.30

Buy Eriobotrya japonica - Loquat Yehuda grafted from Top Tropicals

Date:

Attention California gardeners:
New additions to CA list

Photo above: Exotic Stags Horn Fern - Platycerium x Netherlands - that everyone wants to have in their tropical plant collection. We have large developed plants in stock.

More plants added to the list certified for shipping to California

Top Tropicals ships plants Nationwide and Worldwide. We are certified for shipping to all 50 states including California which has very strict agricultural regulations from the State.
Additional plant list certified for shipping to California has been approved, and you can check a few updates at the end of this email. As usual, some items are limited quantity while many people have been waiting for them to be approved for shipping. So hurry up, first come, first serve!

Remember to always pay attention if a plant is certified for CA shipment.
Please note that in addition to our company annual certification approved by USDA, we are sending a Phyto Certificate with every plant shipment!

Photo above: Xanthosoma albo-marginata - Mickey Mouse Taro - one of most unusual plants in cultivation, a show stopper! This plant is thought to be a mutation of a species or even a possible hybrid. The leaves are never identical most are streaked with large blotches of white on dark blue green leaves. Leaves will develop a small cup like pocket at the leaf tip, and grow horizontally. It is always a conversation piece in the garden.

Date:

Easy Sunday Morning Deals: Sweet Dragon or Sweet Cherry?.. Both!

Sweet Dragon or Sweet Cherry?.. Both!

Photo above: Biquinho Pepper (Capsicum annuum x chinense) - nipple-shaped bright orange to red fruits with unique flavor which packs quite a bang!
Not because of its heat, but because of its intense fruity habanero flavor!

Saving on your favorite plants is Easy. Easy like Sunday Morning...

This weekend we celebrate our Easy Sunday and Cyber Monday together!
So we've doubled your opportunity to Save AND we've added a second beautiful plant to help you save even more!
Take an extra day to enjoy your Easy stroll through Top Tropicals' Garden with savings of

50% OFF and MORE!

For two days only, you can easily get the sweetest variety of the Dragon Fruit and add a super rare variety of Tropical Black Cherry Lolita to your garden!
Both plants Easy Priced at $19, that's a savings of more than 50% from the regular $39 price!
Learn more about these plants:

Yellow Dragon Fruit

Selenicereus megalanthus - Yellow Pitaya, Dragon Fruit
- is the best tasting Dragon Fruit in the world that is not only sweet, it has a great flavor (unlike most Pitayas that are pretty watery).
These plants originated from Ecuador and are well-developed, multi-branched, as you can see from the photo.

Picture of the actual plants for sale:

Lolita Cherry

Eugenia uniflora - Black Surinam Cherry Lolita
- rare, hard-to-find black-fruited variety Surinam Cherry starts as red and turns black as it ripens.
It is very sweet and has exceptional flavor, without aftertaste, large 1-1.2 inch, very juicy.
Reliable producer. The tree is upright, freely branching, cold hardy to upper 20's once established.
Plants are in 2 gal pots, well branched and ready to fruit next season.

Picture of the actual plants for sale:

You can save even more by using our Black Friday sales discount code on your order:

FRIDAY20 - 20% OFF - for orders over $200
FRIDAY15 - 15% OFF - for orders over $150
FRIDAY10 - 10% OFF - for orders over $100

Excluding S&H. Codes extended through Monday: 11/29/21

Remember, the special $19 prices are good for only 48 hours and expire Tuesday morning at 7 am EST.
Limited to availability, while supply lasts, hurry up!

Enjoy!

Date:

Winter is coming tips

Reminder from Kristi, the Tropical Flower Girl

As the weather gets cooler, many of you move your potted tropical plants indoors. Please remember:

  1. Leaf drop. Lower air humidity, lower light and short day may cause some leaf drop. This is normal for seasonal environment change.
  2. Reduce watering as it gets cooler and darker. Under lower light and in cooler temperature, plants won't need much water; some plants go dormant and only need minimum water (so soil doesn't completely dry out). Excess water may damage roots and kill a plant in winter.
  3. No dry fertilizer in winter. Active growth stops. Let the plant to go into dormancy or simply have a rest. You can continue liquid Sunshine Boosters according to regular dosage chart with every watering. Since the watering is reduced, the plants will get only as much food as needed for getting through the winter.
  4. Watch for insects by inspecting leaves regularly. They may attack plants more likely in the indoor conditions. You may use organic NoBug insecticide especially for your indoor plants.

    Stay Warm!

    In the photo: Mr Big and Zoe-the-Scooby-Doo sharing a warm tub with Emerald Peperonia.

Date:

Carambola - the Star of the orchard

from seed to flower... in less than 2 years?

by Ed Jones, the Booster guy

...My story starts on Dec. 2, 2019 when a co-worker brought a bag of carambola. Well, being a crazy plant person, and being still fairly new to Florida, you know I had to save a seed and plant it, right? Why not, it just might grow. If it does, I may get my own star fruit someday. But when? Google tells me that it takes 3 - 8 years to get fruit from a carambola that is planted from seed. OK, I am good with 3 years....8, not so much, but I was willing to give it a shot... Not really knowing what to expect, I planted just one salvaged seed in some potting soil in a coffee cup and placed in on a shelf on our lanai...
...Here is a picture of that plant FLOWERING and ready to fruit, taken at the end of October 2021... Now, read the whole story...

CONTINUE READING >>

Grafted Carambola Trees available from our store are ready to flower and fruit right away. Some of them start fruiting right in a pot!