...We already know that most fortunate "green thumbs" have Air signs -
Gemini, Libra and Aquarius - and between them, the "greenest" thumb belongs to
Libra. The light of a distant greenish star Zuben-el-Shamali, which controls
not only the stability of the Universe, but also gives to people born under
this sign the opportunity to make our world better and more beautiful by
growing of all kinds of plants. This is the main purpose of Libra.
...Under Libra's green thumb, everything they touch grows and blooms. The
plants with large light-colored flowers and a delicious fragrance will be most
beloved by Libra... CONTINUE READING >>
"...Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water
it and make it survive, you haven't done a thing. You are just talking..." - Wangari Maathai -
This is the story of the little mango tree that could. From the
beginning, it has been a fighter and has come through its latest battle with a few
scars, but it is still going...
...On January 30, the unthinkable happened. Cold weather was coming. We had
a low of under 25F on that Sunday morning...
...Then, on April 4, 2022 we had a very bad hail storm... Hail stones up to
3" fell for 20 minutes... Learn more about what happened and see this mango tree today... What
helped it to survive and also what will help it to grow back into a beautiful
tree?
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!
Grains of Paradise and Pink Cone Ginger: Just add Spice and Color!
Saving on your favorite plants is Easy.
Easy like Sunday Morning...
It's time for our favorite day and another Easy stroll
through Top Tropicals Garden with savings of
up to 50% and MORE!
This week let's add a little Spice and Color to your garden collection!
Start with Grains of Paradise, to spice up your meal and naturally improve
your health. Then add lots of vibrant color with the Hawaiian Pink Cone Ginger,
one of the most desirable symbols of the Tropics.
Aframomum melegueta - Grains of Paradise, African Cardamom. Seeds of this
rare Ginger are similar in flavor to cardamom and used as a pungent spice. This
Ginger has many bioactives, great for digestive and intestinal health. The
plant has many other medicinal values: anti-diabetic and anti-obese
mechanisms, aphrodisiac and testosterone boosting properties. Aframomum melegueta may
be promising for a spice to add to a diet in hopes of body recomposition.
Studies show this spice increases sexual behavior.
The plants are large and developed, in 2 gal pots,
regularly $42.95, on Easy Sunday sale for only
$21.48!
One of the most desirable symbols of Tropics, Alpinia purpurata, also called Ostrich Plume or Pink Cone Ginger, is
native Malaysian plant with showy flowers on long brightly colored pink bracts.
Grows in Hawaii and Central America including Belize. It can be grown as a
houseplant; its cut flowers last very long and are perfect for
arrangements.
The plants are well-developed, in 2 gal pots,
regularly $37.95, on Easy Sunday sale for only $18.98
!
Combine the two for maximum affection and save even
more!
Only $34.95 for both, savings $46 on both!
September is a great month to plant. The soil is warm and the air
is beginning to get cooler which helps to encourage new roots to grow. For
much of the Country, September typically brings more opportunity for
additional rain and moisture, allowing you to water less. Take advantage of this time
of year to establish new plants in your gardens!
Meet PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: Weasley the Immigrant
Weasley came from the neighborhood cat community (our neighbor takes
care of at least a dozen of cats). Whether TopTropicals dry food tastes better
than neighbor's, or simply he is such an enthusiast of tropical gardening, he
hangs out with us all the time.
When you see him in our Garden
Center drinking milk or chilling right on the walkway with other
PeopleCats, don't get him confused with other two ginger cats we have: Barcy and Snitch... as well as the Russian Blue cat with a similar name Wesley...
Although Weasley currently has a status of a legal immigrant, he feels
pretty confident around our greenhouses and will be happy to give you a tour. He
is still a volunteer here but has already applied for a permanent residence
and a full time position, so his food needs are being added to our cat
payroll.
When visiting TopTropicals nursery, feel free to add your donation to a Cat
Jar located in our office by customer's computer. We appreciate everybody's
help - every penny goes to PeopleCat's needs.
Q: I live in Deltona, Florida and hoping to find spreading ginger
with interesting foliage to grow in a partially shaded area in my garden
under a group of trees. Any suggestions?
A: Variegated ginger Alpinia zerumbet variegata is a clumping ginger valued for its
beautiful variegated foliage. The dark, green leaves have striking yellow stripes.
This ginger is sought-after, not only for the stunning foliage but also for its
beautiful flowers. The flowers are different from other members of the
ginger family and appear in drooping racemes from the ends of leafy stems rather
than directly from the rhizomes. This ginger is also commonly known as Shell
Ginger because the flowers resemble seashells! They are pink-tinged, fragrant
and appear in summer.
This evergreen perennial grows in upright clumps 3-5 feet tall. You may
prune the plant to control size.
It does not tolerate drought or a hard freeze but can take a few hours
or light frost (goes dormant in such case). In colder areas, rhizomes should
be dug up and stored in a cool room during winter.
This ginger will love a shaded corner in your garden. Plant it in
organically rich, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Keep the soil moist
but not soggy, and spread a thick layer of organic mulch around the plant
for moisture retention. There are no serious insect or disease problems to
worry about!
This ginger can be also be grown as a house plant as long as it has
bright light and humid conditions. It will grow to around 3-4 feet tall as a
houseplant.
Q: Would you please help me select the right jasmine? I want to
find a jasmine that smells like lily of the valley or honeysuckle or roses,
not the one that smells like gardenia. I'm in Missouri, zone 6, so I want a
jasmine for my deck for the summer, so I want it to bloom this season.
A: There are 3 major types of tropical flower fragrances - Sweet,
Fresh, and Fruity (including Lemony). Below are the most interesting
fragrant tropical flowers, excluding Gardenias (which are sweet type). These are all
same-year bloomers, so you can enjoy the fragrance this year assuming proper
care and bloom booster feeding.
* - The fastest growers that can be treated as annuals. Others can be
grown in a pot and brought inside for winter, and be enjoyed every year.
Q: I have several gingers in my yard, including Red Torch, Lobster Claw, and Red Bamboo Ginger, they grow beautifully but only produce large dark
green leaves and no flowers. Is there anything I can do to make them bloom? Do
they need any special fertilizer?
A:Gingers are easy to grow tropical plants with so many benefits, giving
us unique spice, and showy flowers (including long-lasting cut flowers!) -
where other plants fail, especially in deep shade. They are not fussy about
soils and even water once established. To keep your gingers happy, follow these
simple steps:
1. Bright light is essential for flowering, but planting gingers in
semi-shade or filtered light will keep them stress-free from burning summer rays.
2. Water gingers regularly until they established and start producing
new leaves and stems. Once they start clumping, you may reduce watering to a
minimum 9once a week or so), or rely on your sprinkler system.
3. Once the plant is established, start using fertilizer to induce
flowering and healthy growth.
- We recommend granulated "smart release" fertilizer for all tropical
plants. For gingers, the best formula is Tropical Allure. It provides all macro- and microelements essential for
the healthy growth of the plant.
- Apply balanced water-soluble plant food for Gingers, Heliconias and
Bananas -
Broad Leaf Plus - once a month.
- Additionally, you may also add to the menu flower booster Pink N Good Daly Plant Food - this fertilizer is used in very low
concentration and can be used with every watering.
4. Remove old dry and yellowing leaves with sharp cutters to avoid pest
problems and keep good air circulation around these clumping plants.
5. Keep soil covered with 1" mulch to protect from weeds and maintain
the optimal amount of moisture for the rhizomes.
How to make the whole garden fragrant.
List of the most fragrant yet easy to grow plants
Q: Dear toptropicals, thanks for the great database on tropicals
plants! I really enjoy browsing your web site and I am planning on completing
my collection by purchasing some plants from your shop. I am particularly
looking for fragrant plants that make the whole area fragrant. Can you provide
a list of recommended fragrant plants that bloom throughout the year round? I
currently have: murraya, plumeria, michelia alba, figo, champaca, rangoon
creeper, honeysuckle, jasmine, stephanotis, Arabian sambac, brunfelsias.
Q: I've just recently moved to Florida from North Carolina. I
don't know much about tropical plants. Can you perhaps suggest an easy and
pretty flowering plant for a beginner which I can plant around my garden pond for
a tropical feeling?
A: For adding that tropical look to your garden, few plants beat
beautiful ginger! Alpinia purpurata, the Dwarf Red Cone Ginger with its bright red floral
spikes and lush, lance-shaped foliage is no exception. This striking
perennial will add a tropical effect to your garden that will definitely take your
breath away.
The Dwarf Red Cone grows between 3 and 4 feet tall and blooms 8-9
months of the year! The blooms will hold on the plant for up to 3 weeks! It makes
a very attractive and distinctive backdrop for other plants.
Red Cone Ginger likes partial shade and moist, humid conditions, but
will tolerate full sun. It is fast growing, easy to grow and resistant to
disease, heat, and insects. The plant is a wonderful accent in a garden and works
well as a focal point specimen, show-stopping when planted around garden
ponds or near entryways. This ginger also works very well in containers and
planters. Either in mass plantings or smaller groups, all gingers add tropical flair which never disappoints.
In addition, the beautiful flower spikes make for great, long-lasting
cut flowers and is an interesting addition to bouquets.
An added bonus? Dwarf Red Ginger is super easy to propagate. If stems
are cut at the base and placed in water, they will generally root within a few
weeks. Eventually, you can make a whole flowering hedge just from one
plant!
Who does not like a plant that is non-fussy and not only beautiful but
easy to grow?
Dwarf
Red Ginger is more than just a pretty face!
