"/>
Newsletter sign up Call Us: 1-866-897-7957
Select FREE SHIPPING
Cart
Index > Garden Blog

Date:

How to make perfect ground cover: this colorful house plant thrives outdoors!

Iresine, Beefsteak Plant or Chicken Gizzard

Iresine, Beefsteak Plant or Chicken Gizzard

How to make perfect ground cover: this colorful house plant thrives outdoors!
🍀 How to make perfect ground cover: this colorful house plant thrives outdoors!
  • ✳️ Did you know that there is a showy houseplant that makes an excellent ground cover in southern gardens?
  • ✳️ The Iresine, also known as Beefsteak Plant or Chicken Gizzard, is an evergreen perennial that grows up to 3 feet tall. It showcases bright mauve, or variegated puckered foliage that adds a pop of color to any space.
  • ✳️ Perfect for both indoor gardening and warm climate gardens, it thrives in both shady or full sun areas and requires regular water when actively growing, with moderate watering afterward.
  • ✳️ Its striking "Blood Leaf" features purplish-red, oval-shaped leaves with notched tips on vibrant red-maroon stems, forming dense, bushy clumps. It grows fast and spreads fast, making a perfect ground cover.
  • ✳️ You'll find delightful varieties: the traditional Iresine herbstii Acuminata, with its sharply pointed blood-red leaves, and Iresine Aureo-Reticulata, or "Chicken Gizzard Plant," boasting bright yellow-veined, apple-green rounded leaves. And don't miss the Confetti variety, with its leaves sprinkled in green, red, and yellow!
  • ✳️ Whether used indoors or as a ground cover outdoors, Iresine is a colorful choice that deserves a spot in every garden!


🛒 Get Iresine ground cover

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

10 Health Benefits of Canistel Fruit

Pouteria campechiana, Canistel Tree, or Eggfruit

Pouteria campechiana, Canistel Tree, or Eggfruit

Pouteria campechiana, Canistel Tree, or Eggfruit

Pouteria campechiana, Canistel Tree, or Eggfruit

😼 10 Health Benefits of Canistel Fruit

Pouteria campechiana, Canistel Tree, or Eggfruit, is very popular heart-shaped fruit in the tropics and subtropics. In addition to its excellent taste of an eggnog, it is also a very useful plant.
  • 💛 Heart Health: Rich in potassium, helping regulate blood pressure.
  • 💛 Lowers Diabetes Risk: Contains niacin, which improves blood sugar control.
  • 💛 Eye Health: High in beta-carotene, reducing the risk of cataracts.
  • 💛 Relieves Arthritis: Niacin improves joint mobility and reduces inflammation.
  • 💛 Cancer Prevention: Packed with antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and beta-carotene.
  • 💛 Boosts Immunity: Vitamin C strengthens the immune system.
  • 💛 Aids Digestion: High fiber supports bowel regularity.
  • 💛 Prevents Anemia: Iron promotes hemoglobin production.
  • 💛 Strengthens Bones: Calcium and phosphorus enhance bone health.
  • 💛 Improves Brain Health: Iron supports oxygen flow, lowering Alzheimer's risk.


📚 Learn more about Canistel Egg Fruit
Pouteria campechiana - Canistel, the curious heart-shaped Egg Super-Fruit

🛒 Order Canistel Tree

#Food_Forest #Remedies

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

How hibiscus plant acts like a chameleon

Hibiscus mutabilis Cotton Candy - Mallow Hibiscus

👀 How hibiscus plant acts like a chameleon
  • 🌺 Hibiscus mutabilis Cotton Candy - Mallow Hibiscus - is the magical chameleon of the garden! This beauty opens with pure white flowers that gradually shift to bright pink over three days, much like the Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow plant (Brunfelsia).
  • 🌺 As the blooms age, they take on a rich, deep pink hue, creating a stunning rainbow of colors on the bush all at once.
  • 🌺 With blossoms reaching up to 5 inches across, this hibiscus is as showy as it is unique.
  • 🌺 It's the perfect way to add a touch of dynamic color magic to your garden!


🛒 Order Cotton Candy Hibiscus

#Hedges_with_benefits #Nature_Wonders

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Join

Join
❤️ "When you love someone, you love the person as they are, and not as you’d like them to be." - Leo Tolstoy

Share your cats in comments!
📸 🐈🐈🐈👇

🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden 

#Quotes

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

What is Cinnamon made of?

Cinnamon tree, or Cassia Cinnamon, Cinnamomum aromaticum

Cinnamon tree, or Cassia Cinnamon, Cinnamomum aromaticum

Cinnamon tree, or Cassia Cinnamon, Cinnamomum aromaticum

Cinnamon tree, or Cassia Cinnamon, Cinnamomum aromaticum

🍀 What is Cinnamon made of?
  • 🪵 Cinnamon tree, or Cassia Cinnamon, Cinnamomum aromaticum - this tree is the source of the famous Cinnamon! Cinnamon is a very popular culinary spice and is also used in candy, gum, incense, toothpaste and perfumes. The oil is used in medicine. Leaves are very fragrant and used as tea.
  • 🪵 Ancient Origins: Cinnamon has been used for over 4,000 years, with its earliest references found in ancient Egyptian texts, where it was used in embalming practices.
  • 🪵 Spice of Kings: In ancient Rome, cinnamon was so valuable that it was worth more than gold, and emperors like Nero famously burned large quantities at funerals to showcase their wealth.
  • 🪵 Medicinal: Cinnamon is known for its health benefits, including its ability to lower blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and fight bacteria and fungi.
  • 🪵 Culinary: This aromatic spice is not just for sweet dishes; it enhances savory dishes, stews, and even some meats, bridging sweet and savory flavors.
  • 🪵 Two Main Varieties: There are two primary types of cinnamon - Ceylon Cinnamon (true Cinnamon) and Cassia Cinnamon. Ceylon has a sweeter, more delicate flavor, while Cassia is more robust and commonly found in supermarkets.
  • 🪵 Aroma Activation: The distinct aroma of cinnamon comes from a compound called cinnamaldehyde, which not only provides flavor but also has potential antimicrobial properties.
  • 🪵 Historical Trade Routes: The demand for cinnamon spurred exploration and trade routes, leading to significant historical events like the Age of Discovery and conflicts over spice control.
  • 🪵 The Spice of Life: Cinnamon is believed to improve brain function and memory, making it a popular choice for students and those looking to boost cognitive performance.


❗️ And the most importantly - you can grow your own Cinnamon Tree right now!

🛒Grow your own Cinnamon tree

#Nature_Wonders #Perfume_Plants #Trees

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

New video from King of the Garden

🎤 New video from King of the Garden

🎥 Kingston - the famous cat of TopTropicals who meets and greets our customers. Everyone who visited our Garden Center in Ft Myers met King! Sound on 🎶

Share your cats in comments!
📸 🐈🐈🐈👇

🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden 

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

hat is the most spectacular variegated ginger?

😵 What is the most spectacular variegated ginger?
  • 🌀 Variegated Spiral Ginger - Costus arabicus (amazonicus) variegata - is a tropical stunner originally from South America but adored in Hawaii and Florida

  • 🌀 This ginger's eye-catching, spiraling stems are streaked with striking white variegation, topped with elegant pure white flowers with yellow centers.

  • 🌀 The pure white blooms are truly a piece of art! Perfect for shade gardens (but also can take sun), this plant thrives in moist soil and loves plenty of water.

  • 🌀 If you're looking to add a bit of drama and elegance to your garden, this beauty is a must-have!


📚 Learn more about gingers from previous posts:

🛒 Shop Gingers

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Believe in yourself

Believe in yourself
👍 Believe in yourself

"An athlete won't judge you for working out.
A millionaire won't judge you for starting a business.
A musician won't judge you for trying to sing a song.
It's always the people going nowhere that have something to say."

Share your cats in comments!
📸 🐈🐈🐈👇

🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden 

#Quotes

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Five Extraordinary, Show-Stopping Flowering Shrubs

Q: I'm looking for something fresh and exciting - something my neighbors won't have! I have both sunny and shady spots in my garden. What unique flowering shrubs would you recommend?

A: Why settle for ordinary when your garden can be extraordinary? Here are five fabulous flowering shrubs that will set your landscape apart. Whether you're dealing with sizzling sun or cool shade, these beauties will add color, character, and charm year-round. Let's dive in!

1. Lobster Claw - Simply Spectacular!

Heliconia rostrata - Lobster Claw

Heliconia rostrata - Lobster Claw. This exotic plant makes a bold statement with its parrot-like blooms. The colorful, dangling flowers last long and are perfect for bouquets. Growing up to 7 feet tall, it thrives in large pots or tropical landscapes, handling temperatures in the high 20s. Just give it room to stretch those stalks!

Shop Lobster Claw

2. Bat Head Lily - Perfect for Shade

Tacca chantrieri - Bat Head Lily

Tacca chantrieri - Bat Head Lily, Black Tacca. Looking for something mysterious? This plant's dark, bat-shaped flowers and trailing "whiskers" will intrigue everyone. It prefers filtered light and high humidity, making it a great pick for shaded areas or a greenhouse. Available in striking colors like black, white, and green, it's a conversation starter in any garden.

Shop Tacca Lily

3. Ball of Fire - Made for the Sun

Combretum constrictum Thailand, Ball of Fire

Combretum constrictum from Thailand, called Ball of Fire - is one of our favorite tropical flowering shrubs that is constantly in bloom and is so much different from anythings else. With constant blooms and fiery red flowers, this tropical shrub shines bright. Though it might fool you from a distance as a Powderpuff plant, it's a whole different species! It can be shaped into a small tree, handles pruning well, and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Easy to grow, it only needs regular water to get established.

Shop Ball of Fire

4. Blue Sage - the Bluest in the Tropics

Combretum constrictum Thailand, Ball of Fire

Eranthemum pulchellum - Blue Sage, or Lead Flower. This winter heavy bloomer thrives in shady spots with its vibrant gentian-blue flowers, a rare color in the tropics. It's compact, easygoing, and the more you prune it, the bushier it gets. When other plants are napping, Blue Sage adds a splash of cool blue, making it perfect for carefree gardeners who want a touch of magic.

Shop Blue Sage

5. Candelabra Plant - Massive Gold

Senna alata - Empress Candle, Candelabra Plant

Senna alata - Empress Candle, Candelabra Plant - is a fast-growing shrub that brings sunny, candle-like flowers and massive leaves to your garden. It's a weed-fighting hero, shading out invaders with its wide canopy. Butterflies and bees love its golden blooms, and the plant can grow 10 feet wide in just one season! If you want beauty and function, the Candelabra Plant is your golden ticket. Watch the video about Candelabra Plant .

Shop Candelabra Plant

Date:

Why my plant turned yellow? And why plants need Micronutrients? The answer is:

Why my plant turned yellow? And why plants need Micronutrients? The answer is: Why my plant turned yellow? And why plants need Micronutrients? The answer is: Why my plant turned yellow? And why plants need Micronutrients? The answer is: Why my plant turned yellow? And why plants need Micronutrients? The answer is:
🍴 Why my plant turned yellow? And why plants need Micronutrients? The answer is: they need Superfood!

Nothing is more disappointing than when your plant’s bright green leaves begin to turn yellow. Too often gardeners blame pests for these issues, but at the root of the problem is almost always a nutrient deficiency.

Plants need both macronutrients and micronutrients.
Macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) help plants grow big and strong.
Micronutrients (like iron, zinc, copper, and manganese) are just like vitamins, needed in small amounts but are just as important for plant health.

Why are micronutrients important?

  • 📌 They help plants with vital processes like making food (photosynthesis) and building strong roots.
  • 📌 Without enough micronutrients, plants can look weak, turn yellow, or grow poorly.


🥢 Why use Sunshine Superfood for micronutrients?

  • 📌 Effective and fast: plants get the right amount of micronutrients quickly and efficiently.
  • 📌 Balanced formula: your plants get everything they need in the right proportions.
  • 📌 Sunshine Superfood is the ultimate micro-element supplement that can fix all deficiencies.
  • 📌 Easy to apply - just mix with water and feed your plants.
  • 📌 The quick absorption helps prevent nutrient deficiencies.


👍 Even if your soil is lacking in certain micronutrients, Sunshine Superfood ensures your plants get exactly what they need.

📚 Learn in details:
Micronutrients Delivery Systems
Element Deficiencies in Your Garden

🛒 Shop Sunshine Boosters

#Fertilizers #How_to

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
< Previous pageNext page >Most recent entryBlog table of contents