Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

😋 "Happiness is a side effect of a properly organized life"

Share your cats in comments!
📸 🐈🐈🐈👇

🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden 

#Quotes

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

🌷 How to make your Hibiscus plants thrive and bloom

"If your plant isn't flowering, feed it." - Winn Soldani (Fancy Hibiscus)

💬 Among gardeners, Hibiscus plants have a reputation to have couple maintenance issues:
1. they can get bugsy (because they must be so tasty!)
2. they can get leggy, especially fancy grafted cultivars, and after a while they don't look as perfect as when they came from a nursery.

‼️ Tips for healthy and pretty hibiscus plants (can be applied to other flowering shrubs)

• 🟡Full sun. Essential for profuse flowering and keeps away diseases.
• 🟡Pruning. Keep it pruned and it will get bushy and produce more blooms.
• 🟡Well-drained soil. Hibiscus likes regular watering but hates wet feet.
• 🟡Nutrition program. Hibiscus plants are heavy feeders. But keep in mind that if you just keep pushing granulated plant food, you can over-fertilize the plant. Excessive salts will accumulate in soil and you will end up with a sickly looking plant.

⚠️ Keys to balanced plant food and bloom booster

• 💋Use liquid fertilizer, preferably amino acid based, it won't create nutrients lock up
• 💋Fertilize on regular basis, it's better dilute concentration and add food with every watering
• 💋Always add micro-elements - they are essential for plant health

🌞 If you do this right, the result will be:

• ⏺healthy, green plants, like they just came from a nursery
• ⏺reliable blooming circle
• ⏺better cold tolerance and disease resistance. Remember that a strong plant will be less ⏺stressed and less "bugged" by bugs!

😎 We suggest Sunshine Boosters Megaflor - scientifically balanced liquid fertilizer that is amino acid based = natural and organic, can be used for both flowers and edibles, and what's most important - year around. It is safe to use virtually with every watering, all year around!

🔥 This is all you need for healthy plants and lots of flowers!

🛒 Get Sunshine Boosters Megaflor

#How_to #Fertilizers

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

🌈 The World is a kaleidoscope of colors

"Sometimes we need the fog to remind ourselves that all of life is not black and white." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Share your cats in comments!
📸 🐈🐈🐈👇

🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden 

#Quotes

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

🟢 What is camphor made of?

• 
  🌱 Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) - is your aromatic ally in the garden!
• 
  🌱 This charming relative of the cinnamon tree is known for its glossy oval leaves that can grow up to 5 inches long.
• 
  🌱 Not only does it boast a lovely canopy, but it’s also the source of camphor, a fragrant compound used in medicines and mothballs.
• 
  🌱 The leaves and branches can be used to create aromatic saunas and medicinal baths, filling your space with a soothing scent.
• 
  🌱 This cold-hardy, slow-growing tree is tough enough to withstand various conditions while developing a dense canopy that provides excellent shade.
• 
  🌱 Camphor Tree is a delightful addition that brings a touch of nature's fragrance to your home. While it's little known among gardeners, this underappreciated gem deserves a spot in every landscape for its unique qualities and benefits!

🛒 Plant your own Camphor tree

#Nature_Wonders #Perfume_Plants #Trees

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

🟢 What is camphor made of?

• 🌱 Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) - is your aromatic ally in the garden!
• 🌱 This charming relative of the cinnamon tree is known for its glossy oval leaves that can grow up to 5 inches long.
• 🌱 Not only does it boast a lovely canopy, but it’s also the source of camphor, a fragrant compound used in medicines and mothballs.
• 🌱 The leaves and branches can be used to create aromatic saunas and medicinal baths, filling your space with a soothing scent.
• 🌱 This cold-hardy, slow-growing tree is tough enough to withstand various conditions while developing a dense canopy that provides excellent shade.
• 🌱 Camphor Tree is a delightful addition that brings a touch of nature's fragrance to your home. While it's little known among gardeners, this underappreciated gem deserves a spot in every landscape for its unique qualities and benefits!

🛒 Plant your own Camphor tree

#Nature_Wonders #Perfume_Plants #Trees

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

🍀 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

🍀 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

😼 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

😼 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

😼 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

👀 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

❤️ "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

🍀 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

🎤 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

😵‍ 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:

• 💋Ginger makes a natural shampoo
• 💋Our most favorite Ginger plant - African Princess
• 💋How Raspberry ginger became spiral
• 💋The most interesting edible gingers
• 💋5 most spectacular Gingers
• 💋French Kiss the Red Button Ginger
• 💋Kaempferia angustifolia - Laos Silver Stripe Peacock Ginger
• 💋The most fragrant ginger ever
• 💋Spice Up Your Garden with Variegated Ginger

🛒 Shop Gingers

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals