"/>
Index > Garden Blog

Date:

How to harvest and eat Monstera Ice Cream

Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant fruit

Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant fruit

Monstera deliciosa - Variegated Swiss Cheese Plant leaves

Monstera deliciosa - Variegated Swiss Cheese Plant leaves

Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant fruit

Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant fruit

Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant fruit

Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant fruit

Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant fruit

Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant fruit

Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant fruit and flower

Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant fruit and flower

🍨How to harvest and eat Monstera Ice Cream
  • 🍀 Monstera deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant - is a stunning jungle climber from Mexico and Guatemala celebrated for its dramatic, perforated leaves and delectable tropical fruit.
  • 🍀 Known for its large, fenestrated leaves with oblong or oval perforations, giving it the nickname "Swiss Cheese Plant."
  • 🍀 In its natural habitat, seedlings grow toward darkness until they locate a tree, then climb toward the light.
  • 🍀 Fruits begin appearing about three years after planting. The 9-inch, green, cone-like fruit ripens over a year, its scales separating to reveal sweet, creamy white pulp.
  • 🍀 Tastes like a mix of pineapple, sugar apple and ice cream with a strong tropical aroma.
  • 🍀 The fruit must be ripe to eat, as unripe pulp contains oxalic acid, which irritates the mouth and throat. To ripen, pick when the base wrinkles slightly, then wrap in a bag. When the scales loosen, it’s ready to eat. Rinse off black specks before eating.
  • 🍀 Spectacular variety Thai Constellation is a stunning variegated form with cream-and-green marbled leaves, has become a collector's dream. Specimens can sell for thousands of dollars, making it one of the most sought-after houseplants.


🛒 Shop Monstera plants

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden #Shade_Garden

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

How to get an unusual showy foliage plant for tropical look

Osmoxylon lineare, or variegated Miagos bush (Golden Feather)

🌴 How to get an unusual showy foliage plant for tropical look
  • 🍀 Osmoxylon lineare, or variegated Miagos bush (Golden Feather), is a small, ornamental shrub native to Southeast Asia and the Philippines.
  • 🍀 This rare variegated variety from Thailand has beautiful unusual foliage: dark green variegated with gold.
  • 🍀 Growing to about 2-4 feet tall, it features striking foliage with an exotic, bamboo-like appearance, making it an eye-catching addition to a Southern garden or indoor space.
  • 🍀 This hardy plant requires little care but thrives with regular moisture and warmth. It tolerates a range of light conditions from full sun to semi-shade and prefers frost-free temperatures. Although frost may cause some damage, it can tolerate brief exposures to temperatures in the 30s F.


🛒 Order Osmoxylon

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Whats the smelliest fruit on Earth?

Durian (Durio zibethinus)

Durian (Durio zibethinus)

Durian (Durio zibethinus)

Durian (Durio zibethinus)

Durian (Durio zibethinus)

Durian (Durio zibethinus)

Durian (Durio zibethinus)

Durian (Durio zibethinus)

😷 What's the smelliest fruit on Earth? The King of Fruits: Durian!
  • 😶�️ Durian (Durio zibethinus) is a tropical fruit tree known for its prickly, spiny fruit, which is famous for its distinctive, highly pervasive aroma - often described as unpleasant by many.
  • 😶�️ Despite the powerful scent, which can deter some from trying it, durian is celebrated in Southeast Asia as the "king of fruits." To many, the strong odor is actually a welcome signal of the fruit's rich, creamy golden flesh, which has a sweet, custard-like flavor that's likened to almond and vanilla.
  • 😶�️ Its creamy texture and unique taste make it a beloved delicacy, often commanding a high price in the market.
  • 😶�️ As naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace noted after trying durian on Borneo in the 19th century, "The more you eat of it, the less you feel inclined to stop".
  • 😶�️ Other varieties, like the red and yellow-fleshed Durio graveolans, are available in Southeast Asia and even in regions like South Florida, offering a peanut butter-like taste and greater tolerance to local conditions.


🛒 Shop exotic fruit trees

#Food_Forest #Fun_Facts

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Does Red flowering banana produce fruit?

Musa coccinea - Scarlet Red Flowering Banana

Musa coccinea - Scarlet Red Flowering Banana

💄 Does Red flowering banana produce fruit?
  • 🌷 Musa coccinea - Scarlet Red Flowering Banana - is a rare, small size tropical banana tree native to China and Vietnam, known for its vibrant red flower bracts that surround delicate yellow blooms.
  • 🌷 With glossy, dark green leaves resembling classic banana foliage, this plant makes a striking addition to a rare plant collection.
  • 🌷 Although it doesn't produce edible bananas, it grows small orange fruits that enhance its ornamental appeal.
  • 🌷 The plant's pseudostems die back after flowering, but new shoots (banana pups) emerge from the roots, ensuring its continued growth.
  • 🌷 Compact and easy to grow, it's perfect for small gardens, pots, or as a colorful indoor arrangement.


🛒 Order Scarlet Red Flowering Banana

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

How to make a simple and delicious mango smoothie

How to make a simple and delicious mango smoothie
🥭 How to make a simple and delicious mango smoothie

  • Ingredients:

  • · 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped
  • · 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
  • · ½ cup plain yogurt (optional for creaminess)
  • · 1-2 tablespoons honey or sugar (optional, to taste)
  • · 1 cup ice cubes (adjust for desired thickness)


Instructions:

  • · Add mango chunks, milk, yogurt, honey (if using), and ice cubes to a blender.
  • · Blend until smooth and creamy.
  • · Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
  • · Pour into glasses and serve immediately.


For a tropical twist, you can add a splash of orange juice, a banana, or a pinch of cardamom. Enjoy! 🥭

🛒 Plant a Mango Tree today for a happy crop tomorrow

#Food_Forest #Recipes

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

This is why its called Heaven Lotus Tree - fragrant and edible!

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, tree

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, tree

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower close-up

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower close-up

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, fruit

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, fruit

💐 This is why it's called Heaven Lotus Tree - fragrant and edible!
  • 🪷 Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus - is a stunning, small tropical tree from Brazil that looks like it stepped right out of a tropical paradise. The spectacular, perfumed flowers resembling Lotus are as beautiful as they are unique.
  • 🪷 These large, striking blooms with white-and pink petals and a magic sweet fragrance are so eye-catching that the central crown almost looks good enough to eat!
  • 🪷 Straight, often unbranched trunk, with a single cluster of leaves at the top, gives it a palm-like vibe. As it grows older, it may sprout a few large branches, each with its own leafy crown. The leaves are huge - no other tree around has leaves quite as big, except maybe a palm. They're long, narrow at the base, and broad at the top, making them a real showstopper.
  • 🪷 The rounded, pear-shaped fruit grow directly on the trunk (a trait called cauliflory, see earlier post) and contains delicious yellowish-orange pulp that can be boiled and resemble meat in taste. The leaves, when boiled into a decoction, are said to cure intoxication.
  • 🪷 Truly an exciting, one-of-a-kind tree, a gem for collectors! Can be grown in containers.


🛒 Enjoy your own Heaven Lotus Tree

#Container_Garden #Trees #Nature_Wonders #Perfume_Plants

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

What is the most excusive tropical Christmas flower?

Ruellia colorata, Colorama

Ruellia colorata, Colorama

Ruellia colorata, Colorama

Ruellia colorata, Colorama

Ruellia colorata, Colorama

Ruellia colorata, Colorama

Ruellia colorata, Colorama

Ruellia colorata, Colorama

Ruellia colorata, Colorama

Ruellia colorata, Colorama

🎄 What is the most excusive tropical Christmas flower?
  • 🎅 A festive showstopper, Ruellia colorata, known as Colorama, is a rare and vibrant addition to exotic container plant collection. Its brilliant scarlet bracts color up for Christmas and stay bright carmine for several months.
  • 🎅 Native to Brazil, this small plant grows 2-4 feet tall, displaying brilliant scarlet bracts and crimson flowers that stay bright for months, adding a touch of holiday cheer.
  • 🎅 One of Colorama's most striking features is its photoperiodic response: the top leaves turn crimson red around Christmas time due to changes in daylight length, much like the beloved Poinsettia. After winter, these leaves return to green, keeping the plant lively and versatile year-round.

  • Photoperiodism is the process where plants respond to the length of day and night, triggering changes such as leaf coloration or flowering.
  • 🎅 Its blooms are a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds, making it a favorite for wildlife enthusiasts.
  • 🎅 Colorama thrives in shady to semi-shady spots and requires regular watering to stay lush and healthy. It's perfect for USDA zones 9-11 but can also be grown in colder regions if protected from frost. For winter care in cooler climates, move it indoors or to a warm area to keep this stunning beauty happy and blooming.
  • 🎅 When grown in pots, ensure good drainage, use rich organic soil, and place the plant in a bright location.
  • 🎅 Prune twice a year to maintain its compact, bushy shape, and fertilize with a flowering fertilizer once established.


🛒 Get your own Exclusive Christmas Colorama

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Butterfly_Plants

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Why is it called Blood Feather?

Sanchezia stenomacra - Blood Red Feather

Sanchezia stenomacra - Blood Red Feather

🪶 Why is it called Blood Feather?
  • 🩸A true gem for tropical plant enthusiasts, Sanchezia stenomacra - Blood Red Feather - is a rare and stunning perennial.
  • 🩸Native to the jungles of Peru, it thrives in humid environments with filtered light, making it perfect for lush, shaded spots in your garden, greenhouse or indoor plant collection.
  • 🩸Its striking blood-red flowers, shaped like delicate feathers, add a bold splash of color and are irresistible to hummingbirds. Feathery burgundy-red plumes rise above the deep green foliage and last for weeks. The true flowers are orange-red and tubular, emerging from the wispy flower heads day after day.
  • 🩸Upright, vigorous grower. When plants become too large, they can take a hard pruning and quickly recover and re-flower. Flowering continuously throughout the year, it even does well under partial sun.
  • 🩸A rare find for private collections, this showy plant is sure to become a centerpiece of your tropical paradise.


🛒 Order Blood Red Feather Sanchezia

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Butterfly_Plants

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

What is Pepper Made From? Black, white, green, and red

Black Pepper - Piper nigrum

Black Pepper - Piper nigrum

Black Pepper - Piper nigrum

Black Pepper - Piper nigrum

🔥 What is Pepper Made From? Black, white, green, and red...
  • ♨️ Pepper comes from the dried berries (peppercorns) of the vine Piper nigrum, a plant native to South India and now widely cultivated in tropical regions.
  • ♨️ Pepper has been a prized spice for millennia, with black and white varieties known in ancient times. The modern discovery of green and red pepper has only added to the allure of this versatile spice!
  • ♨️ The different types of pepper - black, white, green, and red - are all derived from the same plant! Their distinct flavors and colors result from variations in harvest timing and processing methods.
  • ♨️ Secrets of the Pepper Colors:


⚫️ Black Pepper: The most common variety, black pepper is made from unripe, green berries that are cooked briefly and then dried. The drying process darkens the skin, giving it a bold flavor with both pungency and aroma.
🔘 White Pepper: Created by removing the outer skin of fully ripe berries, leaving just the seed inside. White pepper has a stronger heat and less aroma, making it ideal for dishes needing subtle flavor.
🟢 Green Pepper: These are unripe berries that are either dried or pickled to preserve their fresh, herbal flavor. Green pepper is milder and more aromatic.
  • 🔴 Red Pepper: A rare variety, red peppercorns come from fully ripened berries, often dried or brined. They have a unique, fruity sweetness balanced with pungency.


♨️ Growing Pepper Plant:
  • · Piper nigrum is a moderate-growing vine that thrives on a trellis and can even grow in containers.
  • · Care: Prefers partial shade and moderate watering, making it suitable for indoor cultivation.
  • · Fertilize with Sunhine Boosters on regular basis. Miscrolement supplement (Sunshine SuperFood) is essential as Black pepper may be susceptible to leaf chlorosis (iron deficiency).


📚 Learn more from previous post:
How to grow your own Pepper plants. Five most valuable 'Pipers'

🛒 Grow your own Pepper

#Food_Forest

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Does Queen of the Night bloom only one night out of the year?

Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night

Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night

Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night

Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night

Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night

Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night

Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night

Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night

🪩 Does Queen of the Night bloom only one night out of the year?
  • 💎 Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night, is a captivating cactus famous for its nocturnal, powerfully fragrant blooms!
  • 💎 Native to tropical rainforests, it thrives as an exotic houseplant with its wide, fleshy leaves.
  • 💎 This plant earns its royal title by producing stunning, large white fragrant flowers that open only at night, creating a spectacular and fleeting display of beauty.
  • 💎 Each flower lasts only one night, but if you missed it - no worries! New blooms will follow from multiple buds. So you actually will have several nights to enjoy it!
  • 💎 A must-have for those who love unique and fragrant indoor plants.


🛒 Order Queen of the Night

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Fun_facts

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals