Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
Date:
What to do with a Dragon fruit?
Q: What can you do with Dragon Fruit? I bought some from the grocery store, but they don't have much flavor.
A: Dragon fruit, or Pitaya, comes in many varieties that differ in flavor, sweetness, and texture. In the store they usually carry simple varieties that are easy to ship and store but have very little flavor. This is why we prefer grow our own Dragon Fruit, same way like we grow many varieties of Mango - to enjoy their excellent flavors that you can't find in a store. Our favorite is the Yellow Dragon Fruit that is not only the sweetest of all but also have the best flavor, with pineapple-mango hint. It is best enjoyed fresh out of hand.
Yellow Dragon Fruit - Selenicereus megalanthus Equador Golden
Dragon Fruit Smoothie: simple and tasty recipe
Dragon fruit, regardless of variety, makes excellent smoothies. A perfect Dragon Fruit Smoothie can be made with a creamy blend of dragon fruit, mango, and banana. The tropical flavor is played up with a squeeze of fresh lime.
Ingredients
Mix in a blender:
2 dragon fruit, peeled
1/2 cup of mango pulp
- banana
1 cup of milk of your preference - tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp Lime juce
Some Ice
-
Mint for decoration
Dragon fruit contains lots of of nutrients, most notably high vitamin C and iron. Its low calorie content helps give it superfood status because of high nutrient density. Try it today, even from the grocery store! Although these fruit can be quite costly. So, plant your own Dragon Fruit variety collection and enjoy an endless palette of deliciousness!
Fun Fact: Long Leaf Anthurium
Anthurium vittarifolium - Long Leaf Anthurium
Anthurium vittarifolium - Long Leaf Anthurium
Anthurium vittarifolium - Long Leaf Anthurium
💎 Anthurium vittarifolium - Long Leaf Anthurium. This rare rainforest gem flaunts leaves that can stretch up to 6 feet long, creating a stunning cascading effect when grown in hanging baskets. Plus, it surprises with bright pink, showy fruits that add a vibrant splash of color to its dramatic foliage!
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Fun Fact: King Anthurium
Anthurium veitchii - King Anthurium
Anthurium veitchii - King Anthurium
Anthurium veitchii - King Anthurium
🔖 Crowning its title, Anthurium veitchii - King Anthurium - boasts leaves up to 3 feet long! Majestic houseplant! Very hard to find, rare plant.
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Black-black-black plant! Its totally black, thats right
Black ZZ Plant, Zamioculcas x Black Dragon
Black ZZ Plant, Zamioculcas x Black Dragon
Black ZZ Plant, Zamioculcas x Black Dragon
Black ZZ Plant, Zamioculcas x Black Dragon
- ▪️ Meet the elusive Black ZZ Plant, where the leaves of this dragon truly live up to its name with their mesmerizing black hue.
- ▪️Indoor plant enthusiasts may be familiar with its green counterpart, but this rare black variety is a collector's dream come true! You can see both green and black varieties on one of the photos.
- ▪️The Black ZZ Plant is a succulent marvel, boasting dark glossy foliage thanks to its high chlorophyll concentration - a rarity in the plant kingdom.
- ▪️With its exceptional ability to store water, the ZZ Plant can endure long periods without watering, earning its title as one of the most drought-tolerant plants on the planet.
- ▪️Sometimes referred to as the Aroid Palm, this ancient relic shares a unique characteristic with Gonatopus: its leaflets can detach, root, and form bulblets, a trait unseen in other aroids outside the Zamioculcadeae family.
- ▪️Witness the magic as juvenile leaves emerge green and transform into striking black as they mature, adding a touch of mystery and elegance to any indoor oasis.
Zamioculcas x Black Dragon - yes, the leaves of this Dragon are absolutely black!
🛒 Get the Black ZZ and surprise your friends
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What does a dragon taste like? Does Dragon Fruit come from a monster cactus? Learn why you need to grow your own
Hylocereus and Selenicereus Dragon Fruit or Pitaya
Hylocereus and Selenicereus Dragon Fruit or Pitaya trees on trellis
Hylocereus and Selenicereus Dragon Fruit or Pitaya on trellis
Hylocereus and Selenicereus Dragon Fruit or Pitaya red fruit
Hylocereus and Selenicereus Dragon Fruit or Pitaya purple fruit
Hylocereus and Selenicereus Dragon Fruit or Pitaya Yellow Parlora
Hylocereus and Selenicereus Dragon Fruit or Pitaya flower
- 🔴 You may have tried a Dragon fruit from the store l, but do you know how it grows? On a cactus tree!
- 🔴 Names: varieties of Hylocereus and Selenicereus - these fruit bearing cactus plants are also called Dragon Fruit or Pitaya.
- 🔴 Commercially grown fruit sold in a grocery store may be tasteless. You need to grow your own good variety to have tasty, sweet, flavorful fruit!
- 🔴 Dragon fruit comes in many varieties. Colors of flesh differ: white, pink, dark red and even purple. The outside of the fruit can be red/pink or yellow.
- 🔴 In commercial groves, Pitayas grow like cactus trees, over a strong support - big "umbrella frames" ☂️
- 🔴 It is an easy plant, with low water needs, takes both sun and semi-shade.
- 🔴 Our favorite variety is Yellow Dragon Fruit Palora, (Selenicereus megalanthus). It is the sweetest and has the most flavor of all. We shared some recipes earlier.
- 🔴 Can be grown in container with a wooden trellis. And the flower is beautiful, too!
📚 Learn more about Dragon Fruit
🍹 Recipe: What to do with a Dragon fruit?
🛒Grow your own Tasty Dragon Fruits
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Date:
Year of the Dragon: Chinese or Vietnamese?
Q: Is Chinese New Year the same as Vietnamese Tat? I want to buy a Vietnamese Micky Mouse plant and I am wondering if this would be also a lucky plant for the Year of the Dragon?
A: Vietnam, as well as other parts of Asia, is celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Dragon, which falls on February 10. Vietnam and neighboring China share 10 of the zodiac calendar's 12 signs: the rat, tiger, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The Vietnamese traditional Tet market in Hanoi is covered in hues of red and gold, colors that represent good luck and fortune. One of the most significant plants is the golden-flowered Ochna. But there are several other plants associated with the Lunar New year, as well as Dragon Year.
Green Wooden Dragon has specific favorite plants, including all species of Dragon fruits, Lychee or First Dragon's Eye (Litchi sinensis), Longan or Second Dragon's Eye (Euphoria longana), Creeping Philodendrons, and the Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata).
Learn more:
Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata). According to ancient Chinese manuscripts, the Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) is crucial for Dragons, as it is believed to be connected to their existence, guarding and complementing each other. Growing these plants is considered auspicious and is believed to safeguard the Dragon family.
The most celebrated flower in Vietnam, Ochna integerrima, called in Vietnam Hoa Mai or Mai Vang, blooms profusely on the occasion of Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
Yearning for Jungle Vibes? Discover the Giant Birds Nest Anthurium - look at the size of this monster!
Anthurium x hookeri - Giant Bird's Nest
Anthurium x hookeri - Giant Bird's Nest
Anthurium x hookeri - Giant Bird's Nest
Anthurium x hookeri - Giant Bird's Nest fruit
Anthurium x hookeri - Giant Bird's Nest fruit
- Anthurium x hookeri - Giant Bird's Nest - is one of the most wanted tropical jungle plants. It has impressive foliage: enormous, wrinkly leaves with a unique cardboard-like texture that can grow up to 7 feet long! The bright red berries add to the show.
- Jungle allure: perfect for creating a lush, tropical atmosphere with its striking and bold presence.
- Ideal for spacious areas: thrives in places with good natural light and ample space, making it a standout feature.
- Easy care: low-maintenance epiphyte, requires very little water.
- Tolerates low light conditions, perfect for a shade garden.
- Conversation piece: eye-catching texture adds visual interest and depth to your plant collection with its distinctive leaf surface. The size of the leaves is unbelievable!
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor settings.
- Air purifying: helps improve air quality, making it a functional and beautiful addition to your home.
- Tropical statement: brings a piece of the jungle into your environment, transforming it into a green oasis.
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Date:
2/10/2024: Chinese Year of the Dragon
Q: What is the lucky plant for Chinese New Year 2024?
A: 2024 is the year of the Green Wooden Dragon
according to the Chinese calendar. It will be celebrated this year on Saturday,
February 10.
Dragon symbol is considered the most powerful in Chinese astrology,
representing energy, strength, and power.
The lucky plant of the year 2024, the Dragon fruit, steals the show with its striking red skin and juicy white flesh. Plates overflow with succulent slices of dragon fruit, its fiery red skin contrasting beautifully with the snowy white flesh speckled with tiny black seeds, symbolizing prosperity and abundance.
Dragon fruit comes in many varieties that differ in flavor, sweetness, and texture.
How to make Dragon Fruit Smoothie? What to do with a
Dragon fruit and a cat
Dragon fruit smoothie
Dragon fruit yellow
Dragon fruit, regardless of variety, makes excellent smoothies. A perfect Dragon Fruit Smoothie can be made with a creamy blend of dragon fruit, mango, and banana. The tropical flavor is played up with a squeeze of fresh lime.
Recipe:
2 dragon fruit, peeled
1/2 cup of mango pulp
- banana
1 cup of milk of your preference - tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp Lime juce
Some Ice
Add Mint for decoration
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The King of all Anthuriums
King Anthurium - Anthurium veitchii
- 👑 Anthurium veitchii isn't called the "King" for nothing! This majestic houseplant shows off long, rippling leaves that can stretch up to 3 feet, starting with a heart-shaped base -because even royalty has a soft side!
- 👑 Its glossy, textured foliage gives your space instant jungle vibes, making it a standout in any room. Low-maintenance and full of personality, the King Anthurium brings a regal flair to your plant collection.
- 👑 Just give it bright, indirect light, and watch this leafy monarch rule your home with elegance!
🛒 Get your own King Anthurium
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