Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 27 May 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus, flower

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus

Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus, Anthony's Rick-Rack, Fishbone Cactus, leaves

Too weird to ignore, too easy not to grow!

⚡️Cryptocereus (Selenicereus) anthonyanus - Zig-Zag Cactus. Also known as Anthony's Rick-Rack or Fishbone Cactus, this oddball epiphyte is famous for its zigzagging, succulent leaves that look like a green lightning bolt.
⚡️ In nature, it climbs trees using aerial roots, but it's happy in a pot too.
⚡️Give it bright, indirect light and let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
⚡️In spring, it may reward you with a rare night-blooming flower that lasts just one magical evening.
⚡️ Easy, sculptural, and full of character!

🛒 Add this oddball to your jungle

📚 More about exotic epiphytic cacti:
Disocactus ackermanni - Red Orchid Cactus
Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night
Pseudorhipsalis (Wittia) amazonica - Blue Flame
Epiphyllum guatemalense Monstrosa - Orchid Cactus, Curly Locks

#Fun_Facts #Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

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Date: 25 May 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks, leaves

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks, fruit

Botanical bedhead: curly, crazy, and full of surprises

This wild-looking jungle cactus doesn't grow straight - it spirals, twirls, and twists! Meet Epiphyllum guatemalense Monstrosa - Orchid Cactus, or Curly Locks.
A natural mutation of Epiphyllum guatemalense, Curly Locks creates a tangled cascade of curly stems that look like botanical noodles!
Perfect for hanging baskets, it blooms fragrant, orchid-like flowers at night and produces juicy, edible pink fruit.
It's self-pollinating and thrives in bright, indirect light. Let it get root-bound to encourage blooms, and water moderately.
A must-have oddity for cactus lovers and collectors!

🛒 Get the curly cactus now

📚 More about exotic epiphytic cacti:
Disocactus ackermanni - Red Orchid Cactus
Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night
Pseudorhipsalis (Wittia) amazonica - Blue Flame

#Fun_Facts #Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 15 May 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show

❤️ Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show

🌺 Disocactus ackermanni, also called the Red Orchid Cactus, puts on a jaw-dropping show with huge, blazing red flowers that can reach 6 inches wide! It's a cactus that acts nothing like one - and then bursts out in flowers the size of your hand!
🌺 It blooms from Spring through Summer and steals the spotlight every time. The plant grows like a lush, green fern with flat stems that drape and cascade like a living chandelier.
🌺 It may be a cactus, but it loves water and shade - more diva than desert. Native to the tropical forests of Mexico, this epiphyte thrives in a hanging basket and turns heads wherever it grows.
🌺 Why collectors search for it? Because it's rare, eye-catching, and just plain fun to grow. No spines, no drama - just bold flowers and easy charm. This is one of those plants that visitors always ask about. If you're a collector, it's not a want – it's a need.

🛒 Get the Red Orchid Cactus everyone talks about

📚 More about exotic epiphytic cacti:
Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night
Pseudorhipsalis (Wittia) amazonica - Blue Flame
Epiphyllum guatemalense Monstrosa - Orchid Cactus, Curly Locks

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 15 May 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show

Disocactus ackermanni - Red Orchid Cactus

❤️ Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show

🌺 Disocactus ackermanni, also called the Red Orchid Cactus, puts on a jaw-dropping show with huge, blazing red flowers that can reach 6 inches wide! It's a cactus that acts nothing like one - and then bursts out in flowers the size of your hand!
🌺 It blooms from Spring through Summer and steals the spotlight every time. The plant grows like a lush, green fern with flat stems that drape and cascade like a living chandelier.
🌺 It may be a cactus, but it loves water and shade - more diva than desert. Native to the tropical forests of Mexico, this epiphyte thrives in a hanging basket and turns heads wherever it grows.
🌺 Why collectors search for it? Because it's rare, eye-catching, and just plain fun to grow. No spines, no drama - just bold flowers and easy charm. This is one of those plants that visitors always ask about. If you're a collector, it's not a want – it's a need.

Date: 11 May 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Dragon fruit plantation

🌵🌵🌵 Why we planted a whole field of this Dragon Fruit: how to get your own Dragon Fruit plantation

💛 Do you like Dragon Fruit? Our favorite variety is Parlora.
💛 It's a yellow Pitaya cactus from Ecuador, and hands down the most flavorful dragon fruit out there. While most varieties are pretty but kind of bland, this one is sweet, juicy, and packed with flavor.
💛 We love it so much at Top Tropicals, we planted a whole plantation! All it takes is a simple trellis – just a few posts and some chicken wire - and you can grow your own and enjoy this delicious fruit year-round.

📚 Learn more:

🛒Grow your own Tasty Dragon Fruits

#Food_Forest #How_to #Dragon_Fruit

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 7 Apr 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Dragon Fruit varieties collage

🐲 Grow Your Own Exotic Dragon Fruit Garden - Part 3

Continued from previous post ⤴️

🛍 Limited-Time Offer:

This week only, enjoy an instant 5% discount on all dragon fruit plants, no code needed! Hurry - some varieties are in limited supply and highly sought after!

🎮 Explore Our Unique Varieties:

💋David Bowie - Red-skinned with white flesh, offering a sweet, tangy, lemon-like flavor. Self-pollinating and best enjoyed fresh.
💋 Delight - Pink-skinned with light pink flesh, this variety is exceptionally fertile and produces large, flavorful fruits.
💋 Eureka Red - Large, red-skinned fruit with red flesh, known for its sweet and tangy flavor. Self-pollinating and originally from Nicaragua.
💋 Halleys Comet - A hybrid with pink skin and purple flesh, producing impressively large fruits up to 2 pounds. The flesh is sweet, and the plant features large, striking flowers.
💋 Lake Atitlan - Named after the Guatemalan lake, this variety has pinkish-red skin with white flesh, offering a sweet and tangy taste. Fruits typically weigh between 0.75 to 1.5 pounds.
💋 Palora (Ecuador, Columbian) - Yellow-skinned with white flesh, Palora is renowned for being the sweetest dragon fruit variety. It originates from Ecuador and is self-fertile.
💋 Seoul Kitchen - This variety produces medium to large red-skinned fruits with white flesh. The pulp is smooth and sweet, excellent when chilled and eaten fresh. Self-pollinating.
💋 Thai Gold - A rare yellow-skinned variety with white flesh, known for its sweet flavor with a hint of tartness.
💋 Vietnamese Jaina - Pink-skinned with white flesh, this variety is among the most common and is known for its mild, sweet flavor with a hint of Strawberry.

📚 Learn more about Dragon fruit:

🛒 Start your dragon fruit journey today and savor the unmatched flavors of homegrown, exotic fruits!

#Food_Forest #Discover #Dragon_Fruit

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 7 Apr 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Dragon Fruit - Pitaya

Sunshine C-Cibus fertilizer for Dragon Fruit - Pitaya

🐲 Grow Your Own Exotic Dragon Fruit Garden - Part 1

🐉 WHY GROW YOUR OWN DRAGON FRUIT?

Dragon fruit isn't just a stunning addition to your garden - it's a nutritional powerhouse. Rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, this low-calorie fruit supports digestion, boosts immunity, and promotes overall wellness. While store-bought dragon fruit can be bland, homegrown varieties offer a spectrum of sweet, vibrant flavors you won't find on supermarket shelves.

🍓 Unparalleled Flavor: Experience the true taste of dragon fruit with homegrown varieties known for their sweetness and rich flavors - far superior to the often bland, commercially grown ones.
🍓 Stunning Variety: Choose from a range of types featuring white, pink, red, or purple flesh, each with unique flavors and appearances.
🍓 Easy and Rewarding: Dragon fruit cacti are low-maintenance, thriving in containers or in the ground, with minimal water needs. They're perfect for both novice and experienced gardeners.

HEALTH BENEFITS:

🍓 Digestive Health: High fiber content aids digestion and promotes gut health.
🍓 Weight Management: Low in calories yet nutrient-dense, making it an excellent choice for a healthy diet. More health benefits in next post ⤵️

🌵 EASY GROWING TIPS:

🍓 Adaptable: This cactus plant thrives in both sun and partial shade and enjoys humid rainy summers unlike most cacti.
🍓 Container-Friendly: Ideal for pots with a sturdy trellis, making it suitable for small spaces.
🍓 Low Maintenance: Drought-tolerant and forgiving, perfect for those who occasionally forget to water.

‼️ Want more fruit? Enhance growth and fruit production with Sunshine Boosters C-Cibus fertilizer, ensuring a bountiful harvest of this exotic fruit.

Continued in next post ⤵️

🛒 Start your dragon fruit journey today and savor the unmatched flavors of homegrown, exotic fruits!

#Food_Forest #Discover #Dragon_Fruit

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 6 Apr 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

We didnt know if this hairy thing was a fern or a cactus

Rhipsalis x pilocarpa - the Hairy Stemmed Jungle Cactus

🙄 We didn't know if this hairy thing was a fern or a cactus... But everyone wanted it

🌿 Looking for something unique? Rhipsalis x pilocarpa - the Hairy Stemmed Jungle Cactus - is an incredibly rare, "hairy-fruited wickerware cactus" from Brazil that's bound to wow any plant lover.
🌿 With its spidery, fuzzy stems reaching up to 20 inches and delicate white to peach-colored flowers, this plant is bound to wow anyone who sees it. After blooming, it even produces pink or red berries covered in fine bristles, adding to its charm.
🌿 What makes the Hairy Stemmed Jungle Cactus a must-have? It's easy to grow, thriving in warm, humid conditions with minimal watering. Perfect for USDA Zones 9-11, it makes an exotic addition to your garden or home.
🌿 But be quick – this rare beauty is vulnerable in the wild, making it even more special in your collection!

🛒 Add this special to your collection

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders #Discover

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 31 Mar 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

This is how Exotic Blue Flame Cactus is blooming

Pseudorhipsalis amazonica - Blue Flame Cactus

⚡ This is how Exotic Blue Flame Cactus is blooming

🔥 Why we love this plant? Because it's a true showstopper that delivers again and again! Pseudorhipsalis amazonica - the Exotic Blue Flame Cactus, isn't just rare - it's a repeat bloomer that puts on an unforgettable display.
🔥 At the @TopTropicals garden it's blooming not once, but twice a year - in November and now again in March - with a burst of dazzling, truly "blue-flame" flowers that light up the whole space.
🔥 This plant turns any garden or patio into a tropical wonderland. Don’t miss the chance to grow something truly exotic and spectacular!

📚Learn more:
Why this cactus is called Blue Flame

🛒 Plant Blue Flame Cactus for exotic allure

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders #Discover

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 18 Feb 2025 Top Tropicals Newsletter

What cactus vine produces gooseberries

Q: I've heard about a tropical gooseberry suitable for making jams but don't know its exact name. Do you have it? Gooseberry jam is my husband's favorite, but I can't find gooseberries here in Florida - too hot, maybe?

A: Yes, we do have the plant you're looking for! We've just made some delicious jam from this tropical gooseberry, and it tastes just like the northern varieties but even more flavorful! Florida's winter is the perfect season for this wonderful fruit. Right now, our plant is growing quickly and vigorously over our fence, and it's covered with fruit. Just a couple of months earlier it was full of fragrant, beautiful white flowers!

The plant in question is Perescia aculeata, commonly known as Barbados Gooseberry. It's a unique cactus with both edible leaves and fruit, making it a tropical treasure that offers beauty as well as culinary delights.

The fruit is yellow with a juicy, subacid pulp that tastes remarkably similar to traditional gooseberries. You can enjoy the fruits fresh, stewed, or transformed into jams and jellies.

The young leaves are also edible, adding a nutritious boost to your meals.

This fast-growing vining cactus prefers well-drained soil that remains moist during the summer and drier in winter, and it can be effectively grown in containers on a trellis.

Watch a short video of Barbados Gooseberry fruiting.

Plant Barbados Gooseberry

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