Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date:

A flying bat with whiskers? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Tacca Lily - Black Bat Flower, Devil Flower - cartoon

Tacca Lily - Black Bat Flower, Devil Flower - cartoon

Date:

Conquer yourself. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Conquer yourself

Cats Timo, Bob, Cash and Wesley on their virtual tour of conquering mice at PeopleCats.Garden

🐈 Conquer yourself

"The first and best victory is to conquer self." - Plato

🐈📸 Timo, Bob, Cash and Wesley on their virtual tour of conquering mice at PeopleCats.Garden 

#PeopleCats #Quotes

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

What Mango fruits year around? Xosi Tu Quy - Four Seasons crisp Vietnamese mango perfect green or ripe. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Xosi Tu Quy, Jin Huang - Four Seasons crisp Vietnamese mango

Date:

The fiery plant that fights sugar: Nature secret insulin? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Costus igneus - Insulin Plant, Fiery Costus, Spiral Flag

Costus igneus - Insulin Plant, Fiery Costus, Spiral Flag

💚 The fiery plant that fights sugar: Nature secret insulin?
  • Costus igneus - Insulin Plant, also known as Fiery Costus or Spiral Flag, this vibrant tropical plant is famous for its potential health benefits - especially for people managing diabetes. Nicknamed the insulin plant, it's believed to help lower blood glucose levels naturally.
  • Its lush, turmeric-like leaves spiral around upright stems, with a glossy dark green top and a striking light purple underside. The plant grows up to two feet tall and forms elegant clumps from underground rhizomes.
  • In warm months, it produces bright orange, cone-like flowers that stand out beautifully in the garden.
  • Beyond its beauty, the insulin plant is credited with aiding digestion, reducing cholesterol, boosting energy, improving skin health, supporting weight loss, relieving stress, and promoting heart wellness. A real botanical multitasker!


🛒 Grow your own sugar-fighter - order the Insulin Plant

📚 Learn more:
Most interesting edible gingers

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Shade_Garden #Fun_Facts

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

A single soul inhabiting two bodies. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Philemon and Sushi the cats at PeopleCats.Garden

Philemon and Sushi the cats at PeopleCats.Garden

Date:

What avocado can you eat with the skin? Cold hardy Avocado Joey. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Avocado Joey

Date:

Flowers never seen before: Adenium Rainbow, Part 2. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Adenium Rainbow, Part 2

Adenium Rainbow, Part 2 🌈

Continued from the previous post ⤴️

📚 More about #Adenium

🛒 Shop Adenium colors and hybrids

#Container_Garden #How_to #Shade_Garden #Adenium

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Tomorrow is another day. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Bobby the Dog at PeopleCats.Garden

Bobby the Dog at PeopleCats.Garden

Date:

Ten common greenhouse mistakes and how to avoid them. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Greenhouse with tropical plants

Greenhouse with tropical plants

🏠 Ten common greenhouse mistakes and how to avoid them
  • 1. Overwatering

    • It's easy to overwater in a controlled environment. Many greenhouse plants need less water than you think. Overwatering can lead to root rot, yellowing leaves, and fungal issues. Monitor soil moisture regularly and adjust watering based on the plant type, season, and current weather conditions.
  • 2. Not enough light

    • Don’t block too much light - plants need full-spectrum light to thrive. Most greenhouse plants require as much light as possible to ensure healthy, vigorous growth. Lack of light causes leggy, weak plants and increases the risk of disease, pests, and fungal problems.
  • 3. Too much of sun and heat

    • Greenhouses with plastic covers can trap intense heat, and during sunny afternoons, plants may get “cooked”. Direct sunlight can quickly overheat and damage foliage. Use shade cloth during the hottest months or to protect light-sensitive plants and prevent heat stress.
  • 4. Overcrowding plants

    • Packing in too many plants reduces airflow, creating ideal conditions for disease and pest outbreaks. Give each plant enough space to breathe, grow, and receive light. Proper spacing also makes pest control and maintenance easier.
  • 5. Poor ventilation

    • Lack of airflow leads to overheating, humidity buildup, fungal disease, and weak growth. Use fans, roof vents, or roll-up sides to improve circulation and maintain healthy growing conditions.
  • 6. Skipping pest inspections

    • Greenhouses can trap pests in an ideal environment. Check plants regularly for aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and fungus. Use systemic insecticides or organic treatments like neem oil at the first sign of trouble.
  • 7. No consistent schedule

    • Inconsistent watering, feeding, and lighting can stress your plants and reduce productivity. Set a simple routine, and monitor conditions daily - even a quick walkthrough helps catch problems early.
  • 8. Neglecting temperature and humidity control

    • Temperature and humidity can fluctuate dramatically between day and night. Use a thermometer (preferably with max/min memory) and a hygrometer to track conditions. Install heaters, shade cloth, misting systems, or dehumidifiers as needed.
    Modern WiFi-based sensors that monitor temperature and humidity 24/7 are convenient tools - you can keep tabs on your greenhouse right from your smartphone.
  • 9. Recycling old soil

    • Avoid reusing soil from plants that died, as it may harbor root diseases or pests. Always use fresh, high-quality soil for new plantings. Don't cut corners - healthy soil is key to healthy plants.
  • 10. Dirty tools, containers, and covers

Reusing dirty pots or tools spreads disease. Clean and disinfect containers, trays, and tools regularly. Use a diluted bleach solution to clean clear plastic or ground covers if they show mold or algae buildup.

#How_to

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Adenium Rainbow, Part 1. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Adenium varieties

Adenium Rainbow, Part 1 🌈
  • 🌸 Our Desert roses at Top Tropicals - Adeniums - were planted in March - and the first video posted in April.

    • Now, in June, they have more and more blooms! We are sharing these amazing colors with you.
    To be continued, check back soon!⤵️
  • 🌸 Check out the varieties still in stock and grab yours before they’re gone. Some are already sold out, but you still have a chance to score amazing blooms!
  • 🌸 Why Collect Adeniums?

· Easy to grow indoors or out
  • · Thrive in sun, shade, and low humidity
  • · Drought-tolerant, low maintenance
  • · Not picky about soil
  • · Stunning blooms and unique caudex shapes

  • 🌸 How Many Varieties Exist?

· Over 200 hybrids at Top Tropicals
  • · 100+ varieties in stock now
  • · From doubles to red, purple, yellow, striped, dotted, rainbow, even black flowers - you'll want them all!


🌸 How to Grow a Big, Swollen Caudex - a simple trick with big results:
Each time you repot, raise the plant slightly to expose more of the upper roots. This encourages new root growth downward and helps form a thicker, more dramatic caudex.
  • · Use a well-draining mix
  • · Water only when dry - Adeniums love dry conditions
  • · Feed with Sunshine Megaflor Booster that supports both caudex and blooms
  • · Grow best in filtered bright light


📚 More about Adeniums:

🛒 Shop Adenium colors and hybrids

#Container_Garden #How_to #Shade_Garden #Adenium

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