Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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Mulberry Care and Growing Tips

Mulberry fruit on a plate

Mulberries are tough, low-maintenance fruit trees that adapt to many conditions.

  • Climate: Hardy from USDA zone 5 to 10.
  • Soil: Grow well in almost any soil; prefer good drainage.
  • Watering: Regular watering during dry spells; drought tolerant once etablished.
  • Growth: 3–5 feet per year, producing fruit early.
  • Pruning: Annual pruning controls size and improves branching.
  • Pot culture: Dwarf types thrive in containers, staying 6–7 feet tall. Use a large pot, water consistently, and prune lightly. Use Abundance potting mix for best results.
  • Fertilizer: For reliable production, fertilizer regularly. Apply Sunshine C-Cibus liquid booster with every watering, or Green Magic controlled release fertilizer every 5-6 months.

❓ Mulberry FAQ


How soon will a mulberry fruit?

One to two years, sometimes the very first season.

What climates are suitable?

USDA zones 5–10, from -20F winters to hot summers.

How tall do they get?

Standard trees 20–30 ft; dwarfs 6–10 ft in pots.

Do I need more than one tree?

No, they are self-pollinating.

What do they taste like?

Sweet and juicy, like a blend of blackberry and raspberry.

How long is the harvest?

Everbearing types ripen gradually from summer into fall.

Do birds eat them?

Yes, but trees are so productive there’s plenty to share.

Are they messy?

Dark-fruited varieties can stain; white mulberries do not.

Can I grow them in containers?

Yes, dwarf types (Dwarf Everbearing, Issai) fruit well in pots.

How long do they live?

Many live for decades; Illinois Everbearing can endure for generations.

What are the health benefits?

Mulberries are low-glycemic, support healthy blood sugar, improve heart health, and are rich in antioxidants.

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Date:

Which dog would you take home: golden, black or chocolate? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Which dog would you take home: golden, black or chocolate?

Sunshine (golden), Draco(chocolate) and Lila (black) Labrador dogs

🐶 Which dog would you take home: golden, black or chocolate?

"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later." - Mary Bly

🐈📸 Sunshine (golden), Draco(chocolate) and Lila (black) Labrador dogs at Top Tropicals Bfarm and PeopleCats.Garden

#PeopleCats

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Ground Orchid FAQ – Your Questions Answered

Spathoglottis ground orchid growing in the ground

Why should I buy them?

Because they give you more bloom for less effort. They flower on and off almost all year, they’re tough, and they come in colors you can actually plan a garden around.

Will they survive winter in my area?

In frost-free zones, yes, they come back bigger every year. If you’re farther north, just keep them in pots and bring them inside for the cold months.

Do they really bloom in shade?

They do. We’ve got a clump under a big oak and it still puts on a show. Not as heavy as full sun, but enough to brighten the spot.

How big do they get?

Depends which one. Spathoglottis stays neat, about knee-high. Nun Orchid shoots up tall spikes that can hit 4 ft. So you can go small or dramatic.

Are they hard to care for like other orchids?

Not at all. Forget the bark mix and misting bottles. Just plant them in soil, keep the water steady, and feed once in a while. That’s it.

Can I grow them in pots?

Absolutely. They do great in containers. Makes it easy if you’ve only got a patio or you want to move them in for winter. Use well-drained soilless mix like Abundance Potting Mix.

Do they attract pollinators?

Yep. Bees love them, butterflies too, and every so often a hummingbird will check them out.

What is the best fertilizer?

For extra blooms, we use Sunshine Orchidasm – Orchid TotalFeed Booster. Works like a charm!

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The secret to abundant dragon fruit harvests. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

The secret to abundant dragon fruit harvests

The secret to abundant dragon fruit harvests
✍️The secret to abundant dragon fruit harvests

🔴 Dragon fruit (Pitaya) thrives when it's fed regularly. For the best results, use Sunshine C-Cibus, a complete liquid fertilizer made for fruit trees. It is gentle enough to apply with every watering, all year long, and it gives your plants the steady nutrition they need to set more flowers and produce bigger harvests.

🛒 Order Sunshine C-Cibus liquid plant booster

#Food_Forest #How_to #Dragon_Fruit #Fertilizers

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📅 Do not miss: September 6 - Fall Plant Market!

September 6, 2025 - Fall Plant Market at Top Tropicals

Saturday, September 6, 2025: 9 am - 4 pm

Fall is just around the corner, but Florida is still full of sunshine and growing energy! It’s one of the best times to plant - cooler days are coming, but there are still months of warmth ahead for your garden to thrive. Our nursery is bursting with big, healthy plants that grew all summer long - loaded with blooms, fruit, and lush foliage, ready to shine in your yard.
Come stroll the gardens with our PeopleCats, enjoy the most beautiful season for planting, and let us help you find the perfect picks for your space. Bring your friends and family for a weekend of fun, color, and fresh ideas - this is your moment to plant, grow, and enjoy!

Explore the Event

Event Highlights:

30% OFF online prices
FREE plant with any purchase (including Guava)
Gift bags for first 25 customers with $50+ order
Special deals on select plants
Exciting raffle prizes
Green Magic fertilizer FREE samples
The LAST PERFORMANCE of the Famous Hand Pan Lady! (She is moving from Florida)
See her previous performance at Top Tropicals - here and here.

Event discounts valid at both locations:

Ft Myers Garden Center: 13890 Orange River, Ft Myers, FL
Sebring B-Farm: 9100 McRoy Rd, Sebring, FL

to confirm attendance
RSVP on Facebook!

Date:

Adenium care

adenium desert rose flowers and plants in pots showing pink, red, purple, and bicolor 
blooms.

Care for adeniums is simple once you understand what they like. Think of them as half succulent, half tropical shrub. Keep their roots dry but never bone-dry, give them sun, and feed them during the warm months. Do that, and they will reward you with fat trunks and nonstop flowers.

  • Soil and pot: Use a gritty, fast-draining Adenium Soilless Mix. Shallow wide pots work best — they let the caudex spread and show off its shape like a bonsai.
  • Watering: Water in the morning. Let the surface dry before watering again. Never let pots sit in saucers of water.
  • Foliage: Keep leaves dry. Wet leaves invite rot and fungus.
  • Fertilizer: During active growth, feed with Sunshine Megaflor liquid fertilizer (flower booster); it promotes swollen trunk and sets flower buds.
  • Light: Give them bright light year-round. Full sun in mild climates; filtered light if your summers are scorching.
  • Winter rest: Cut water back when days shorten and let the plant rest. Dormancy is normal.
  • Repotting trick: Each time you repot, lift the plant a bit so the crown roots peek above the soil. This encourages bigger caudex.

Desert roses are made for containers, easy enough for a beginner but rewarding enough for a collector.

Add Adenium to your container garden

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🍒 Tropical Cherries – Eugenias

Two cats enjoy Grumichama fruit indoors — a tuxedo cat picks berries from a potted tree while an orange fluffy cat smiles, sitting by tea cups and plates of 
fruit.

Tropical Tea Time with Grumichama

Eugenias have earned a spot in many Southern gardens because they’re easy, dependable, and surprisingly versatile. These small trees and shrubs grow well in the ground or in containers, and they don’t waste time before setting fruit.

15% Off Eugenias – Limited Time

Use code EUGENIA15 at checkout.
Excluding S/H. Offer expires 08/28/2025

👍 Popular Choices:


Eugenia aggregata Fruit plant, Cherry of the Rio 
Grande
4148 Eugenia aggregata Fruit plant, Cherry of the Rio Grande
Grown in
6"/1 gal pot

$49.95
  
Sale $39.95


Buy Eugenia aggregata Fruit plant, Cherry of the Rio Grande  from Top 
Tropicals

Eugenia brasiliensis fruit tree - Grumichama
1079 Eugenia brasiliensis fruit tree - Grumichama
Grown in
6"/1 gal or larger pot

$39.95


Buy Eugenia brasiliensis fruit tree - Grumichama  from Top Tropicals

What Makes Eugenia Cherries Stand Out

  • Start producing fruit in just a couple of years
  • Compact size — easy to keep 6–12 ft tall, smaller in pots
  • Low-care — tolerant of most soils and resistant to common pests
  • Strong in hot weather, yet can handle a light frost down to the mid-20s °F
  • Plenty of fruit for people and birds alike

Close-up of Grumichama tree branches with clusters of small white flowers among glossy green 
leaves. Grumichama Tree in Bloom – Eugenia brasiliensis

Growing & Care

Outdoors

  • Best in USDA Zones 9–11
  • Sun or partial shade; more sun usually means sweeter fruit
  • Plant in well-drained soil; avoid heavy, wet spots
  • Withstands summer heat and humidity, and can take a light freeze

Container / Indoor

  • Do well in 5–10 gallon pots on patios or balconies
  • Need bright light indoors — a sunny window or grow lights
  • Can flower and fruit in containers if kept warm and well lit
  • In cooler zones, bring plants indoors for winter and back out in spring

General Care

  • Water: Keep soil evenly moist; drought-tolerant once established but best yields with regular watering
  • Soil: Use good potting mix - LINK TO SOIL
  • Fertilizer: Balanced slow-release LINKL TO FERTILIZER Sunshine Boosters
  • Pruning: Light trimming keeps plants bushy and productive
  • Pollination: Self-fertile; one plant will fruit on its own

Read Garden Blog about Tropical Cherries

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Date:

What is your favorite variety of Jasmine Sambac? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What is your favorite variety of Jasmine Sambac?

Jasminum Sambac varieties

💮 What is your favorite variety of Jasmine Sambac?
  • 💮 Jasminum Sambac is hands-down the queen of fragrant flowers. The scent is heavenly - so much so that it's the key to jasmine perfume and the secret behind authentic jasmine tea.
  • 💮 Jasmine sambac comes in all shapes and sizes - from neat little shrubs to big, vigorous bushes and even climbing vines. Every variety shows off a different flower form. It’s happy in sun or shade, perfect for pots, and loved as an indoor plant.
  • 💮 At TopTropicals we love them all, but these three are our favorites:

- Belle of India - with elegant long petals
- Arabian Nights - vigorous yet compact, always covered in blooms
- Little Duke - same big carnation-like flowers as Grand Duke, but in a smaller, tidy package
  • 👉 At Top Tropicals, we grow every known variety of Jasminum sambac in cultivation:


Which one would you choose for your garden?
  • ✔️ Arabian Nights - compact slow growing shrub with small delicate flowers
  • ✔️ Belle of India - compact vine with long elegant petals, shade lover
  • ✔️ Grand Duke of Tuscany - the most popular, vigorous bush with carnation-like flowers
  • ✔️ Grand Duke Supreme - bigger, more vigorous version of Grand Duke with larger flowers
  • ✔️ Gundu Malli - new hybrid between Arabian Nights and Grand Duke
  • ✔️ Little Duke - more compact version of the Grand Duke
  • ✔️ Maid of Orleans - vigorous full sun climber, great for hedges and fences
  • ✔️ Mali Chat - very delicate, rare variety, with miniature 3-tier flowers, not easy to establish, shade lover
  • ✔️ Mysore Mulli - vigorous vining shrub for sunny or semi-shade locations

  • 👉 To get more flowers, just use Sunshine Pikake plant booster and enjoy the perfume all day long!


🛒 Smell the Difference – collect Sambac varieties
  • 📚 Learn more:

▫️The most wanted fragrant plant
📚 Jasminum Sambac Absolute Flower - book download

#Perfume_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits

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Date:

🌟Repotting FAQ

Tabernaemontana variegated in container

Q: How big should the new pot be?

A: Only a few inches larger than the old one. Oversized pots hold too much moisture and may cause root rot.

Q: Why are plastic pots better than ceramic?

A: Plastic pots are lighter, easier to handle, and you can cut them if a root-bound plant is stuck. Ceramic pots are heavy, breakable, and often lack drainage.

Q: How do I safely remove a plant from its pot?

A: Turn the pot upside down and let gravity help. Never pull by the stems or leaves. If stuck, lay the pot on its side and squeeze or tap it. Cut the pot if needed.

Q: Should I remove old soil from the roots?

A: No. Roots have tiny hairs that absorb water and nutrients. Shaking off soil damages them and sets the plant back.

Q: Why must the plant sit at the same soil level?

A: Planting too deep suffocates the stem, and planting too high exposes roots. Keeping the same level protects the root crown.

Q: How soon should I water again after repotting?

A: Water thoroughly right after repotting, then wait until the top inch of soil dries before watering again.

🌱 Done! Your plant now has room to grow stronger before fall.

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Date:

Step Up Your Plants Before Fall

Tropical plants in containers
Tropical Plants Ready for Repotting

After a busy summer of growth, many potted plants are bursting out of their containers. Now is the perfect time to step them up into a slightly larger pot.

🌱 Why now in August?

Repotting before fall gives roots room to expand, while there’s still warmth for active growth. Plants have time to sprout new shoots, fill out, and build strength before cooler weather slows them down.

✂️ Trim and Shape

This is also your last chance to give plants a light trim. Pinching or cutting back helps them branch, bush out, and get denser — exactly what you want going into fall.

💚 Add Green Magic

When repotting, mix in Sunshine controlled-release Green Magic fertilizer to reduce transplant stress and boost new root growth. It helps plants settle in quickly and keep thriving.

👉 Watch our ">quick video on how to step up your plant the right way, then check your pots — some of your summer growers are ready to move up!

⚠️ Important Note on Timing

This advice is for gardeners in warm climates or for anyone who still has at least a month of warm weather left. Tropical plants go dormant when temperatures drop below 75F, so planting in a larger pot at that time may cause root rot — roots stop growing in dormancy, and extra moisture in the soil can lead to rotting.

"> Repotting, potting soil and fertilizer

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How to Repot a Plant Properly

  1. Choose the Right Pot

    Pick a pot just a few inches larger than the old one.

    Make sure it has good drainage — tropical plants hate sitting in water. A pot without drainage holes can cause waterlogging and root rot.

  2. Why plastic pots are better than fancy ceramic

    Ceramic pots may look pretty, but they are heavy, breakable, and often lack proper drainage. Plastic pots are lightweight, easier to handle, and — most importantly — if a plant is root-bound and stuck, you can simply cut the plastic pot to free it without harming the roots. For looks, slip the plastic pot inside a decorative cover pot.

  3. Add Soil and Fertilizer

    Place fresh potting soil at the bottom. Mix in a good fertilizer — we use Sunshine Green Magic.

  4. Remove the Plant

    Why turn it upside down? Gravity helps loosen the plant, and it slides out more easily without tugging.

    Never pull a plant by its head (stems or leaves). That can damage the crown and tear roots.

    If it doesn’t come out easily: lay the pot on its side and gently squeeze or tap the pot to dislodge the soil. If it is really stuck, cut the old pot instead of forcing the plant.

  5. Check the Root System

    If roots are circling tightly (pot-bound), gently untangle or loosen the outside layer so they will grow outward into the new soil.

    Do not shake off or remove old soil from the root ball. Roots have tiny hairs that absorb water and nutrients, and damaging them will set the plant back. Keep the root mass intact and disturb as little as possible.

  6. Set at the Same Level

    Place the plant in the new pot so it sits at the same soil level as before.
    👉 This is important: burying the stem too deep can suffocate it, while setting the plant higher than before may expose roots and cause drying. Keeping the level the same protects the root crown.

  7. Fill and Firm

    Add more soil and fertilizer around the sides. Press lightly around the edges to remove air pockets.

  8. Water Thoroughly

    Give it a deep watering to help roots settle.

  9. Aftercare

    Don’t water again until the top inch of soil feels dry. Freshly repotted plants are vulnerable to soggy soil and root rot if kept too wet.

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