Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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Which dry fertilizer to use - slow release or controlled release? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Which dry fertilizer to use - slow release or controlled release?

dry top dress fertilizer

dry top dress fertilizer

controlled release fertilizer Green Magic

controlled release fertilizer Green Magic

🌳 Which dry fertilizer to use - slow release or controlled release?

❓ Q: You offer two kinds of dry fertilizers - Slow Release Trop Dress and Controlled Release Green Magic. What is the difference, and which one should I use? I used your water-diluted Sunshine Boosters with every watering, but now that I’ll be away for a few months, I just want to give my garden a long-lasting fertilizer.
  • ✔️ A: Top Dress Slow Release Fertilizer is used for quick greening-up. Although it’s called “slow release,” the nutrients become available fairly fast. It contains soluble nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) that dissolve with rain or irrigation, acting within a week or a few weeks depending on temperature and rainfall. It’s great for giving your plants a quick boost of “fast food.”

    • We use Top Dress mainly for in-ground plants. It can be used in pots only during warm weather and active growth, but not in cooler months, as it may burn roots. Since we introduced Green Magic, we mostly use Top Dress only for garden beds and landscapes.
  • ✔️ Green Magic Controlled Release Fertilizer is a true long-term, controlled-release fertilizer. Thanks to its PolyOn Technology coating, it provides steady, consistent feeding for 5-6 months. Unlike regular dry fertilizers that dump all nutrients at once, Green Magic releases them gradually - no burn, no guesswork, just steady nutrition.

Green Magic ideal for potted fruit trees, ornamentals, and houseplants. One handful keeps your plants fed for half a year. We use it for all container plants when potting up or refreshing soil every six months. It can also be used for in-ground plants if you want the best, most consistent results. Green Magic: try it out! (Sample here)

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Chaya stir-fry: quick-n-fun exotic recipes. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Chaya stir-fry: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius - Maya Spinach Tree, Chaya

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius - Maya Spinach Tree, Chaya

Chaya stir-fry

Chaya stir-fry

🍴 Chaya stir-fry: quick-n-fun exotic recipes
  • 🟢Boil chaya leaves first (to remove toxins), then stir-fry with onions and eggs.
  • 🟢Nutritious and earthy with a spinach-like taste.

    Chaya Stir-Fry (Maya Spinach)

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups Chaya leaves, boiled first to remove toxins
    • 1 small onion, sliced
    • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
    • 1 tbsp cooking oil or butter
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions

    1. Boil Chaya leaves for 15-20 minutes before eating. This is essential to destroy natural toxins. Never eat raw Chaya leaves.
    2. Drain and chop the boiled leaves.
    3. Heat oil in a pan and saut onions until soft.
    4. Add the boiled Chaya leaves and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
    5. Push leaves to one side, pour in the eggs, and scramble.
    6. Mix everything together and season with salt. Serve warm.


🛒 Add nutritious Chaya to your garden and kitchen

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Detailed Cassia and Bauhinia Care Guide

Young Bauhinia monandra tree blooming with clusters of pink and white orchid-like flowers, growing at Top Tropicals nursery with fresh mulch and drip irrigation setup

Outdoor Cassia and Bauhinia Care

  • Light: Both Cassia and Bauhinia need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Cassias handle intense heat; Bauhinias can take light afternoon shade.
  • Soil: Use loose, fast-draining soil. Mix equal parts garden soil, coarse sand, and compost.
  • Watering: Keep evenly moist but never soggy. Cassias tolerate dry spells once established; Bauhinias prefer steady moisture. Water when the top inch feels dry.
  • Feeding: For profuse flowering, feed with liquid Sunshine Boosters Megaflor that is safe to use with every watering, year around. You may also apply Green Magic controlled release fertilizer every 6 months. Bauhinias and Cassias respond quickly to feeding.
  • Pruning: After flowering, prune lightly to shape and remove dead tips. Cassias can be trimmed to shrub form; Bauhinias stay bushy with pinching.
  • Mulch: Add a 2-inch mulch layer around the base to conserve moisture and prevent weeds, but keep mulch off the trunk.
  • Cold protection: Most Cassias handle brief frost; some Bauhinias like B. acuminata and B. monandra must be sheltered below freezing. For cold nights, cover with frost cloth or move containers into shelter.
  • Dormancy: Outside of tropics, most Bauhinias drop leaves in winter for a short period of time, right before flowering and are called "semi-deciduous". Cassias stay evergreen.

Indoor or Porch Care (cool-climate growers)

  • Container: Choose a sturdy pot with several drainage holes, one size larger than the root ball. Unglazed clay or thick plastic pots work best for heat regulation. Use a light, well-drained mix such as professional soilless mix Abundance. Both Cassias and Bauhinias dislike soggy roots. Add a thin layer of coarse gravel at the bottom to improve drainage. Repot every 1–2 years in spring
  • Light: Brightest spot possible - south-facing window or heated sunroom. Supplement with a grow light if sunlight is weak.
  • Temperature: Keep potted trees in warm environment for best results. The optimum temperature for Cassias and Bauhinias is between 60–85 F, although many species can tolerate cooler temperatures. Avoid cold drafts and sudden drops.
  • Humidity: Average indoor humidity is fine; occasional misting keeps foliage glossy.
  • Watering: Water sparingly in winter when growth slows; allow the top inch to dry between waterings. Do not let roots sit in water.
  • Fertilizing: Feed with Sunshine Boosters Megaflor that is safe to use with every watering, year around, to maintain flowering indoors. You may also apply Green Magic controlled release fertilizer every 6 months.
  • Pest watch: Check undersides of leaves for aphids or whitefly. A light spray of neem oil or insecticidal soap clears them fast.

"Whether you crave golden summer fireworks or soft orchid blooms that last nearly all year, both Cassia and Bauhinia bring pure joy to the garden. 💖 Bring color that never quits."

Did you know: Fall is the best planting season — roots grow faster and you’ll have flowers by spring!

✔️ Fall Planting Guide

&list=PLpjo6xnhsncfpdb0hUjGa6lqtzyBMsBLd" style="border: 0px solid red; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center; padding: 14px 0px; width: 100%; font-size: 15px; max-width: 600px; margin: auto; display: block; color: white !important; cursor: pointer;background-color: rgb(33, 144, 23);">🎥 Video: Flowering trees of Tropics

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💞 Cassia or Bauhinia?

Collage of Cassia and Senna flowering trees: 1 – Cassia bicapsularis (Butterfly Bush), 2 – Cassia x natalensis (Rainbow Cassia), 3 – Cassia grandis (Red Cassia), 4 – Cassia didymobotrya (Popcorn Cassia), similar to Senna alata (Empress Candles), 5 – Cassia javanica (Apple Blossom Tree), 6 – Cassia roxburghii (Ceylon Senna), 7 – Cassia fistula (Golden Shower Tree), 8 – Cassia x nodosa (Pink Shower).

Looking for a small tree that blooms like fireworks but still fits on your patio? We hear this question all the time at Top Tropicals: Cassia or Bauhinia? Both are tropical showstoppers, but they shine in very different ways.

🌞 Cassias: Sunshine Fireworks

Cassia trees are some of the most rewarding tropical bloomers you can grow. Fast-growing, free-flowering, and surprisingly cold-tolerant, they thrive in full sun and summer heat. Their bright clusters come in shades of yellow, orange, pink, red, and even multicolor blends. The famous Rainbow Cassias show swirls of coral, gold, and rose on the same tree, creating a living fireworks display.

For gardeners in warm regions, these trees become spectacular focal points in the landscape. In containers, compact yellow forms like Cassia didymobotrya (Popcorn Cassia) and Senna alata (Empress Candles) stay manageable and bloom freely through summer.

Cassias can also be grown in pots with pruning and patience. Once mature, they reward you with breathtaking color that turns any patio or pool deck into a tropical show. Most showy cassias (numbers correspond to the photos in the collage above):

  1. Cassia bicapsularis (Butterfly Bush) - is a fast-growing, low-maintenance shrub covered in bright yellow, butterfly-like blooms from fall through winter.
  2. Cassia x natalensis (Rainbow Cassia)
  3. Cassia grandis (Red cassia) - a medium size tree having profuse blooms of dark pink to crimson flowers throughout the Spring.
  4. Cassia didymobotrya (Popcorn Cassia), small tree producing golden-yellow flowers with a distinct scent of peanut butter that open from brown buds in late summer and autumn. Similar to Senna alata (Empress Candles)
  5. Cassia roxburghii (Ceylon Senna) - graceful tree with spreading, drooping branches appearing to be overweighed by its wealth of clustering red blossoms.
  6. Cassia x nodosa (Pink Shower) - is a spectacular medium-sized, fast-growing tree with cascading clusters of fragrant pink-and-white appleblossom blooms in spring and summer.
  7. Cassia fistula (Golden Shower) - to many tropical gardeners, the most beautiful of cassias with masses of bright gold flower clusters appear on almost every branch.
  8. Cassia javanica (Apple Blossom) - dazzles with dense clusters of pink-to-white blossoms that change shades as they bloom, creating a spectacular display that lasts for months.
"Cassias love the heat and sunshine," says Tatiana Anderson, Top Tropicals Plant Expert. "They are perfect for anyone who wants big bursts of color and doesn’t mind giving them space and light to grow."

👉 Explore Cassia Trees

Bauhinia Magic: Orchid-Like Blooms in a Compact Size

Collage of Bauhinia orchid trees: top left – Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Orchid Tree), middle left – Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree), bottom left – Bauhinia monandra (Napoleon’s Plume Orchid Tree), top right – Bauhinia madagascariensis (Red Dwarf Orchid Tree), and bottom right – Bauhinia tomentosa (Yellow Orchid Tree)

Bauhinia orchid trees: top left – Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Orchid Tree), middle left – Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree), bottom left – Bauhinia monandra (Napoleon’s Plume Orchid Tree), top right – Bauhinia madagascariensis (Red Dwarf Orchid Tree), and bottom right – Bauhinia tomentosa (Yellow Orchid Tree)

Bauhinia trees known as Orchid Trees, bring a touch of tropical luxury to any space. Their butterfly-shaped leaves and orchid-like blossoms appear in shades of red, pink, purple, white, and yellow, often lasting up to ten months a year. Bauhinias are ideal for gardeners who want nonstop color in a manageable size. Most species grow well in large pots and bloom young, often within the first season.

The following compact varieties stay neat and flower almost continuously in warm weather:

The Hong Kong Orchid Tree is especially prized because it is sterile and produces no messy seed pods, keeping patios clean. Grafted Buhinia blakeana trees begin blooming while still small, making them perfect for containers or tight spaces.

"Bauhinias are generous bloomers," Tatiana explains. "They respond beautifully to regular feeding and full sun. If nights turn too cold, just move the pot to a sunny porch - they’ll keep their tropical charm most of the year."

Give them full sun, regular fertilizer, and a well-drained mix such as Sunshine Abundance, and they will reward you with months of vivid blooms. When nights turn too cold, simply move the pot to a sunny porch or bright window. Bauhinias adjust beautifully and keep their tropical grace year after year.

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👉 Explore Bauhinias - Orchid Trees

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A reflection of intent. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

A reflection of intent

Cat James Coconuts

Cat James Coconuts

😶 A reflection of intent

"Life is a reflection of intent. Love reflects love. Hate reflects hate." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

🐈📸 Cat James Coconuts and his portrait painted by Alena Light (2022) at TopTropicals PeopleCats.Garden.

#PeopleCats #Quotes

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Compact Bauhinias - everblooming container trees. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Compact Bauhinias - everblooming container trees

Compact Bauhinias - everblooming container trees

Compact Bauhinias - everblooming container trees

🌈 Compact Bauhinias - everblooming container trees

📸 Pictures for the previous post, Bauhinias:
  • ▫️Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Dwarf Orchid Tree. Blooms from winter through fall, up to 10 months a year. The most cold-hardy of all.
  • ▫️Bauhinia blakeana - Hong Kong Orchid Tree. A large tree in the ground, but compact in pots if trimmed. Grafted trees flower right away. Winter bloomer, cold hardy to light frost.
  • ▫️Bauhinia tomentosa - Yellow Orchid Tree. Flowers from Winter through Summer, cold hardy to light frost.
  • ▫️Bauhinia monandra - Napoleon's Plume Orchid Tree. Almost everblooming with the longest flowering period (less cold hardy than the first three).
  • ▫️Bauhinia acuminata - Dwarf White Orchid Tree. Blooms from summer through winter (also less cold hardy than the first three).


🛒 Explore Bauhinias (Orchid Trees)

#Container_Garden #Trees

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Cassias - colorful flowering trees. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Cassias - colorful flowering trees

Cassias - colorful flowering trees
🌈 Cassias - colorful flowering trees

📸 Pictures for the previous post, Cassias:

Cassia bicapsularis - Butterfly Bush
Cassia x natalensis - Rainbow Cassia
Cassia grandis- Red Cassia
Cassia didymobotrya- Popcorn Cassia, similar to Senna alata - Empress Candles
Cassia x nodosa - Pink Shower
Cassia roxburghii - Ceylon Senna
Cassia fistula - Golden Shower
Cassia javanica - Apple Blossom Tree

🛒 Explore Cassia trees

#Trees

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Cassia vs Bauhinia: which is better as an everblooming container tree? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Cassia vs Bauhinia: which is better as an everblooming container tree?

Cassia vs Bauhinia: which is better as an everblooming container tree?

🌈 Cassia vs Bauhinia: which is better as an everblooming container tree?
  • 🌸 Cassia (Senna) trees are very popular flowering trees - fast growing, free-flowering, relatively cold hardy, and they love the summer heat. Cassias come in several colors: yellow, orange, pink, red, and rainbow. Rainbow varieties (which are hybrids between yellow and pink cassias) are the most popular thanks to their multicolor blooms with swirls of yellow, pink, red, and orange. But while Rainbow Cassia is a spectacular flowering tree for southern gardens, is it a good choice for a container when you want color on your patio or pool deck?
  • 🌸 Some yellow-flowering cassias make attractive bushes that bloom most of the year and stay compact, so they can be grown as container specimens:

    • Cassia didymobotrya- Popcorn Cassia
    Senna alata - Empress Candles
    Cassia fistula - Golden Shower (a compact size winter blooming tree)
  • 🌸 When it comes to Rainbow or pink cassias such as Cassia javanica - Apple Blossom Tree or Cassia grandis- Red Cassia and other species and hybrids (Cassia marginata - Rainbow Shower Tree, Cassia roxburghii - Ceylon Senna, Cassia x nodosa - Pink Shower), these are usually more vigorous trees that may take several years to bloom. Their flowering season lasts from a few weeks to a couple of months. These trees grow moderately fast but typically need to reach about 10 feet before they start flowering.
  • 🌸 So, the answer is: if you want rich, deep color year-round from a container tree, go with Bauhinias - Orchid Trees. Most varieties grow well in pots, stay compact, and reach blooming maturity within just one season. The following varieties are everblooming and can produce flowers for up to 10 months of the year:

  • ▫️Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Dwarf Orchid Tree. Blooms from winter through fall, up to 10 months a year. The most cold-hardy of all.
  • ▫️Bauhinia blakeana - Hong Kong Orchid Tree. A large tree in the ground, but compact in pots if trimmed. Grafted trees flower right away. Winter bloomer, cold hardy to light frost.
  • ▫️Bauhinia tomentosa - Yellow Orchid Tree. Flowers from Winter through Summer, cold hardy to light frost.
  • ▫️Bauhiniamonandra - Napoleon's Plume Orchid Tree. Almost everblooming with the longest flowering period (less cold hardy than the first three).
  • ▫️Bauhinia acuminata - Dwarf White Orchid Tree. Blooms from summer through winter (also less cold hardy than the first three).


🛒 Explore Cassia trees and Bauhinias (Orchid Trees)

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#Container_Garden #Trees #How_to

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Explaining why I'm right. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Explaining why Im right

Cats Bob and Timo

Cats Bob and Timo

❤️ Explaining why I'm right

"I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right." - Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)

🐈📸 Cats Bob and Timo having a discussion at TopTropicals PeopleCats.Garden.

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11 tropical fruits to eat instead of taking a fiber supplement. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

11 tropical fruits to eat instead of taking a fiber supplement

Tropical fruits to eat instead of taking a fiber supplement

Tropical fruits to eat instead of taking a fiber supplement

🍑 11 tropical fruits to eat instead of taking a fiber supplement
  • When we think of tropical fruit, we picture sweetness, sunshine, and exotic flavors packed with vitamin C. But beneath all that juicy goodness lies another gift: dietary fiber - quietly working to support digestion, feed the gut microbiome, and help keep blood sugar steady.
  • Avocado leads the pack among tropical fruits for fiber content. One creamy, ripe fruit can provide around 10 grams of fiber, roughly a third of an adult’s daily need. And there’s more to avocado than fiber - it’s also rich in healthy fats, micronutrients, and that silky texture everyone loves.
  • Other tropical fruits bring their own kind of fiber strength. Guava delivers up to 9 grams per cup, plus a burst of vitamin C.
  • Mango offers about 3 grams in half a fruit, especially when eaten with some of the skin.
  • Pineapple, though not always seen as a fiber powerhouse, still contributes around 2 grams per cup, along with bromelain, the enzyme that helps digestion.
  • Jackfruit’s fibrous pulp makes it another standout - it’s so meaty, it’s even used as a plant-based substitute in savory dishes.
  • Sapote fruit (Mamey, Canistel) and Sapodilla add fiber with a smooth, custard-like texture.
  • Adventurous tropical varieties like Annona (custard apple, soursop) may not top the charts in fiber numbers, but their soft, fibrous flesh still adds value: about 1.3 grams of fiber per 100 grams of fruit.
  • Bananas contain both soluble and insoluble fiber; the soluble part (mainly pectin) helps control blood sugar and appetite, while the insoluble fiber aids regularity.
  • Mulberries are rich in insoluble fiber, especially in their skin, supporting digestion and promoting healthy bowel movements.
  • Dragon fruit offers a mix of soluble fiber in its juicy flesh and insoluble fiber from its tiny edible seeds, which help support gut health and feed good bacteria.


These fruits aren’t just delicious - they help you meet your daily fiber needs in ways that are far more enjoyable (and sustainable) than taking supplements. And when home gardeners, farmers, or tropical communities grow and share them, it’s a double win: nutrition and tradition hand in hand.

✔️ Tropical fiber power: tips for getting more fiber from tropical fruits
  • ⏺Eat whole, not juiced. Most of the fiber is in the pulp, skin, and seeds. Juicing removes much of that goodness.
  • ⏺Mix it up. Tropical fruits are great, but balance them with legumes, whole grains, nuts, and veggies for a full fiber range.
  • ⏺Take it slow. If your diet is low in fiber, increase gradually to avoid bloating or discomfort.
  • ⏺Drink plenty of water. Fiber works best when paired with hydration.
  • ⏺Mind the ripeness. Unripe fruits can have more resistant starch, another form of fiber.
  • ⏺Get creative. Toss tropical fruits into smoothies, salsas, breakfast bowls, or even desserts - a tasty stealth-fiber strategy.


🛒 Plant a fruit tree to harvest your fruit tomorrow

📚 Learn more:
Tropical fruit health benefits guide - what fruit and edibles can help with health issues and vitamin deficiencies, Part 1 and Part 2.

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Discover #How_to

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