Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 16 Jun 2023

10 tips how to care of tropical garden
during hot Summer

Cats in shade of tropical plants

Q: Do you have any special recommendations how to take care of plants during hot season, to reduce heat strees?

A: Tropical plants prefer temperatures of 70-90F, except for heat-adapted desert plants. High temperatures above 90F can cause slowed metabolism and signs of stress like wilting, yellowing, and leaf drop. Hot and humid conditions attract pests and fungal diseases. To keep your plants stress-free and healthy, during Summer:

1. Monitor temperature and signs of stress.
2. Provide shade to regulate heat exposure: use shade cloth or simply a sheet of fabric as needed to protect lush foliage from burns.
3. Choose heat-tolerant plant varieties.
4. Plant in groups and levels, with trees protecting smaller shade loving plants (see companion planting).
5. Water deeply in the morning or evening to prevent evaporation.
6. Mulch to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature.
7. Air: ensure good air circulation.
8. Trim damaged foliage and crowded branches.
9. Fertilize: use appropriate fertilization to improve plant heat tolerance. Remember, plants need lots of food during active growth period.
10. Remove weeds, pests, and diseases promptly.

Tibouchina multiflora (grandifolia) - Glory bush, Quaresmeira

In the photo: Tibouchina multiflora (grandifolia) - Glory bush, Quaresmeira, one of the most impressive flowering plants for tropical gardens, with impressive, large velvet leaves and beautiful purple flowers. It blooms in both sun or shade!

Date: 16 Oct 2025

Grumichama jam: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Grumichama jam: quick-n-fun exotic recipes Grumichama jam: quick-n-fun exotic recipes
🍴 Grumichama jam: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

  • 🔴Cook Grumichama cherries with sugar and lime juice.
  • 🔴A deep red jam with a cherry-meets-blackberry flavor.


Grumichama Jam: Quick-n-Fun Exotic Recipes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh Grumichama cherries (Eugenia brasiliensis)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp lime juice

Instructions

  1. Remove seeds from Grumichama cherries.
  2. Place fruit in a saucepan with sugar and lime juice.
  3. Simmer over low heat until thick and glossy, stirring often.
  4. Pour into sterilized jars and let cool before sealing.



🛒 Plant Grumichama tree (Eugenia brasiliensis)

📚 Learn more:

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Date: 22 Sep 2025

Ackee breakfast scramble: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Ackee breakfast scramble

Ackee breakfast scramble

🍴 Ackee breakfast scramble: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Ackee breakfast scramble recipes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups boiled Ackee (Blighia sapida)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 tomatoes, diced
  • 1-2 hot peppers (Scotch Bonnet, Wiri Wiri, or Biquinho), sliced
  • 1 tbsp oil or butter
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a skillet. Saute onion until soft.
  2. Add tomatoes and sliced hot peppers, cook for 2 minutes.
  3. Gently fold in the boiled ackee, stir carefully to avoid breaking it up.
  4. Season with salt, cook until heated through, then serve warm.

🛒 Grow your own Akee fruit (banned for import) and hot peppers

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Date: 4 Oct 2025

Curry leaf rice: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Curry leaf rice

Curry leaf rice

🍴 Curry leaf rice: quick-n-fun exotic recipes
  • 🟢Fry curry leaves (Murraya koenigii) with mustard seeds, garlic, and chilies
  • 🟢Stir into steamed rice for a fragrant side dish 🍛

🍛 Curry Leaf Rice recipes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup steamed rice
  • 1 handful fresh curry leaves (Murraya koenigii)
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3-4 dried red chilies
  • 1 tbsp oil or ghee
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds until they pop.
  2. Add garlic, chilies, and curry leaves. Fry until fragrant.
  3. Stir in steamed rice and mix well.
  4. Season with salt and serve hot as a fragrant side dish 🍲

🛒Grow your own Curry Leaf Tree for exotic recipes

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Date: 10 Sep 2025

Avocado shrimp boats: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

Avocado shrimp boats: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes
🍴 Avocado shrimp boats: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

  • 🟢Halve an avocado, scoop out a little extra.
  • 🟢Fill with sauteed shrimp tossed in garlic-lime butter.
  • 🟢Enjoy instant tropical feast!


🛒 Grow your own Avocado tree

Avocado shrimp boats: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

Ingredients

  • 2 ripe avocados
  • 1 cup shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Halve the avocados and scoop out a little extra to make room.
  2. Sauté shrimp in butter with garlic and lime juice until pink and cooked through.
  3. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Fill avocado halves with shrimp mixture.
  5. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

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