Date: 24 Jun 2018
URBAN TROPICAL GARDENING:
10 secrets of successful Container Mango growing on a
balcony.
Q: I live in Miami in apartment on a second floor, and I have a balcony with SE exposure. I wonder if I can grow a mango tree in a pot? Will it fruit for me? I recently moved to South Florida and I don't know much about tropical plants; but I tasted real fiberless mangos from someone's garden - it was so delicious and different from those in the grocery store. I wonder if I can have a fruiting tree on my balcony? And if yes, how do I plant and take care of it?
A:
Yes, you can! Here is what you need to do:
1) Temperature. You are lucky to live in Tropics,
keep it on a balcony year round.
2) Light. Position the pot in a spot with the most
sun exposure. Mango trees can take filtered light too, but
the less sun, the less fruit you will get.
3) Soil and Container. Use only
well drained potting mix. Step up the purchased
plant into next size container (3 gal into 7 gal, 7 gal
into 15 gal). When transplanting, make sure to keep growth
point (where roots meet the trunk) just at the top of the
soil. Covering base of the trunk with soil may kill the
plant.
4) Water. Water daily during hot season, but only
if top of soil gets dry. If it still moist, skip that day.
Mangoes (unlike
Avocados!) prefer to stay on a dry side.
5) Fertilizer. Use
balanced fertilizer once a month, 1 tsp per 1 gal of
soil. Do not fertilize during fruiting - this may cause
fruit cracks.
6) Microelements. Apply
SUNSHINE-Superfood once a month. This will help your
mango healthy, vigorous, and resistant to diseases. Use SUNSHINE-Honey to make your
fruit sweeter.
7) Insect control. Watch for scales and mealybugs,
clean with solution of soapy water + vegetable oil (may
need to repeat 2-3 times with 10 days interval), or with
systemic insecticide like imidacloprid only as needed (if
non-harsh treatment didn't help). Most Flea shampoo for
dogs contain that chemical, you may try that shampoo
solution.
8) Trimming. Once potted, do not remove leaves
that are discolored or have spots until new growth
appears. Dark dots on mango leaves, especially in humid
climate like Florida, may be signs of fungus. Treat with
fungicide according to label, and remove only badly
damaged leaves. Trim crown as needed after flowering and
fruiting (by Fall). Train into a small tree, and you may
remove some lower branches eventually.
9) Flower and fruit. Mangoes are winter bloomers
with bunches of tiny flowers coming in thousands. Many of
them set fruit (if pollinating insects present). Keep in
mind that young trees can only bare a few fruit. Normally
a tree will drop excessive fruit and keep only a few that
it can manage. To save the young tree some energy, remove
fruit if too many and leave only 2-3 for the first year.
It will pay you next year with more abundant crop.
10) Variety. Last but not least: Choose the right
variety for container culture! Pick from "condo" dwarf
varieties such as Icecream, Nam Doc Mai, Carrie, Cogshall, Julie, Fairchild, Pickering, Graham, Mallika, and a few others -
check out Mango Chart pdf
and full list of our Mango varieties
Date: 27 Apr 2020
How to feed a Mango tree...
and to grow a Dwarf Mango
How to fertilize a Mango tree
Q: My mango trees that I bought and planted last august now have fruit. I bought 2 types of fertilizer from you and never used it. Should I use your fertilizer now?
A: It is a perfect time now to fertilize your plants as they
start active growth.
For mango trees, we recommend liquid fertilizer Sunshine Booster - Mango Tango. It is formulated for Mango trees,
especially for container grown. It improves quantity and quality of flowers and
ability to set fruit, reduces bud-flower-fruit drop. Can be used as often as
with every watering. For best results, use in combination with Sunshine Honey and Sunshine Superfood plant supplements. Its scientifically-balanced
stable formula is organic Amino-acid based and has NO EDTA chelators to eliminate
nutrients lockup; it does not affect crop taste.
Additionally, you may use slow-release granulated fertilizer Mango-Food once a month during hot season only. Dosage: 1 teaspoon per
each gal of soil.
Water-soluble fertilizers can be also used, however, those are usually
EDTA-chelated which is not as efficient as Amono-acid based Sunshine Boosters and
may create nutrients build up, especially if overdosed in containers.
For in-ground mango trees, you may use all the above, and slow-release
granulated fertilizer can be applied in larger quantities: spread a handful
around the drip line.
Remember that only liquid Sunshine Boosters can be applied year around. With other fertilizers, you need to be careful not to overdose, and apply only during hot weather (when night temperatures are steadily above 65F).
How to grow a Dwarf Mango tree
Q: I received the Ice cream mango tree in great condition (thank you for the ingenious packing job) on Wednesday and have planted it in a pot slightly bigger than the root ball. I plan to grow the tree on my front porch, so how big a container should I ultimately use when the tree outgrows this pot? How big a container does it need to fruit? I hope to keep it around 6-7 feet high, if possible. I live in Hawaii.
A: Ice Cream mango is a perfect variety for container culture, and it should be happy in Hawaii. You did everything right. Keep it in this small pot for now and wait until it starts vigorous growth in Summer. Once it starts growing (and you will notice roots growing too, sometimes they try to grow through the holes in the bottom of the pot), then it's time to step up into a bigger container (7-10 gal). Eventually you may use container size as large as 15 gal. Ice cream mango is slow growing and compact, and you will be able to maintain it under 7 ft with very minimal pruning if any.
Date: 21 Oct 2025
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
- 🌸 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:
Senna alata - Empress Candles
Cassia fistula - Golden Shower (a compact size winter blooming tree)
- 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)
📚 Learn more:
- ✦ How to add color to your yard with Cassias
- ✦ Rainbow Cassias and Why they are called "Rainbow"
- ✦ Napoleons Plume - Orchid Tree that blooms in a pot
- ✦ Bauhinia madagascariensis, or Red Butterfly Orchid Tree that NEVER Stops Blooming
- ✦ Rare Red Orchid Tree you may never find again but everyone wants
- ✦ Bauhinia acuminata, Dwarf Orchid tree - white and elegant
- ✦ 5 small tropical trees that bloom all summer or year around
- ✦ How to grow Orchid Trees in pots
#Container_Garden #Trees #How_to
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date: 25 Feb 2021
Container mango - Condo varieties
Q: What are the good varieties of mango trees available for container grow? Can you please share the details?
A: There are some great varieties of Mango selected specifically
for container culture, they even have a nick-name - "condo mangoes". They
have compact growth habit and respond well to pruning to keep them in small
size. Here are a few of our favorites that we currently have in stock:
Glenn
Ice
Cream
Cotton
Candy
Mallika
Manilita
Pram
Kai Mai
Mun
Kun Si
Maha
Chinook
You can see more condo mangoes on this page.
Related articles:
How to grow a Dwarf Mango tree
Choosing the right Mango for your garden
10 secrets of successful Container Mango growing on a balcony.
Condo Mango
Date: 16 Mar 2026
🌱 💪 Green Magic + SUNSHINE Boosters: A Complete System for Strong Plant Growth
By Tatiana Anderson, Horticulture Expert at Top Tropicals with Smokey & Sunshine help
☀️🌱 Sunshine Boosters: Complete Plant Nutrition
Sunshine Boosters provide complete plant nutrition, including Calcium and micronutrients that plants need for strong growth. Because nutrients are delivered in liquid form, plants can absorb them quickly and respond almost immediately.
The Practical Problem
Liquid feeding works well, but it requires frequent application. In real gardens, many growers simply do not have time to add liquid fertilizer with every watering.
Green Magic: The Foundation
Green Magic solves this problem by providing steady background nutrition through controlled-release fertilizer. It feeds plants gradually, so they continue receiving nutrients even between liquid feedings.
Why This Combination Works
Together, this system provides both complete nutrition and steady feeding. Sunshine Boosters supply fast nutrients and Calcium, while Green Magic maintains a stable nutrient supply between feedings.
✍️ How to Feed Your Plants
📅 Step 1 – Start of the Growing Season
- Apply Green Magic around the root zone every 6 months.
In ground:- Small Shrubs (1–3 feet): Use approximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup per plant
- Established Trees: Use 1/2 lb to 1 lb of product per 1 inch of trunk diameter.
- Small In-Ground Ornamentals: A common "spoon" rate is roughly 1 teaspoon per gallon of estimated root volume (or per sq. ft. of surface area).
- Spread evenly around the dripline. Avoid piling the granules against the base or trunk of the plant. For best results, lightly rake the granules into the top 1–2 inches of soil.
- Apply 1 tea spoon per 1 gal of soil (mix in with soil) every 6 months during active growth period, or with every re-potting.
- Water normally after application.
- Adjustment for Temperature. Because Green Magic is
temperature-controlled, adjust your rate if your local climate is extreme:
- Cooler Climates (<60°F average): Increase the rate by 20% to ensure enough nutrients are released.
- Hot Climates (> 80°F average): Decrease the rate by 20% to prevent over-releasing as the heat speeds up the process.
☀️🌿 Step 2 – Active Growing Season
- Apply Sunshine Boosters during the growing season.
- Regular feeding (maintenance): Mix with tap water according to the ratio on the label. For SUNSHINE Robusta use 25 ml (5 tsp)per gallon of water and spray leaves every 5-7 days during active growth.
- Correction feeding ("medicine" dose): if plants show visible nutrient deficiencies, combine SUNSHINE Robusta with SUNSHINE Superfood and spray every 5–7 days until new growth appears healthy. All SUNSHINE Boosters products are compatible and can be mixed with water in the same sprayer.
- Best time to spray: early morning or evening when temperatures are cooler and leaves can absorb nutrients efficiently.
- Important: spray both the top and underside of leaves for maximum absorption.
📊 Seasonal feeding schedule with Green Magic and Sunshine Boosters.
| Season | Product | Method | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (March) | Green Magic | Soil Surface | 6-month steady nutrient base. |
| Growing Season | Sunshine Boosters | Foliar (Every 5-7 days) | Calcium & Bio-available growth power. |
| Late Summer | Green Magic | Soil Surface | Replenish foundation for Fall. |
| Winter | Sunshine Epi | Foliar/Drench | Cold tolerance and shipping recovery. |
Quick Dose Reference
- Green Magic: 1 teaspoon per 1 gallon of soil volume.
- Sunshine Boosters: 25 ml (5 tsp) per 1 gallon of water.
- Pro Tip: Always spray in the early morning or late evening to prevent leaf scorch and ensure maximum absorption through the stomata.
❓Frequently Asked Questions: Plant Nutrition & Fertilizer
General Fertilizer Concepts
Why is the"Spring Fertilizer Rush"a problem?
Most gardeners apply a large amount of traditional fertilizer once in
March. This creates a"roller coaster"effect where plants get a sudden
spike of
nutrients followed by weeks of starvation. This leads to inconsistent growth
and potential"fertilizer burn."
What is"fertilizer burn"?
Traditional fertilizers are made of soluble salts. When too many salts
accumulate around the roots, they actually pull water out of the plant
tissues
(osmosis), dehydrating the plant and damaging sensitive root tips and leaf
edges.
Is there a difference between"Slow-Release"and
"Controlled-Release"?
Yes.
- Slow-Release: Relies on natural factors like moisture and soil microbes to break down. It is often unpredictable.
- Controlled-Release: Uses engineered polymer membranes (like Polyon) to release nutrients at a specific, predictable rate based primarily on temperature.
Green Magic & Temperature
How does temperature affect my fertilizer?
Most fertilizers are lab-tested at 75°F. In hot climates
(90°F+), the nutrients release much faster. A"6-month"fertilizer
might only last 3
months in the summer heat.
How should I adjust Green Magic for my local weather?
- Cooler Climates (<60°F): Increase the application rate by 20%.
- Hot Climates (> 80°F): Decrease the application rate by 20% to prevent over-releasing.
The Calcium Gap
Why doesn't Green Magic contain Calcium?
Calcium salts are highly soluble and can destabilize the polymer coating
used in controlled-release granules. Therefore, most high-quality granules
leave Calcium out. You can provide Calcium by using SUNSHINE Boosters
Why is Calcium so important for new growth?
Calcium is the"bone"of the plant, building strong cell walls. Unlike
other nutrients, it is immobile—the plant cannot move it from old
leaves
to new ones. If you don't provide a constant supply, new leaves and fruit
will
emerge distorted or weak.
Advanced Science & Troubleshooting
What makes Sunshine Boosters"Bioavailable"?
Unlike most liquid fertilizers that use EDTA chelators, Sunshine Boosters
are amino-acid based. They use organic acids and glycine to escort minerals
into the plant, allowing it to incorporate nutrients into its proteins
almost
immediately.
Will these fertilizers affect the taste of my fruit?
No. Sunshine Boosters are made from pharmaceutical-grade components and
contain no urea or harmful salts, ensuring your harvest (like Mangoes or
Avocados) has a pure, natural flavor without a chemical aftertaste.
✨ Green Magic - 15% Off This Week
Build the foundation for the entire growing season with a steady, long-lasting nutrient base.
No coupon needed. The discount is automatically applied at checkout.
Smokey: Not quite. Green Magic is the steady base diet. Sunshine Boosters are the weekly power drink during active growth.
Sunshine: Ah. Like my regular meals and donuts on top.
Smokey: Exactly. Plants eat slowly from Green Magic, and once a week they get a fresh boost.
Sunshine: Sprinkle once, then boosters every week. The plant grows, I drink coffee, and nobody forgets anything important.
Smokey: Except where you left the donuts.
Sunshine: Smokey... nobody forgets donuts. Ever