Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 2 Apr 2026

Skip the Egg Hunt - Start a Plant Hunt 🐰

Smokey the black-and-white cat with glasses sits on a patio taking notes while Sunshine, a fluffy orange cat wearing bunny ears, holds a small potted mango tree with light yellow flowers.
Sunshine: I went egg hunting. Found something better. Let’s grow it on the balcony. Mango-filled donuts, here I come.

Smokey: Finally. You’re thinking.

Read more about Smokey & Sunshine

Groundhog said long winter… and it sure felt like it. But now it is finally over, and balconies and patios are waking up again.

Easter is here, and with it comes that fresh start feeling - time to open the doors, bring plants back out, and start growing.

We made it through the cold. For northern gardeners, that is every year; for borderline zones, it is a reminder that freezes happen. That is exactly why growing in pots makes sense - you stay flexible.

Container growing is not just about pots - it is about choosing the right plants. The best options stay manageable, produce well, and handle being moved.

Let's look at what works. Start with plants that naturally stay compact and adapt well to containers. These are the ones that won’t outgrow your space and will reward you quickly. These are proven performers in containers - compact, productive, and easy to manage:

Simple rule: if it stays compact and handles pruning, it works in a container.

Skip the egg hunt this year - go on a plant hunt instead. Start with one or two plants this Easter - not ten. Get them established, learn how they grow, and then expand.

Container basics (keep it simple):

  • Pot size: start with 3–7 gallon, upgrade as plant grows
  • Soil: fast-draining mix (never heavy garden soil)
  • Water: soak well, then let top inch dry
  • Feeding: consistent light feeding works better than heavy doses
  • Sun: most tropicals want full sun (6+ hours)

🐣 Browse our Easter Container Collection

Randia formosa (Blackberry Jam Fruit) showing yellow ripe fruits, some cut open to reveal glossy dark pulp inside.

Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit

Bunchosia argentea (Peanut Butter Fruit) showing clusters of red ripe fruits on a leafy branch.

Bunchosia argentea - Peanut Butter Fruit

Myrciaria cauliflora (Jaboticaba) tree with clusters of dark purple-black fruits growing directly on the trunk.

Myrciaria cauliflora - Jaboticaba

Eugenia brasiliensis (Grumichama) with red ripe cherries hanging from a branch against blue sky.

Eugenia brazilensis - Grumichama and more Eugenia Cherries

Date: 19 Sep 2025

Truth about which fruit helps you lose weight faster: Mango or Papaya?

Truth about which fruit helps you lose weight faster: Mango or Papaya?

🥭 Truth about which fruit helps you lose weight faster: Mango or Papaya?



❓ Mango vs. Papaya: what's best for you?


  • ✔️ Nutritional comparison

Mango is rich in vitamins A and C, boosting immune health and skin.
Papaya brings more folate and contains papain, an enzyme that aids digestion.

  • ✔️ Health perks

Mango may help lower inflammation and support blood sugar balance.
Papaya is known to ease digestion, reduce bloating, and support gut health.

  • ✔️ Calories and sugars

Both are low in calories, but mango has slightly more natural sugar.
If you’re sugar-sensitive, papaya might be the better option.

  • ✔️ Weight loss support

Mango and papaya both contain fiber and natural compounds that slow digestion.
This helps you feel fuller longer, which can reduce snacking and support weight management.

✔️ Which to pick when


Choose mango for a skin and immune boost.
Go with papaya if you want a gentler fruit that supports digestion and gut comfort.

Don't forget about Avocado when planting your fruit garden!
Avocado deserves a spot at the table too. While not sweet like mango or papaya, it's packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, fiber, potassium, and B vitamins. Avocado supports brain and heart health, keeps you full longer, and provides a creamy balance to any tropical fruit plate.

All three fruits are also great for weight management. They're high in fiber and water content, which slows digestion, helps you feel fuller longer, and may reduce overall calorie intake naturally.

🛒Explore Mango, Papaya, and Avocado varieties

#Food_Forest #Mango #Papaya #Remedies #Discover

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 7 Jul 2023

Fertilizing a Mango tree in container

Mango trees in pots and fertilizer

Q: I live in the area with cooler winters so I am keeping my mango tree in a pot. What fertilizer do you recommend for the best growth and fruit production?

A: If you're growing fruit trees in pots, using liquid fertilizers is a great choice. And when it comes to liquid fertilizers, ones that are based on amino acids are super cool because they're natural and plants can gobble up all the good stuff without any problems. So, if you have a mango tree, the absolute star in amino acid-based fertilizers is -

Sunshine Boosters Mango Tango

Your tree will be doing a happy dance with this stuff!

Sunshine booster mango tango fertilizer

Why Sunshine Boosters liquid fertilizers are so popular?

Here are a few awesome reasons:

1. Speedy nutrients: Sunshine Boosters liquid fertilizers are like a fast pass for plants. They get absorbed by the roots super quick, giving your fruit tree a speedy delivery of all the nutrients it needs. This is especially great for potted plants with limited soil space, like those yummy fruit trees.

2. Nutrients for all: Sunshine Boosters are like the fairy godmothers of nutrients. When you pour them around the base of your tree, they spread out evenly, making sure every bit of the tree gets its fair share of the good stuff. No nutrient deficiencies allowed!

3. The power of precision: Sunshine Boosters liquid fertilizers and other cool plant supplements let you become a master mixologist for your plant. You can measure and mix them just right, giving your tree the exact nutrients it craves. It's like creating a customized cocktail for your tree's taste buds. Try adding the magic works of SUNSHINE Microelement Supplement Kit - that improves hardiness, vigor, and production.

4. Leafy goodness: Sunshine Boosters have a secret talent - they can be sprayed directly on the leaves! It's like giving your tree a refreshing nutrient-packed spa treatment. The leaves slurp up those nutrients, bypassing any soil limitations. Talk about a VIP treatment!

Remember, while liquid fertilizers are awesome, they work best when you team them up with other good plant care practices. So don't forget to water properly, keep that soil in tip-top shape, and give your tree plenty of sunshine. With this dream team, your potted mango tree will thrive and grow like a champ!

mango trees in containers

Shop All Sunshine Boosters

Date: 12 Feb 2023

Mango: Fruit of Love and Friendship

Black lab dog with mango fruit

In the photo: Mango Princess reincarnated. Mango is a Lab dog that got pregnant and lost her home... But she found her new life at Top Tropicals PeopleCats community. And she brought us a basket of happy puppies!

According to Hindu folklore, there was once a Sun Princess who was cruelly burned to death by a wicked sorceress... However, from the ashes of the princess, a mango tree sprung up, and the Emperor was immediately enchanted by the beauty of its blooms. The fruit that followed was equally as captivating and when the ripe mangoes fell from the tree, the Sun Princess was reincarnated.

Starting that moment on, the mango became a symbol of love and affection in India, and offering someone a basket of mangoes was seen as a gesture of friendship.

Today, mangoes are widely regarded as the most consumed fruit in the world, with approximately half of all tropical fruits produced globally being mangoes.

Start your Mango basket now

Cats and dogs and puppies and mango fruit

Date: 24 Oct 2021

New Video:
Shaping your Mango Trees

by Ed Jones, the Mango Guy (and the Boosters Guy)

Learn how to shape your mango trees using a technique known as tipping. Tipping your mangos will help to develop more branches and will give the tree more places to flower and produce fruit.

WATCH NEW VIDEO >>

See more by Ed Jones:
How to prune mango trees for best shape and production

...Why should you prune your mango trees? There are at least 3 reasons.
1. A good foundation is the key to strong growth and a shapely tree.
2. If you get your mango tree started off on the right foot with a strong foundation, it becomes much easier to keep it shaped nicely.
3. It will be forced to produce more branches allowing for more places for fruit production.

CONTINUE READING >>

Stay updated with TopTropicals Videos by subscribing to our channel at YouTube.com/TopTropicals and get our latest video news of what is fruiting and blooming!

WATCH NEW VIDEO >>

See all available mango varieties from our store.

◂ Previous pageNext page ▸Most recent entry ▴Blog table of contents