Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 31 Dec 2023

Our New Year Wish to You:
Stay Young

Hugging  cats  with  plumeria  flowers

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away."
- Maya Angelou -

"...Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever...
...Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side...
...Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent...
...Remember to say"I love you"to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all - mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you...
...Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind...
...And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

(A Life message from George Carlin after he lost his wife)

Spathodea  campanulata  -  African  Tulip  Tree

In the photo: Spathodea campanulata - African Tulip Tree

How to Stay Young

10 secrets of Eastern Wisdom

1. Throw out nonessential numbers, including age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay them.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

Cat  on  keyboard  with  avocado 
 fruit

Date: 9 Nov 2019

Saving Fallen Papaya Tree

Q: Hope there is help for my beautiful amazing papaya tree! There where a loooooooot of fruits on it, but it broke! First of all, it was leaning and friends tried to straight my beautiful tree. What can I do? Will it get fruits again?

A: A couple months ago we also had a Papaya tree loaded with fruit that fell down (see photos). It was heart-breaking. We secured it and it continued growing for a couple of weeks but unfortunately, at the end the tree still died, leaving us a million fruit. The Papaya tree has a very sensitive root system and is hard to re-establish once the roots are damaged.
However, if it just has a broken top, it has a good chance to grow back from the side shoots.
Of course, remove all the fruit so they don't take energy from the recovering tree.
When a tree is loaded with fruit, it is important to provide support for heavy branches and for the trunk if needed. Always support the fruiting tree to prevent from possible falling BEFORE it starts leaning down and may become broken by even a light wind.
In the photo, you can see how we fixed boards around, but it was already after the tree fell. Unfortunately, it was too late since the roots got damaged. Always need to stake the tree up before the branches get too heavy!

RECOMMENDED FERTILIZERS:
Fruit Festival Plant Food - Super Crop Booster
Mango-Food - Smart Release Fruit Tree Booster
SUNSHINE-Honey - sugar booster

Maradol Papaya $10 Hot Sale

Only local pick up from our Garden Center
Hurry up, while supply lasts!

Date: 6 May 2020

The best Aquarium fish food ever - stikiStik

Everyone knows that Top Tropicals is good at unique, special novelties. And it is not a secret that most plant people also are pet people - cat people (with PeopleCats), dog people (with PeopleDogs) or at least fish people, right?
Today we are excited to introduce our new revolutionary Fish Food developed by our business partners at Floritin Aquarium Labs

Floritin stikiStikâ„¢ - Ultimate Aquarium fish food

StikiStik is a dry powder that you just mixed with water to create a sticky paste. The paste can be attached to any surface inside your aquarium.

Watch a cool video of fish having a stikiStik meal!

StikiStik is a patent pending fish food that does things which conventional fish food does not. It introduces picky eaters to a more natural feeding environment, does not pollute the fish tank, is easy to mix from its powder format and provides gradual feeding. It is easy to apply to any surface in the aquarium, such as interior glass wall, rocks or coral skeleton.

stikiStik advantages

- Easy to use. Just mix with a few drops of water and stik it in! Self adhesive paste can be applied to any surface. Stays intact for hours in aquarium. Does not pollute water
- Scientifically designed and proven for all types of aquarium fish, invertebrates, and corals
- Optimal and balanced nutrition. Contains vitamins and amino acids
- Natural. No hormones, no artificial colors
- Stimulates fish appetite and enhances fish color
- Promotes natural feeding habits. Helps training hard to feed fish. The perfect food to acclimate newly introduced fish, including Moorish Idol, finicky butterfly fish, such as Copperband Butterfly, Pearscale Butterfly, Mandarinfish, and many oithers
- Easy to store. Can be used immediately or frozen for future use
- Add any frozen fish food or medications to mix

See element contents / instructions and more information with videos on stikiStik website

"The stikiStik is the best Aquarium fish food ever - hands down!"
- Mr Booster -

Date: 19 Apr 2026

Complete

Complete

🌸 Complete Adenium Care Guide: 9 tips how to keep it simple and thriving



Adeniums don’t need intense care - just the right balance.
Most problems come from too much water, not enough light, or the wrong soil.

  • 🌸 1. Soil is everything


Why it matters
Adeniums are succulents with thick roots and a caudex that stores water. They must never sit in wet, heavy soil.
Most problems come from soil that stays wet too long - leading to root rot, soft caudex, weak growth, and poor flowering.
Good soil builds strong roots, dries faster, supports a healthy caudex, and improves blooming.

Ideal soil formula
Use a very fast-draining, airy mix with perlite, bark, sand, coconut fiber. Avoid heavy peat-based mixes.
A simple formula: TopTropicals Abundance potting mix + coarse sand (50/50). Use coarse sand (for construction), not fine beach sand. Sand improves drainage, structure, and aeration.
You can also add lava rock and charcoal.

Soil pH
Adeniums prefer slightly alkaline soil. Too much peat (acidic) holds moisture and increases rot risk.
Tip: add a few sea shells on top - watering slowly raises pH.

Golden rule
Better too fast-draining than too heavy.
You can water more. You can’t fix rot.

  • 🌸 2. Containers


Use shallow, unglazed clay pots. They dry faster, improve airflow, and stabilize the plant as the caudex gets heavy.
Do not oversize - keep close to root ball.
When repotting, raise the caudex slightly each time to develop that thick base.

  • 🌸 3. Light


Give as much light as possible.
Full sun is best, but in very hot climates, bright filtered light prevents leaf burn and helps flowers last longer.
Too little light = weak growth and poor blooming.

  • 🌸 4. Watering


Water deeply, then let soil dry out completely before watering again.
Do not keep soil constantly wet. Adeniums prefer the dry side and hate sitting in moisture.
In rainy climates, protect from excess water. Keep under cover - bright light, no constant soaking.

  • 🌸 5. Fertilizer


Feed lightly and regularly during active growth.
Use liquid fertilizer Sunshine Megafloк Bloom Booster on soil and lightly on leaves - avoid the caudex.
Bloom boosters (high phosphorus) support flowers and caudex growth.
Add controlled-release fertilizer (Green Magic) twice a year - spring and late summer. Do not fertilize during winter dormancy.
Add microelements (iron, boron, molybdenum) - Sunshine Superfood supplement - for healthier leaves and longer blooms.

  • 🌸 6. Trimming (pruning)


Trim after flowering, especially leggy branches.
Pruning encourages branching - more branches = more flowers.
Don’t be afraid to cut - it improves structure and blooming.

  • 🌸 7. Caudex development (secret trick)


When repotting, raise the caudex slightly above soil level.
Combined with regular feeding (bloom booster), this helps develop a thicker, more pronounced base.

  • 🌸 8. Seedlings vs grafted plants


Seed-grown plants form a natural caudex but take 2-3 years to bloom and do not come true to type (often simple pink).
Grafted plants combine a developed caudex with a known variety.
Best choice for predictable, high-quality blooms.

🌸 9. Troubleshooting



If something goes wrong, check these first:
  • · Too much water
  • · Not enough light
  • · Soil too heavy
Fix these, and your plant will recover.

🛒 Explore Exotic Thai Adeniums

📚 Learn more:

Plant Facts

Adenium sp.
Adenium, Desert Rose, Impala Lily
USDA Zone: 9-11
Plant with caudexLarge shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunDry conditionsModerate waterYellow, orange flowersRed, crimson, vinous flowersUnusual colorBlue, lavender, purple flowersWhite, off-white flowersPink flowersToxic or Poisonous

#Container_Garden #Adeniums #How_to #Discover

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