Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 7 Mar 2016

Black Pepper Vine - grow a real spice at home!

Q: What plants are used for commercial production of black pepper, red pepper, and green pepper? I started organic garden and would like to try growing pepper. I live in Georgia, will it survive here?

A: Pungent and aromatic Pepper is grown in Southern India since more than two thousand years, has always been much valued all over the world. Along with other spices from India and lands farther east, it changed the course of world history. Depending on harvest time and processing, peppercorns can be black, white, green and red (reddish-brown). So, the same fruit is also used to produce white pepper, red/pink pepper, and green pepper. The pungency is strongest in white pepper and weakest in green pepper, while black and green pepper are more aromatic than the white one.

The vine can be easily grown in a pot on a trellis, in mild (frost-free) climates it can be grown in the ground providing a tree support. Try growing this legendary plant and taste the real spice!

For more info, see article about Black Pepper.

See full list of spice and herbs

Date: 2 Nov 2025

Winter flowering trees and shrubs - all you need for winter color in your garden

🌺 Winter flowering trees and shrubs - all you need for winter color in your garden.



Many snowbirds ask what to plant when they’re here just for the season. The answer is simple: go for trees and shrubs that bloom in winter. Fall is the perfect time to plant them, so your garden bursts with flowers once the cool season arrives.

📱 We put everything in one place for you!


Check out this single YouTube Post with all our favorite winter-blooming trees and shrubs - your shortcut to a colorful garden this season:
https://youtube.com/post/UgkxRWCHqNDqrRIIwK_BAeWjfi3spnZK0EbA?si=LbNv_RhkKGkc0rxv
Save it for later and share it with your garden friends.

🌸 Videos on Winter flowering trees and shrubs:
👉 See more...

🛒 Want to grow your own winter color garden?



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Date: 21 Mar 2026

How to start your dream collection: Adenium rainbow

Adenium Amaryllis

Adenium Amaryllis

Adenium Win

Adenium Win

Adenium Butterfly Yellow

Adenium Butterfly Yellow

Adenium Black Butterfly

Adenium Black Butterfly

Adenium Good Morning

Adenium Good Morning

Adenium Good Night

Adenium Good Night

How to start your dream collection: Adenium rainbow 🌈
  • 👉 Thinking about adeniums? Read this before you buy one!
How to start an adenium collection without wasting money

If you’ve ever seen a tray of different blooming adeniums, you probably had the same thought: "I want them all." And honestly - we get it.

But with hundreds of varieties out there (and only so much space on your patio), the real trick isn’t collecting everything… it’s choosing the right ones and growing them well so they actually bloom like the photos.

Let’s make it simple.

💡 Before you start your adenium collection



A few basics that make all the difference:
  • 🔸 Light. Bright light is key. The more light, the better the blooms.
  • 🔸 Water. Water deeply, then let soil dry out. Adeniums hate sitting wet.
  • 🔸 Fertilizer. Adeniums prefer liquid food. Light, regular feeding with Sunshine Megaflor Bloom Booster during active growth = stronger growth, bigger caudex, and better flowering.
  • 🔸 Trimming. Prune after flowering to shape and encourage branching. More branches = more flowers.
  • 🔸 Soil. Fast-draining mix is a must. No heavy, soggy soil. Use Adenium Soilless Mix.

👉 How to grow a happy Adenium

🌸 Today's featured adeniums



A few standout varieties to start (or expand) your collection:
  •  ✦ Amaryllis: Large, bold blooms with a classic floral shape - one of those that always catches attention.
  •  ✦ Win: Clean, bright blooms with a balanced form - simple and very satisfying.
  •  ✦ Butterfly Yellow: Soft yellow tones with a delicate, airy look - light and cheerful.
  •  ✦ Black Butterfly: Dark, velvety tones with a winged pattern feel - rich and dramatic.
  •  ✦ Good Morning: Bright, fresh tones that feel clean and uplifting - a nice contrast in any group.
  •  ✦ Good Night: Dark, moody tones - a completely different vibe from typical bright adeniums.

If you’re just starting, pick a few different styles - light, dark, bold, soft. That contrast is what makes a collection feel alive.

And fair warning… It rarely stops at six! 😀

🛒 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
  • · Adenium varieties in Plant Encyclopedia
  • · About #Adenium Rainbow - fantastic varieties
  • · How to grow a happy Adenium
  • #Container_Garden #Adeniums #How_to #Discover

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    Date: 19 Mar 2026

    Guava chili glaze: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

    Guava chili glaze

    Guava chili glaze

    Guava fruit

    Guava fruit

    🍴 Guava chili glaze: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

    • 🔴Simmer guava puree with chili flakes and a squeeze of lime.
    • 🔴Brush onto grilled chicken


    🌿 About the plant:


    Guava is a tropical tree with fragrant fruit rich in vitamin C and aromatic pulp.

    🏡 In the garden:


    Thrives in warm climates, tolerates some drought. Responds well to pruning and can be grown in containers.

    🛒 Grow your own guava tree

    📚 Learn more:

    Plant Facts

    Psidium guajava
    Tropical Guava, Guajava
    USDA Zone: 9-11
    Large shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall tree 10-20 ftSemi-shadeFull sunRegular waterWhite, off-white flowersEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short timeFlood tolerant plant
  • Guava trees in Plant Encyclopedia
  • Guava fudge: quick-n-fun exotic recipes
  • Six guava varieties that will keep you picking year-round
  • How to grow a Guava Tree: Practical Guide to Growing Guava
  • More about #Guava

  • #Food_Forest #Recipes

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    Date: 17 Feb 2026

    Lunar New Year starts today - welcome the Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with Jasmines

    Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with its lucky plants Jasmines

    Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with its lucky plants Jasmines

    🔥 Lunar New Year starts today - welcome the Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with Jasmines

    • 💮 One of the luckiest plants for 2026 is Jasmine. Today, February 17, 2026, the Lunar New Year begins, welcoming the energetic and passionate Year of the Fire Horse.
    • 💮 If you’ve been feeling restless, ready for movement, or craving something fresh in your life - that’s Horse energy. This year is about action, authenticity, and doing things your way. And in Chinese tradition, certain plants help align your space with that powerful momentum.
    • 💮 Why Jasmine is especially lucky this year


      Jasmine symbolizes love, luck, and beauty - three themes closely connected to the Fire Horse’s vibrant spirit. Horses are social, expressive, and affectionate. Jasmine’s sweet fragrance supports harmony, romance, and positive energy in your home.
      In Feng Shui traditions, fragrant flowering plants help soften intense Fire energy. Jasmine does exactly that - it balances passion with calm.
    • 💮 How to use Jasmine for good fortune in 2026


    · Grow jasmine near entrances or windows to invite good luck into your home
    • · Place it in patios or garden walkways where its scent can circulate
    • · Use jasmine oil or candles in bedrooms to enhance relaxation and romantic harmony


    💮 Ready for momentum?


    Ready to feel bold, inspired, and a little unstoppable? The Year of the Fire Horse moves fast - and it rewards those who move with it. Think you need more clarity, more spark, more direction? Jasmine anchors that fire with calm confidence. It keeps the passion high and the chaos low.
    If you’re stepping into 2026 with purpose, don’t just make resolutions. Plant something living. Let jasmine bloom beside you - and grow into the year you’ve been waiting for.

    🛒 Discover lucky Jasmine plants

    📚 Learn more:
    #Horoscope #Perfume_Plants #Discover

    Plant Facts

    Chrysojasminum floridum, Jasminum odoratissimum, Jasminum floridum, Jasminum fruticans
    Showy Jasmine, Florida Jasmine, Yellow Jasmine, Fruity Jasmine
    USDA Zone: 9-11
    Plant used for bonsaiLarge shrub 5-10 ft tallVine or creeper plantSemi-shadeFull sunRegular waterYellow, orange flowersPlant attracts butterflies, hummingbirdsFragrant plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
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