When to fertilize and prune tropical fruit trees?

Q: Can tropical fruit trees (Soursop, Mango, Star fruit, etc) be given plant food any time of year? Also can they be trimmed this time of year/summer?

A: True tropical plants (including fruit trees) need plant food most of the year in real Tropics, where temperatures have very little fluctuations, and active growth season is close to 12 months a year. In subtropical areas when temperatures in winter drop below 65F, plant metabolism slows down, so it is recommended to fertilize only during the warmest period (March through November). So yes, Summer is the perfect time for fertilizing your trees; their metabolism is at the highest point and they can use more food!

Trim your fruit trees right after harvesting. Obviously, you don't want to prune branches before or during flowering or fruiting. The specific time of the year for pruning depends on the plant - every tree has its own flowering/fruiting season. However, avoid pruning right before winter: young shoots promoted by pruning are tender and can be cold damaged.

Recommended fertilizers for fruit trees:

Fruit Festival Plant Food - Super Crop Booster
Mango-Food - Smart Release Fruit Tree Booster
SUNSHINE-Honey - for sweeter fruit
SUNSHINE SuperFood - microelement supplement

Let's grow green again - together!
20% OFF post-hurricane discount

"We rise by lifting others." - Robert Ingersoll

Dear Valued Customers,

We're reaching out to let you know that Top Tropicals made it through Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and we are fully back up and running. While these storms caused some damages to our facilities and brought down trees, we were fortunate that our plants and inventory remained safe and beautiful. After a lot of cleanup and repairs, we are excited to resume shipping your orders as scheduled!

Thank you for your kind messages and continued support during this time. If you were unaffected by these hurricanes, we invite you to support us as we restore our nursery and raise fallen trees.

Every order, no matter the size, makes a difference in our recovery.

For those who lost plants and trees to the storms, we've included a 20% discount code below to help you start fresh. Let's grow green again - together!

Thank you for being part of our community! Use the code:

SUPPORT

This code saves 20% off all orders over $150 (excluding S/H).
Exp. 10-31-24

Additional deals:

In the photos: Koelreuteria paniculata - Golden Rain Tree, is a winter bloomer that is starting flowering now and throughout the winter. It one of the most spectacular trees of subtopics that is actually very cold hardy, drought resistant, wind-resistant and fast growing - nice solution for a shade tree. According to ancient Chinese manuscripts, the Golden Rain Tree is crucial for Dragons, as it is believed to be connected to their existence, guarding and complementing each other. Growing these plants is considered auspicious and is believed to safeguard the Dragon family. 2024 is a year of Dragon... Let's please the Dragon and plant this tree this year so it will protect us from hurricanes in the future!

New Year with New Plants:
Choose from 17 Tropical Paradise Resolutions!

"A garden is never so good as it will be next year..." - Thomas Cooper.

Happy New Year, dear fellow gardeners! As we step into a fresh new year, it's the perfect time to think about what exciting, special, and life-changing plants we can add to our gardens. The days are getting longer, and spring is just around the corner, so now's the time to make a plan and prepare for the season ahead. Let's take small steps each year to create the garden of our dreams. This winter, consider these fun resolutions:

1. Hang a bird feeder and install a rain barrel
2. Order some tropical plant seeds for an early start
3. Ask your grandparents about their favorite garden plants
4. Build a raised bed for succulents
5. Plant a fruit tree or two to have some crop this year
6. Start a compost pile
7. Switch to organic fertilizers and plant boosters
8. Fill empty spaces with flowering trees, shrubs, and vines
9. Add butterfly attractors to your garden
10. Provide water for bees and butterflies to help them thrive and pollinate your fruit trees
11. Get a bonsai starter to try bonsai art
12. Enjoy meals outside as often as you can
13. Teach a child how to plant a tree
14. Plant berry-bearing shrubs like Tropical Cherries to feed the birds
15. Rake up leaves for winter mulch
16. Add a few exotic plants to your indoor collection or container garden
17. Share plants as gifts all year long

Happy gardening in 2025!

How to set up indoor lighting for tropical plants

Q: My tropical plant collection goes indoors for winter. I have over 100 plants now and all windowsill space is taken. I am planning to build some shelves so I can also start some rare seeds indoors. Can you advise me on the choice of the grow lights so I can do it right?

A: Indoor plants are very unlucky: they have to grow in "caves," and everybody knows that plants don't grow in the caves. The luckiest plants win sunny windowsills, but even there they dwell rather like in underbrush under tall trees, where the sun illuminate them only early in the morning or in the evening, and its light is diffused by foliage. Usually, domestic plants are in desperate lack of illumination not only in winter but also in summer. No light - no growth, no flowering. So, plants need extra light to compensate for the lack of illumination in the "room-cave" conditions. And here is some science behind it...

Continue reading...

Check out our selection of tropical plants tolerant to low light conditions.

Top Tropicals New Year Resolutions

We take this opportunity to extend our grateful thanks to all visitors and friends of our garden and website. The entire Top Tropicals team wishing you a Happy New Year with Happy New Plants!

In 2019, Top Tropicals plans include (but are not limited to):
- improved design of the website, online store and shopping cart
- many new introductions of rare flowering plants including Red Jade Vine, lots of new Adeniums
- rare fruit trees, including Mangosteen, Nutmeg, Clove and more
- extended selection of rare tropical seeds
- many new videos of rare tropical plants
- free and discounted shipping
Stay informed with our Newsletter updates!

New Year Resolutions for Gardeners in 2019

January is the month to plan and dream about your yard and garden. Grow your garden a few steps at a time each year: pick a few resolutions for 2019 and plan accordingly. Next year, a few more, and so on until you build the garden of your dreams.
This winter, resolve to:
- Hang a bird feeder.
- Order seeds of some rare plants so you can have an early start.
- Prune a tree into an espalier - it's a perfect time before Spring.
- Ask your grandparents what they grew in their gardens.
- Build a raised bed for succulents.
- If you live in a warm climate, plant a fruit tree or two.
- Start a compost pile.
- Plant a palm tree.
- Try some plant boosters to improve your plants hardiness.
- Chose Flowering trees, shrubs and vines suitable for areas in your garden that still have room...
- Install a rain barrel.
- Eat outside as often as possible.
- Show a child how to plant a tree.
- Provide a water source for bees and butterflies. They are not only cool, but also pollinators that will help to set fruit and seeds!
- Call TopTropicals for garden advise - what to plant, where to plant, and how not to kill it!
- Plant a berry-bearing tree or shrubs to feed the birds. Mulberry, Blackberry, Tropicals Cherries - are always good choices. They are 15% OFF now, offer expires 1/8/19.
- Rake and save fallen leaves for winter mulch for your garden beds.
- Save seeds from flowers to plant next year.
- Give plants as gifts all year long.

Happy gardening in 2019!