Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 1 Jul 2026

Why is this banana called DOUBLE?

The remarkable Double Mahoi banana naturally produces two fruiting stalks from a single flower stem, creating an impressive display and the potential for a much larger harvest without taking up extra garden space.

The remarkable Double Mahoi banana naturally produces two fruiting stalks from a single flower stem, creating an impressive display and the potential for a much larger harvest without taking up extra garden space.

🍌 Why is this banana called DOUBLE?



Most banana plants produce one flower stalk and one bunch of fruit before that stem is finished.
Double Mahoi Banana changes the rules. It's the Banana that grows two bunches instead of one!
This unusual Cavendish banana is famous for often producing two flower stalks from a single fruiting stem after its first crop, giving gardeners the chance to harvest significantly more bananas without planting another tree. It's one of those rare plants people discover once - and immediately want in their collection.


🟡 What makes Double Mahoi so special?



🔸
Two bunches instead of one
The feature that made Double Mahoi famous is its ability to frequently produce a second flower stalk after the first harvest. While not every stem does it every time, this remarkable trait can nearly double the fruit produced from a single plant - something very few bananas can do.

🔸 Big harvests from a compact plant


Don't let its size fool you.
Double Mahoi grows only about 6-8 feet tall, making it easy to fit into smaller gardens, patios, or large containers. Yet a healthy plant can produce large, heavy bunches totaling up to 100 sweet bananas during a fruiting cycle.
That's an impressive harvest from such a manageable plant.

🟡 Classic banana flavor everyone loves



Double Mahoi belongs to the Cavendish group, so the fruit has the familiar sweet, creamy flavor people already know and enjoy.
Fresh-picked bananas often develop a richer aroma and better texture than store-bought fruit, making homegrown harvests especially rewarding.

🟡 Perfect for small gardens and containers



Not everyone has room for a giant banana grove.
Because Double Mahoi stays relatively compact, it's one of the easiest fruiting bananas for:
· Small backyards
· Patio containers
· Courtyards
· Poolside tropical gardens
· Greenhouses and bright sunrooms in cooler climates
With enough warmth, sunlight, water, and fertilizer, it rewards growers surprisingly quickly.

🟡 Fast, productive, and beginner-friendly



Double Mahoi is popular with both experienced collectors and first-time banana growers because it checks nearly every box:
· Fast fruiting, often in 12-18 months
· Self-pollinating
· Heavy producer
· Compact growth
· Easy to maintain
· Excellent container performance
It's one of the most productive dwarf bananas available for home gardens.

🟡 Why gardeners keep choosing Double Mahoi



If your goal is to harvest the most bananas from the least amount of space, Double Mahoi is hard to beat.
Its compact size, dependable production, delicious Cavendish-style fruit, and unique ability to often produce two flower stalks make it one of the smartest banana varieties you can grow.
Whether planted in the ground or a large container, it's the kind of banana that quickly becomes the centerpiece of a tropical garden.

Ready to grow twice the bananas from one amazing plant?
Get Double Mahoi and bring home one of the most productive dwarf bananas available 👉 Grow More in Less Space

🛒 Explore Banana Varieties

📚 Learn more:

Chinese Yellow Banana Plant Facts

Botanical name: Ensete lasiocarpum, Musella lasiocarpa, Musa lasiocarpa
Also known as: Chinese Yellow Banana, Golden Lotus Banana
USDA Zone: 7 - 10
Highligths Large shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall plant 2-5 ftSemi-shadeFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyYellow, orange flowersSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

Bananas (Musa) in plant encyclopedia
How to double your banana crop without extra space
Why every garden needs a banana tree (or three!)
The best varieties of edible Bananas

#Food_Forest #Bananas #Discover

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 15 Dec 2020

Healthy Plants: Q&A from Mr Booster

What is an ideal potting mix?

Q: A few years ago, I purchased a Barbie Loquat from you, and I'm pleased to say it's been growing very well. I now have several loquat seedlings. I have read that a well-draining medium should be used, and I have found that the various formulations provided on the web for such medium seem vaguely reminiscent of the recipe provided in your transplanting instructions. Therefore, I would like to retrieve your recipe, unless you could recommend an even better one?

A: The main requirements for a good potting mix are:
- perfect drainage, allowing air circulation that is so necessary for healthy roots; oxygen circulation helps to avoid root rot
- water retention: to keep nutrients in soil
- low pH (soil acidity) which is important for most tropical plants
- adequate amount of organic matter in the mix, in combination with proper fertilizer program

In our nursery we experimented with many different potting mixes for the past couple decades. We ended up with an ultimate mix for tropical container plants that we designed ourselves. This custom mix is called -

Abundance - TopTropicals professional soilless potting mix

It meets all the requirements above which makes it a perfect mix. All our plants are happy with it. Abundance is a professional quality (nursery-grade) potting mix with great drainage characteristics, ideal for any tropical plants. It is organically derived soil-less mix, free of any additives.
Ingredients are:
- fine Canadian peat moss
- coconut coir
- perlite
- aged pine bark (soil conditioner).
See more info on soil mixes.
We have this mix available for purchase in different packaging sizes - 2, 3, and 7 gal bags.

Besides proper potting mix, all container plants require regular fertilizing. We recommend the newest, scientifically balanced fertilizers Sunshine Boosters that are natural, eco-safe, great for all edibles and organic gardening. They are safe to use with every watering, provide all necessary elements for plant daily needs, and won't burn the roots.
For your loquat tree, consider Sunshine C-Cibus, it boosts both flowering and fruit production. Loquat is Winter-Spring bloomer, hopefully you will get some crop soon!

See more information about potting mix science

Date: 4 Jun 2024

The perfect vine is finally found! Everybody wants it: the breathtaking dramatic Hawaiian Sunset

Stictocardia beraviensis - Hawaiian Sunset Bell

Stictocardia beraviensis - Hawaiian Sunset Bell

Stictocardia beraviensis - Hawaiian Sunset Bell

Stictocardia beraviensis - Hawaiian Sunset Bell

Stictocardia beraviensis - Hawaiian Sunset Bell

Stictocardia beraviensis - Hawaiian Sunset Bell

Stictocardia beraviensis - Hawaiian Sunset Bell

Stictocardia beraviensis - Hawaiian Sunset Bell

Stictocardia beraviensis - Hawaiian Sunset Bell

🔔 The perfect vine is finally found! Everybody wants it: the breathtaking dramatic Hawaiian Sunset.



Stictocardia beraviensis - Hawaiian Sunset Bell - has a stunning flower has splendid rich tones that are a marvel to see!

❤️ Breathtaking flowers: stunning tri-color blossoms with rich, dramatic sunset tones that captivate and delight.

❤️ Super-fast growing: quickly establishes, adding lush greenery over a large fence and vibrant blooms to your garden in just one season.

❤️ Versatile light tolerance: thrives in conditions ranging from full sun to deep shade, adapting to various garden spots.

❤️ Scented blooms: fills the air with a pleasant fragrance.

❤️ Tropical foliage: features huge, up to 12"wide, velvety leaves that provide a lush, exotic appearance.

❤️ Year-round blooms: flowers sporadically throughout the year, ensuring continuous beauty.

❤️ Cold tolerant: resistant to cold spells, grows back vigorously in Spring.

❤️ Container friendly: can be grown in container with a large trellis, but be prepared to frequent pruning - it grows fast.

❤️ A must-have tropical vine: an essential addition to any tropical plant collection for its striking appearance and easy care.

📚 Learn more: Stunning Hawaiian Sunset

🎥 Watch the secret Life of Two Bees inside the Hawaiian Sunset flower

🛒 Get your own Hawaiian Sunset

#Butterfly_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits #Nature_Wonders

🏵 TopTropicals

Date: 3 Mar 2025

Why this Magnolia flower smells like banana?

Magnolia figo, Banana Magnolia

🍌 Why this flower smells like banana?

Magnolia figo, or Banana Magnolia that we mentioned earlier, is currently in full bloom and filling the air with its unbelievably delightful fragrance! The sweet, fruity aroma of its perfume-like flowers carries a hint of banana, making it a truly irresistible addition to your garden.

Looking for a little perfume tree for a small garden or container? Compact and evergreen, reaching only5-6 ft in container, this small tree or shrub adds sophistication to any landscape. Glossy, deep green foliage enhances its visual charm.

Cold tolerant and heat tolerant. Takes sun and shade.

🛍 Plant Banana Magnolia

#Perfume_Plants #Container_Garden #Trees

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 6 Oct 2025

The hot Guyanese secret to perfect skin

Biquinho Pepper (Capsicum annuum x chinense) and Wiri Wiri Pepper (Capsicum frutescens)

❗️ The hot Guyanese secret to perfect skin 💥

🌶 Who said Peppers can't be cute? These two little fireballs prove otherwise! They might look small, but they’re full of personality, flavor, and heat.

🌶 Biquinho Pepper (Capsicum annuum x chinense)
This heart-shaped hottie is an ancient hybrid between bird pepper and habanero is as beautiful as it is flavorful. Each tiny 1-inch red pepper packs a fruity, tangy punch with just enough heat to make your taste buds dance. Perfect for container gardens, Biquinho peppers decorate the plant like tiny red ornaments – and they’re just as tasty in pickles, salsas, or fresh salads.

🌶 Wiri Wiri Pepper (Capsicum frutescens)
From the kitchens of Guyana comes a true legend - the Wiri Wiri pepper. These little berry-shaped peppers turn from green to orange to bright red, bursting with intense heat and flavor. Guyanese chefs swear by it - it's the secret behind their famously spicy, flavorful dishes. Locals even say it’s the reason they live long, have glowing skin, and look amazing… it's not just spice, it's magic!

🌶 Fun facts:


· Both peppers belong to the same botanical family as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants.
· What makes them special isn't just the heat - it's the flavor!
· True pepper lovers know that great peppers are about depth, aroma, and the fruity fire they bring to every meal.

🌶 Growing tips:
Feed your peppers with Sunshine C-Cibus plant booster for abundant crops and extra flavorful fruits. These compact plants thrive in containers and bring tropical flair to patios, balconies, or edible gardens.

💥 These two peppers are a must for spice lovers - intense fruity habanero flavor packs quite a bang!
Extremely showy, these ornamental peppers have culinary benefits and are great for container garden.

🛒 Add the flavor of Hot Peppers to your garden and kitchen

📚 Learn more:

Yellow Lantern Chili Plant Facts

Botanical name: Capsicum chinense
Also known as: Yellow Lantern Chili
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Small plant 2-5 ftSemi-shadeFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyWhite, off-white flowersSpice or herb plantIrritating plant
Get personalized tips for your region

Hot-hot-hot HEART! How hot is it?
Wiri Wiri Pepper: how to live long and have a great skin.
📱 How to grow the hot Wiri Wiri and Biquino Peppers

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals