⚡️ One of our Vanilla Bean Orchids at TopTropicals has big ambitions - it's already climbed 10 feet up a pine tree! We’re waiting (impatiently!) for those elegant yellow-green flowers, which will hopefully turn into vanilla beans.
⚡️ Vanilla Bean Orchid(Vanilla planifolia) is the plant behind that sweet, comforting vanilla flavor we all love. It starts off like any potted orchid, but soon sends out aerial roots and becomes a climber, wrapping itself around trees or trellises. In its natural habitat, it grows high into forest canopies, but in the garden it will happily scale any sturdy support you give it.
⚡️ Once established, it flowers and sets the long green pods we call vanilla beans. Growing your own is a lesson in patience - from flower to dried bean can take month - but nothing beats harvesting your own vanilla for the kitchen.
Six guava varieties that will keep you picking year-round
Tropical Guava - Psidium guajava
🍉 Six guava varieties that will keep you picking year-round
🍉 Everyone loves guava! Sweet, fragrant, and packed with flavor. At TopTropicals, we have a whole guava forest, with varieties for every space and taste: Tropical Guava - Psidium guajava.
🍉 Why we love Guava?
💋Fast-growing and sun-loving 💋Thrives with plenty of water but handle short droughts 💋Starts producing right away - no years of waiting 💋Abundant fruit harvests 💋Perfect for containers or small gardens
🍉 What are the best Guava varieties? Our favorites are:
💋Dwarf Guava - stays under 6 feet but produces full-sized fruit. 💋Honeymoon Variegated - leaves and fruit have variegated patterns, turning golden when ripe. 💋Barbie Pink - pear-shaped yellow fruit with thick pink flesh, low in pectin, perfect for fresh eating or juice. Larger than Ruby Supreme and cold-hardy for a tropical fruit. 💋Hong Kong (Hawaiian) - large, round fruit with smooth pink skin, sweet flavor, and few seeds. Very productive, with a spreading growth habit. 💋Kilo White - huge fruit (up to 1 kilo = 2 lbs) with soft white flesh and few seeds. Great container plant, fruits even when small. 💋Tikal - compact tree with yellow-skinned, pink-fleshed fruit. Fruits year-round and starts young. Great for beginners.
🍉 Health boost in every bite:
Guava is one of the richest sources of vitamin C – even more than oranges. It’s loaded with antioxidants, fiber, potassium, and lycopene, which support immunity, heart health, and digestion.
🍉 Whether you’ve got space for a tree in the yard or just a container on the patio, a guava will reward you with beauty, fragrance, and sweet fruit in no time.
Q: We purchased some tropical edible and
medicinal plants from you in August this year. I have a question pertaining to our Moringa tree. When
we purchased it, it was about two foot tall. It has put on tremendous growth
and is now a little under ten foot tall. My question is, should a Moringa be
losing lower leaves at this point? The bare limbs are still green and the top
looks to have healthy green leaves.
A: Thank you for choosing our Moringa tree, and
sharing the picture. It's great to see that your tree appears healthy and
happy - it's a resilient plant. Given the relatively dry Fall we've experienced
this year, a little extra water can make a significant difference.
Here are some suggestions to ensure your Moringa thrives:
Watering: While Moringa is generally drought-tolerant, during dry
periods, in addition to relying on your lawn sprinkler system, add some
extra water with a hose. Adequate moisture is crucial for maintaining healthy
foliage.
Pest Control: Moringa is not only a nutritious plant for humans
but also attracts pests that appreciate its medicinal properties :) If you
notice insect damage on the leaves, consider spraying with Neem oil or using an
over-the-counter systemic insecticide containing imidacloprid or a similar
ingredient.
Seasonal Behavior: Moringa trees are semi-deciduous to deciduous,
and their leaf-shedding behavior can vary depending on the climate. In
Florida, for instance, it's common for Moringa trees to shed leaves in the Fall.
However, this is a natural process, and you can expect new growth in the
Spring.
Fertilizing for Vigorous Growth: To promote the most vigorous
growth of your Moringa tree and other plants in your garden, consider
implementing a fertilizing program. If using dry, slow-release fertilizers, apply them
only during the active growth season: from March through November. If you're
looking for a year-round solution, liquid amino acid-based formulas like
Sunshine Boosters can be a great option. You can easily add them to your watering
routine or use injectors like The Robuster for convenient and consistent feeding. If you're planning
to expand your garden with other medicinal plants or an edible forest, The
Robuster smart fertilizing system is an excellent choice, offering the most
efficient, care-free way to nourish your plants with natural nutrients
throughout the year.
This garden doubled the size during just one season
under the Robuster
care.
Date: 19 Nov 2020
Chorisia speciosa - Exotic Pink Silk Floss Tree
by Onika Amell, tropical plant expert
When I stumbled upon my first Pink Silk Floss tree at the Naples Botanical Garden in Florida, it
stopped me in my tracks. It was in full bloom and one of the most beautiful
flowering trees I had ever laid my eyes upon. This tree has so much wow factor.
Not only are the flowers of this native from the Amazon Rain Forest in South
America spectacular, but the trunk, seeds and attractive, umbrella-like crown
makes it exceptionally unique and interesting. This tree will stand out in any
garden....