What are Low Chill Apricots?

Prunus armeniaca (Armenian plum)

How to grow Calathea indoors

In the photo: Calathea zebrina - Zebra Plant

Calathea is a beautiful and popular houseplant known for its unique and colorful foliage. Here are the steps to grow calathea indoors:

1. Choose a suitable location: Calathea plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight, so choose a location near a window with filtered light. Avoid direct sunlight as it can scorch the leaves.
2. Select a pot that is slightly larger than the plant's root ball and has drainage holes. Fill the pot with a well-draining potting mix that is rich in organic matter. Plant at the same depth as it was in its previous pot.
3. Water: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Use room temperature water and avoid using hard water or water that contains high levels of minerals.
4. Provide humidity: Calathea plants thrive in humid conditions, so provide them with regular misting or place a tray of water near the plant to increase humidity. You can also use a humidifier to maintain optimal humidity levels.
5. Fertilize: Apply Sunshine Boosters liquid fertilizer. It is safe to feed the plant with Rubusta formula with every watering and year around. Feeding plants is especially important in Spring when active growth starts.
6. Prune any yellow or damaged leaves regularly to keep the plant healthy and attractive. Use clean, sharp scissors to make clean cuts.

By following these steps, you can successfully grow a beautiful and healthy Calathea plant and any beautiful container plant indoors.

In the photo: Calathea makoyana - Peacock plant

Spend time among trees...

"...Time spent among trees is never time wasted..."
- Katrina Mayer -

One of the most impressive and massive trees in the world - Ceiba pentandra - Kapok Tree. A majestic tropical tree! The ancient Maya of Central America believed that a great Ceiba tree stood at the center of the earth... Would you like to try growing it in the center of your backyard? Considering it will take decades to grow this big...

Ficus macrophylla (Banyan). Did you know that exotic Banyan Trees are close related to Fig trees?..

Our Ukrainian team update:
Happy Birthday Dasha!
Born amid the war...

A happy update from our Sunshine Boosters team member in Ukraine, Anatoly Bychko: a baby girl is born!
"...We expected our baby when the war started... So my wife and I left the basement and drove hundreds of miles trying to get away from deadly missiles and find a working hospital... We left everything we had, lost our home, only took our Cat Belyash ("dumpling"). Now we started our new life in a new city... with a newborn little person - our Angel. Her name is Dasha!.."

All profits from Sunshine Boosters sales are used to help families of our Ukrainian Team

Photo above: Easter present for Top Tropicals, Miltonia spectabilis var. moreliana, hand-crafted cross-stitch embroidery by our Editor Marina Rybka, the original photo by Oksana Rybka (Ukraine) taken in Prague Botanical Garden.