Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 13 Mar 2016

Growing Vanilla Orchid

Q: I want to buy Vanilla orchid and I wonder if I can grow it in my bathroom by the skylight.

A: Growing Vanilla orchid is no different than other orchids. It is very simple. All that the plant needs is a good light, good air humidity, and good porous support.

Light. Grow Vanilla orchid in a very bright light, but protected from direct hot sun.

Air humidity.The higher the air humidity, the better your plant will grow. Many people grow orchids in a bathroom where these plants can enjoy occasional "humidity treats" after showers.

Growing media. Vanilla orchid cuttings are rooted very often in a regular potting mix with high content of pine bark and/or Perlite, Coconut Husk Chips

Date: 4 Apr 2025

Why settle for ordinary when you can have this?

👍 Why settle for ordinary when you can have this?


  • 🌸 Transform your garden with the Chinaberry Tree (Melia azedarach) - a fast-growing, fragrant beauty that doubles in size in just one season!

  • 🌸 Its lilac flowers and sweet vanilla-like scent will fill your garden with elegance, while its hardy nature ensures it thrives even in colder climates.

  • 🌸 Enjoy lush, green foliage and a lovely shade canopy, all with minimal care. Plus, it's low-maintenance, pest-resistant, and has medicinal benefits!

Ready to add this aromatic gem to your landscape? Don't wait bring home the Chinaberry Tree today!

📚 Learn more about Chinaberry Tree

🛒 Order Chinaberry Tree and breathe in the Vanilla Fragrance

#Trees #Remedies #Perfume_Plants #Discover

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 19 Mar 2026

Guava chili glaze: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Guava chili glazed grilled chicken

Guava chili glazed grilled chicken

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

    🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

    Date: 16 Mar 2026

    🌱 💪 Green Magic + SUNSHINE Boosters: A Complete System for Strong Plant Growth

    By Tatiana Anderson, Horticulture Expert at Top Tropicals with Smokey & Sunshine help

    Nearly  dead  houseplants  (Dracaena,  Syngonium,  and  Spathiphyllum) 
 recovering  and  growing  vigorously  after  treatment  with  Green  Magic 
 fertilizer  and  Sunshine  Robusta  plant 
 booster.

    Green Magic recovery test with SUNSHINE Robusta support: Dracaena, Syngonium, and Spathiphyllum revived from severe stress and growing vigorously.

    ☀️🌱 Sunshine Boosters: Complete Plant Nutrition

    Sunshine Boosters provide complete plant nutrition, including Calcium and micronutrients that plants need for strong growth. Because nutrients are delivered in liquid form, plants can absorb them quickly and respond almost immediately.

    The Practical Problem

    Liquid feeding works well, but it requires frequent application. In real gardens, many growers simply do not have time to add liquid fertilizer with every watering.

    Green Magic: The Foundation

    Green Magic solves this problem by providing steady background nutrition through controlled-release fertilizer. It feeds plants gradually, so they continue receiving nutrients even between liquid feedings.

    Why This Combination Works

    Together, this system provides both complete nutrition and steady feeding. Sunshine Boosters supply fast nutrients and Calcium, while Green Magic maintains a stable nutrient supply between feedings.

    ✍️ How to Feed Your Plants

    📅 Step 1 – Start of the Growing Season

    • Apply Green Magic around the root zone every 6 months.

      In ground:
      • Small Shrubs (1–3 feet): Use approximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup per plant
      • Established Trees: Use 1/2 lb to 1 lb of product per 1 inch of trunk diameter.
      • Small In-Ground Ornamentals: A common "spoon" rate is roughly 1 teaspoon per gallon of estimated root volume (or per sq. ft. of surface area).
      • Spread evenly around the dripline. Avoid piling the granules against the base or trunk of the plant. For best results, lightly rake the granules into the top 1–2 inches of soil.
      Container plants:
      • Apply 1 tea spoon per 1 gal of soil (mix in with soil) every 6 months during active growth period, or with every re-potting.
    • Water normally after application.
    • Adjustment for Temperature. Because Green Magic is temperature-controlled, adjust your rate if your local climate is extreme:
      • Cooler Climates (<60°F average): Increase the rate by 20% to ensure enough nutrients are released.
      • Hot Climates (> 80°F average): Decrease the rate by 20% to prevent over-releasing as the heat speeds up the process.

    ☀️🌿 Step 2 – Active Growing Season

    • Apply Sunshine Boosters during the growing season.
    • Regular feeding (maintenance): Mix with tap water according to the ratio on the label. For SUNSHINE Robusta use 25 ml (5 tsp)per gallon of water and spray leaves every 5-7 days during active growth.
    • Correction feeding ("medicine" dose): if plants show visible nutrient deficiencies, combine SUNSHINE Robusta with SUNSHINE Superfood and spray every 5–7 days until new growth appears healthy. All SUNSHINE Boosters products are compatible and can be mixed with water in the same sprayer.
    • Best time to spray: early morning or evening when temperatures are cooler and leaves can absorb nutrients efficiently.
    • Important: spray both the top and underside of leaves for maximum absorption.

    Tacca  plant  (bat  flower)  showing  strong  vegetative  growth  and  flower 
 bud  development  in  the  same  season  after  feeding  with  Green  Magic 
 fertilizer.

    Tacca (bat flower) showing vigorous growth and producing flower buds in the same season after feeding with Green Magic.
    Swipe left/right to see all data ↔️

    📊 Seasonal feeding schedule with Green Magic and Sunshine Boosters.

    Season Product Method Goal
    Spring (March) Green Magic Soil Surface 6-month steady nutrient base.
    Growing Season Sunshine Boosters Foliar (Every 5-7 days) Calcium & Bio-available growth power.
    Late Summer Green Magic Soil Surface Replenish foundation for Fall.
    Winter Sunshine Epi Foliar/Drench Cold tolerance and shipping recovery.

    Quick Dose Reference

    • Green Magic: 1 teaspoon per 1 gallon of soil volume.
    • Sunshine Boosters: 25 ml (5 tsp) per 1 gallon of water.
    • Pro Tip: Always spray in the early morning or late evening to prevent leaf scorch and ensure maximum absorption through the stomata.

    ❓Frequently Asked Questions: Plant Nutrition & Fertilizer

    General Fertilizer Concepts

    Why is the"Spring Fertilizer Rush"a problem?
    Most gardeners apply a large amount of traditional fertilizer once in March. This creates a"roller coaster"effect where plants get a sudden spike of nutrients followed by weeks of starvation. This leads to inconsistent growth and potential"fertilizer burn."

    What is"fertilizer burn"?
    Traditional fertilizers are made of soluble salts. When too many salts accumulate around the roots, they actually pull water out of the plant tissues (osmosis), dehydrating the plant and damaging sensitive root tips and leaf edges.

    Is there a difference between"Slow-Release"and "Controlled-Release"?
    Yes.

    • Slow-Release: Relies on natural factors like moisture and soil microbes to break down. It is often unpredictable.
    • Controlled-Release: Uses engineered polymer membranes (like Polyon) to release nutrients at a specific, predictable rate based primarily on temperature.

    Green Magic & Temperature

    How does temperature affect my fertilizer?
    Most fertilizers are lab-tested at 75°F. In hot climates (90°F+), the nutrients release much faster. A"6-month"fertilizer might only last 3 months in the summer heat.

    How should I adjust Green Magic for my local weather?

    • Cooler Climates (<60°F): Increase the application rate by 20%.
    • Hot Climates (> 80°F): Decrease the application rate by 20% to prevent over-releasing.

    The Calcium Gap

    Why doesn't Green Magic contain Calcium?
    Calcium salts are highly soluble and can destabilize the polymer coating used in controlled-release granules. Therefore, most high-quality granules leave Calcium out. You can provide Calcium by using SUNSHINE Boosters

    Why is Calcium so important for new growth?
    Calcium is the"bone"of the plant, building strong cell walls. Unlike other nutrients, it is immobile—the plant cannot move it from old leaves to new ones. If you don't provide a constant supply, new leaves and fruit will emerge distorted or weak.

    Advanced Science & Troubleshooting

    What makes Sunshine Boosters"Bioavailable"?
    Unlike most liquid fertilizers that use EDTA chelators, Sunshine Boosters are amino-acid based. They use organic acids and glycine to escort minerals into the plant, allowing it to incorporate nutrients into its proteins almost immediately.

    Will these fertilizers affect the taste of my fruit?
    No. Sunshine Boosters are made from pharmaceutical-grade components and contain no urea or harmful salts, ensuring your harvest (like Mangoes or Avocados) has a pure, natural flavor without a chemical aftertaste.

    ✨ Green Magic - 15% Off This Week

    Give Your Plants a Strong Start This Spring
    Green Magic - 15% OFF.

    Build the foundation for the entire growing season with a steady, long-lasting nutrient base.

    No coupon needed. The discount is automatically applied at checkout.
    Offer valid through 03/21/2026. Discount applies to Green Magic products only. Not valid on previous purchases and cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts. Offer subject to change without notice.
    Sunshine: So Green Magic feeds the plant for months. Does that mean I can forget about Sunshine Boosters?

    Smokey: Not quite. Green Magic is the steady base diet. Sunshine Boosters are the weekly power drink during active growth.

    Sunshine: Ah. Like my regular meals and donuts on top.

    Smokey: Exactly. Plants eat slowly from Green Magic, and once a week they get a fresh boost.

    Sunshine: Sprinkle once, then boosters every week. The plant grows, I drink coffee, and nobody forgets anything important.

    Smokey: Except where you left the donuts.

    Sunshine: Smokey... nobody forgets donuts. Ever

    🛒 Feed your plants

    ✍️ Learn more about fertilizers

    Date: 1 Apr 2026

    Happy Passover!

    Happy Passover!
    Happy Passover!

    Sunshine: I fixed the donut problem. And I brought mango.
    Smokey: Non-traditional. Compliant. Happy Passover.

    • 🥭 Some traditions stay exactly as they are. Others - adapt. On our patio this Passover, Smokey kept things properly grounded (wine in hand), watching closely as the table filled with familiar symbols. Sunshine, meanwhile, solved a practical problem the only way he knows how: creatively. No leavened donuts allowed? Fine. Matzah donuts it is. And since no celebration should be short on sweetness, a plate of fresh mango quietly found its place at the table.

    • 🥭 That is gardening in a nutshell. You respect the rules, but you work with what grows, what thrives, and what brings joy. A tropical garden teaches the same lesson every day: conditions change, but abundance is always possible if you choose the right plants.

    • 🥭 This season, whether you are planting something new or enjoying the fruits already within reach, take a note from Smokey and Sunshine. Stay within the rules - but do not be afraid to make them work for you.


    🛒 Explore Mango varieties · Shop fruit trees

    #Mango #Food_Forest

    🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals