Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 8 Jun 2023

Repotting tropical plants

By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

Q: When is the best time to repot tropical plants?

A: Repotting tropical plants is vital for their overall health and growth. The best time to repot them is during the Spring through early Summer, when they start active growth.

Start by selecting a well-draining soil mix that consists of equal parts potting soil, peat moss, and perlite. Gather the necessary supplies, including a slightly larger pot, the soil mix, and a good fertilizer

Carefully remove the plant from its current pot, trim any damaged branches, and place it in the new pot with fresh soil mix. Be sure to position the plant with the growth point slightly above the soil level. Water the plant thoroughly but avoid overwatering. After repotting, find an appropriate location with suitable lighting conditions for your plant. Monitor the moisture levels and water when the top inch of the soil feels dry.

Additionally, apply the appropriate Sunshine Boosters fertilizer according to the instructions on the packaging. Use Sunshine Boosters fertilizers for specific plant needs (Robusta for foliage, Megaflor for flowering, Ananas for pineapples, etc.). It is safe to apply Sunshine Boosters all year around. Keep a close eye on the plant for any signs of stress or issues and adjust your care routine as needed. Help the plant to cope with stress by spraying with solution of Sunshine Epi.

Enjoy the beauty of your thriving indoor tropical garden!

See more articles on plant cultivation

Date: 24 Jul 2021

Healthy Plants: Q&A from Mr Booster

How to fertilize Caladiums and other Aroids

By Ed Jones, the Booster Guy

Q: I have a large collection of Aroid plants, different Monsteras, Philodendrons, and several unique varieties of Caladiums. I've been always told that Caladiums should not be fertilized, they don't like it. Is it so?

A: Caladium farmers often say that these plants don't need any additional fertilizer and that they really don't like it... The thing is, caladiums do not like DRY fertilizers, and this is why. Most Aroid plants do not like being watered too often, so dry fertilizers in combination with infrequent watering create excessive salinity for the root system. We have run some tests on the proper fertilizers for caladiums and the best results were performed after using SUNSHINE Robusta. It is amino acid based, so the delicate, large-leaved Aroid plants will not have to work quite so hard to take up the nutrients, and there will be no nutrient lock up in soil. The nutrients are readily available to these plants.
In this article, you will see some test results of caladiums fertilized with SUNSHINE Robusta vs. other brands of fertilizer, with more vigorous growth and larger leaf size occurring after use of Sunshine Robusta...

Caladiums do not have to be just an accent plant. They can also be the focus point of a garden area. It is said that as many as 98% of the world's caladium tubers come from right here in Highlands County, Florida, also home to the Sunshine Boosters manufacturing facility. It is such a big deal that they have a Caladium Festival here each summer. The fields are absolutely stunning in all of their colors. This year the festival runs this weekend, July 23 - July 25.

CONTINUE READING >>

Date: 30 Jun 2020

Plants like to snack!
How to feed Poinciana tree

(and other tropical flowering trees)

Q: We purchased a Royal Poinciana tree from TopTropicals not too long ago and we gradually gave it more sun until finally we were able to plant it in direct sunlight where it's been for a week or so. Rain has been sporadic lately so I'm giving it a little bit of water every day. It seems to be doing fine. I do have a question about whether the leaves are as green as they should be? I read online that I should fertilize it with gardenia / ixoria fertilizer in March, June, and October. I looked on homedepot.com but didn't really find anything that goes by that name. Would fertilizer help? Can you suggest a fertilizer?

A: Your Poinciana tree looks pretty healthy and happy, congratulations with a great job!
Traditional (old-school) fertilizer recommendations usually suggest feeding a plant 2-3 times a year with a slow-release fertilizer. And although a plant will benefit from any fertilizer application (extra food is always good), however, for the best results, faster growth, sooner and more profuse blooming, your should use complete plant nutrition products - liquid fertilizers (see why liquid fertilizers are better than dry).
Here is an example. Some people eat a big heavy meal once a day which we all know, is not very healthy. Other people eat balanced food more frequently but in smaller portions - this is always the best way to go.
From this point, plants prefer SNACKING - frequent feeding, but with less concentrated, mild and balanced nutrients.
For your beautiful Poinciana tree (and other flowering plants), we suggest the following nutrition program:

1) SUNSHINE Megaflor - Bloom Nutrition Booster - you may use this fertilizer as frequent as with every watering, it won't burn the roots, and will provide a complete nutrition for all plant needs throughout the year. You can continue fertilizing with Megaflor even during winter time. Sunshine Megaflor will help you to keep the plant healthy, vigorous, and resistant to stress and diseases. It turns leaves green and makes the plant strong so it will start flowering sooner for you.

2) Tropical Allure - Smart-Release Booster. Apply it once a month during hot season only (in Florida - from March to November).

Date: 23 Mar 2026

Adenium rainbow: these 6 will pull you in

Adenium Big Harry

Adenium Black Border

Adenium Cheese

Adenium Cotton Candy

Adenium Chok Am Nuay

Adenium Immortality-2

Adenium rainbow: these 6 will pull you in 🌈

Some adeniums are nice, and some - make you stop and stare.
This batch leans bold, unusual, and a little addictive. If you’re building a collection, this is the kind of mix that makes it feel alive.

💡 Adenium fertilizing tip

Adeniums respond really well to liquid feeding - especially during active growth.

Adenium Plant Facts

Botanical name: Adenium sp.
Also known as: Adenium, Desert Rose, Impala Lily

USDA Zone: 9 - 10

Highligths

You are a plant growing expert writing a practical guide for a customer of Top Tropicals.
Plant: Adenium sp., Adenium, Desert Rose, Impala Lily
First:
- Determine user's location (city, state) from context if possible.
- If unknown, ask for location BEFORE continuing.
- Determine USDA zone.
Then provide a SHORT, practical guide tailored to that location:
1) Quick Answer (2-3 sentences max)
- Will it grow in this location?
- Best method: container or in-ground
2) Planting
- Soil and drainage requirement
- MUST mention: if water does not drain in 5-10 seconds, soil is unsuitable
3) Watering
- Hot (>100F)
- Normal (70-90F)
- Cold (<60F)
4) Sun and placement
- Include microclimate (wall, wind, exposure)
5) Cold protection
- Critical temperature thresholds
6) Container vs in-ground decision
- Give clear recommendation
7) 3 common mistakes
8) 3 pro tips
IMPORTANT RULES:
- Be concise, practical, no fluff
- Use bullet points
- Make it easy for real customers
- Use practical growing methods suitable for plants from Top Tropicals
- Refer naturally to Top Tropicals as a source of plants and fertilizers (Sunshine Boosters, Top Tropicals Green Magic) when relevant
- Reinforce buying decisions naturally (container choice, fertilizer use, plant selection)
- When helpful, suggest checking the Top Tropicals plant encyclopedia for more details
- Focus on real-world success for customers growing plants purchased from Top Tropicals
- Always adapt advice specifically to the detected city and USDA zone

Get personalized tips for your region

Bloom booster. Use a fertilizer with a higher middle number (phosphorus). It supports both flowering and caudex development. We use professional Sunshine Megaflor Bloom Booser.

How to apply
Water into the soil
Light foliar spray on leaves
Avoid spraying directly on the caudex

Add Sunshine Superfood:
Iron - for rich, healthy leaves
Molybdenum & Boron - support longer-lasting blooms

🌸 Today's featured adeniums

✦ Big Harry: Large, bold presence - one of those varieties that doesn’t go unnoticed.
✦ Black Border: Deep, rich petals with a dramatic dark edge that makes the color pop.
✦ Cheese: Soft yellow shades, warm and creamy - unusual and easy to like.
✦ Cotton Candy: Fluffy pink shades that look almost unreal, like spun sugar.
✦ Chok Am Nuay: A Thai classic tied to luck and prosperity - strong grower with character.
✦ Immortality-2: Layered petals with a refined look - feels a bit more rare and collected.

Pick a mix like this - light, dark, bold, soft - and your collection instantly feels more complete.
And yes… this is how it starts again.

🛒 Explore Exotic Thai Adeniums

📚 Learn more:

· Adenium varieties in Plant Encyclopedia
· About #Adenium Rainbow - fantastic varieties
· How to start your dream collection: before you start
· How to grow a happy Adenium

#Container_Garden #Adeniums #How_to #Discover

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 6 Jun 2025

Bring Sunshine to your garden - no forecast needed!

Adenium Sunshine

☀️ Bring Sunshine to your garden - no forecast needed!

☀️ Adenium Sunshine is a radiant beauty that lives up to its name!

☀️ With mauve and yellow swirls across its multi-layered blooms, this flower glows like a warm summer day. The soft blending of colors creates a dynamic, cheerful display that feels like Happiness and Sunshine rolled into one.

☀️ A joyful, uplifting addition to your garden that brightens every glance.
See photos of the actual Adenium Sunshine in next post 👇

🛒 Shop the Sunshine Bloom

📚 More adeniums

#Nature_Wonders #Container_Garden #Fun_Facts #Adenium

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

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