Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 22 Oct 2025

Detailed Cassia and Bauhinia Care Guide

Outdoor Cassia and Bauhinia Care

Light: Both Cassia and Bauhinia need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Cassias handle intense heat; Bauhinias can take light afternoon shade.
Soil: Use loose, fast-draining soil. Mix equal parts garden soil, coarse sand, and compost.
Watering: Keep evenly moist but never soggy. Cassias tolerate dry spells once established; Bauhinias prefer steady moisture. Water when the top inch feels dry.
Feeding: For profuse flowering, feed with liquid Sunshine Boosters Megaflor that is safe to use with every watering, year around. You may also apply Green Magic controlled release fertilizer every 6 months. Bauhinias and Cassias respond quickly to feeding.
Pruning: After flowering, prune lightly to shape and remove dead tips. Cassias can be trimmed to shrub form; Bauhinias stay bushy with pinching.
Mulch: Add a 2-inch mulch layer around the base to conserve moisture and prevent weeds, but keep mulch off the trunk.
Cold protection: Most Cassias handle brief frost; some Bauhinias like B. acuminata and B. monandra must be sheltered below freezing. For cold nights, cover with frost cloth or move containers into shelter.
Dormancy: Outside of tropics, most Bauhinias drop leaves in winter for a short period of time, right before flowering and are called "semi-deciduous". Cassias stay evergreen.

Indoor or Porch Care (cool-climate growers)

Container: Choose a sturdy pot with several drainage holes, one size larger than the root ball. Unglazed clay or thick plastic pots work best for heat regulation. Use a light, well-drained mix such as professional soilless mix Abundance. Both Cassias and Bauhinias dislike soggy roots. Add a thin layer of coarse gravel at the bottom to improve drainage. Repot every 1–2 years in spring
Light: Brightest spot possible - south-facing window or heated sunroom. Supplement with a grow light if sunlight is weak.
Temperature: Keep potted trees in warm environment for best results. The optimum temperature for Cassias and Bauhinias is between 60–85 F, although many species can tolerate cooler temperatures. Avoid cold drafts and sudden drops.
Humidity: Average indoor humidity is fine; occasional misting keeps foliage glossy.
Watering: Water sparingly in winter when growth slows; allow the top inch to dry between waterings. Do not let roots sit in water.
Fertilizing: Feed with Sunshine Boosters Megaflor that is safe to use with every watering, year around, to maintain flowering indoors. You may also apply Green Magic controlled release fertilizer every 6 months.
Pest watch: Check undersides of leaves for aphids or whitefly. A light spray of neem oil or insecticidal soap clears them fast.

"Whether you crave golden summer fireworks or soft orchid blooms that last nearly all year, both Cassia and Bauhinia bring pure joy to the garden. 💖 Bring color that never quits."

Did you know: Fall is the best planting season — roots grow faster and you’ll have flowers by spring!

✔️ Fall Planting Guide

🛒 Shop Tropical Flowering trees

Date: 1 Jan 2026

Why young trees need staking?

Mango trees with bamboo support

Mango trees with bamboo support

Staking young trees

Staking young trees

🌳 Why young trees need staking?

Staking a young tree is simple but important. The goal is to attach a bamboo stake to support the trunk, encourage straight growth, and-most importantly-prevent the stem from wiggling.

Young trees grow fast and vigorously, but their trunks are often much taller and heavier than their root systems can support. At the same time, those trunks are still thin and flexible. Even light wind can cause the tree to rock back and forth. This movement disturbs developing roots and slows establishment.

❗️ Without proper support:

🔹 The trunk can break in strong wind.
🔹 Roots loosen instead of anchoring.
🔹 The trunk may grow crooked.
🔹 The tree becomes uneven and less stable long-term.

🌳 How to stake correctly

🌳 Small trees

🔹 Create an A-frame with one bamboo stake.
🔹 Attach near the top, forming a triangle.
🔹 Do not push the stake right next to the trunk. It may look neat, but it can damage roots and will not provide proper stability.

🌳 Medium trees

🔹 Use 2-3 tie points along the trunk.
🔹 Use soft green garden tape, 1/2" wide.
🔹 Secure firmly but allow slight movement.

🌳 Tall or heavy trees

🔹 Use a strong support such as a metal pipe. We use 1" aluminum electrical conduit.
🔹 Attach with wider green tape, about 1" to protect the bark.
🔹 Build tripods around larger trees.

❗️ Important maintenance tips:

🔸 Check ties and tape often-every few weeks to once a month.
🔸 As the tree grows, re-adjust the tape so it does not cut into the trunk as it thickens and doesn't cause any rot.
🔸 Re-position bamboo stakes as needed, and be ready to replace them with a larger, stronger stake as the tree grows.

These rules apply to both potted trees and trees planted in the ground. Proper staking early on helps your tree establish faster, grow straighter, and develop a strong, stable root system for the future.

📸 Mango trees in 7 gal pots with "nursery-style" bamboo stakes that create a neat "standard". When stepping up or planting in the ground, attach a new stake and keep it away from the trunk.

🛒 Explore fruit trees and flowering trees

#Food_Forest #Trees #How_to

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 7 Oct 2025

🌸 Caring for Winter-Blooming Trees

Tips from Top Tropicals Plant Expert - Tatiana Anderson

When northern gardens fade into gray, our tropicals wake up. Winter is color season here - and even if you live up north, you can still enjoy these same flowering trees indoors or on a sunny patio.

From the fiery Royal Poinciana to the golden Tabebuia and violet Jacaranda, these eight trees prove that winter can bloom anywhere

How to Care for Winter-Flowering Trees

We're often asked, at Top Tropicals, “Can I really grow tropical trees in winter?” Yes — with the right light and care, you can. Here’s what works best both outdoors and indoors, according to our expert, Tatiana Anderson.

🌡️ Fall Planting Guide

Let’s talk about timing, because that’s the part most people get nervous about. Everyone asks: “Isn’t it too cool to plant now?” — and the answer is no! Fall and early winter are actually the best months for tropicals in Zones 9 to 11.

Here’s why: the air has cooled off, but the soil is still warm. Roots love that combination. They quietly spread underground while the rest of the plant takes a break. By spring, those roots are ready to feed a burst of new growth — and that’s when you’ll see the first big flush of flowers.

Pick a sunny spot that gets plenty of light — six to eight hours if you can. Loosen the soil and mix in compost or pine bark so it drains well. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the pot and just as deep. Set the plant level with the ground, backfill, and water it deeply to settle everything in. Then add mulch — two or three inches is plenty — but keep it away from the trunk so it can breathe.

Tatiana’s tip: “Fall planting builds roots while everyone else is resting. By spring, your tree wakes up ready to grow.”

🌳 Outdoor Care (Warm Climates Zones 9–11)

Now, let’s talk about what happens after planting — because real gardening starts once the plant is yours. Tropical trees thrive on routine: steady sunlight, deep watering, and just a bit of attention.

Water them about once a week when the weather is mild, more often if it’s dry or windy. Always check the soil first — if it feels dry two inches down, go ahead and water. Mulch helps more than most people realize — it keeps roots cool in summer and warm in winter, and it saves you from watering as often.

Now, for those of you in Zone 9, here’s the truth: your trees can take a chill, but they don’t love surprises. A quick night in the upper 20s F won’t hurt mature plants, but young ones appreciate a little help — a frost cloth or being planted at the south side.

And don’t underestimate the wind. Cold, dry gusts can burn leaves faster than frost. Use fences, hedges, or taller shrubs as windbreaks, and take advantage of microclimates — those warm pockets next to the house, brick patios, or corners that get extra afternoon sun.

Tatiana’s tip: “A tropical garden in Zone 9 isn’t about fighting nature — it’s about cooperating with it. Find the warm corners, protect from the cold wind, and your trees will thank you with flowers all winter.”

🏚️ Indoor & Patio Care (Cooler Climates)

For our northern friends — yes, you can grow tropicals indoors! You just need good light, warm air, and a little attention.

Pick a large pot, with drainage holes and a light tropical soil mix. Place it in a bright window — south or southwest if you can — or under grow lights for about 12–14 hours a day. Keep temperatures between 65 and 85 F, and water when the top inch of soil dries out.

Misting helps keep leaves clean and adds humidity. Rotate the pot every couple of weeks so all sides get sun. In summer, move your plant outdoors gradually so it can enjoy real sunlight — then bring it back in before nights drop below 40 F.

Tatiana’s tip: “Don’t be afraid of growing trees in pots. They adapt beautifully — just select the right trees and pay attention to their needs.”

✔️ Learn more: Secrets of Winter planting - tropical planting breaks the rules.

🎥 Watch short videos about Winter Bloomers:

💲 Special Offer – 20% off Winter Bloomers!

Get 20% OFF winter bloomers with code

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Min order $100. Excluding S/H, valid online only, cannot be combined with other offers.

Hurry, offer expires October 13, 2025!

👉 Explore Winter Flowering Plants

Date: 19 Jul 2019

How to grow Soursop in a pot

Q: Is it possible to grow soursop in a large pot for life?

A: Soursop, or Guanabana - Annona muricata - is actually one of those tropicals fruit trees that can be easily cultivated in a container. Most plants of genus Annona have compact nature, and these fruit trees usually start production at a young age, as early as 3 years from seed. Annona muricata seedlings take a little longer to fruit, this is why we offer grafted trees, which can start producing right away.
We have a very interesting article about growing Soursop in an apartment. The article was written by an indoor gardener who lives in a very small apartment in Moscow, Russia. He grew this tree from seed and after years of cultivation fun, he finally got several large delicious fruit! It is an amazing story. We have it published in our Tropical Treasures magazine, download the whole issue #7, get a hard copy, or you may download PDF file of the single article.

Recommended fertilizers and supplements:

Fruit Festival Plant Food - Super Crop Booster
Mango-Food - Smart Release Fruit Tree Booster
SUNSHINE-Honey - sugar booster

Date: 9 Aug 2021

Care of Desert Roses

Q: I am looking forward to my three desert roses I just ordered from you and I am wondering how to take care of them, especially during winter time. Should I put the pots in full sun or shade? What kind of soil do they like? How often should I water them? When it gets cooler, should I bring them inside? We do have occasional frost here during winter.

A: Here are a few tips for your desert roses:

1. When received Adenium from mail-order, unpack carefully; branches are fragile. Plant in well-drained potting mix. Cactus mix will do, but we recommend special Adenium mix. If using regular acidic peat-based potting mix, you may add sea-shells on top of soil to neutralize acidity: adeniums prefer alkaline soils. Using clay pots is beneficial. Water once and do not water again until soil gets dry. Place in bright shade until new leaves sprout, then the plant can be moved to full sun.

2. Adenium is a succulent, but not a cactus. It needs watering, however let soil dry before waterings. Reduce watering during cool season and discontinue when plant gets dormant (drops all leaves in winter).

3. Bright light is the best for profuse flowering. However, adeniums look much healthier in slightly filtered light rather than in all-day full sun.

4. Fertilize and spray leaves with liquid fertilizer SUNSHINE Megaflor - Nutrition Bloom Booster. Phosphorous is responsible both for flowering and caudex development. Avoid caudex, spray over foliage only. Dry fertilizer can be used only during hot months.

5. Watch for spider mites during hot and dry season.

6. Give plants a break during winter dormant season. Keep in bright shade and reduce watering to 1-2 per month or stop watering if temperature is below 65F.

More info on growing Desert Roses:
What you need for successful growing Adeniums
Overwintering Adeniums outside of tropics
Growing Exotic Adeniums - Growing Exotic Adeniums

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