Date: 12 Apr 2019
Dwarf Red Ginger - more than just a pretty face
Q: I've just recently moved to Florida from North Carolina. I don't know much about tropical plants. Can you perhaps suggest an easy and pretty flowering plant for a beginner which I can plant around my garden pond for a tropical feeling?
A: For adding that tropical look to your garden, few plants beat
beautiful ginger! Alpinia purpurata, the Dwarf Red Cone Ginger with its bright red floral
spikes and lush, lance-shaped foliage is no exception. This striking
perennial will add a tropical effect to your garden that will definitely take your
breath away.
The Dwarf Red Cone grows between 3 and 4 feet tall and blooms 8-9
months of the year! The blooms will hold on the plant for up to 3 weeks! It makes
a very attractive and distinctive backdrop for other plants.
Red Cone Ginger likes partial shade and moist, humid conditions, but
will tolerate full sun. It is fast growing, easy to grow and resistant to
disease, heat, and insects. The plant is a wonderful accent in a garden and works
well as a focal point specimen, show-stopping when planted around garden
ponds or near entryways. This ginger also works very well in containers and
planters. Either in mass plantings or smaller groups, all gingers add tropical flair which never disappoints.
In addition, the beautiful flower spikes make for great, long-lasting
cut flowers and is an interesting addition to bouquets.
An added bonus? Dwarf Red Ginger is super easy to propagate. If stems
are cut at the base and placed in water, they will generally root within a few
weeks. Eventually, you can make a whole flowering hedge just from one
plant!
Who does not like a plant that is non-fussy and not only beautiful but easy to grow? Dwarf Red Ginger is more than just a pretty face!
To keep this plant happy and blooming, give it some food: Broad Leaf Plus - Ginger-Heliconia-Banana Booster
Date: 22 Oct 2024
How
to grow Jackfruit in a pot:
the biggest fruit in the world
Q: Can I grow Jackfruit in a pot?
A: Yes, you can! Jackfruit trees, despite producing the largest tree-borne fruit in the world - up to 80 pounds and 36 inches long - can thrive and fruit in containers. The tree has a clever feature: it grows fruit only at the base of the trunk, allowing you to manage its height and size. With regular pruning, the tree can stay compact at just 6-7 feet tall, making it perfect for pot culture.
1. Getting started: pot sizes and growth tips
Start with: A 3-7 gallon container.
As it grows: Gradually increase to a 15-25 gallon pot by the time it
reaches fruiting size (2-4 years).
Pruning is key: Keep the tree topped at 6-7 feet to focus its energy
on fruit production.
Fertilize regularly: Use high-quality plant food like Sunshine Boosters C-Cibus to promote healthy growth and fruit
development. C-Cibus is the best natural plant food for fruit and edibles.
2. Fun facts about Jackfruit - Artocarpus heterophyllus
A mature Jackfruit tree can produce 200 pounds of fruit per year.
The fruit consists of large, sweet, yellow bulbs with a banana-like
aroma.
Seedlings start fruiting within 3-4 years, with fruits ripening in just 4-6
months after flowering.
3. Cold tolerance of Jackfruit trees
Though often thought of as ultra-tropical, mature trees can withstand light frost for short periods without major damage. Keeping Jackfruit in pots also offers an easy way to move them indoors during cold spells if you're in a cooler climate.
4. Secrets for successful Jackfruit production
- Frost-free temperatures are essential.
- Use rich, organic soil with compost, manure, or peat moss.
- Maintain moist soil with regular watering.
- Constant pruning to keep the tree under 7 feet promotes healthy
fruiting.
- Apply fertilizer and microelements regularly for better fruit quality.
By following these tips, you'll be able to enjoy the world's biggest fruit right from your patio!
Learn more:
About Jackfruit
How to grow the
biggest fruit on Earth
Cheena - Jackedack
Videos:
Jackfruit
Fruit
Date: 23 May 2025
What fruit can reduce your blood pressure?
Q: Can you recommend trees which fruit are beneficial for balancing blood pressure? I have limited space, so I want to be selective and grow a food forest that truly supports my health.
A: You don't need to spend $$$ on doctors and medications to stay healthy and young. By eating right and adding a few powerful plants and fruits to your diet, you can naturally keep your blood pressure in check. If you plant them today - you can harvest your own medicine tomorrow. And don't forget - gardening itself is therapeutic! It keeps you active, reduces stress, and helps your whole body stay in balance.
💚 Top ten tropical fruit that help reduce blood pressure:
🍈 Jackfruit - Contains potassium and magnesium, which help relax blood vessels and regulate blood pressure.
🍉 Guava - Rich in potassium and fiber, supports vascular health and may help lower blood pressure.
🍊 Papaya - High in potassium and antioxidants, promoting healthy blood pressure.
🍌 Banana - Well-known for its high potassium content, which helps counteract sodium and lower blood pressure.
🍍 Pineapple - Contains potassium and bromelain, which may support circulation and reduce inflammation.
🍅 Persimmon - High in fiber and antioxidants, which can contribute to better heart and vascular function.
🍇 Mulberry - Contains resveratrol and other antioxidants linked to heart health and blood pressure support.
Tamarind - Rich in potassium and fiber, may help regulate blood pressure and support arterial health.
🍑 Loquat - Contains potassium, aiding in fluid balance and blood pressure control.
🍒 Tropical Cherry (Eugenia) - Contains antioxidants and supports healthy circulation.
Date: 12 Jun 2025
Father's Day Sale!
This Father's Day, celebrate with a food forest - don't just mow, grow! Plant something meaningful that will not only bring joy today but also provide delicious fruit, edibles, and fragrant blooms for years to come. Whether you're a father or celebrating one, this is the perfect day to plant and nurture a garden that will thrive, just like the love you share with your family. Plant today to enjoy the fruits of your labor tomorrow!
Use the code below to save 15% on your entire order:
FATHERS25
Min order $150. Excluding S/H. Exp. 6-15-25
Reminder: use our FREE and DISCOUNTED SHIPPING for qualified orders
Join our local event:
June 14, 2025 - Father's Day Plant Market, 9 am - 4 pm
Join us on Saturday June 14 for Father's Day Plant Market
- Kids, bring your dads and surprise them with the gift of a tree! Let them
pick any tree they like and plant it together.
- Fathers, bring your kids and teach them how to connect with nature - show
them how to plant a tree and grow something lasting!
Stroll through our lush gardens, meet the friendly PeopleCats, and enjoy a fun day for the whole family. Our team will
help you choose the perfect plants for your space and guide you every step of
the way.
Event Highlights:
30% OFF online prices
FREE plant with any purchase (including Guava)
Gift bags for first 25 customers with $50+ order
$5-10 specials
$10-20 Large
Banana Trees - many varieties!
Exciting raffle prizes
Green
Magic fertilizer FREE samples
Live music by the Famous Hand Pan Lady!
Event discounts valid at both locations:
Ft Myers Garden Center: 13890 Orange River, Ft Myers, FL
Sebring B-Farm: 9100 McRoy Rd, Sebring, FL
Date: 18 Dec 2018
Christmas Special - Lolita Cherry
This amazing cherry is by far our favorite. Lolita is an exclusive
variety of Black fruited Surinam Cherry that starts as red and turns black as it
ripens. The fruit has exceptional flavor and has no aftertaste, unlike regular
Surinam cherries. It is large, 1-1.5"size, super sweet when fully ripe. The
tree is a dwarf statue, 5-6 ft or smaller if pruned. It is upright and
freely branching. Plants start flowering and fruiting in 1 gal container. The
plants we have in stock are ready to fruit in 2019.
These cherries are cold hardy and can take short periods of frost. Once
established, the plant can withstand upper 20's without damage.
Lolita is very hard-to-find, and we have limited quantities, hurry up!
To expedite your order for Christmas, request rush shipping in order notes, contact us