Q: Received my Avocado tree last week and I'm a bit concerned. Is
this wilting normal with a new plant? No yellowing, or dropping of leaves.
We moved it out of the sun but not sure how to handle?
A: This is normal for after-shipping stress. You did right,
position the tree away from direct sun, in shade, preferably under roof (patio?)
so it doesn't get over-watered with too much rain and you can control water
amount. We recommend to spray the leaves with pure water and put a large clear
plastic bag just over the crown (leave the soil to breath). Keep in shade.
Within couple days the leaves should perk up. Do not overwater. Water only when
the top of soil gets slightly dry. In a week or so, once the plant recovers,
you may start moving it gradually into full sun, then to its permanent spot
where you want to plant it.
Avocado is not an easy plant to establish. So be careful. It needs lots of
water, however, it doesn't like wet feet - so must be planted in a
well-drained spot, with at least 4-6"elevation (on a little"hill") so it never gets
water-logged. It needs daily water to establish and may need more than just a
sprinkler system, use additional hose water when establishing in the
ground.
Date: 31 Jul 2025
Anthurium Collector Set
These aren't your typical tropicals - they're collector-grade Anthuriums grown for foliage and texture. Each one brings something
different, but they all thrive in the same kind of setting: shade or filtered
light, warmth, and humidity. Perfect for growing in containers indoors or
out.
Anthurium Black Dragon
This is the most dramatic of the trio. Upright, leathery leaves shift
from dark green to nearly black depending on light. Instead of bright flowers,
it produces a dark brown spadix and glowing red berries. A hybrid not found
in the wild, it's grown from seed - no two are exactly alike.
Best for: Indoor focal plant, shaded patio, black ceramic pot
This one's about scale. Broad, crinkled leaves with a cardboard-like
texture form a bold rosette. It can get huge with time - up to 6 feet across.
Perfect for gardeners who want the "instant jungle" look.
Graceful and rare, this species sends out narrow strap-like leaves that can
reach 5–6 ft long. Ideal for hanging baskets or mounting. Bonus: it
produces small pink fruit against deep green foliage.
Best for: Hanging displays, vertical planters, bright bathrooms
Height: Leaf length, not upright height - up to 6 ft
Light:
Bright, indirect light is best. Avoid direct sun, especially mid-day. These
plants evolved in rainforest understory - think "dappled light under
trees."
Water:
Keep the soil lightly moist but not soggy. Let the top inch dry before
watering. They hate wet feet.
Humidity:
These are tropicals - they'll do fine in 50-60% humidity, but thrive at
70%+. Use pebble trays or place near other plants. Bathrooms with windows work
great.
Soil:
Use an airy mix: orchid bark + perlite + peat or coco coir. Drainage is
key. Never use plain potting soil.
Fertilizer:
Feed with SUNSHINE Robusta every 2–4 weeks during warm seasons. It's
formulated for aroids and won't burn roots.
Potting:
Use shallow, wide containers. Repot only every 2–3 years, or when
roots crowd the pot. They don't like frequent disruption.
Temperature:
Ideal: 65–85 F. Short dips to the 30s F are tolerated by mature
plants, but avoid cold drafts.
Q: My Clerodendrum thomsoniae is not blooming. Actually it is not doing much of anything except putting out weak growth and small leaves. I purchased this plant May 26. 2015. Over the winter it was in a heated sunroom, at night 60 degrees, where it received some direct sun from the skylights. I reduced the water to prevent excessive leggy growth. I don't see how this plant can take full sun or even part sun. Temps here in Raleigh NC are 80-85 degrees and 65-70 at night, at the moment. I figured I would gradually expose it to more direct sun after being in a sunroom but the leaves burn. I had this plant in San Jose many years ago where it did quite well, blooming with no special treatment. So thought I'd give it a try again. Any advice?
A: Clerodendrums are all time favorites, appreciated by both gardeners and house plant collectors, for their showy, fragrant flowers and very easy culture. When growing Bleeding Heart (Clerodendrum thomsoniae), a few things should be taken in consideration:
1) Temperature.Like most clerodendrums, this plant is semi-decidious outside of tropics and goes dormant in winter. It may lose some or all leaves if temperatures drop below 60-65F. It is not too cold sensitive, the plant can even take some light freeze. However when it is not hot and humid, it slows down metabolism. This means, water should be reduced during cooler months.
2) Light. This plant can grow in both sun and shade like most clerodendrums - this is the beauty of this genus. However like with all flowering plants, more sun promotes more bloom. In shade, it will grow beautiful dark green foliage (leaves will be bigger than in the sun) on the account of flowering; in full sun leaves turn lighter color and sometimes may even get unattractive "faded" look, but flowering will be profuse. Also remember that Arizona full sun is different than New York full sun. Here in Florida, Bleeding Heart can take some full sun, but if exposed to sun all day long, leaves often get sun burn.
3) Acclimation. Also called acclimatization - this is a process when a living organism adjusts to environment changes. Acclimation is always the case when growing plants indoors, even in a sun room. When Spring comes, and especially when we start taking outdoors those plants that have spent a few months indoors, light level increases dramatically, and this may cause leaf loss, and leaf burn. It is not necessarily a bad thing, it is just a mechanism of acclimation. Example: imagine yourself after living in a warm tropical climate, moving to a cold country. For a while your body will feel discomfort from "too much cold", while native residents may feel comfortable. We call it "My blood has thinned after living in Florida" - and this is a physiological fact. And vice versa, if you are a Northerner, moving to hot climate may be a challenge; it will take a while until you get used to hot and humid tropical summers. Same thing with plants: during cooler and darker period, their body (leaves and stems) becomes "winter type", with some serious chemical restructuring. Immediate environment change, like bright light and high temperature, causes a shock to those "winter cells", and as a defense mechanism, the plant gets rid of those useless "winter" leaves, replacing them with new "summer" leaves with completely new chemistry and metabolism.
From what you described, you know your plants, and you know what you are doing. You did everything right by reducing watering in winter and gradually moving the plant into brighter light. You still may see some stress, and this is normal. If you patiently keep changing environment slowly, eventually your plant will generate new healthy "summer" growth, it will also improve more vigorous root grown which will help the plant to establish better and to be stronger. You will see larger, thicker leaves, and definitely some flowers.
Date: 25 Jan 2026
How to grow Winter blooms without sun, indoors or out
Clerodendrum wallichiii - Bridal Veil
✨ How to grow Winter blooms without sun, indoors or out
⭐️ Clerodendrum wallichii - Bridal Veil, is one of those plants that quietly steals the show. It is a graceful shrub that drapes itself in long, hanging sprays of white, lightly fragrant flowers just when many gardens are slowing down. Around fall and into winter, it suddenly comes alive with cascading blooms that really do look like a veil.
Bridal veil Plant Facts
Botanical name: Clerodendrum laevifolium, Clerodendrum wallichii, Clerodendrum nutans Also known as: Bridal veil, Nodding Clerodendron
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths
⭐️ One of the things that makes Bridal Veil really special is that it blooms beautifully in bright shade, which is rare - not many flowering shrubs are happy without direct sun. Because it tolerates lower light so well and stays elegant in a container, it also makes a surprisingly great indoor plant in a bright room or sunroom.
⭐️ What you will love most is how elegant but easygoing it is. The plant grows upright with soft, arching branches, usually topping out around 6–7 feet, with narrow, pointed leaves that stay neat and refined. The green stems set it apart from some other clerodendrums, giving it a lighter, airier look even when it’s not in flower.
⭐️ Bridal Veil does best when you treat it gently. It likes bright light but not harsh afternoon sun, and it really appreciates protection from wind. Give it a spot with morning sun or bright shade, keep the soil evenly moist but well drained, and it rewards you without much fuss. It’s a great choice for containers, patios, or sheltered garden beds where you can enjoy the flowers up close.
⭐️ Another bonus - it blooms when you want it most. While many plants rest, Bridal Veil puts on its show from fall through spring, making it a favorite for winter-interest gardens in warm climates. Pollinators notice it too, especially when little else is blooming.
⭐️ If you like plants that feel a bit romantic, bloom off-season, and don’t need constant attention, this one earns its place fast. Bridal Veil is quiet, graceful, and unforgettable once you’ve grown it.
🌿 The Vanilla Plant That Outgrew Its
100-Gallon Container.
Smokey: Is that really the entire mother plant? Sunshine: Most of it. Smokey: What do you mean "most of it"? And why are there
donuts hanging from the plant? Sunshine: We still haven't found the other end. The donuts
attract pollinators. Smokey: Donuts do not attract pollinators. Sunshine: Then explain why I keep visiting the plant. Smokey: You work here. Sunshine: That's what the plant wants you to think. It's
called "Intelligent Design" for a reason.
The plant Sunshine is perched on is not a hedge. It is not a wall. It is a
single specimen of Vanilla
dilloniana, Dillon's Vanilla, and it has a name:
Intelligent Design. Unlike the familiar Vanilla planifolia
— the commercial vanilla of ice cream and extract — dilloniana
produces no leaves. The plant is essentially a green vine, photosynthesizing
entirely through its stems. It is an unusual and striking grower, and in
good
conditions it can develop into an impressive, multi-branched specimen.
It is classified as rare, and is considered vulnerable or endangered across
portions of its native range.
Vanilla dilloniana in full bloom before its next major
upgrade.
Intelligent Design was grown and lovingly tended for years by Robert
Riefer, a grower who is both a good friend of Top Tropicals and one of the
most
dedicated orchid collectors we know. The mother plant of this specimen
traces
its origins back to 1927 - nearly a century of continuous cultivation.
In 2011, the American Orchid Society recognized this remarkable plant with
a Certificate of Horticultural Merit (CHM), one of the society's formal
awards for plants of exceptional quality.
By 2017, the plant had already become well known in the orchid and tropical
plant community, appearing in a video that documented Robert moving it into
a 100-gallon container. That video became something of a legend among
collectors.
🎥 Video: the biggest Vanilla Orchid in the world moving to 100
gal pot
Then the plant kept growing.
It outgrew the 100-gallon container. Robert eventually moved it into a
250-gallon pool on wheels - because when a plant refuses to stop, you give
it
room.
The move to a custom 250-gallon container allowed continued growth and
flowering.
The plant is currently on display at Edison Ford Winter Estates museum and botanical garden in Ft Myers,
Florida, during the month of June, where recent photographs show it larger
and
more floriferous than ever. It is, as best anyone can determine, the largest
known cultivated specimen of Vanilla dilloniana in the world. If you
are local or visiting Florida, don't miss the chance to see this
world-famous
orchid in person. It is expected to continue blooming through June.
And here's the remarkable part: the Vanilla
dilloniana plants available from Top Tropicals are
propagated directly from this exact plant - Intelligent Design itself.
👉 A Piece of Living History - Direct from the Source
Every legendary Vanilla dilloniana starts somewhere. On the
left are
young Vanilla dilloniana plants. On the right is a more mature specimen in a
7-gallon pot beginning the characteristic wrap-around growth habit that
eventually transforms this unusual orchid into a sprawling, sculptural
giant.
Vanilla dilloniana is a rare species, considered vulnerable to
endangered across parts of its native Caribbean range. Plants with
documented
provenance - especially provenance tied to a named, award-winning,
century-old
specimen - are genuinely uncommon in cultivation.
What you would be growing is a direct descendant of the famous
Intelligent Design mother plant, carrying the same historic lineage
recognized by
the American Orchid Society.
For collectors, opportunities to acquire plants with this kind of
documented history are exceptionally rare.
This is how the legendary Vanilla
dilloniana mother plant, Intelligent Design, started its
world-famous "Godzilla" journey in 50-gallon container. It's in full bloom,
and
its leafless stems form a living sculpture, dotted with dozens of striking
orchid flowers that make this rare vanilla one of the most unusual
cultivated
orchids in the world.
Light:
Bright filtered light is ideal. Morning sun is generally well tolerated.
Avoid intense afternoon sun, especially during summer.
Ideal: Dappled shade, eastern exposure, greenhouse conditions, or
30-50% shade cloth.
Cold Protection:
In USDA Zones below 10, grow in a container and move indoors or to a
protected greenhouse before temperatures drop below 40F.
Humidity:
Prefers moderate to high humidity with good air circulation. Avoid cold,
stagnant, damp conditions.
Watering:
Water thoroughly, then allow the potting mix to partially dry before
watering again. Do not keep constantly wet.
In cool weather and winter, keep the soil on the drier side. Overwatering when temperatures are low is the most common
mistake.
Potting Mix:
Plant in a very fast-draining medium.
Recommended:Top Tropicals Abundance Mix.
The open structure allows excellent root aeration while retaining enough
moisture for healthy growth.
Support & Growth Habit: Unlike most vanilla orchids that
are trained vertically on posts or trellises, Vanilla dilloniana can be
grown
using the "Intelligent Design" method. Start with a sturdy support while the
plant is young, then allow the stems to wrap around themselves in wide
circles. As new growth emerges, continue guiding the vines around the
container.
Over time, the plant forms an impressive sculptural mound of intertwined
stems.
Container Growing:
Excellent for wide containers. The larger the mass of stems becomes, the
more impressive the display and the greater the flowering potential. Unlike
traditional vanilla culture, extensive vertical space is not required.
Repotting:
Move to progressively larger containers as needed. Rather than growing
upward indefinitely, the plant can continue expanding into a larger circular
mass, making it well suited for long-term container culture.
Fertilizing:
Feed lightly but consistently during active growth.
Recommended:Sunshine Booster™ Orchidasm.
Apply according to label directions every 2-4 weeks during warm growing
weather. Reduce feeding during cool periods or when growth slows.
Read our Guide to Sunshine Boosters™
Growth Rate:
Moderate to fast under warm conditions. Established plants can branch
freely and become surprisingly large over time.
The Flowers:
Pale green to yellow-green flowers with a deeply fluted reddish-purple lip
and yellow crest. Mature plants in bloom are highly prized by orchid
collectors.
The making of Intelligent Design. As Vanilla
dilloniana grows, its long leafless stems naturally wrap
around themselves, creating a dense sculptural mass of living vines. Even in
a
7-gallon pot, the plant is already beginning to develop the unusual growth
pattern that would eventually make its famous mother plant one of the
largest
cultivated specimens of its species.
The famous mother plant was named Intelligent Design by its
grower, Robert Riefer. After decades of growth, countless blooms, container
upgrades, and an apparent determination to occupy every available square
foot of
greenhouse space, the name seemed increasingly appropriate.
Unlike commercial vanilla, Vanilla dilloniana is grown primarily as a
collector's orchid. Its leafless, sculptural stems create a living tangle of
green
architecture unlike almost any other cultivated vanilla species.
Ready to grow this remarkable Vanilla dilloniana? Start your own chapter
in the story of Intelligent Design.
The unusual flowers of Vanilla
dilloniana emerge directly from its leafless stems,
creating a stunning contrast of pale green petals and vibrant purple
throats.
Smokey: We cannot guarantee that your plant will
eventually require a 250-gallon pool on wheels. Sunshine: We also cannot rule it out. Smokey: Officially, we cannot confirm that the plant
possesses intelligence. Sunshine: The evidence is mounting. Smokey: What evidence? Sunshine: It convinced humans to build larger containers,
move it into a 250-gallon pool on wheels, transport it to museum
exhibitions,
and place its agents in collections across the country. Smokey: That's called excellent horticulture. Sunshine: That's exactly what the Intelligent Design
plant wants you to think.
Anthurium Black Dragon
Anthurium hookeri – Giant Bird's
Nest
Anthurium vittariifolium – Long
Leaf Anthurium
