Date: 24 Jun 2018
Our honest advise on Holiday Gift Plants
Q: Any suggestions on gift plants? With Holidays around the corner, I've been thinking of getting a present for my grandma, she lives in FL and is an experienced gardener. I also have a friend that lives in CA, also warm climate, but she doesn't have a green thumb. Any "easy" plants I can try for her?
A:
Live plant is a perfect gift, as we all know. However when
ordering a plant online as a present, for a happy
experience, you should have three things to consider:
1) Gardener's experience. Planting instructions are
included with every order, and usually success is there if
you follow them. But all plants go through shipping stress
(some more, others less) and need time, patience and love
to recover. Also, a plant will need a new home after
shipping: a pot and a good soil mix. It would be wise if
you add potting mix with a gift
order; the plant should be planted in a permanent pot as
soon as possible, but normally can wait a day in a packing
bag until its new owner gets a pot, if it is not ready
yet.
2) How easy the plant is? If buying a plant for a
beginner, chose something easy, as well as showy. Adeniums - Desert Roses, Jasmines, Clerodendrums, Cordylines are always a good
choice. Calatheas, Gingers and
Heliconias are always showy, even when not in bloom.
Spice trees and herbs are
fun, easy to grow and one can enjoy their aroma right away
without waiting on them growing bigger. Miracle Fruit is an awesome
present, it comes with detailed instructions how to grow
the Miracle!
3) How easy the plant ships? Some plants can be
easy in cultivation, but they don't take shipping well.
After being in a dark box for a few days, most plants
usually recover well in experienced hands. When making a
present, you want something showy, not just a stick to
arrive. Besides Adeniums and Jasmines, many fruit trees
usually take shipping without a problem - such as Mango or Sapote trees. You may not
want to start with Avocado, Papaya, Carambola, or Cacao - unless they go to
an experienced grower - these may take some time and skill
to etanblish. Fig trees are super easy in
shipping, but figs may drop leaves in Winter - for this
same reason, you may think twice about deciduous plants
like Sugar Apples, Grapes, Mulberries or Persimmons to be sent as
gifts. On the other hand, if you are sending a deciduous
tree to a gardener who can appreciate the variety, this
may be a good choice - dormant plants take shipping with
less stress!
Holiday special: On the picture: Adenium Xmas Santa. A Holiday Special Desert Rose with Christmas-colored flowers - deep-red and white.
Still not sure which plant to choose? You may buy a Top Tropicals Gift Certificate
Date: 31 Dec 2023
What to do with a Dragon fruit?
Q: What can you do with Dragon Fruit? I bought some from the grocery store, but they don't have much flavor.
A: Dragon fruit, or Pitaya, comes in many varieties that differ in flavor, sweetness, and texture. In the store they usually carry simple varieties that are easy to ship and store but have very little flavor. This is why we prefer grow our own Dragon Fruit, same way like we grow many varieties of Mango - to enjoy their excellent flavors that you can't find in a store. Our favorite is the Yellow Dragon Fruit that is not only the sweetest of all but also have the best flavor, with pineapple-mango hint. It is best enjoyed fresh out of hand.
Yellow Dragon Fruit - Selenicereus megalanthus Equador Golden
Dragon Fruit Smoothie: simple and tasty recipe
Dragon fruit, regardless of variety, makes excellent smoothies. A perfect Dragon Fruit Smoothie can be made with a creamy blend of dragon fruit, mango, and banana. The tropical flavor is played up with a squeeze of fresh lime.
Ingredients
Mix in a blender:
2 dragon fruit, peeled
1/2 cup of mango pulp
- banana
1 cup of milk of your preference - tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp Lime juce
Some Ice
-
Mint for decoration
Dragon fruit contains lots of of nutrients, most notably high vitamin C and iron. Its low calorie content helps give it superfood status because of high nutrient density. Try it today, even from the grocery store! Although these fruit can be quite costly. So, plant your own Dragon Fruit variety collection and enjoy an endless palette of deliciousness!
Date: 24 Jan 2025
Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
Mango Keitt (Mangifera indica)
# 1: Mango Tree.
- 🥭 Mango trees (Mangifera indica) are a Florida garden essential, and if you own one, you're truly embracing the Sunshine State's spirit!
- 🥭 Delicious, Nutritious Fruit: Known as the "King of Fruits," packed with vitamins and fiber.
- 🥭 Fast-Growing & Low-Maintenance: Thrives with minimal water once established, and is heat-tolerant.
- 🥭 Quick Fruit Production: Grafted trees produce right away and you can expect large crops in just 2-3 years.
- 🥭 Cold Protection: Young trees need protection from frost, but mature trees handle cold better.
- 🥭 Compact Varieties Available: Dwarf "condo" mangoes are perfect for containers and smaller spaces.
- 🥭 Grafted Varieties for the Best Taste: When selecting a mango tree, be sure to choose a grafted variety for an immediate payoff of high-quality, fiberless fruit. Grafted trees will produce sweet and flavorful mangos right away, unlike seedling trees, which can take up to 7-8 years to bear fruit. Grafted mangoes are known for their rich taste, which you can find only in home gardens. Commercially grown mangos, while more durable for shipping, tend to be fibrous and less flavorful. Opting for a grafted variety ensures that you enjoy the full, vibrant sweetness of mangoes.
📚 Learn more from previous posts:
- 🟡about #Mango trees
- 🟡10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
🛒 Shop Mango varieties
#Food_Forest #Mango
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date: 6 Jul 2024
How to eat ice cream every day without feeling guilty
Mango Orange Essence
🍧 How to eat ice cream every day without feeling guilty
Mango season is here! If you own a big tree, this means - you probably need to eat a lot of fruit within a short period of time
Here is a tip: make an ice cream!
You can eat this healthy Gelato ice cream every day without feeling guilty.
🍦 All you need for mango Gelato:
🥭 Mango fruit
Ice
🌀 Blender
A shot of your favorite Rum
🍨 You're welcome. Enjoy!
🛒 Plant a Mango tree today to enjoy your Gelato tomorrow
#Recipes #Food_Forest
🏵 TopTropicals
Date: 3 May 2025
How to choose the right Mango variety?
Watch Top Tropicals on TV 📺
Do you love mangoes but feel overwhelmed by all the varieties? Don't worry - at Top Tropicals, we've got you covered!
Visit our garden center in Ft. Myers or BFarm in Sebring, FL, and let our fruit tree expert Kristi help you choose the perfect mango trees for your garden.
📱 Watch ABC7 Fort Myers News: Mango Varieties with Kristi at Top Tropicals👇
📚 Learn more about #Mango
#Food_Forest
🛒 Shop the Finest Mango Varieties online
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals