Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 2 Nov 2025

Winter flowering trees and shrubs - all you need for winter color in your garden

🌺 Winter flowering trees and shrubs - all you need for winter color in your garden.



Many snowbirds ask what to plant when they’re here just for the season. The answer is simple: go for trees and shrubs that bloom in winter. Fall is the perfect time to plant them, so your garden bursts with flowers once the cool season arrives.

📱 We put everything in one place for you!


Check out this single YouTube Post with all our favorite winter-blooming trees and shrubs - your shortcut to a colorful garden this season:
https://youtube.com/post/UgkxRWCHqNDqrRIIwK_BAeWjfi3spnZK0EbA?si=LbNv_RhkKGkc0rxv
Save it for later and share it with your garden friends.

🌸 Videos on Winter flowering trees and shrubs:
👉 See more...

🛒 Want to grow your own winter color garden?



🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 16 Mar 2026

🌱 💪 Green Magic + SUNSHINE Boosters: A Complete System for Strong Plant Growth

By Tatiana Anderson, Horticulture Expert at Top Tropicals with Smokey & Sunshine help

Nearly  dead  houseplants  (Dracaena,  Syngonium,  and  Spathiphyllum) 
 recovering  and  growing  vigorously  after  treatment  with  Green  Magic 
 fertilizer  and  Sunshine  Robusta  plant 
 booster.

Green Magic recovery test with SUNSHINE Robusta support: Dracaena, Syngonium, and Spathiphyllum revived from severe stress and growing vigorously.

☀️🌱 Sunshine Boosters: Complete Plant Nutrition

Sunshine Boosters provide complete plant nutrition, including Calcium and micronutrients that plants need for strong growth. Because nutrients are delivered in liquid form, plants can absorb them quickly and respond almost immediately.

The Practical Problem

Liquid feeding works well, but it requires frequent application. In real gardens, many growers simply do not have time to add liquid fertilizer with every watering.

Green Magic: The Foundation

Green Magic solves this problem by providing steady background nutrition through controlled-release fertilizer. It feeds plants gradually, so they continue receiving nutrients even between liquid feedings.

Why This Combination Works

Together, this system provides both complete nutrition and steady feeding. Sunshine Boosters supply fast nutrients and Calcium, while Green Magic maintains a stable nutrient supply between feedings.

✍️ How to Feed Your Plants

📅 Step 1 – Start of the Growing Season

  • Apply Green Magic around the root zone every 6 months.

    In ground:
    • Small Shrubs (1–3 feet): Use approximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup per plant
    • Established Trees: Use 1/2 lb to 1 lb of product per 1 inch of trunk diameter.
    • Small In-Ground Ornamentals: A common "spoon" rate is roughly 1 teaspoon per gallon of estimated root volume (or per sq. ft. of surface area).
    • Spread evenly around the dripline. Avoid piling the granules against the base or trunk of the plant. For best results, lightly rake the granules into the top 1–2 inches of soil.
    Container plants:
    • Apply 1 tea spoon per 1 gal of soil (mix in with soil) every 6 months during active growth period, or with every re-potting.
  • Water normally after application.
  • Adjustment for Temperature. Because Green Magic is temperature-controlled, adjust your rate if your local climate is extreme:
    • Cooler Climates (<60°F average): Increase the rate by 20% to ensure enough nutrients are released.
    • Hot Climates (> 80°F average): Decrease the rate by 20% to prevent over-releasing as the heat speeds up the process.

☀️🌿 Step 2 – Active Growing Season

  • Apply Sunshine Boosters during the growing season.
  • Regular feeding (maintenance): Mix with tap water according to the ratio on the label. For SUNSHINE Robusta use 25 ml (5 tsp)per gallon of water and spray leaves every 5-7 days during active growth.
  • Correction feeding ("medicine" dose): if plants show visible nutrient deficiencies, combine SUNSHINE Robusta with SUNSHINE Superfood and spray every 5–7 days until new growth appears healthy. All SUNSHINE Boosters products are compatible and can be mixed with water in the same sprayer.
  • Best time to spray: early morning or evening when temperatures are cooler and leaves can absorb nutrients efficiently.
  • Important: spray both the top and underside of leaves for maximum absorption.

Tacca  plant  (bat  flower)  showing  strong  vegetative  growth  and  flower 
 bud  development  in  the  same  season  after  feeding  with  Green  Magic 
 fertilizer.

Tacca (bat flower) showing vigorous growth and producing flower buds in the same season after feeding with Green Magic.
Swipe left/right to see all data ↔️

📊 Seasonal feeding schedule with Green Magic and Sunshine Boosters.

Season Product Method Goal
Spring (March) Green Magic Soil Surface 6-month steady nutrient base.
Growing Season Sunshine Boosters Foliar (Every 5-7 days) Calcium & Bio-available growth power.
Late Summer Green Magic Soil Surface Replenish foundation for Fall.
Winter Sunshine Epi Foliar/Drench Cold tolerance and shipping recovery.

Quick Dose Reference

  • Green Magic: 1 teaspoon per 1 gallon of soil volume.
  • Sunshine Boosters: 25 ml (5 tsp) per 1 gallon of water.
  • Pro Tip: Always spray in the early morning or late evening to prevent leaf scorch and ensure maximum absorption through the stomata.

❓Frequently Asked Questions: Plant Nutrition & Fertilizer

General Fertilizer Concepts

Why is the "Spring Fertilizer Rush" a problem?
Most gardeners apply a large amount of traditional fertilizer once in March. This creates a "roller coaster" effect where plants get a sudden spike of nutrients followed by weeks of starvation. This leads to inconsistent growth and potential "fertilizer burn."

What is "fertilizer burn"?
Traditional fertilizers are made of soluble salts. When too many salts accumulate around the roots, they actually pull water out of the plant tissues (osmosis), dehydrating the plant and damaging sensitive root tips and leaf edges.

Is there a difference between "Slow-Release" and "Controlled-Release"?
Yes.

  • Slow-Release: Relies on natural factors like moisture and soil microbes to break down. It is often unpredictable.
  • Controlled-Release: Uses engineered polymer membranes (like Polyon) to release nutrients at a specific, predictable rate based primarily on temperature.

Green Magic & Temperature

How does temperature affect my fertilizer?
Most fertilizers are lab-tested at 75°F. In hot climates (90°F+), the nutrients release much faster. A "6-month" fertilizer might only last 3 months in the summer heat.

How should I adjust Green Magic for my local weather?

  • Cooler Climates (<60°F): Increase the application rate by 20%.
  • Hot Climates (> 80°F): Decrease the application rate by 20% to prevent over-releasing.

The Calcium Gap

Why doesn't Green Magic contain Calcium?
Calcium salts are highly soluble and can destabilize the polymer coating used in controlled-release granules. Therefore, most high-quality granules leave Calcium out. You can provide Calcium by using SUNSHINE Boosters

Why is Calcium so important for new growth?
Calcium is the "bone" of the plant, building strong cell walls. Unlike other nutrients, it is immobile—the plant cannot move it from old leaves to new ones. If you don't provide a constant supply, new leaves and fruit will emerge distorted or weak.

Advanced Science & Troubleshooting

What makes Sunshine Boosters "Bioavailable"?
Unlike most liquid fertilizers that use EDTA chelators, Sunshine Boosters are amino-acid based. They use organic acids and glycine to escort minerals into the plant, allowing it to incorporate nutrients into its proteins almost immediately.

Will these fertilizers affect the taste of my fruit?
No. Sunshine Boosters are made from pharmaceutical-grade components and contain no urea or harmful salts, ensuring your harvest (like Mangoes or Avocados) has a pure, natural flavor without a chemical aftertaste.

✨ Green Magic - 15% Off This Week

Give Your Plants a Strong Start This Spring
Green Magic - 15% OFF.

Build the foundation for the entire growing season with a steady, long-lasting nutrient base.

No coupon needed. The discount is automatically applied at checkout.
Offer valid through 03/21/2026. Discount applies to Green Magic products only. Not valid on previous purchases and cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts. Offer subject to change without notice.
Sunshine: So Green Magic feeds the plant for months. Does that mean I can forget about Sunshine Boosters?

Smokey: Not quite. Green Magic is the steady base diet. Sunshine Boosters are the weekly power drink during active growth.

Sunshine: Ah. Like my regular meals and donuts on top.

Smokey: Exactly. Plants eat slowly from Green Magic, and once a week they get a fresh boost.

Sunshine: Sprinkle once, then boosters every week. The plant grows, I drink coffee, and nobody forgets anything important.

Smokey: Except where you left the donuts.

Sunshine: Smokey... nobody forgets donuts. Ever

🛒 Feed your plants

✍️ Learn more about fertilizers

Date: 24 Sep 2025

The SECRET growers never tell you: simple trick how to bring plants back to life and keep green

Green Magic Fetilizer makes plants green

🌳 The SECRET growers never tell you: simple trick how to bring plants back to life and keep green

  • 💚 Green Magic is plant food that really works. It keeps your plants green, strong, and growing steady.
  • 💚 We call it Magic - because it even brought back plants we thought were gone! So thу Green Magic can bring dead to live!
  • 💚 The secret is slow release. Most dry fertilizers dump everything at once, burn the roots, then disappear. Green Magic feeds little by little for six months straight. No burn, no guesswork, just steady food that plants love.
  • 💚 It's perfect for potted fruit trees, ornamentals, and houseplants. One handful is all it takes, and your plants stay fed for half a year.


✔️ How to use:


Mix in 1 teaspoon per gallon of soil when potting, or sprinkle on top once every six months. That's it!

✔️ Why it works:

  • Feeds slowly and evenly for six months
  • Keeps leaves green and plants healthy
  • Strong growth, even for weak or struggling plants
  • Works in any climate, indoors or out
  • Great for containers, trees, and ornamentals
  • This isn’t a flower booster. It’s a growth booster. The kind of steady food that builds strong plants for life.

  • 👉 Watch your plants come back to life and thrive with this professional-grade, controlled-release fertilizer - Green Magic. Even struggling plants can turn lush and green again.
Give it a try - your plants will thank you!

🛒 Buy once, feed for 6 months!

📚 Learn more


#Fertilizers #How_to
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 1 Aug 2023

Yuca Fries Recipe

Food from your garden

Yuca  root  fries  recipe

Ingredients:

1 medium-sized Yuca Root
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt, to taste
Optional: spices or herbs of your choice (paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, etc.)

Instructions:

Prep the Yuca: Peel the Yuca root with a sharp knife and remove any fibrous parts. Cut the Yuca into evenly sized sticks or fries.

Boil the Yuca: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the Yuca fries. Cook for about 10-15 minutes until the fries become tender but not mushy. You should be able to pierce them easily with a fork.

Drain and Cool: Drain the boiled Yuca fries and let them cool for a few minutes. Preheat your oven to 425F during this time.

Seasoning: Toss the slightly cooled Yuca fries in olive oil, ensuring they are evenly coated. Add a pinch of salt and any additional spices or herbs you prefer for added flavor.

Baking: Arrange the seasoned Yuca fries in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the Yuca fries for about 25-30 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even browning.

Serve: Once they turn golden and crispy on the outside, take the Yuca fries out of the oven. Serve them hot as a delicious and unique alternative to regular fries. You can enjoy them as a side dish with your favorite dipping sauce or as a snack on their own.

These Yuca fries are not only tasty but also a great way to introduce friends and family to this delightful tropical root vegetable! Enjoy your yuca-culinary adventure!

Manihot  esculenta,  Yuca  Root,  roots

Date: 21 Dec 2022

Heat [Cat] Pack for Winter shipping

James  Coconuts  and  Riki  staying  warm  and  cozy

In the photo: James Coconuts and Riki are purrfectly hot People!

Not too warm on the way to your home? No problem! Heat Pack will help your plants to have a safe and warm trip from Top Tropicals to your house.

Heat  pack

Heat Pack maintains warm temperature while shipping, and is good for 20+ hours. It is a must if temperature drops below 40F in your area. Large orders require 2-3 packs. When ordering large 3-7 gal size plants (especially sensitive ultra-tropical plants), you may need 1 pack per plant. Contact us for more information on particular species.

Alternatively, we can include a warm cat!
(subject to limited supply)