Date: 27 Jul 2023
Top varieties of pineapples
Q: I want to grow my own pineapples, which varieties do you recommend for the best production? Do I need any special organic fertilizer?
A: Growing your own pineapple is pure bliss. Watching the transformation from a small crown
into a luscious fruit is immensely rewarding. Every tropical gardener should
experience the joy of growing this tropical gem and relishing its sun-kissed
sweetness straight from the garden. Pineapples are easy to grow and can
fruit in containers too, so if you live in a colder climate, no problem! They
will take very little space in your greenhouse or sunroom. Just remember to feed
your pineapple plants with Sunshine Boosters so they will feed you the biggest and the sweetest
fruit! Sunshine Boosters are natural, organic-amino-acid based plant nutrients
that are perfect for any edibles.
There are several varieties of pineapples in commercial cultivation. Below
are the most interesting cultivars. Discover the pineapple paradise!
Elite Gold: Bursting with tropical flavor and vibrant gold flesh, Elite Gold dazzles with its unique taste and ornamental beauty.
Florida Special: Perfectly balanced sweetness and acidity, this variety thrives in warmer climates, gifting you a taste of Florida's sunshine.
Sugar Loaf: Irresistibly sweet with a hint of citrus, Sugar Loaf's compact size makes it an ideal choice for container gardening.
White Jade (Spineless Sweet): Exceptionally sweet and without spines, White Jade pampers you with a delectable, thorn-free harvest.
Lava Burst (Burgundy Variegated Rainbow): This visually stunning ornamental pineapple variety boasts striking burgundy and green leaves, resembling a rainbow of colors. Its fruit edible but small; its exceptional beauty adds a touch of exotic elegance to any garden or indoor space. Lava Burst is a delightful conversation starter and a captivating addition to your plant collection, making it a favorite among pineapple enthusiasts for its aesthetic appeal.
Embrace the sense of accomplishment and the satisfaction of savoring homegrown, mouthwatering pineapples - nature's sweetest gift!
Read more about Pineapples: The most luscious Hospitality Fruit.
Date: 21 Mar 2023
How to grow Calathea indoors
In the photo: Calathea zebrina - Zebra Plant
Calathea is a beautiful and popular houseplant known for its unique and colorful foliage. Here are the steps to grow calathea indoors:
1. Choose a suitable location: Calathea plants prefer bright,
indirect sunlight, so choose a location near a window with filtered light. Avoid
direct sunlight as it can scorch the leaves.
2. Select a pot that is slightly larger than the plant's root ball
and has drainage holes. Fill the pot with a well-draining potting mix that is
rich in organic matter. Plant at the same depth as it was in its previous
pot.
3. Water: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Use room temperature
water and avoid using hard water or water that contains high levels of
minerals.
4. Provide humidity: Calathea plants thrive in humid conditions, so
provide them with regular misting or place a tray of water near the plant to
increase humidity. You can also use a humidifier to maintain optimal humidity
levels.
5. Fertilize: Apply Sunshine Boosters liquid fertilizer. It is safe
to feed the plant with Rubusta formula with every watering and year around. Feeding plants is
especially important in Spring when active growth starts.
6. Prune any yellow or damaged leaves regularly to keep the plant
healthy and attractive. Use clean, sharp scissors to make clean cuts.
By following these steps, you can successfully grow a beautiful and healthy Calathea plant and any beautiful container plant indoors.
In the photo: Calathea makoyana
Date: 26 Jan 2022
Don't miss this one:
PodCast Premiere!
Episode 1
How to Protect Tropical plants in Winter: Q & A
Featuring Horticulturist Mark Hooten
...We are introducing our new Series: Top Tropicals Podcast. Growing tropicals and pushing the limits. Watch the first episode:
How to Protect Tropical plants in Winter
...Who doesn't like tropical beauty? Everyone wants tropical plants. But not everyone lives in a warm climate. Is it possible to grow tropicals outside of Tropics?
Top Tropicals horticulturist Mark Hooten, who is well known to many
gardeners as the Garden Doc with his
Saturday Plant Clinic, is answering gardeners' questions about how to prepare and protect tropical plants during winter...
Premiere scheduled:
Thursday, January 27, 8:00 AM
More about cold hardiness and cold protection:
Cold hardy tropical fruit trees
Growing Stephanotis and cold protection
Cold protection of tropical container plants
Plumeria cold protection
Ghost Cold Protection
Seven rules of cold protection for tropicals
Improving cold hardiness before winter: fertilizer and micro-elements
3D garden ideas and winter cold protection
Cold protection - winter action for your plant collection
About Cold Protection
Date: 12 Jan 2022
Strobilanthes, Chinese Rain Bell
- a source of Blue, Green, and Purple...
by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
...Spectacular, elegant, fountain-like small shrub, featuring thin
arching branches covered with pink bell flowers from Fall throughout Winter and
Spring. And yet is has a rich history of use: extensive medicinal properties as
well as a source of the famous dye Assam Indigo. The leaves and stems
contain indican, used in production of the classic Blue Indigo Dye. A dark Blue dye is obtained
from the twigs. It is combined with Turmeric (Curcuma longa) to make Green, and with Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) to make Purple...
...Cold hardy, compact, yet fast growing and easy, it makes a wonderful container specimen even for beginners...
CONTINUE READING >>
Date: 5 Jan 2022
Wake up to the smell of Coffee...
New Video:
Grow your own Coffee plant - Free Coffee
Everyday!
In this video we talk about growing Coffee easily in your own yard. Coffee is the best gift plant and perfect house plant or container fruit tree. The white, fragrant, star-shaped flowers are clustered and resemble gardenias to which they are related. The whole fruit is edible, it is a small fleshy berry changing in color from green to yellow to red. The seeds are the actual "coffee beans" as they called, they can easily be dried, roasted and ground at home. The most common coffee is Coffea arabica; other varieties include Coffea catura - Dwarf Coffee Nanico and Coffea Kona - Hawaiian Coffee Tree Mauna Loa.
WATCH NEW VIDEO >>
Stay updated with TopTropicals Videos by subscribing to our channel at YouTube.com/TopTropicals and get our latest video news of what is fruiting and blooming!
