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

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

☀️🌱 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.

📊 Seasonal feeding schedule with Green Magic and Sunshine Boosters.

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.

✨ Green Magic - 15% Off This Week

🛒 Feed your plants

✍️ Learn more about fertilizers

💕How would you like to give a Valentine plant gift?

Choose the plant

If you already know what feels right, choose the plant now. Sweetheart Hoya is a favorite for a reason, and there are other Valentine plants to explore if you want options.

A good choice when you feel confident, love plants, or are gifting something meant to live indoors.

Let your Valentine choose

If timing, weather, or choice feels uncertain, a Gift Card keeps the moment simple. Your Valentine can choose the perfect plant when the time is right.

Especially helpful for gardeners up north, or when you want the gift to unfold later.

About shipping and timing

We ship live plants with care and pay close attention to weather along the way. If conditions are not right, we may hold a shipment briefly to keep plants safe.

If timing or weather makes you hesitate, a Gift Card is an easy way to give a Valentine gift now and choose the plant later, when conditions are perfect.

More Valentines Gift Plants

• Valentines plants from around the world that symbolize love, connection, and appreciation. 👉Learn
• Top nine plants of love, desire, and the senses: aphrodisiacs and sensory connections. 👉Learn
• Four popular plants of friendship, appreciation, and shared connection. 👉Learn
• Eight favorite plants of romance, affection, and emotional connection. 👉Learn

🌿 Bring the Jungle Inside: Winter Survival Guide. Part 3. Watering and Humidity. ❄️

💦 Water, Humidity, and the Small Things That Decide Who Makes It to Spring

In Part 1 (Winter Survival Guide: Temperature) we covered the foundation: light, placement, and acclimation. That is the survival layer.

Part 2 (Winter Survival Guide: Temperature) is about what quietly ruins plants indoors in winter. Not overnight. Slowly.

Most winter losses come from good intentions and habits that worked fine outdoors or in summer, but fail indoors when growth slows.

Watering: Where Most Indoor Plants Die in Winter

If there is one winter skill that matters more than anything else, it is knowing when not to water.

In winter, light is weaker, temperatures are lower, roots stay cold longer, and growth slows or stops. Plants simply do not drink the way they do in summer.

How winter watering actually works

Do not water on a schedule. Winter does not care about your calendar.

Instead:

• Water thoroughly when you do water.
• Let excess drain out.
• Then wait longer than feels comfortable.

Before watering, test the soil with your finger. Water only when the top inch or so is dry.

If the soil below still feels cool and damp, do nothing. That is the hardest skill to learn.

Remember what we covered in Part 1: in winter, soil and roots stay cold much longer. Cold roots absorb water very slowly. Wet, cold soil is not helpful moisture. It is stress.

Waiting is often the correct move.

Common winter watering traps

• The soil surface looks dry, but the root ball is still wet.
• Pots near windows dry unevenly.
• Large pots stay wet for weeks.

Always check below the surface. If the pot feels cold and heavy, roots are not asking for water yet.

Signs you are watering too much

• Soil stays wet for many days.
• Pot feels heavy long after watering.
• Leaves yellow and soften.
• Fungus gnats appear.

As a rough guideline, most indoor tropicals need 25 to 50 percent less water than summer, sometimes even less in low light.

Always use room temperature water. Cold water shocks roots and slows recovery.

Humidity: Invisible Winter Stress

Winter indoor air is dry. Often far drier than people realize.

Heating systems pull moisture out of the air, and many homes sit at 20 to 30 percent humidity all winter. Most tropical plants prefer something closer to 50 to 60 percent.

Low humidity rarely kills plants outright. It weakens them first. That is why pests show up more often in winter. The plant is already stressed before insects arrive.

What low humidity looks like

• Brown or crispy leaf edges.
• Curling leaves.
• New leaves stuck while unfolding.
• Spider mites appearing suddenly.

What actually helps

• Group plants together.
• Use pebble trays.
• Run a room humidifier.
• Use bathrooms if light allows.

Humidity works best when plants are grouped. One isolated plant in dry air struggles far more than a group sharing moisture.

Misting leaves feels helpful, but it only raises humidity for minutes. It does not fix dry air.

Cleaning Leaves: More Important Than It Sounds

Winter light is already weak. Dust makes it worse.

Dusty leaves block light, clog stomata, and create hiding places for pests.

Wiping leaves is one of the simplest winter care steps, and one of the most ignored.

How to clean

• Soft cloth.
• Plain water.
• Mild soap if needed.

Gently wipe. No scrubbing. Every few weeks is enough.

Plants with fuzzy leaves, like African violets, should only be brushed gently with a dry brush.

Clean leaves also make problems easier to see. You will spot mites, scale, or damage early instead of discovering it weeks later.

Winter is not the season to be surprised.

Soil and Pots Behave Differently Indoors

Soil that works outdoors often behaves badly indoors. No wind, lower evaporation, and cooler roots mean the same soil stays wet far longer than expected.

In winter, roots care more about oxygen than water. Soil that stays wet pushes oxygen out, even if the plant looks fine above the soil line.

This is why rot often appears suddenly in late winter, not right after watering mistakes.

Pot size matters

Large pots dry slowly. Slow drying plus cool soil equals rot.

If a plant is barely growing, a very large pot is not doing it any favors.

About repotting

Winter is not the time to repot unless you must.

Only repot if:

• Roots are rotting.
• Pests are severe.
• The plant is clearly failing.

Repotting in winter slows recovery and often makes things worse.

Airflow: Quietly Important

Indoor winter air is still. Still air leads to mold, fungus, and spider mites.

Airflow is not about cooling plants. It is about breaking stagnant air layers that pests and fungus love.

A small fan on low, not blowing directly on plants, makes a big difference. Even gentle movement helps more than people expect.

Drainage and Mold: Boring but Critical

Never let pots sit in water.

Standing water causes root rot, fungus gnats, and mold smell. Always empty trays after watering.

Raise pots slightly so air can move underneath. It helps more than people expect.

If you smell sour soil or a musty odor, something is staying wet too long. That smell is an early warning, not a minor issue.

Fertilizer: Mostly Stop

This is where a lot of winter damage happens.

If a plant is not actively growing, fertilizer does not help. It hurts.

In winter, most indoor tropicals are in maintenance mode, not growth mode. Feeding during this time leads to salt buildup, root burn, and weak, floppy growth.

Green leaves do not mean the plant is growing. They often just mean the plant has not given up yet.

Growth shows up as new leaves, longer stems, or expanding roots. No growth means no feeding.

When light feeding is acceptable

Only if all of these are true:

• The plant is warm.
• Light is strong.
• You see real new growth.

Even then, feed lightly and less often than summer.

Spring will come. You do not need to force it.

Common Winter Care Mistakes

• Watering on a schedule.
• Misting instead of humidifying.
• Fertilizing to fix poor light.
• Ignoring cold windowsills.
• Placing pots on cold tile or stone.
• Repotting out of boredom.
• Letting trays stay wet.
• Assuming green leaves mean growth.
• Assuming winter leaf drop always means death.

Quick Winter FAQ

My soil stays wet forever.
Too little light, too cold, or pot too large. Water less.

Leaves are crispy but soil is wet.
Low humidity combined with overwatering.

Should I mist every day?
No. Fix the air, not the leaves.

Can I fertilize just a little?
Only if the plant is clearly growing.

Why do I suddenly have fungus gnats?
Wet soil indoors is the invitation.

My plant looks fine but has not grown in months. Is that bad?
No. Stability is success in winter.

When Bigger means Better

Everybody loves shopping online nowadays, and plants are no exception. Buying plants by mail order is not uncommon anymore; it only takes one click, and luckily, there are many sources - from big shopping malls like Amazon to small backyard nurseries that sell their seedlings on eBay or Facebook - all delivered to your door. But plants are alive... So when doing your online plant shopping, you must ensure that you fully enjoy your experience and are happy with a healthy plant that a) doesn't die; b) recovers quickly; and c) starts growing fast, so you can see flowers and fruit as soon as possible.

The rule of thumb for shipping plants: bigger plants undergo shipping better, experience less stress, less leaf drop, and recover quicker than plants with smaller root systems. So when it comes to buying plants online, the bigger, the better. Unfortunately, many mail-order plant sources may sell you a tiny twig that has very few chances of surviving. Shipping is very expensive today, so shipping a bigger size plant may cost more than the plant itself.

Below is a piece of advice on how to make the best plant selection for your garden...

Photo above: Loquat trees in 3 gal containers.

5 important rules on how to buy trees online

1. Find a source with bigger plants. Check reviews, ask friends for recommendations, inquire from the company about the size of their plants and how they pack their plants for shipping.
TopTropicals offers well-established, strong plants with developed root system, in container sizes 1, 3, 7, 15 gallon, directly from a tropical Florida growing farm. Our unique plant-packing techniques are state of the art!

2. Price not always reflects the size and quality of the plant
TopTropicals offers many deals, discounts and sales, while still providing the biggest and strongest plants grown in real tropical conditions.

3. Most fruit trees must be grafted to produce good fruit. Make sure you are not purchasing a seedling when it comes to Mango, Avocado, Peaches and some other trees with named varieties that don't come true to seed.
TopTropicals offers only grafted - Mango, Avocado and a large number of other tropical cultivars.

4. Pick up when possible from the nursery your ordered from, or get a delivery, instead of shipping the plants. A drive to the nursery will save you more time and money in the future, plus you can hand-pick the biggest and healthiest specimens.
TopTropicals is open 7 days a week for your convenience. Visit our Ft Myers Garden Center or Sebring Farm to select the biggest plants.

5. Take advantage of X-Large size plant material if you live outside the tropical zone and are trying to zone-push your tropical garden. Bigger plants will establish faster and have more chances to survive cold winters. Again, it will save you money in a long run (although bigger plants may be more expensive, but their survival rate is much higher when it comes to cold nights).
TopTropicals offers X-Large flowering and fruiting trees (7-15-25 gallons), and most of the varieties you see in our online store can be custom-ordered in big sizes. Delivery and installation available.

Photo above: Avocado trees in 7 gal containers.

Photo above: Magnolia champaca - Joy Perfume Tree in 25 gal container.

When the Black Bat Lily decides to bloom

Every so often a plant blooms and the whole greenhouse seems to slow down.

That is what happened this week with the Black Bat Lily, Tacca chantrieri. We have grown Taccas for years, but when the black ones open properly, it still feels special. The flowers are dark and quiet, almost unreal up close. They do not shout for attention. They make you lean in.

Right now, we have a lot of them blooming at the same time. If you have never seen one in person, photos only get you part of the way there. The wings are darker than you expect, and the whiskers seem to go on forever. People walk into the greenhouse, stop, stare, and usually ask the same question: "Is that real?" - Yes. It is.

A quick honest note, because this matters. The blooms themselves are delicate and may not travel well. That is just the nature of this plant. The plants, however, are strong, well established. With the right conditions, they bloom again. This is not a one-time trick.

Black Tacca is not a beginner houseplant, but it is also not impossible. It likes filtered light, steady warmth, and humidity. It does especially well in a greenhouse or a bright indoor spot where you already keep plants that enjoy moisture. It is the kind of plant you keep close, not one you forget in the corner.

We are offering them now simply because they are ready and looking their best. If you have been waiting for one, this is a good moment.

You can see the Black Bat Lily here: https://toptropicals.com/store/item/2345.htm

Just wanted to share something we are enjoying in the greenhouse right now. Some plants come and go. Some stay with you.

Tacca (Bat Lily) FAQ

What is Tacca?

Tacca, also known as Bat Lily or Devil Flower, is a tropical plant grown for its unusual bat-shaped flowers with long whisker-like filaments. The most popular species is Tacca chantrieri, the Black Bat Lily.

Is Tacca hard to grow?

Tacca is not a beginner plant, but it is not impossible. It does best with warmth, humidity, and filtered light. Gardeners who already grow orchids, calatheas, or other humidity-loving plants usually do well with Tacca.

Does Tacca need a greenhouse?

A greenhouse is ideal, but not required. Tacca can be grown indoors in a bright spot with indirect light and good humidity, such as near a humidifier or in a bright bathroom with a window or skylight.

Will my Tacca arrive in bloom?

Plants may be blooming in the greenhouse, but flowers are often removed before shipping because they are delicate and do not travel well. The plants are well established and capable of blooming again with proper care.

How often does Tacca bloom?

Tacca does not bloom constantly. It may take time to establish before flowering, but once settled, it can bloom seasonally and may produce multiple flowers in warm, humid conditions.

Does Tacca grow from a bulb?

Tacca grows from a rhizome, not a bulb. The rhizome stores energy and allows the plant to regrow and bloom again.

Why does Tacca have long whiskers?

The long filaments are thought to help attract pollinators such as flies by mimicking the look of decaying organic matter. While unusual, this is part of the plant's natural pollination strategy.