Q: What are the good varieties of mango trees available for container grow? Can you please share the
details?
A: There are some great varieties of Mango selected specifically
for container culture, they even have a nick-name - "condo mangoes". They
have compact growth habit and respond well to pruning to keep them in small
size. Here are a few of our favorites that we currently have in stock:
Glenn Ice
Cream Cotton
Candy
Mallika
Manilita Pram
Kai Mai Mun
Kun Si Maha
Chinook
You can see more condo mangoes on this page.
Q: Has anyone ever tried using heat packs under frost blankets to
protect tropical plants from frost?
A: The reality is, the heat packs used for shipping do not have enough heat capacity to create
efficient warming effect. From our own experience, the best way is to use
small 25W incandescent bulbs which produce lots of heat (considering observing
all safety precautions and fire safety). Some gardeners use Christmas lights.
See picture of our plants in the ground during a cold night. We called them
Ghost Cold Protection! ;)
Q: I was
always wondering how you guys manage to grow true tropical trees in Florida? I
live in Puerto Rico and we have Breadfruit trees growing here in a wild... but my sister lives not far
away from you, in Orlando, which is much colder, and I wonder if I can get
her a
Breadfruit tree for Christmas?
A: Your
sister can grow a Breadfruit tree in Orlando either in a pot (and bring it indoors during
cold periods) or in the ground inside a structure (an elclosed conservatory
with heating system). See our customer's Greenhouse in Virginia. Cold protection of tropical plants is a lengthy
subject and we have many interesting publications about it in our managine
Tropical
Treasures and on the website. In a nutshell, when growing tropicals outside of
tropical climate, you need to follow these 7 rules:
1. Cut watering to a minimum. Cold+wet kills tropical roots.
2. Water thirsty plants before a cold night. Jucy leaves have fewer
chances to be cold-zapped.
3. Wind protection is more important than a temperature drop. Plant
tropicals close to a house or surrounded by other trees.
4. Duration of a cold period is more critical than the cold itself. If
expecting long cold hours, bring up all available protection resources.
Christmas lights or propane heaters - as long as there is a heat source,
everything helps!
5. Remove plastic covers during the daytime so plants don't get
"cooked" in the sun. Fabric covers are better than plastic.
6. Grow ultra-tropicals in containers and bring them inside the garage
or even indoors during the cold.
7. Use SUNSHINE plant boosters and feed your plants well during Summer to improve cold hardiness.
Guavas love full sun — aim for 6–8 hours of direct light.
They’re adaptable to many soils but do best in well-drained, organic-enriched
mixes. Plant them in a spot where you can water
easily; guavas are thirsty trees during fruiting.
Container & Indoor Growing
Don’t have space or live in a cooler climate? Guavas thrive in
large pots. Use well-drained potting mix. LINK TO OUR SOIL Keep them on a
sunny
patio during warm months and bring them indoors when nights dip below
freezing. Compact varieties like Dwarf Hawaiian
Rainbow or Tikal are especially
good for pots.
Winter Care
Mature guavas can handle a light frost (down into the high 20s F), but
young plants need protection. If planted outdoors, cover them with frost
cloth
on cold nights. Container guavas can be wheeled into a garage, greenhouse,
or bright indoor window until the weather warms.
Watering and Fertilizing
Water deeply once or twice a week, more often in hot weather or when
fruit is developing. They don’t like soggy soil, but they won’t
complain about short floods either. Fertilize 3–4 times a year during
the
growing season with a balanced fruit tree fertilizer. Guavas especially love
potassium and phosphorus for strong flowering and heavy crops. We recommend
liquid crop booster Sunshine
C-Cibus and balanced controlled release fertilizer Green
Magic.
Pruning
Prune after fruiting to keep them compact and open up airflow. Remove
crossing or dead branches. In containers, trim back vigorous shoots
regularly
to manage size and encourage more fruiting wood.
Pests and Problems
Guavas are generally tough and pest-resistant. The main thing to watch
for in humid or rainy climates is mealybugs - those cottony white clusters
on
leaves or stems. They're easy to manage with neem oil or a quick spray of
horticultural soap.
Fruit time
Guavas fruit young - often within a year or two.
Pollination
Guavas are self-pollinating, so you'll get fruit even with a single
tree. Planting more than one tree, however, often boosts harvests and gives
you a
longer fruiting season.
If you've ever wanted instant gratification from a fruit tree, guava is
it.
🍴
Guava Recipes
With all that fruit, the next question is always: "What do I do with
it?" Here are our favorites:
Cas Guava: Make Agua de Cas
Boil halved Cas Guava fruits with sugar, simmer, strain, and bottle.
Dilute with water when serving. The concentrate keeps for months in the
fridge.
Check out the recipe.
Hawaiian Gold: Make Drinks
Perfect for Mojitos or Margaritas. Sweet, tangy juice pairs beautifully
with lime and mint. Learn more
Araca Pera: Guava Wine
Famous in Brazil, where the fruit is turned into a vibrant rosу wine.
Locals say it’s the taste of summer in a glass — and yes, you
can make it at home too. Learn more...
Quick snack: Guava Grilled Cheese
Spread guava paste or fresh mashed fruit with cheese, grill until
golden. Sweet and savory heaven. Learn more...
Simple Guava Juice
Blend ripe guavas with water, ice, and a little sugar if you like. Instant
refreshment.
✅Ready to Grow? Whether you want fresh juice, sweet fruit,
or even your own guava wine, we’ve got the best varieties in stock
right now. Your future self, sipping guava juice on a hot summer afternoon,
will
thank you.
The Holy Grail of Medinillas: Why Collectors are Chasing the Philippine Pink
Medinilla apoensis - Philippine Pink
Medinilla apoensis - Philippine Pink
🎀 The Holy Grail of Medinillas: Why Collectors are Chasing the Philippine Pink
Some tropical plants are impressive because of their massive size, others capture attention with the delicate beauty of their flowers; Medinilla apoensis - popularly known as the "Philippine Pink" - stands out because it somehow does both at the same time.
🎀This rare Philippine species produces vivid, bright pink flower clusters that rise and cascade above the foliage like glowing tropical chandeliers. Unlike many Medinillas that rely mostly on oversized pink bracts for their visual show, this species gets its dramatic appearance from the flowers themselves - large, intensely colored blooms arranged in elegant, pendant clusters.
The effect is so striking that many people assume the plant is artificial the first time they see it.
🎀 A Different Kind of Medinilla
Most indoor gardeners are familiar with the famous Medinilla magnifica, often called the "Rose Grape" plant. However, Medinilla apoensis has a completely different personality.
· Architectural Foliage: The leaves are heavily veined, lush, and deeply textured, giving the plant a rich rainforest appearance even when it isn't flowering.
· Floating Blooms: When it's time to bloom, the bright pink flowers emerge on branched, hanging stems, floating above and around the leaves instead of hiding beneath them.
· Oversized Flowers: The individual flowers can reach nearly 2 inches across—unusually large for the genus—creating a fuller and far more dramatic display than its relatives.
Its graceful, cascading growth habit only adds to the effect, making mature plants look almost sculptural.
🎀 A Rare Collectors Treasure from the Cloud Forests
As the name suggests, Medinilla apoensis originates from the Philippines, a tropical region famous for its extraordinary epiphytic plants and rich rainforest biodiversity. In the wild, these plants naturally grow perched on tree branches in humid mountain forests, where constant airflow, filtered light, and mist create the ideal microclimate.
Because it remains relatively uncommon in commercial cultivation, the "Philippine Pink" has that exact combination that plant enthusiasts love: it is rare, exotic-looking, and elegantly dramatic.
🏆 The Best Part? It is surprisingly manageable to grow indoors if you can mimic its native cloud-forest habitat.
🎀 How to Help It Thrive
Despite its finicky, ultra-tropical appearance, Medinilla apoensis isn't impossible to keep happy. Like many epiphytes, its success comes down to a few key elements:
· Light: Bright, filtered or dappled sunlight (avoid direct, scorching afternoon sun).
· Climate: Warm temperatures and consistently high humidity.
· Watering: Regular moisture, but never allow the roots to sit in stagnant water.
· The Golden Rule: Avoid dense, heavy soil. In nature, their roots are exposed to constant airflow. To prevent root rot, use a chunky, fast-draining tropical mix containing orchid bark, coco coir, and perlite.
🎀 The Ultimate Showstopper
Some plants blend seamlessly into the background of a collection. Medinilla apoensis is not one of them.
Between the heavily textured foliage, the sculptural cascading habit, and those glowing pink flowers suspended like fine jewelry, this is the kind of plant that instantly becomes the center of attention in a greenhouse, patio, or bright living room.
For the dedicated plant collector, finding one of these rare treasures in full bloom feels less like routine gardening and a lot more like discovering hidden tropical treasure.
Guava Tree Plant Care
