Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 4 Jan 2026

Caimito creamy scoop: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Caimito creamy scoop

Caimito creamy scoop

Caimito Star Apple (Chrysophyllum cainito), fruit

Caimito Star Apple (Chrysophyllum cainito), fruit

Caimito Star Apple (Chrysophyllum cainito), leaves with rusty underneath

Caimito Star Apple (Chrysophyllum cainito), leaves with rusty underneath

🍴 Caimito creamy scoop: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

  • 🔴Chill star apple halves, then scoop out the jelly-soft pulp.
  • 🔴Stir gently with cold sweet cream for a tropical dessert cup.


⭐️ About the fruit:


Caimito, also known as star apple, is a classic tropical fruit tree native to the West Indies and widely grown throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and other warm regions. It thrives in USDA zones 10-11 and can handle brief dips into the low 30s. The fruit has a mild, grape-like flavor and a soft, jelly texture, and is a good source of vitamin C and minerals. Traditionally eaten fresh, caimito is also used in desserts, drinks, and preserves.

🌱 In the garden:


Beyond its fruit, caimito is highly ornamental. Its large, glossy green leaves have a striking coppery-rust colored underside, giving the tree a dramatic two-tone effect when stirred by wind. It prefers full sun and regular watering and grows well in the ground or large containers. In cooler climates, container-grown trees can be moved indoors for winter protection, making caimito both a productive and visually stunning addition to the garden.

🛒 Plant exotic Caimito Star Apple fruit tree

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Plant Facts

Chrysophyllum cainito, Achras caimito
Caimito, Star Apple, Satin Leaf
USDA Zone: 9-11
Large tree taller than 20 ftFull sunRegular waterEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
  • Caimito Star Apple (Chrysophyllum cainito) in Plant Encyclopedia
  • Starry fruit and rusty leaves: the tropical tree full of surprises
  • Why is it called Star Apple?

    • #Food_Forest #Recipes

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    Date: 22 Oct 2025

    Which dry fertilizer to use - slow release or controlled release?

    dry top dress fertilizer

    dry top dress fertilizer

    controlled release fertilizer Green Magic

    controlled release fertilizer Green Magic

    🌳 Which dry fertilizer to use - slow release or controlled release?



    ❓ Q: You offer two kinds of dry fertilizers - Slow Release Trop Dress and Controlled Release Green Magic. What is the difference, and which one should I use? I used your water-diluted Sunshine Boosters with every watering, but now that I’ll be away for a few months, I just want to give my garden a long-lasting fertilizer.
    • ✔️ A: Top Dress Slow Release Fertilizer is used for quick greening-up. Although it’s called “slow release,” the nutrients become available fairly fast. It contains soluble nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) that dissolve with rain or irrigation, acting within a week or a few weeks depending on temperature and rainfall. It’s great for giving your plants a quick boost of “fast food.”
      • We use Top Dress mainly for in-ground plants. It can be used in pots only during warm weather and active growth, but not in cooler months, as it may burn roots. Since we introduced Green Magic, we mostly use Top Dress only for garden beds and landscapes.
    • ✔️ Green Magic Controlled Release Fertilizer is a true long-term, controlled-release fertilizer. Thanks to its PolyOn Technology coating, it provides steady, consistent feeding for 5-6 months. Unlike regular dry fertilizers that dump all nutrients at once, Green Magic releases them gradually - no burn, no guesswork, just steady nutrition.
    Green Magic ideal for potted fruit trees, ornamentals, and houseplants. One handful keeps your plants fed for half a year. We use it for all container plants when potting up or refreshing soil every six months. It can also be used for in-ground plants if you want the best, most consistent results. Green Magic: try it out! (Sample here)

    🛒 Shop Plant Food & More

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    #Fertilizers #How_to
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    Date: 7 Mar 2017

    Taking care of Guanabana (Soursop) after shipping

    Q: Since I have never grown a soursop tree before I need some pro help. My tree was delivered absolutely beautiful, leaves were a pretty green. I potted it and gave it a good drink of water and put it in a shaded area outside. Then the weather here became cool so I brought it in for a few days until the weather warmed, and it lost all the leaves. Is it in shock and will come around eventually? Will I be able to grow this tree indoors during winter?

    A: Soursop - Annona muricata trees are very sensitive to temperature drops. This always causes leaf loss. You seem to be doing everything right. Do not water until soil gets slightly dry; keep it in bright shade. The weather should be good now with high temperatures and humidity rising. No fertilizer until the plant shows active new growth. Be patient with your plant, it should recover soon.

    Soursop is an ultra-tropical tree and doesn't take any freeze. If you live in cooler climate, keep the plant in a pot (the good news is, Annonas in general have compact nature and are perfect for container culture). Bring the tree indoors during cold period, providing bright light.

    Remember that grafted trees start flowering and producing fruit right away, unlike seedlings of Soursop that may take a few years till fruiting.

    We have very interesting article about growing and fruiting Soursop in apartment. Check out Tropical Treasures Magazine #7

    Date: 18 Nov 2016

    Happy Holiday Season!

    WINTER COMING TIPS. As the weather gets cooler, many of you move your potted tropical plants indoors. Please remember:

    1. Lower air humidity, lower light and short day may cause some LEAF DROP. This is normal for seasonal environment change.

    2. REDICE WATERING as winter coming. Under lower light and in cooler temperature, plants won't need much water; some plants go dormant and only need minimum water. Excess water may damage roots and kill a plant in winter.

    3. NO FERTILIZER in winter. Active growth stops. Let the plant to go into dormancy or simply have a rest.

    4. Watch for INSECTS by inspecting leaves regularly. They may attack plants more likely in the indoor conditions.

    5. Apply SUNSHINE boosters to protect your plants from cold by boosting their immune system, vogor and cold tolerance. STAY WARM!

    20% off sale ending soon! Check out our large selection of plants that are easily grown in containers

    Date: 24 Oct 2016

    Overwintering Adeniums outside of tropics

    Q: We bought several adenium plants from you. We are moving to the Denver area of Colorado. How can we make sure the plants survive? Should we use a green house?

    A: Adeniums are perfect container plants, and house plants. They can be easily grown outside of tropical climate. During winter, Adeniums drop leaves and go into dormancy which makes it easy to keep these plants in a dormant stage in a warm location of your house, or possibly even in well-lit spot of garage (with a window), with temperatures above 50-60F.
    Here in South Florida, during time of cold, when chances of freeze are high, we move our own Adenium collection into lanai, with plastic sheet protection around lanai.

    In colder climates, Adeniums can be kept indoors as house plants during winter. There are some requirements/tips for you: