Date: 24 Jun 2018
URBAN TROPICAL GARDENING:
10 secrets of successful Container Mango growing on a
balcony.
Q: I live in Miami in apartment on a second floor, and I have a balcony with SE exposure. I wonder if I can grow a mango tree in a pot? Will it fruit for me? I recently moved to South Florida and I don't know much about tropical plants; but I tasted real fiberless mangos from someone's garden - it was so delicious and different from those in the grocery store. I wonder if I can have a fruiting tree on my balcony? And if yes, how do I plant and take care of it?
A:
Yes, you can! Here is what you need to do:
1) Temperature. You are lucky to live in Tropics,
keep it on a balcony year round.
2) Light. Position the pot in a spot with the most
sun exposure. Mango trees can take filtered light too, but
the less sun, the less fruit you will get.
3) Soil and Container. Use only
well drained potting mix. Step up the purchased
plant into next size container (3 gal into 7 gal, 7 gal
into 15 gal). When transplanting, make sure to keep growth
point (where roots meet the trunk) just at the top of the
soil. Covering base of the trunk with soil may kill the
plant.
4) Water. Water daily during hot season, but only
if top of soil gets dry. If it still moist, skip that day.
Mangoes (unlike
Avocados!) prefer to stay on a dry side.
5) Fertilizer. Use
balanced fertilizer once a month, 1 tsp per 1 gal of
soil. Do not fertilize during fruiting - this may cause
fruit cracks.
6) Microelements. Apply
SUNSHINE-Superfood once a month. This will help your
mango healthy, vigorous, and resistant to diseases. Use SUNSHINE-Honey to make your
fruit sweeter.
7) Insect control. Watch for scales and mealybugs,
clean with solution of soapy water + vegetable oil (may
need to repeat 2-3 times with 10 days interval), or with
systemic insecticide like imidacloprid only as needed (if
non-harsh treatment didn't help). Most Flea shampoo for
dogs contain that chemical, you may try that shampoo
solution.
8) Trimming. Once potted, do not remove leaves
that are discolored or have spots until new growth
appears. Dark dots on mango leaves, especially in humid
climate like Florida, may be signs of fungus. Treat with
fungicide according to label, and remove only badly
damaged leaves. Trim crown as needed after flowering and
fruiting (by Fall). Train into a small tree, and you may
remove some lower branches eventually.
9) Flower and fruit. Mangoes are winter bloomers
with bunches of tiny flowers coming in thousands. Many of
them set fruit (if pollinating insects present). Keep in
mind that young trees can only bare a few fruit. Normally
a tree will drop excessive fruit and keep only a few that
it can manage. To save the young tree some energy, remove
fruit if too many and leave only 2-3 for the first year.
It will pay you next year with more abundant crop.
10) Variety. Last but not least: Choose the right
variety for container culture! Pick from "condo" dwarf
varieties such as Icecream, Nam Doc Mai, Carrie, Cogshall, Julie, Fairchild, Pickering, Graham, Mallika, and a few others -
check out Mango Chart pdf
and full list of our Mango varieties
Date: 22 Oct 2025
💞 Cassia or Bauhinia?
Looking for a small tree that blooms like fireworks but still fits on your patio? We hear this question all the time at Top Tropicals: Cassia or Bauhinia? Both are tropical showstoppers, but they shine in very different ways.
🌞 Cassias: Sunshine Fireworks
Cassia trees are some of the most rewarding tropical bloomers you can grow. Fast-growing, free-flowering, and surprisingly cold-tolerant, they thrive in full sun and summer heat. Their bright clusters come in shades of yellow, orange, pink, red, and even multicolor blends. The famous Rainbow Cassias show swirls of coral, gold, and rose on the same tree, creating a living fireworks display.
For gardeners in warm regions, these trees become spectacular focal points in the landscape. In containers, compact yellow forms like Cassia didymobotrya (Popcorn Cassia) and Senna alata (Empress Candles) stay manageable and bloom freely through summer.
Cassias can also be grown in pots with pruning and patience. Once mature, they reward you with breathtaking color that turns any patio or pool deck into a tropical show. Most showy cassias (numbers correspond to the photos in the collage above):
- Cassia bicapsularis (Butterfly Bush) - is a fast-growing, low-maintenance shrub covered in bright yellow, butterfly-like blooms from fall through winter.
- Cassia x natalensis (Rainbow Cassia)
- Cassia grandis (Red cassia) - a medium size tree having profuse blooms of dark pink to crimson flowers throughout the Spring.
- Cassia didymobotrya (Popcorn Cassia), small tree producing golden-yellow flowers with a distinct scent of peanut butter that open from brown buds in late summer and autumn. Similar to Senna alata (Empress Candles)
- Cassia roxburghii (Ceylon Senna) - graceful tree with spreading, drooping branches appearing to be overweighed by its wealth of clustering red blossoms.
- Cassia x nodosa (Pink Shower) - is a spectacular medium-sized, fast-growing tree with cascading clusters of fragrant pink-and-white appleblossom blooms in spring and summer.
- Cassia fistula (Golden Shower) - to many tropical gardeners, the most beautiful of cassias with masses of bright gold flower clusters appear on almost every branch.
- Cassia javanica (Apple Blossom) - dazzles with dense clusters of pink-to-white blossoms that change shades as they bloom, creating a spectacular display that lasts for months.
"Cassias love the heat and sunshine," says Tatiana Anderson, Top Tropicals Plant Expert. "They are perfect for anyone who wants big bursts of color and doesn’t mind giving them space and light to grow."
Bauhinia Magic: Orchid-Like Blooms in a Compact Size
Bauhinia orchid trees: top left – Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Orchid Tree), middle left – Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree), bottom left – Bauhinia monandra (Napoleon’s Plume Orchid Tree), top right – Bauhinia madagascariensis (Red Dwarf Orchid Tree), and bottom right – Bauhinia tomentosa (Yellow Orchid Tree)
Bauhinia trees known as Orchid Trees, bring a touch of tropical luxury to any space. Their butterfly-shaped leaves and orchid-like blossoms appear in shades of red, pink, purple, white, and yellow, often lasting up to ten months a year. Bauhinias are ideal for gardeners who want nonstop color in a manageable size. Most species grow well in large pots and bloom young, often within the first season.
The following compact varieties stay neat and flower almost continuously in warm weather:
- Bauhinia madagascariensis (Red Butterfly Orchid Tree). Blooms from winter through fall, up to 10 months a year. The most cold-hardy of all.
- Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree). A large tree in the ground, but compact in pots if trimmed. Grafted trees flower right away. Winter bloomer, cold hardy to light frost.
- Bauhinia tomentosa (Yellow Orchid Tree). Flowers from Winter through Summer, cold hardy to light frost.
- Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Orchid Tree). Blooms from summer through winter. Less cold hardy.
- Bauhinia monandra (Napoleon's Plume Orchid Tree). Almost everblooming with the longest flowering period. Less cold hardy.
The Hong Kong Orchid Tree is especially prized because it is sterile and produces no messy seed pods, keeping patios clean. Grafted Buhinia blakeana trees begin blooming while still small, making them perfect for containers or tight spaces.
"Bauhinias are generous bloomers," Tatiana explains. "They respond beautifully to regular feeding and full sun. If nights turn too cold, just move the pot to a sunny porch - they’ll keep their tropical charm most of the year."
Give them full sun, regular fertilizer, and a well-drained mix such as Sunshine Abundance, and they will reward you with months of vivid blooms. When nights turn too cold, simply move the pot to a sunny porch or bright window. Bauhinias adjust beautifully and keep their tropical grace year after year.
🎥 Watch Short Videos:
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Date: 10 Nov 2025
♥️ Honoring Veterans Day with Garden Savings
Veterans Day is a time to honor those who served and protected our country. To show our gratitude, we are offering special discounts on plants, fertilizers, and garden supplies. It’s the perfect chance to add something new to your collection while celebrating those who made it possible for all of us to enjoy the peace of our gardens.
Celebrate Veterans Day with 20% OFF your entire order – our way of saying thank you.
Get 15% OFF tropical plants with code
VETERANS2025
Min order $100 (excluding S/H), valid online only, cannot be combined with other offers and not applicable to existing or past orders.
Hurry, offer expires November 15 2025!
Date: 17 Sep 2025
Mulberry Care and Growing Tips
Mulberries are tough, low-maintenance fruit trees that adapt to many conditions.
- Climate: Hardy from USDA zone 5 to 10.
- Soil: Grow well in almost any soil; prefer good drainage.
- Watering: Regular watering during dry spells; drought tolerant once etablished.
- Growth: 3–5 feet per year, producing fruit early.
- Pruning: Annual pruning controls size and improves branching.
- Pot culture: Dwarf types thrive in containers, staying 6–7 feet tall. Use a large pot, water consistently, and prune lightly. Use Abundance potting mix for best results.
- Fertilizer: For reliable production, fertilizer regularly. Apply Sunshine C-Cibus liquid booster with every watering, or Green Magic controlled release fertilizer every 5-6 months.
❓ Mulberry FAQ
How soon will a mulberry fruit?
One to two years, sometimes the very first season.
What climates are suitable?
USDA zones 5–10, from -20F winters to hot summers.
How tall do they get?
Standard trees 20–30 ft; dwarfs 6–10 ft in pots.
Do I need more than one tree?
No, they are self-pollinating.
What do they taste like?
Sweet and juicy, like a blend of blackberry and raspberry.
How long is the harvest?
Everbearing types ripen gradually from summer into fall.
Do birds eat them?
Yes, but trees are so productive there’s plenty to share.
Are they messy?
Dark-fruited varieties can stain; white mulberries do not.
Can I grow them in containers?
Yes, dwarf types (Dwarf Everbearing, Issai) fruit well in pots.
How long do they live?
Many live for decades; Illinois Everbearing can endure for generations.
What are the health benefits?
Mulberries are low-glycemic, support healthy blood sugar, improve heart health, and are rich in antioxidants.
Date: 22 Nov 2025
Stop buying macadamias - plant this tree to enjoy your own nuts
Macadamia tree (Macadamia integrifolia)
- 🐿 How to grow a Macadamia tree and enjoy your own nuts - the priciest nuts in the world? Macadamia trees (Macadamia integrifolia) are surprisingly easy to grow once you know what they need. They handle a wide range of soils, prefer regular watering, and adapt well to warm, humid climates. Young trees appreciate consistent moisture, but once established, they can tolerate short dry spells and even brief flooding.
- 🐿 The most important step is nutrition. Macadamias are heavy feeders and rely on balanced microelements for strong roots, steady growth, and reliable nut production. Use a liquid fertilizer Sunshine C-Cibus and add microelements on a regular schedule. Sunshine SuperFood plant supplement is especially helpful for preventing the leaf yellowing and slow growth that happen when microelements run low.
- 🐿 Choose a sunny spot, give the tree room to grow, and mulch around the base to keep moisture steady. As the tree matures, it will bloom and form clusters of green husks that dry and split to reveal the sweet nuts inside.
- 🐿 With the right care, a single tree can reward you with a generous harvest of rich, expensive macadamias right from your garden.
💖 Macadamia nut health benefits
- 📍 Macadamia nuts are packed with healthy monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
- 📍 They support heart health by lowering total and LDL cholesterol, help steady blood sugar thanks to low carbs and good fiber, and aid digestion and weight management by keeping you full longer.
- 📍 Their antioxidants, including tocotrienols, protect cells from damage and may reduce risks of diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and certain cancers.
- 📍 Macadamia oil is great for skin and hair, offering moisturizing, healing, and strengthening benefits.
- 📍 Even though they are calorie-rich, small daily portions can actually support healthy weight goals.
- 📍 Enjoy them raw, roasted, ground, as nut butter, or added to both sweet and savory dishes.
🛒 Grow your own Macadamia Nuts
📚 Learn more:
- Where do Macadamia nuts come from
- What are the flowers of Macadamia nuts
- Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes. # 6: Macadamia Nut Tree.
- How to grow your own Sweet Macadamia Nuts
- Macadamia: Hard Sweet Nut and Hardy Tree
📱 Video about growing Macadamia trees
#Food_Forest #Remedies #How_to #Discover
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