Date: 30 Apr 2023
B-Farm in Sebring
Now open 6 days a week!
In the photo: Sunshine and Mango, our friendly Customer "Service Animals" will be happy to give you a tour of the farm, including Sunshine Boosters selection and Mango Collection!
Attention local shoppers! Note new business hours for our Sebring location:
Monday - Saturday
9 am - 3 pm
Large discounts for locals!
Come visit us in Sebring, the heart of Florida, easily accessible from any Florida destination. You won't want to miss out on our 10-acre tropical farm, boasting the largest selection of rare plants, flowering and fruiting trees, edibles, and perfume plants from around the world!
Take your time and browse through our extensive collection, and don't hesitate to ask our knowledgeable staff for advice or assistance. You'll love being able to handpick your own garden gems straight from the grower. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, we have something for everyone. So come on down and see for yourself...
P.S. Our Garden Center in Ft Myers is open as usual, 7 days a week
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: 7 Jun 2022
Ukrainians: Nation of Growers
104 days of war in Ukraine... Our friends and customers ask how our Ukrainian Team is surviving... Here is a brief update.
...Most Ukrainian people are gardeners. Plants and flowers, fruit and
veggies - growing is in their hearts and their blood. Ukrainians are people of
Peace; however, when it came to protecting their Home, they have already shown
the world their strength and pride. What is the secret of these people to keep
optimism and strong will? They just love life and know how to stay happy, no
matter what. We all should learn from them...
Garden in Trenches
Video above is from the front line: Ukrainian soldiers continue growing vegetables and herbs at the front line, right in trenches! This Nation is invincible!
Reminder:
All Sunshine Boosters proceeds go to Ukraine!
If you want to help, simply feed your plants and help Ukrainian families
at the same time!
Get your plants Sunshine Boosters - the Fertilizer that Works, proudly developed in
Ukraine, proudly made in the USA.
As always, we appreciate the support of our loyal community of Top
Tropicals customers and enthusiasts.
Date: 17 Sep 2021
Mango Talk: How to prune mango trees for best shape and production
by Ed Jones, the Booster Guy
...Why should you prune your mango trees? There are a few reasons.
First, a good foundation is the key to strong growth and a shapely tree.
Second, if you get your mango tree started off on the right foot with a
strong foundation, it becomes much easier to keep it shaped nicely.
And third - it will be forced to produce more branches allowing for more
places for fruit production...
...We received our Mango tree in late February of 2020 as a relatively
small plant in 3 gal pot...
...The opening photo was taken just last week and you can see that as she
grows, her shape is very nice...
...She is now about 7' tall and just as wide. She has a great foundation
and a lot of branches. We also have less grass to mow. She also got her very
own marker painted on a brick:
...We have also enlarged the circle of mulched area under the tree to allow it to be able to get nutrients from it's SUNSHINE Boosters Mango Tango without having to compete with the grass. This is one mistake that I see frequently in my neighborhood with all trees...
CONTINUE READING >>
Date: 9 Aug 2021
Care of Desert Roses
Q: I am looking forward to my three desert roses I just ordered from you and I am wondering how to take care of them, especially during winter time. Should I put the pots in full sun or shade? What kind of soil do they like? How often should I water them? When it gets cooler, should I bring them inside? We do have occasional frost here during winter.
A: Here are a few tips for your desert roses:
1. When received Adenium from mail-order, unpack carefully; branches are fragile. Plant in well-drained potting mix. Cactus mix will do, but we recommend special Adenium mix. If using regular acidic peat-based potting mix, you may add sea-shells on top of soil to neutralize acidity: adeniums prefer alkaline soils. Using clay pots is beneficial. Water once and do not water again until soil gets dry. Place in bright shade until new leaves sprout, then the plant can be moved to full sun.
2. Adenium is a succulent, but not a cactus. It needs watering, however let soil dry before waterings. Reduce watering during cool season and discontinue when plant gets dormant (drops all leaves in winter).
3. Bright light is the best for profuse flowering. However, adeniums look much healthier in slightly filtered light rather than in all-day full sun.
4. Fertilize and spray leaves with liquid fertilizer SUNSHINE Megaflor - Nutrition Bloom Booster. Phosphorous is responsible both for flowering and caudex development. Avoid caudex, spray over foliage only. Dry fertilizer can be used only during hot months.
5. Watch for spider mites during hot and dry season.
6. Give plants a break during winter dormant season. Keep in bright shade and reduce watering to 1-2 per month or stop watering if temperature is below 65F.
More info on growing Desert Roses:
What you need for successful growing Adeniums
Overwintering Adeniums outside of tropics
Growing Exotic Adeniums - Growing Exotic Adeniums
