Date: 27 Feb 2025
What
Fertilizer to Use Now and How?
Five important keys to healthy plants
Q: It's early Spring this year. Should I start fertilizing my plants sooner than usual?
A: Most fertilizer instructions recommend fertilizing tropical plants from March to November. This is because plants don't need as much food during the cooler months when many go dormant, and excess nutrients can burn the roots if not absorbed. However, for the most effective fertilizer program and healthy plants, consider these points:
1. Sunshine Boosters Year-Round
Liquid amino-acid-based fertilizers like Sunshine Boosters are safe to use year-round. Since watering is reduced in cooler weather, the intake of water-soluble fertilizer is also lower, providing plants with just the essential nutrients for their minimal needs.
2. Dry Fertilizer Schedule
Be cautious with dry fertilizers. Apply them only during active growth in the hot season.
3. Temperature Is Key
If March is still cold, delay dry fertilizer use. However, if nighttime temperatures in February stay above 65F, you can start a dry fertilizer program using slow-release, granulated plant food.
4. What Fertilizers to Use and How
Check out our Sunshine Boosters selection for different types of plants and choose the right type for your needs. These can be applied as often as with every watering:
For Rapid Growth
Sunshine Robusta - Rapid Growth Booster: general fertilizer for both foliage
plants and small starters that need an extra boost.
For Flowers
Sunshine Megaflor - Bloom Booster: boosts flowers on established plants; and Sunshine Pikake - Fragrant Plant Booster: best for fragrant flowers.
For Fruit Trees
Sunshine C-Cibus - Crop Booster: contains all necessary elements for fruit trees and their production. Sunshine Mango Tango - specifically formulated for Mango and Avocado
trees, and Sunshine Citron - ideal for citrus trees.
For Tender Perennials
Sunshine Orchidasm - Orchid Total Feed and Sunshine Ananas - Pineapple and Bromeliad Booster: mild formulas for these tender perennials.
5. Microelement Supplements Are a Must
Besides macronutrients, plants need additional microelements, just like humans need vitamins. Be sure to apply these supplements along with your regular plant food:
For Green Leaves and Health
Sunshine SuperFood - Complex Microelement Supplement: a
must for healthy plants. Apply once a month.
For Stress Relief
Sunshine-Epi - Brassinosteroid Plant
Hormone: essential for plants recovering from stress (shipping, transplanting,
drought, insect damage, cold stress, etc.). Apply as needed.
For Sweeter, Bigger Fruit
Sunshine Honey - Fruit Sugar Booster: application on fruit trees will make
fruit bigger and sweeter by directing sugars to the fruit from other plant parts, and helps to prevent bud
drop. Apply 4 times a year: at bud setting, flowering, fruit setting, and
after harvesting.
For Better Resistance
Sunshine Power Si - Silicon Protector - enhances resistance to insects, diseases, drought, and frost, while boosting growth. Apply once a
month, along with Sunshine SuperFood.
Need Help? Our Plant Experts Are Ready to Assist!
Date: 11 Nov 2025
Fruits with the most vitamin E, according to dietitians
Fruits with the most vitamin E
🥭 Fruits with the most vitamin E, according to dietitians
- 🔛 Vitamin E works as an antioxidant that helps fight inflammation throughout the body. While nuts and seeds top the charts, some fruits quietly add their share to your daily needs - especially when eaten with a bit of healthy fat. According to New York City Nutrition, vitamin E anti-inflammatory action supports heart, brain, and skin health.
- 🔛 Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant, meaning it fights inflammation in the body. Because of this anti-inflammatory role, vitamin E is beneficial for immune health, heart health, eye health, brain health, and skin health.
- 🔛 Adults need about 15 milligrams a day, according to the National Institutes of Health. Deficiency is rare, but it’s smart to get vitamin E from a variety of foods. Fruits alone don’t provide large amounts, but they can complement vitamin-E-rich foods like almonds or sunflower seeds.
- 🔛 Since vitamin E needs fat for absorption, pair fruit with something creamy or crunchy - like yogurt, olive oil, nuts, or seeds - for best results.
- 🔛 Here are some fruits that naturally offer vitamin E:
- 🍊 Sapote 1 cup = 3.7 mg vitamin E. A tropical favorite with rich orange flesh and a flavor somewhere between pumpkin pie and sweet potato, with hints of honey and almond, Sapote is great fresh, blended in shakes, or scooped over ice cream. It also packs calcium, iron, potassium, and vitamins A and C.
- Blackberries 1 cup = 1.7 mg vitamin E. Deep color, bold flavor, and plenty of antioxidants, Blackberries are high in fiber and low in calories. Dietitian Keri Glassman calls them her top fruit for fighting inflammation.
- 🥭 Mango 1 cup = 1.5 mg vitamin E. The “king of fruits” brings more than tropical sweetness, Mango supports digestion, helps you feel full longer, and delivers both vitamin A and E in one juicy package.
- 🍉 Guava 1 cup = 1.2 mg vitamin E. This fragrant fruit has a flavor that lands between strawberry and pear, Guava is also one of the highest-fiber fruits and surprisingly rich in protein for a fruit.
- 🍑 Persimmon 1 fruit = 1.2 mg vitamin E. An autumn favorite that looks like an orange tomato but tastes sweet and mellow, Persimmons are rich in vitamins A and C and make a colorful, fiber-filled snack or dessert.
- Avocado 1 fruit = 0.9 mg vitamin E. Creamy, mild, and versatile, Avocado’s healthy fats help your body absorb vitamin E while protecting heart health. Try it on toast, in salads, or as a smooth butter substitute in baking.
🛒 Plant more remedies in your food forest
📚 Learn more:
- Plant a fruit tree - and breathe easier: fruit might be the surprising key to healthier lungs
- 11 tropical fruits to eat instead of taking a fiber supplement
- Tropical fruit health benefits guide - what fruit and edibles can help with health issues and vitamin deficiencies, Part 1 and Part 2.
- Five best fruit trees to plant in Summer
- 10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
- Top 10 fruiting plants you'll ever need for your health benefits
#Food_Forest #Remedies #Discover
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date: 10 Aug 2025
🌺 Back to School and Back to Planting – Cats in the Garden
Back to School, Back to Planting – Why August Works for Tropicals
Planting Season Isn't Over Yet
August is still a good month for planting tropicals in warm climates. The soil stays warm enough to push root growth, and late-summer weather gives plants time to settle in before winter. In drier areas, regular watering will keep them moving along just fine.
Tropicals in warm climates aren't usually harmed by cooler Winter weather, but as days get shorter, growth may slow down. This is why planting in late Summer-Fall lets roots grow during this last warm stretch, so the plant enters winter already established.
By spring, those roots are ready to drive new shoots, flowers, and fruit. There's no lost time to transplant shock - plants can get straight to blooming and fruiting earlier in the season.
August Planting FAQ
How can heat be prevented from harming new tropicals?
Water in the morning so plants start the day hydrated. Warm soil is good for root growth, but don't let it dry out.
How should new plants be protected from strong sun?
For the first couple of weeks, use a shade cloth or even a white bed sheet to soften midday sun and prevent leaf scorch.
What fertilizer works best for planting in summer heat?
Controlled-release types are best. We use professional grade Green Magic. You may pair it with Sunshine Boosters for steady, gentle feeding through the warm months.
Which tropicals grow best when planted in August?
Most tropical plants do well when planted in warm end-of-summer conditions, including Mango, Avocado, Guava, Jackfruit, Annona, Bananas, Orchid Trees, Jasmines, Allamanda and most of flowering trees, shrubs and vines.
Can tropical trees planted in August produce fruit next year?
Many can, especially fast growers, since they have established roots by the time spring growth begins.
How can tropicals be kept healthy when planting in August?
Mulch around the base to help prevent soil from drying out too quickly. Water deeply in the morning to help plants handle the heat.
Date: 24 Sep 2019
How to fertilize a bamboo?
Q: When do you fertilize new bamboo trees and can you use the same fertilizer you use for mango trees?
A: Bamboo is a tropical to subtropical plant with growing season
year-round. You can start fertilizing it right away with the exception of colder
months when temperatures drop below 65F.
Mango fertilizer is formulated for fruit trees, so bamboo won't benefit
from it. Bamboo is not a fruiting plant and is not even cultivated for
flowers. Its beauty is in healthy green foliage and beautiful stems. So you will
need foliage-type of fertilizers for it.
We recommend the following fertilizers for bamboo plants:
Tropical Greenhouse Plus - Plant Booster
Tropical Allure - Smart-Release Booster
Remember to always use micro-elements that are essential for every green plant.
Date: 20 Jul 2018
How to get shade quickly... and stay away from oaks
Q: I just moved from Tennessee into a new house in Florida and there are no trees on the property, the yard is brutal hot. What can I plant so I have some shade real quick? I like Florida shady oaks, how long will they take to grow?
A: First
of all, do not rush into oak solution. Oaks are beautiful shade trees, however
they have at least 2 problems:
a) Oaks are slow growers and unless you are willing to wait some 20
years... you won't get that desirable shade that quickly.
b) We have hurricanes in Florida... sometimes. A hurricane can damage
any tree, however with oaks it may be the worse case scenario - the branches
of those giant trees are huge, hard and heavy and in unfortunate situation
when you need to remove or trim a broken tree, it may cost you... a few thousand
dollars.
These are solutions that are more economical and practical:
1) Selection. If you have room, get one of these most popular Florida shade trees: Royal Poinciana, Golden Shower, Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Red Kapok, Bottlebrush, and many others. See full list of fast growing shade trees. Or simply get a Mango Tree and have delicious fruit too! Many varieties of Mangos are very large and fast growing.
2) Do it right. Even if you are planting a smaller tree, 1-3 gal
size, it may become a nice shade tree within 2-3 years and start providing
your driveway with desirable shade. The keys for fast growth are -
a) Good soil. Dig as big hole as possible and fill it with good
rich soil containing compost. See planting instructions PDF.
b) Water. Do not rely on sprinklers and rains. Water your tree
daily for the first week, then at least twice a week for another month. After
that, irrigation system will be enough.
c) Fertilizer. Put a few handfuls of fertilizer in a planting hole. Then fertilize once a month during warm
season. Apply micro elements for even better results and faster growth.
3) Ask experts. Contact our office for advice. We will suggest the most suitable shade tree for your yard based on features of your property: location, soil, exposure, etc.
Check out fast growing shade trees
