Plants need food too! Our line of Complete Plant Nutrition system - Sunshine
Boosters - will give your plants exactly what they need, and nothing they
don't! The boosters are easy to use, and -
We have a new team member to help you learn more about Sunshine Boosters and how they can make your plants grow healthy and
fast. Meet
Ed Jones - our new Booster Guy! Ed will be your contact for all Sunshine
Boosters questions, he will help you with fertilizer product selection and
ordering.
Soon we will introduce some new fun stuff... including: new advanced
formulas, and cool electronics for ultimate control of your plant collections,
gardens, greenhouses, and groves... Stay connected!
Q: I have purchased a Sugar Loaf Pineapple from you a few months ago, it is growing well and
producing little babies around the main plant! I am so excited to have my own
Pineapple plantation! How soon will they fruit and is there anything I can
do to make them fruit faster? Can I give extra fertilizer just like I do for
other garden plants?
A: It takes a year or two until a pineapple plant gains enough
energy to be ready to fruit. However the total time depends on growing
conditions and availability of all necessary nutrients.
Pineapples, like all other plants from Bromeliaceae family require very
delicate fertilizer; traditional fertilizers, if overdosed, can harm Bromeliads
and even kill them. At the same time, Pineapples require extra Magnesium for
good production, and not every fertilizer has it, or contains it in
well-accessible compounds / proper proportions. Sunshine Ananas Booster is a scientifically formulated, mild fertilizer,
designed especially for tender Bromeliads, containing Magnesium just in perfect
concentration. Its amino-acid based ingredients are natural and work perfectly
for edibles and organic gardens. Just follow the label instructions and speed
up the fruit production 3-4 times!
In the photo: Mr B checking his Sunshine Boosters inventory before shipping to his Good Customers.
Date: 30 Aug 2019
How to grow Angel Trumpet in Florida
Q: I purchased an Angel trumpet in March, 2018. It wasn't looking
very good so I asked what to do about it. Your reply was to fertilize and
keep it watered. I did & it started to improve. I went on vacation & it
reverted, dropping leaves... How do I keep it happy?
A: With growing Angel Trumpets in Florida, there are a few things
that may go wrong, although in general Brugmansia is a vigorous rapid grower. Once the plant is established,
it is very easy to grow. Looks like your plant had some troubles at the start
and is still struggling. Dropping leaves could be a sign of a root problem.
These are the main important points for Brugmansia growing:
1. Must be planted in a high spot, using very well-drained soil.
Brugmansias do not like soggy conditions (happens with Florida summer). They like
water, but only as long as drainage is good.
2. Full sun is a must for a healthy plant.
3. Brugmansias are heavy feeders. Fertilize at least once a month once
the plant is established:
Pink N Good Daily Plant Food - Flower Booster
Angel Trumpet Delight - Smart-Release Booster 4. They are susceptible to bugs... check underneath the leaves and if
any pests, spray with solution of any vegetable oil, water, and some dish
soap.
The bottom line is, do not overwater but don't let it dry out. It's
rainy season now, maybe too much rain affecting the plant.
Try these Sunshine Boosters, they have amazing results and often help
us to bring stressed and weak plants back to life:
SUNSHINE-Power - plant booster
SUNSHINE-E - plant booster
Date: 22 Oct 2024
How to make your Hibiscus plants thrive and bloom
Sunshine Boosters Megaflor
🌷 How to make your Hibiscus plants thrive and bloom
💬 Among gardeners, Hibiscus plants have a reputation to have couple maintenance issues:
1. they can get bugsy (because they must be so tasty!)
2. they can get leggy, especially fancy grafted cultivars, and after a while they don't look as perfect as when they came from a nursery.
‼️ Tips for healthy and pretty hibiscus plants (can be applied to other flowering shrubs)
🟡Full sun. Essential for profuse flowering and keeps away diseases.
🟡Pruning. Keep it pruned and it will get bushy and produce more blooms.
🟡Well-drained soil. Hibiscus likes regular watering but hates wet feet.
🟡Nutrition program. Hibiscus plants are heavy feeders. But keep in mind that if you just keep pushing granulated plant food, you can over-fertilize the plant. Excessive salts will accumulate in soil and you will end up with a sickly looking plant.
⚠️ Keys to balanced plant food and bloom booster
💋Use liquid fertilizer, preferably amino acid based, it won't create nutrients lock up
💋Fertilize on regular basis, it's better dilute concentration and add food with every watering
💋Always add micro-elements - they are essential for plant health
🌞 If you do this right, the result will be:
⏺healthy, green plants, like they just came from a nursery
⏺reliable blooming circle
⏺better cold tolerance and disease resistance. Remember that a strong plant will be less ⏺stressed and less "bugged" by bugs!
😎 We suggest Sunshine Boosters Megaflor - scientifically balanced liquid fertilizer that is amino acid based = natural and organic, can be used for both flowers and edibles, and what's most important - year around. It is safe to use virtually with every watering, all year around!
🔥 This is all you need for healthy plants and lots of flowers!
Winter can be tough on plants, especially on tropical varieties. But with a little preparation, you can protect your garden and keep your plants safe from the cold. Here's how:
Winter Care Tips for Tropical Plants
Cut watering: Reduce watering to prevent root rot. Cold + wet = dead roots.
Water before frost: Thirsty plants are more vulnerable. Water them before a cold night to prevent damage.
Wind protection: Wind is more harmful than temperature drops. Plant near structures like houses or trees for shelter.
Prepare for long cold periods: If cold weather lasts for hours, use all available protection, including Christmas lights and propane heaters.
Don't use dry fertilizer in winter: Heavy fertilizing encourages tender growth, which is more susceptible to cold damage. Sunshine Boosters liquid fertilizers are safe to use year around as their intake is controlled by reduced watering. Use fabric covers, not plastic: Plastic can cook plants in the sun, while fabric allows better ventilation.
Photo above: we cover our plants in the nursery with a thin synthetic fabric (sintepon) called "frost cloth" or "strawberry cloth". It is light, breathable and allows light and water to go through unlike plastic that creates heavy water pockets.
Prepare for Cold Nights
Wrap plants: On cold nights, cover individual plants or trees with sheets or blankets to shield them from wind chill.
Use Christmas lights: A simple string of lights can add extra warmth, protecting your plants during frosty nights.
Use propane heaters: For added warmth in a larger area, place a propane heater near your plants. Make sure to follow safety guidelines and keep the heater at a safe distance from flammable materials. This can help maintain a few extra degrees of warmth, especially in more open garden spaces or temporary greenhouses. Always ensure proper ventilation to avoid harmful gas buildup.
Photo above: we use both propane and kerosene heaters at the nursery
Large Collections? Build a Temporary Greenhouse
Affordable winter greenhouse: For large plant collections, you don't need an expensive greenhouse. A mobile carport with plastic or fabric covering, costing around $200, can house up to 100 plants!
Photo above: Temporary wrapping around plant collection with a plastic or frost cloth protects from a windchill. It may also win you a few degrees even without a heater. In this particular case, according to our temp sensors, with 30F outside, it was 41F inside this "dome", no heaters used.
Southern Exposure and Garage Storage
Southern windowsills: Compact tropicals can thrive on southern-facing windowsills, getting plenty of sunlight during the day.
Move plants inside: If you have larger collections, move them into a well-lit garage for the colder nights or longer periods.
Photo above: using Christmas lights around plants while wrapping with frost cloth.
Key Factors for Survival
Cold duration: Tropical plants can survive brief cold spells but long durations, even above freezing, can be deadly.
Wind-chill: Wind chill can be harsher than the temperature itself.
Exposure: Southern-facing slopes hold heat longer, making them ideal for your plants.
Humidity: Proximity to lakes or oceans can create a milder micro-climate.
Gradual temperature Drops are safer. Plants adjust better to slow temperature changes than sudden cold blasts. Gradual cooling allows plants to prepare, reducing the risk of damage.
Strengthen Plant Hardiness
Health and maturity: Well-established, healthy plants are more cold-hardy. Boost plant immunity: Use products like SUNSHINE-Epi to improve cold resistance. Apply it before and during cold snaps to protect your plants. Healthy plant is hardy. Make sure to fertilize your plants on regular basis - healthier and stronger plants are more cold hardy.
With these steps, you can protect your plants and help them survive the winter months. Stay
warm and keep your garden thriving!
Podcast with Horticulturist Mark Hooten:
How to Protect Tropical Plants in Winter
