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Q: Can you recommend a plant that brings a good luck?

A: On St Patricks Day, they talk about lucky clover. But did you know that your odds of finding a 4-leaf clover are about 1 in 10,000? There is a much better solution - try beautiful Crown of thorns - Euphorbia millii, exotic hybrids from Thailand. They are the easiest plants to grow, drought tolerant, and everyblooming. Chinese grow them as plants of fortune. When the plant produces 8 flowers in an inflorescence, they will be lucky. We see 8-flower blooms in our garden all the time, how lucky we are! So stick with us and get lucky.

Bauhinias: Orchid trees with Butterfly leaves

by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

...Have you seen butterflies? Yes, of course. Have you seen orchids? Yes, of course. And have you seen a tree with flowers that look like both a butterfly, and an orchid?...
...Bauhinias are beautiful and diverse. Their flowers are showy and slightly perfumed; their leaves always cleft in the characteristic Bauhinia manner... And they are gorgeous - all together and each in their own way... They turn your garden into a colorful paradise and make you feel like living on exotic island...
...Some of them are everblooming and start flowering in 1-3 gal pots!...

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Aglaia odorata:
A present from the Greek Goddess

by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

...The plant's genus name comes from Greek mythology. Aglaia was the name of one of the three Graces. Aglaia is the Greek goddess of beauty, splendor, glory, magnificence, and adornment...
...Aglaia odorata produces highly perfumed, tiny yellow flowers almost year round - each about the size and shape of a grain of rice. They grow in panicles about 2-4"long and are shaped like tiny balls but do not open when the flowers bloom. The scent exuded by Chinese Perfume Tree flowers is sweet and lemony, with spicy undertones... Aglaia is a must have for every fragrant plant lover!

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The Best Pineapples

Q: What varieties of the Pineapple are the best for planting in Florida? When do they fruit? I have a small yard, with a room for one or two, but can I keep more in pots? I am excited to grow my own pineapples!

A: Pineapple is truly the King of fruits! One of the most delicious fruits in the world. They start flowering from January to March in Florida and yes, they happily grow in the ground as well as in pots. Heaviest fruiting is in Summer (May to September), and some staggered throughout the year.
Be careful with watering, keep in mind that like any bromeliad, Pineapple needs very little water and needs the soil to get dry between waterings. Use only acidic soil and acidic plant food.
Make sure to feed these plants on regular basis, especially if grown in pots. Pineapples are heavy feeders but are also very sensitive like all bromeliads, so be careful with traditional fertilizers, do not exceed recommended dosage. It is safe to use liquid amino-acod-based Sunshine Boosters Ananas fertilizer year round.

The mot popular pineapple varieties for home growers are:
Elite Gold
Royal Hawaiian - Royale
Sugar Loaf

Plant of the Month: Hibiscus El Capitolio

Stevie's Pick: what's in bloom?

Our exotic plant grower Steven Gowdy will spotlight the most interesting plants he discovers and recommends today while working in TopTropicals greenhouses.

OMG! These plants are awesome. The flowers are stunning, ruffled, brightly colored. These are very unique double flowers about 5"long, with ruffled petals, followed by a sort of a stamen, than more ruffled petals... Wow. These are the perfect plants - they can be grown in a container or in-ground, in full sun. They are drought and disease resistant, ever-blooming, can be pruned into a standard weeping tree, or pruned into a bush... It's a convenient, dream plant! Prune frequently, because it blooms on new wood.
Hibiscus El Capitolio grows best in zones 9 through 11. In colder climates leave it in a container outside in the summer months, but bring inside in the winter months.
Remember - ever-blooming! You prune and they will flower all year long. These are fabulous plants that will satisfy any first-time or experienced gardener: you just can't go wrong El Capitolio! They will have you growing happiness... That's true.

Stevie with Kristi and Jamie celebrating his Happy Birthday. Check out Stevie's painting "TopTropicals Theme" at the beginning of this newsletter!