Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 18 Mar 2025

What is in bloom right now?

Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree

Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree

What is in bloom right now?

😡 Orchid trees are among the most spectacular trees in Florida, flowering from late winter through spring. They are fast-growing, not fussy about soil or water, and bloom for several weeks in a stunning display of white, purple, pink, or red flowers.

📸 Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree - the most cold-hardy of all Bauhinias, tolerating temperatures as low as 26F. You can see them in full bloom across Florida right now!

📚 Orchid trees from previous posts:

🛍 Shop Orchid Trees

#Hedges_with_benefits #Trees #Butterfly_Plants

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 9 Jul 2024

How to grow Orchid Trees in pots

Orchid Trees in pots

🌸 How to grow Orchid Trees in pots

Everyone loves beautiful Orchid trees with butterfly-like leaves and colorful orchid-like flowers. They are widely used in Southern landscapes. But what if you don't have a room in your garden for another tree? Or what if it gets too cold in winter for a tropical Orchid tree? You can grow it in a pot!

📝 This is how to n enjoy the stunning flowers and foliage of Bauhinia right on your patio or balcony:

💠 Choose the right variety. Some species suitable for containers:

B. madagascariensis

B. alba (candida)

💠 Choose the right pot: Select a large, sturdy pot with good drainage holes. Bauhinia trees have a vigorous root system
💠 Use a well-draining potting mix. We recommend a professional soilless mix: Sunshine Abundance.
💠 Sunny location: Position the pot in a location that receives full sun to partial shade. Bauhinia plants thrive in warm, sunny conditions.
💠 Watering: Keep the soil slightly moist but not waterlogged. Water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
💠 Fertilizing: For the most profuse flowering like in the video, feed the Bauhinia with liquid Sunshine Boosters Megaflor year around, it's safe with every watering.
💠 Pruning: Prune the plant to maintain its shape and encourage bushier growth.
💠 Winter Care: If you live in a region with cold winters, bring the pot indoors or to a sheltered location to protect the plant from frost.

📸 Bauhinia monandra - Napoleons Plume Orchid Tree, starts flowering when only 2 ft tall and grows well in containers.

📚 Earlier posts on Bauhinias: 1 2 3
Bauhinias: trees with Orchid Flowers and Butterfly Wings

🛒 Shop Orchid Trees

#Container_Garden #How_to

🏵 TopTropicals

Date: 6 Aug 2024

What orchid tree has stunning red and yellow flowers year around?

Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Butterfly Orchid Tree

💋 What orchid tree has stunning red and yellow flowers year around? Madagascar Orchid Tree.

We showed you in earlier post one showy red Orchid tree - Bauhinia galpinii; but this one is even more spectacular!

🔴 Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Butterfly Orchid Tree is a very rare plant in cultivation and one of the most spectacular Bauhinia. Rare, collectible species.
🔴 Flowers and extremely showy, look like scarlet butterflies with bright yellow stripes at the base of each petal.
🔴 It grows into a small tree or tall bush. Fast growing. Attracts butterflies.
🔴 Plant in in full sun to get the most of its flowering season - this one literally blooms year around!

📚 More posts about Bauhinias:

🛒 Order rare Bauhinia madagascariensis

#Trees #Butterfly_Plants

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 13 Aug 2025

🌸 Orchid Tree - Bauhinia: Winter Blooms & Year-Round Beauty

Collage showing Bauhinia blakeana with magenta flowers, Bauhinia variegata var. candida with white blooms, and Bauhinia monandra with pink speckled flowers; all suitable for gardens, with some varieties adapted to container growing if
trimmed. — Bauhinia blakeana, Bauhinia variegata var. candida, and Bauhinia monandra – Orchid Trees in Bloom

Sometimes a plant stops you midwalk. Flowers so bright they almost glow, leaves shaped like butterflies — that’s a Bauhinia, the Orchid Tree. These fast growers bring color when many gardens are quiet, with some blooming in the heart of winter.

🌟 Why Grow Bauhinia?

Exotic blooms in colors from white to deep magenta
Distinctive leaves — nature’s own butterfly design
Many varieties flower in the cooler season
Fast growth, easy shaping, more blooms after pruning
Varieties for large yards, small gardens, and sunny patios
Tolerant of heat, drought, and poor soils

Bauhinia Care Tips

🌞 Outdoor

Full sun for best flowering, well-draining soil, deep watering once established. Light pruning after bloom keeps shape and encourages more flowers. Protect young plants from frost. During the growing season (Spring - Fall), apply a balanced fertilizer - like top-dress slow release fertilizer or controlled-release Green Magic. Liquid fertilizer Sunshine Boosters Megaflor can be used year around - to promote vigorous growth and abundant blooms.

🏡 Indoor / Patio

Bright sun (south window or outdoors in warm months), large pot with drainage, even moisture during growth, and a bloom-booster feed in season. Feed regularly with a balanced fertilizer controlled-release Green Magic. Liquid fertilizer Sunshine Boosters Megaflor can be used year around - to promote vigorous growth and abundant blooms. Bring indoors before frost.

🍂 Seasonal Note – Bauhinias are Deciduous

Bauhinias drop their leaves in winter — even in warm climates. This is normal and part of their rest cycle. Bare branches in the cool season will leaf out again in spring, often just as flowers begin.

📝 Quick choice guide

Winter flowers: Bauhinia alba, Bauhinia blakeana, Bauhinia variegata
Small space: Bauhinia acuminata, Bauhinia madagascariensis
Vine option: Bauhinia galpinii for long warm-season color

Watch videos about flowering trees

Date: 13 Sep 2025

Ground Orchid FAQ – Your Questions Answered

Why should I buy them?

Because they give you more bloom for less effort. They flower on and off almost all year, they’re tough, and they come in colors you can actually plan a garden around.

Will they survive winter in my area?

In frost-free zones, yes, they come back bigger every year. If you’re farther north, just keep them in pots and bring them inside for the cold months.

Do they really bloom in shade?

They do. We’ve got a clump under a big oak and it still puts on a show. Not as heavy as full sun, but enough to brighten the spot.

How big do they get?

Depends which one. Spathoglottis stays neat, about knee-high. Nun Orchid shoots up tall spikes that can hit 4 ft. So you can go small or dramatic.

Are they hard to care for like other orchids?

Not at all. Forget the bark mix and misting bottles. Just plant them in soil, keep the water steady, and feed once in a while. That’s it.

Can I grow them in pots?

Absolutely. They do great in containers. Makes it easy if you’ve only got a patio or you want to move them in for winter. Use well-drained soilless mix like Abundance Potting Mix.

Do they attract pollinators?

Yep. Bees love them, butterflies too, and every so often a hummingbird will check them out.

What is the best fertilizer?

For extra blooms, we use Sunshine Orchidasm – Orchid TotalFeed Booster. Works like a charm!

Shop ground orchids

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