Date: 24 Jun 2018
Our honest advise on Holiday Gift Plants
Q: Any suggestions on gift plants? With Holidays around the corner, I've been thinking of getting a present for my grandma, she lives in FL and is an experienced gardener. I also have a friend that lives in CA, also warm climate, but she doesn't have a green thumb. Any "easy" plants I can try for her?
A:
Live plant is a perfect gift, as we all know. However when
ordering a plant online as a present, for a happy
experience, you should have three things to consider:
1) Gardener's experience. Planting instructions are
included with every order, and usually success is there if
you follow them. But all plants go through shipping stress
(some more, others less) and need time, patience and love
to recover. Also, a plant will need a new home after
shipping: a pot and a good soil mix. It would be wise if
you add potting mix with a gift
order; the plant should be planted in a permanent pot as
soon as possible, but normally can wait a day in a packing
bag until its new owner gets a pot, if it is not ready
yet.
2) How easy the plant is? If buying a plant for a
beginner, chose something easy, as well as showy. Adeniums - Desert Roses, Jasmines, Clerodendrums, Cordylines are always a good
choice. Calatheas, Gingers and
Heliconias are always showy, even when not in bloom.
Spice trees and herbs are
fun, easy to grow and one can enjoy their aroma right away
without waiting on them growing bigger. Miracle Fruit is an awesome
present, it comes with detailed instructions how to grow
the Miracle!
3) How easy the plant ships? Some plants can be
easy in cultivation, but they don't take shipping well.
After being in a dark box for a few days, most plants
usually recover well in experienced hands. When making a
present, you want something showy, not just a stick to
arrive. Besides Adeniums and Jasmines, many fruit trees
usually take shipping without a problem - such as Mango or Sapote trees. You may not
want to start with Avocado, Papaya, Carambola, or Cacao - unless they go to
an experienced grower - these may take some time and skill
to etanblish. Fig trees are super easy in
shipping, but figs may drop leaves in Winter - for this
same reason, you may think twice about deciduous plants
like Sugar Apples, Grapes, Mulberries or Persimmons to be sent as
gifts. On the other hand, if you are sending a deciduous
tree to a gardener who can appreciate the variety, this
may be a good choice - dormant plants take shipping with
less stress!
Holiday special: On the picture: Adenium Xmas Santa. A Holiday Special Desert Rose with Christmas-colored flowers - deep-red and white.
Still not sure which plant to choose? You may buy a Top Tropicals Gift Certificate
Date: 24 Jul 2023
Easy,
stress-free plants
for Summer planting
Q: With the rising temperatures, I'm concerned about shipping my plants safely. Can they withstand the heat during transit? Also, is it okay to plant them in the ground now, or should I wait for cooler Fall weather?
A: Your concern about shipping plants in hot weather is valid. For sensitive plants, we'll delay shipping until conditions are more favorable in your area. However, there are plenty of heat-tolerant tropical plants that handle shipping well with minimal stress. These plants adapt easily when planted during the hot summer months. Simply follow the included planting instructions, gradually acclimate them to full sun, and they should thrive.
Certain flowering tropical plants, such as Allamandas, Calliandras, Caesalpinias, Adeniums, and Clerodendrums, are excellent options for shipping and establishing during the summer. Flowering vines like Jasmines also adapt well. Consider using Sunshine Booster fertilizers to promote robust growth, they are safe to use right after planting.
Additionally, many fruit trees flourish in heat. Mangoes, Avocados, Pomegranates, Pineapples, Loquats, Eugenias - Tropical cherries, Bananas, Jackfruits, Dragon Fruit, and Olive trees are great choices for summer planting. Noni trees are hardy survivors and usually ship and grow well during the summer, in spite of their lush tropical leaves.
Feel free to check with us about the specific plant you plan to order for its suitability in summer shipping. We're here to take care of your green babies and address your year-round planting needs!
Pitaya, Yellow Dragon Fruit, Selenicereus megalanthus
Jasminum sambac Maid of Orleans thrives and blooms in hot sun
Date: 30 May 2024
Attention grabber: swollen trunk, giant leaves, and flowers just like corals! A must for bonsai collection
Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant
Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant flowers
Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant
Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant leaves
Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant caudex
- ♥️ Jatropha podagrica: commonly known as the Gout Plant, this plant is a true attention grabber and a must-have in any container garden, as well as in succulent or bonsai plant collection.
- ♥️ Features a distinctive bottle-like caudex and surprisingly large tropical leaves up to 10-12 inches in diameter. Just like you saw in Adeniums.
- ♥️ Thrives in the shade, where its leaves grow even larger.
- ♥️ Perfect for natural bonsai and makes an excellent potted plant or conversation piece in a small garden.
- ♥️ Grows only 2-3 feet high, with a knobby, swollen stem and eye-catching, coral-like red flowers in large terminal clusters.
- ♥️ Prefers partial sun and well-drained soil, and is very drought-tolerant.
- ♥️ Easy to care for, adding exotic flair and intrigue to any plant collection.
🛒 Shop Gout plant
#Container_Garden #Nature_Wonders #Shade_Garden
🏵 TopTropicals
Date: 8 Oct 2024
Is this Adenium?
caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis
🌸 Is this Adenium? No, its a Morning Glory!
🌸 This remarkable caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis - is growing from a large caudex! The caudex can be of some weird shapes and forms. Similar to Desert roses (Adeniums), it grows caudex for water storage to survive extended drought periods. This is one of our favorite plants, easy to grow, makes a great conversation piece. It is a perfect for bonsai
📚Learn more from previous post:
A beauty from Argentina
🛒 Order Caudiciform Morning Glory
#Nature_Wonders
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date: 22 May 2024
Why did she say its a dog poo? Its a beauty from Argentina!
Caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis
Caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis
Caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis
Caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis
Caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis
Caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis
Caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis
Caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis
💩 💃 Why did she say it's a dog poo? It's a beauty from Argentina!
- 🌸 This remarkable caudiciform Morning Glory - Ipomoea platensis - is native to arid regions of Argentina.
- 🌸 This is a showy flowering vine growing from a large caudex! The caudex can be of some weird shapes and forms. Some old lady once said "it's a dog poo plant!"
- 🌸 Similar to Desert roses (Adeniums), it grows caudex for water storage to survive extended drought periods.
- 🌸 Caudex grows over 2 ft! Vines reach over 12 ft, covered with beautiful bell-shaped pink flowers.
- 🌸 Can be kept as a bonsai in a pot, easy to control as a container specimen with trellis or pruning.
- 🌸 Although it doesn't mind dry conditions, the plant benefits from regular watering and good drainage, then it grows fast.
- 🌸 This is one of our favorite plants, easy to grow, makes a great conversation piece. It is a perfect for bonsai
🛒 Order Caudiciform Morning Glory
#Nature_Wonders
🏵 TopTropicals