Erblichia or Flor de Fuego - Apricot fragrance and sunny color
Q: I saw this wonderful flower Flor de Fuego on your website and I would like to buy this plant. I am wondering how big this tree will grow and how long will it take until I can smell the lovely flowers? I have a big garden and not much space left, but I still have a few spots available for smaller trees. Also any special care info will be appreciated.
A:Flor de Fuego is a small tree and will fit in any small yard situation. It is very rare in cultivation. This is the newest, most exciting tree to be introduced in the last decade. It said to be one of the most beautiful flowering trees in Central America. It has long narrow leaves and large flowers 6-8"across that smell like apricots. It blooms from late fall through early winter and sometimes through spring. Normally it starts blooming in 2-3 years after planted in the ground. Surprisingly for such a delicate plant, it tolerates poor soils. Once established, it doesn't require any special care other than regular watering and fertilizing during hot months. It does take some effort sometimes to make the tree happy in its new habitat. After planting in the ground, keep your eye on irrigation schedule and do not let soil stay wet, young trees don't like wet feet. In natural habitat, the plant prefers to have a dry period that is beneficial for profuse blooming.
Forget the Tropics: These 5 Condo Mango Varieties Thrive in Your Living Room
Mngo tree in a pot
Forget the Tropics: These 5 "Condo Mango" Varieties Thrive in Your Living Room 🥭
A tropical orchard in your living room? It’s more possible than you think. While wild mango trees can tower at 60 feet, "condo mango" varieties allow you to harvest juicy, sun-ripened fruit right next to your sofa.
If you have a sunny window and a bit of patience, here is exactly how to grow a potted mango tree indoors.
🌳 Why "Condo Mangoes" are the Secret to Success
Most people fail because they plant a seed from a grocery store mango. Don't do that. Seeds take up to a decade to fruit and grow far too large.
Instead, look for grafted, dwarf varieties. These are bred to:
• Stay compact (6–10 feet).
• Fruit within 1–3 years.
• Thrive in the limited root space of a container.
🌳 The 5 Best Mango Varieties for Indoor Pots
Choosing the right cultivar is 90% of the battle. These five are the gold standard for indoor growers:
• Pickering: The #1 choice for pots; naturally tiny. Rich, fiberless, and coconut-heavy.
• Cogshall: Slow-growing and easy to prune. Classic, ultra-sweet tropical taste.
• Ice Cream: Extremely compact; thrives in small spaces. Creamy texture, like mango sorbet.
• Carrie: High disease resistance; very productive. intense, spicy-sweet aroma.
• Mallika: A semi-dwarf Indian favorite. Exceptional, honey-like sweetness.
Mangoes are sun-worshippers. They need at least 8 hours of direct light daily.
The Pro Move: Place your tree in a south-facing window. If you live in a cloudy climate, a high-quality LED grow light isn't optional - it’s a necessity to prevent leaf drop and encourage flowering.
The Rule: Let the top 2 inches of soil dry completely before watering deeply.
3. Temperature & Humidity
Keep your room between 65F and 90F. If you are comfortable, the tree is likely comfortable. Avoid placing it near drafty AC vents or heaters that sap humidity.
4. The "Bee" Factor (Pollination)
Indoors, you lack wind and insects. When your tree flowers, gently shake the branches or use a small paintbrush to move pollen between blooms to ensure fruit sets.
👉 Quick Tips for a Better Harvest
• Pot Size: Start with a 15-inch wide container and "up-pot" every two years.
• Pruning: Don't be afraid to snip! Pruning the tips encourages branching, and more branches mean more fruit.
• Fertilizer: Use a balanced organic fertilizer with micronutrients (like magnesium and iron). We recommend Sunshine Mango Tango specifically formulated for mango trees, and a micro element supplement - Sunshine Superfood - these are safe to use with every watering.
How to get Canistel tree to produce
without dropping flowers and fruit
Q: My Canistel tree is 3 1/2 years old and is growing very well, see the
picture below. It gets hundreds of pea sized "berries" but then they fall off. No
canistel fruit. What's wrong?
A: You have such a nice looking tree, it is a shame you can't get
any fruit to ripen.
In our experience, Pouteria trees dropping fruit prematurely is a very common problem.
There may be one of the following reasons, or a combination of them:
- Cold winters may affect production, and while Canistel is generally
pretty hardy tropical plant that can easily withstand short periods of chill, the
fruit may never form properly if it had a cold winter.
- Lack of water. Canistel tree is pretty drought tolerant, but for the
proper production cycle it needs regular irrigation. Especially during hot
summer.
- The tree may be not strong enough; young trees drop fruit very often when
they don't have enough "fruiting energy" built up in their system.
Your tree looks well established and vigorous, however, flower/fruit drop
is often a sign of insufficient nutrients of particular kind, usually Boron
(B) and/or Molybdenum (Mo): either when a tree is too young and not strong
enough, or because of poor soils and lack of necessary elements.
Here is what can be done, considering you live in a warm, frost-free
climate.
1. Provide regular fertilizing program. We recommend liquid
fertilizers Sunshine Boosters that are safe to use with every watering and year
around. It is beneficial to switch plants from traditional "slow-release"
fertilizer to the liquid one because it makes a huge difference in plant growth
and flower/fruit quality and quantity. See also:
- Why liquid fertilizers are better than dry
- Article about benefits of liquid fertilizers.
2. Apply micro-element remedies that are very effective for
improving fruit production, especially when flower or fruit drop occurs:
SUNSHINE Honey - promotes more efficient blossoming and pollination, makes
flowers bigger and reduces bud drop. SUNSHINE SuperFood - improves plant vigor and quality and size of
flowers
These are all natural, eco-friendly supplements that work great for fruit
trees and other edibles.
Date: 31 Oct 2025
Black and White Bat Lilies (Tacca chantrieri and Tacca
nivea) side by side in bloom
How to Care for Bat Lilies
by Top Tropicals
Plant Expert Tatiana Anderson
🌞 Light
Bright, filtered light. Morning sun or dappled shade is perfect.
Avoid direct midday sun outdoors — it can scorch the leaves.
Indoors, place near a bright window with sheer curtains or use a grow
light.
🌡️ Temperature
Warm and stable, ideally 70-85 F during the day.
Protect from cold drafts or sudden chills.
Ideally, do not let temperature drop below 45 F, although Taccas can
tolerate short period of upper 30's.
💧 Watering
Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy.
Water when the top inch feels barely dry.
Use lukewarm water.
Avoid letting the pot sit in water.
💨 Humidity
High humidity (60-80%) is key.
Mist leaves often, use a humidity tray, or keep near a humidifier.
In greenhouses or bathrooms with a skylight, it thrives naturally.
🌱 Soil
Use rich, loose, well-draining mix
Combine bark, peat, and perlite for ideal airflow around the roots.
Best mix for growing tropical Tacca in pots - soilless potting mix Abundance
. It provides perfect drainage and has a texture similar to a jungle
rainforest media.
🍽️ Feeding
During growth season (Spring through Fall), feed with Green
Magic controlled release fertilizer every 6 months. For even
better results, you may apply liquid fertilizer Sunshine
Boosters Rubusta.
Stop feeding dry fertilizer in cooler months when growth slows. Liquid
Sunshine Boosters are safe to use with every watering, year around.
🏡 Indoor Growing
Great for bright bathrooms, sunrooms, or any warm, humid corner.
Rotate pot occasionally for even growth.
Keep away from heating vents and AC drafts.
🌴 Outdoor Growing (in warm climates)
Partial shade or filtered light under trees.
Excellent in large containers that can be brought inside for
winter.
Shelter from heavy rain and wind.
Sunshine: "So… it’s a diva?"
Smokey: "Exactly. But take care of it - and it rewards you with wings!"
Smokey and Sunshine: "Happy Halloween!"
Guava varieties: Pink flesh (upper left quarter), White flesh and Cas
(upper right quarter), Red Cattley Guava (bottom left quarter) and Golden
Cattley (bottom right quarter).
Let’s talk Guava. Few fruits check as many boxes: flavor,
productivity, health, and adaptability. We’ve grown guava trees at Top
Tropicals for years here in Florida, and it never fails to surprise people
with how
easy it is — and how quickly it rewards you.
🌿 Health Benefits
We know the first question:"Why guava in addition to all the other
fruit trees I could plant?"Because guava is one of the healthiest tropical
fruits you can eat and grow — and it produces faster than almost
anything
else.
Vitamin C powerhouse — guava has four times more vitamin C than
oranges. One fruit covers your daily needs and then some.
Potassium and fiber — good for balancing blood pressure and
keeping your heart strong.
Antioxidants like lycopene and vitamin C — these keep your skin
glowing and help protect your cells from damage.
Dietary fiber — aids digestion and helps keep blood sugar
steady.
Guava is a true"food as medicine"tree you can plant right in your
backyard or in pot.
♥️ Our Favorite Varieties are Available Now
We currently have a DOZEN excellent guava varieties in stock selected by
our plant expert Tatiana Anderson — something special for every
garden. Our top picks are:
Pink Guavas
Barbie Pink
– Yellow pear-shaped fruit with thick pink flesh, sweet and juicy.
Cold
hardy for a tropical fruit. The best seller.
Hong Kong
– Large, round, smooth pink fruit. Sweet flavor, very few seeds, and
very
productive.
Tikal
– Our top pick. Fast-growing, disease-resistant, and produces the
sweetest
pink guavas with very few seeds.
White Guavas
Indonesian White
– Aromatic, classic white-fleshed guava with an excellent
tropical flavor.
Kilo White
– Giant fruit up to 2 lbs (1 kilo) each! Few seeds, creamy white
flesh,
and fruits even in containers.
Brazilian Araca
Pera – Rare hybrid used for Guava Wine in Brazil. Tart,
concentrated juice makes excellent wine, sorbet, or jelly. Learn more...
Pineapple Guava,
Guavasteen – Feijoa sellowiana. Strongly perfumed fruit, best
enjoyed when the pulp is mixed with sugar – like forest strawberries.
Cold-hardy, tolerates freeze, and doubles as a great windbreak. Learn more...
How to Care for Bat Lilies
