One day a feral cat had given birth to a kitten on our front porch, but the mother had left and not returned... Find out what happened next... a happy ending! Good night.🌜
Everybody loves shopping online nowadays, and plants are no exception.
Buying plants by mail order is not uncommon anymore; it only takes one click,
and luckily, there are many sources - from big shopping malls like Amazon to
small backyard nurseries that sell their seedlings on eBay or Facebook - all
delivered to your door. But plants are alive... So when doing your online
plant shopping, you must ensure that you fully enjoy your experience and are
happy with a healthy plant that a) doesn't die; b) recovers quickly; and c)
starts growing fast, so you can see flowers and fruit as soon as possible.
The rule of thumb for shipping plants: bigger plants undergo shipping
better, experience less stress, less leaf drop, and recover quicker than plants
with smaller root systems. So when it comes to buying plants online, the
bigger, the better. Unfortunately, many mail-order plant sources may sell you a
tiny twig that has very few chances of surviving. Shipping is very expensive
today, so shipping a bigger size plant may cost more than the plant
itself.
Below is a piece of advice on how to make the best plant selection for
your garden...
1. Find a source with bigger plants. Check reviews, ask friends
for recommendations, inquire from the company about the size of their plants
and how they pack their plants for shipping. TopTropicals offers well-established, strong plants with developed root
system, in container sizes 1, 3, 7, 15 gallon, directly from a tropical
Florida growing farm. Our unique plant-packing techniques are state of the art!
2. Price not always reflects the size and quality of the plant
TopTropicals offers many deals, discounts and sales, while still
providing the biggest and strongest plants grown in real tropical conditions.
3. Most fruit trees must be grafted to produce good fruit. Make
sure you are not purchasing a seedling when it comes to Mango, Avocado,
Peaches and some other trees with named varieties that don't come true to seed. TopTropicals offers only grafted - Mango,
Avocado and a large number of other tropical cultivars.
4. Pick up when possible from the nursery your ordered from, or
get a delivery, instead of shipping the plants. A drive to the nursery will save you more time and money in the
future, plus you can hand-pick the biggest and healthiest specimens. TopTropicals is open 7 days a week for your convenience. Visit our Ft Myers Garden Center or Sebring Farm to select the biggest plants.
5. Take advantage of X-Large size plant material if you live
outside the tropical zone and are trying to zone-push your tropical garden.
Bigger plants will establish faster and have more chances to survive cold winters.
Again, it will save you money in a long run (although bigger plants may be
more expensive, but their survival rate is much higher when it comes to cold
nights). TopTropicals offers X-Large flowering and fruiting trees (7-15-25
gallons), and most of the varieties you see in our online
store can be custom-ordered in big sizes. Delivery and installation
available.
Q: Please recommend me a cold hardy flowering tree that doesn't need much care.
A: Growing bottle brush trees (Callistemon spp.) can be a rewarding experience, as they are known for their striking, brush-like flowers and ability to attract pollinators. Here are some detailed tips to help you successfully grow and maintain these trees.
Hardiness
Bottle brush trees are best suited for USDA hardiness zones 8-11. They thrive in warm climates and can tolerate some light frost, but severe cold can damage or kill the plant.
Planting Location
Sunlight: Bottle brush trees require full sun to thrive. Ensure they get at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Soil: They prefer well-draining soil. While they are relatively tolerant of poor soil conditions, a sandy or loamy Space: Consider the mature size of the tree when planting. Some species can grow quite large, so provide enough space for them to spread without being crowded by other plants or structures.
Attracting Pollinators
Bottle brush trees are popular with pollinators. Their bright, nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and birds, particularly hummingbirds. This makes them an excellent choice for a garden designed to support local wildlife.
Blooming and Fertilization
Bottle brush trees typically bloom in late spring to early summer. However, in mild climates, they may have sporadic blooms throughout the year. Fertilization: While bottle brush trees do not require heavy fertilization, applying a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring can promote healthier growth and more abundant blooms. Be cautious not to over-fertilize, as this can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers. During the year, use |find_name=Sunshine Boosters Megaflor(Sunshine Megaflor)| - it is safe to use with every watering, year around.
Watering
During the establishment period, keep the soil moist. Once established, they are quite drought-tolerant but will benefit from regular watering during dry spells.
Pruning
Prune after flowering to maintain shape and remove any dead or diseased branches. This also encourages bushier growth.
By following these guidelines, you can enjoy the beauty and benefits of bottle brush trees in your garden. Their vibrant flowers and attraction to pollinators make them a delightful addition to many landscapes.
❓ Q: I have Ladybugs in my garden, I wonder if they are eating my plants? Do I need to get rid of them?
🐞 Ladybug (Harmonia axyridis) is, in fact, one of the best insects you can find in your garden, it is a natural predator that takes care of many bad bugs, including aphids
🐞 Keep Ladybugs happy and bring them to your garden!
🐞 Ladybugs actually are cultivated as natural pest control, and you can even buy them for your yard, instead of chemicals!
📸 1. Love life of Ladybugs 2. Ladybug larvae eating aphids. 3. One of our #PeopleCats, "innocent" Ladybug (a.k.a. Bug) is wondering who else she can bug next...
👀“A garden without cats... can scarcely deserve to be called a garden at all... much of the magic of the heather beds would vanish if, as we bent over them, there was no chance that we might hear a faint rustle among the blossoms, and find ourselves staring into a pair of sleepy green eyes 👀”
― Beverley Nichols, Garden Open Tomorrow
Share your cats in your garden in comments! 📸 🐈🐈🐈👇
