Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 7 Jun 2025

From seed to fruit. How to grow Loquat from seeds, step-by-step guide. Part 2: after germination

Loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) - fruit

Loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) - fruit

✍️ From seed to fruit. How to grow Loquat from seeds, step-by-step guide. Part 2: after germination



Continued from previous posts⤴️
  • 🍑 4. Transplanting Seedlings


  • When to Transplant: Once seedlings reach about 2-4” (5-10 cm) in height.
  • Transplanting and fertilizing: Move each seedling to its own pot and add controlled release fertilizer (Green Magic is the best), or use liquid balanced fertilizer Sunshine Boosters after 1-2 weeks once the seedlings establish.
  • Watering. Keep soil in a pot slightly moist but not soggy
  • Temperature. Keep seedling warm - above 70F (21C), and protect from extreme heat over 90F (35C) . For small plants, avoid freezing temperatures during winter. As the seedlings get bigger, they get higher drought-, heat- and cold tolerance. Established Loquat trees (2-3 years and older) may take light freezing temperatures.
  • Planting in the ground. You can plant the seedling in the ground when it reaches 2-3 ft tall (50-100 cm) in frost-free areas. During chill winter nights, young seedlings can be cold protected until established.


🍑 5. Sunlight Requirements

  • Light Exposure: Loquat established seedlings thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Start seedlings in bright shade and protect from afternoon hot sun to avoid leaf burn. Once seedlings are established and new growth appears (2-4 weeks), gradually move them to full sun.
  • Why adequate sunlight (full sun) is important:
- promotes healthy growth
- helps to avoid fungus and insect problems
- is critical for future flowering and fruit production

🍑 6. Fruit production

  • Loquat seedlings start producing seed within 3-4 years from seed, providing adequate sunlight, warm temperatures and regular irrigation.
  • Grafted Loquats start producing right away or the next year
  • Fruit will develop over the winter and ripen from March through May depending on location


🛒 Shop Loquat Trees and enjoy fresh fruit benefits

📚 Learn more:


🎥 YouTube video about Loquat
📁 Overlooked fruit: tasty Loquat recipes (PDF)

#Food_Forest #Loquat

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Date: 12 Jun 2025

How to make bonsai with Shaving Brush Tree

Shaving Brush Tree bonsai - Pseudobombax ellipticum

Shaving Brush Tree bonsai - Pseudobombax ellipticum

Shaving Brush Tree bonsai - Pseudobombax ellipticum

Shaving Brush Tree bonsai - Pseudobombax ellipticum

Shaving Brush Tree bonsai - Pseudobombax ellipticum

Shaving Brush Tree bonsai - Pseudobombax ellipticum

How to make bonsai with Shaving Brush Tree



Creating a bonsai from a Shaving Brush Tree Pseudobombax ellipticum is a fun and rewarding project. This unusual plant, with its fat trunk and wild, pom-pom-like flowers, makes one of the most eye-catching bonsai you can grow. It's not your typical bonsai tree - it's a conversation piece that looks like something from a fantasy world! With a little patience, it becomes a living sculpture that blooms with flair.
  • Start with young plant with a fat trunk (caudex) and interesting shape.
  • Use shallow pot with fast-draining cactus mix.
  • Prune branches to create structure and shape.
  • Trim roots gently when repotting every 2-3 years.
  • Water well during growing season, keep almost dry in winter.
  • Give full sun to keep compact and encourage blooms.
  • Fertilize lightly: with slow release plant food in spring-summer or year around with liquid fertilizer like Sunshine Boosters.
  • Be patient - bonsai is a slow grower but worth it for the amazing flowers.


🛒 Start your own Shaving Brush Bonsai

📚 Learn more:


Why is it called Shaving Brush?

#How_to #Container_Garden #Trees

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Date: 20 Jun 2025

Adenium Rainbow, Part 1

Adenium varieties

Adenium Rainbow, Part 1 🌈
  • 🌸 Our Desert roses at Top Tropicals - Adeniums - were planted in March - and the first video posted in April.
  • Now, in June, they have more and more blooms! We are sharing these amazing colors with you.
    To be continued, check back soon!⤵️
  • 🌸 Check out the varieties still in stock and grab yours before they’re gone. Some are already sold out, but you still have a chance to score amazing blooms!
  • 🌸 Why Collect Adeniums?


· Easy to grow indoors or out
  • · Thrive in sun, shade, and low humidity
  • · Drought-tolerant, low maintenance
  • · Not picky about soil
  • · Stunning blooms and unique caudex shapes

  • 🌸 How Many Varieties Exist?

· Over 200 hybrids at Top Tropicals
  • · 100+ varieties in stock now
  • · From doubles to red, purple, yellow, striped, dotted, rainbow, even black flowers - you'll want them all!


🌸 How to Grow a Big, Swollen Caudex - a simple trick with big results:


Each time you repot, raise the plant slightly to expose more of the upper roots. This encourages new root growth downward and helps form a thicker, more dramatic caudex.
  • · Use a well-draining mix
  • · Water only when dry - Adeniums love dry conditions
  • · Feed with Sunshine Megaflor Booster that supports both caudex and blooms
  • · Grow best in filtered bright light


📚 More about Adeniums:



🛒 Shop Adenium colors and hybrids

#Container_Garden #How_to #Shade_Garden #Adenium

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 23 Jul 2025

Five best fruit trees to plant in Summer

James Coconuts and Bob introducing Five best fruit trees

🌳 Five best fruit trees to plant in Summer



☀️ Summer might be scorching, but it’s actually a great time to plant fruit trees that love the heat. If you've got sunshine and a little space, these five tropical picks will reward you with fresh, homegrown fruit - some you’ll never find in a store!

1.🥭 Mango - the King of all fruit, a must have in every garden. Fiberlress varieties only! You can't buy those in the store.

2. Avocado - a must have super-fruit in everyone's diet, grow your own!

3.🐲 Dragon fruit - heat tolerant easy plant with low water needs, sweet fruit-bearing cactus

4. 🍉 Guava - by far the most flavorful tropical fruit, great for Summer drinks

5. 🍐 Black Sapote - fast growing, heat- and flood-tolerant, fruit tastes like chocolate pudding

📚 Learn more from previous posts:

🛒 Explore the finest rare tropical fruit trees

#Food_Forest #Discover

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 28 Jul 2025

Squeaky little things

Labrador puppies

🐶 Squeaky little things

Sweet Memories: our Labrador puppies - Wigglebutts - 2.5 years ago!

🐈📸 Sunshine, Draco, Lila and their brothers and sisters in December 2022 at Top Tropicals Bfarm PeopleCats.Garden

#PeopleCats

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