Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 30 May 2024

Tired of an ugly hedge? Replace it with Aglaia - Chinese Rice Flower, and enjoy Lemony Fragrance year around!

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant flowers

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant flowers

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant hedge

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant hedge

🍋 Tired of an ugly hedge? Replace it with Aglaia - Chinese Rice Flower, and enjoy Lemony Fragrance year around!

  • 🟡 Aglaia odorata is also known as Chinese Perfume Plant, Chinese Rice Flower, or Mock Lemon.
  • 🟡 The plant has an outstanding fragrance from tiny, rice-sized yellow flowers.
  • 🟡 Aglaia grows into a dense bush without pruning. It is relatively slow-growing; so large plants are rare and hard to find.
  • 🟡 Easy to grow bush, it is perfect for a cold tolerant tropical hedge.
  • 🟡 Aglaia has many medicinal uses; contains odorine and odorinol, which have cancer chemopreventive activity.


🛒
Get a few bushes of Aglaia for lemony-fragrant hedge

#Perfume_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits #Remedies

🏵 TopTropicals

Date: 13 Dec 2024

Are you in Florida for Holidays?

Are you in Florida for Holidays?
🎄 Are you in Florida for Holidays? 🔔

Join us on Saturday, December 14, 2024, for our Holiday Plant Market! Our plants have grown big and beautiful over the summer!

🎁 Enjoy amazing deals with plants starting at just $5 and $10

🆓 Receive afree plant with every purchase.

Bring friends and family to explore, and let our friendly #PeopleCats help you find the perfect plants! 🐈🌳😳

Celebrate the season with us in full tropical style - we can't wait to see you there!

🎏 Learn more about this event

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 2 Feb 2025

Mark your calendars: March 1, 2025

March  1,  2025  -  SATURDAY  -  Spring  Plant 
 Market

Spring into Green at Our Spring Plant Market!
Saturday, March 1, 9 am - 4 pm

Save the date for March 1, 2025, and join us for a vibrant celebration of nature! Bring your friends and family to explore a tropical oasis where our friendly PeopleCats are ready to help you find the perfect plants to brighten your space.

Celebrate the season of renewal and let your garden flourish with new life. We can't wait to see you there and share in the joy of spring!

Highlights of the event:

30% OFF online prices, one day only! (excluding 15 gallon material and rare plants)
Exciting raffle prizes
Special discounts on selected plants
Complimentary gift bags for the first 25 ccustomers with an order $50+ Free plant with any purchase as a token of our appreciation
Life Music: the Famous

Event discounts valid at both locations:

Ft Myers Garden Center: 13890 Orange River, Ft Myers, FL
Sebring B-Farm: 9100 McRoy Rd, Sebring, FL

Plant  Market

Holiday  Plant  Market  Cat

Date: 9 Feb 2025

How to grow Mandevilla: Practical Guide to Growing Mandevilla Vine

Mandevilla amabilis
Thai Rose

Mandevilla amabilis Thai Rose

Mandevilla Sun Parasol Crimson

Mandevilla Sun Parasol Crimson

Mandevilla Sun Parasol Crimson on a trellis

Mandevilla Sun Parasol Crimson on a trellis

Mandevilla amabilis
Thai Rose

Mandevilla amabilis Thai Rose

Mandevilla Stars and Stripes

Mandevilla Stars and Stripes

🌺 How to grow Mandevilla: Practical Guide to Growing Mandevilla Vine

  • 🌺 Mandevilla is a tropical vine known for its vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom throughout the warm months. This fast-growing climber thrives in warm climates and adds a stunning display of color to gardens and patios.
  • 🌺 Difference Between Mandevilla and Dipladenia


    The names Mandevilla and Dipladenia are often used interchangeably, creating confusion. While they are closely related, there are key differences. Mandevilla is a vigorous woody vine with large, stiff leaves, ideal for trellises and fences. Dipladenia, on the other hand, has a more compact growth habit with smaller, smooth leaves. Dipladenia can be also trained on a trellis but also thrives in hanging baskets or as a compact specimen plant. As a bushier type of Mandevilla, its smaller, more compact varieties are excellent for mixed containers.
  • 🌺 Growing in the Ground


💋Soil. Mandevilla prefers well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. A mix of garden soil, compost, and sand ensures good drainage and fertility. Both Mandevilla and Dipladenia require acidic soil. If your native soil contains limestone, consider growing them in containers with a peat-based potting mix to maintain a lower pH.
  • 💋Light. Plant in a location with full sun to partial shade; at least 6 hours of direct sunlight promotes the best blooms.
  • Water Mandevilla regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. During hot months, water deeply a few times a week. Reduce watering in cooler seasons.
  • 💋Feeding and Encouraging More Blooms: Feed Mandevilla with Sunshine Boosters Megaflor with every watering to encourage more blooms. Prune lightly after flowering to promote new growth and continuous flowering.

  • 🌺 Most Interesting Varieties
  • Mandevilla flowers come in a wide range of colors, including shades of red, mauve, pink, white, and even yellow. For vibrant color and impact, consider these varieties:

💋Mandevilla ‘Alice du Pont’– A classic pink variety with large flowers and vigorous growth.
  • 💋Mandevilla ‘Sun Parasol’ Series – Offers compact plants in deep red, pink, or white, great for containers or small spaces.
  • 💋Mandevilla ‘Crimson Red’– Deep red blooms stand out against glossy green foliage.
  • 💋Dipladenia ‘Stars and Stripes’ - features striking red-and-white striped blooms.
  • In Florida, Sun Parasol and Alice du Pont perform exceptionally well, thriving in the heat and humidity while providing season-long blooms.

  • 🌺 Pests and Problems
Mandevilla is relatively pest-resistant but can attract aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. To manage pests:
  • 💋Spray with a neem oil solution weekly if pests are present.
  • 💋Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs to control aphids naturally.
  • 💋Remove affected leaves and rinse plants with a strong stream of water.
  • 💋Watch for fungal diseases in humid climates; ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering.


🌺 Growing Mandevilla in Pots and Winter Care


Mandevilla grows beautifully in containers, making it a great option for cooler climates where it can be brought indoors for winter.
  • 💋Pot Growing Tips:

· Use a well-draining potting mix with added perlite for aeration.
  • · Choose a pot at least 12-16 inches in diameter, with several drainage holes, for vigorous growth.
  • · Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, avoiding waterlogged conditions.


💋Winter Care:
  • · In regions with frost, move potted Mandevilla indoors to a bright, cool location (50-60°F).
  • · Reduce watering and stop fertilizing during cooler season.
  • · Prune lightly before bringing indoors to maintain shape and size.
  • · Repotting: Repot every 2-3 years in early spring before active growth begins, refreshing the soil and upgrading to a slightly larger container if needed.

With the right care, Mandevilla provides stunning, long-lasting blooms and thrives in gardens or pots, making it a versatile and rewarding addition to any space.

📚 Learn more from previous post:


How to overwinter Mandevilla indoors

🛒 Shop flowering vines

#How_to #Container_Garden #Hedges_with_benefits

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 1 Mar 2025

March 1, 2025 - SATURDAY - Spring Plant Market

March 1, 2025 - SATURDAY - Spring Plant Market

🛍 March 1, 2025 - SATURDAY - Spring Plant Market



🟢 Spring into Green at Our Spring Plant Market! Join us today, March 1, for a vibrant celebration of nature!

Bring your friends and family to explore a tropical oasis where our friendly #PeopleCats are ready to help you find the perfect plants to brighten your space.

🗓 Highlights of the event include:



- 30% OFF online prices (*excluding 15 gallon material and rare plants)
- Exciting raffle prizes
- Special discounts on selected plants
- Complimentary gift bags for the first 25 ccustomers with an order $50+
- Life Music: the Famous Hand Pan Lady! (see her previous performance at Top Tropicals)

🆓 Free plant with any purchase as a token of our appreciation

📍 Event discounts and specials valid at both locations:


Ft Myers Garden Center: 13890 Orange River, Ft Myers, FL
Sebring Farm: 9100 McRoy Rd, Sebring, FL

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals