Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 21 Oct 2025

Compact Bauhinias - everblooming container trees

Compact Bauhinias - everblooming container trees

Compact Bauhinias - everblooming container trees

🌈 Compact Bauhinias - everblooming container trees

📸 Pictures for the previous post, Bauhinias:

Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Dwarf Orchid Tree. Blooms from winter through fall, up to 10 months a year. The most cold-hardy of all.
Bauhinia blakeana - Hong Kong Orchid Tree. A large tree in the ground, but compact in pots if trimmed. Grafted trees flower right away. Winter bloomer, cold hardy to light frost.
Bauhinia tomentosa - Yellow Orchid Tree. Flowers from Winter through Summer, cold hardy to light frost.
Bauhinia monandra - Napoleon's Plume Orchid Tree. Almost everblooming with the longest flowering period (less cold hardy than the first three).
Bauhinia acuminata - Dwarf White Orchid Tree. Blooms from summer through winter (also less cold hardy than the first three).

🛒 Explore Bauhinias (Orchid Trees)

#Container_Garden #Trees

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Date: 9 Jul 2024

Where does Blackberry Jam come from? It comes from Gardenia!

Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit, flower

Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit, fruit

Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit, fruit

Where does Blackberry Jam come from? It comes from Gardenia!

Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de Rosa is a curious small evergreen tree from South America that combines features of a fragrant flower and delicious dessert fruit which tastes like fresh Blackberry jam. Fragrant white flowers are similar to Gardenia.

This relatively hardy tropical can be grown in a container as well as in the ground. It's very сompact (4-5 ft), perfect for container culture, will fruit in a container.

Kids love the fruit! Many claim that it is even better than Blackberry preserves.

Large tubular white flowers attract nocturnal moths. Since the plant is closely related to the gardenia (Rubiaceae plant family), its flowers are sweetly fragrant.

Produces as many as 25-30 fruits at a time. Since it blooms for a few months from Summer through Winter, fruiting and flowering can be enjoyed even when other plants are dormant.

Article about Blackberry Jam Fruit formosa

Order Blackberry Jam tree

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden

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Date: 9 Jul 2024

Truth about Blackberry Jam:

Truth about Blackberry Jam:
Truth about Blackberry Jam: it comes from Gardenia!

Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de Rosa is a curious small evergreen tree from South America that combines features of a fragrant flower and delicious dessert fruit which tastes like fresh Blackberry jam. Fragrant white flowers are similar to Gardenia.

This relatively hardy tropical can be grown in a container as well as in the ground. It's very сompact (4-5 ft), perfect for container culture, will fruit in a container.

Kids love the fruit! Many claim that it is even better than Blackberry preserves.

Large tubular white flowers attract nocturnal moths. Since the plant is closely related to the gardenia (Rubiaceae plant family), its flowers are sweetly fragrant.

Produces as many as 25-30 fruits at a time. Since it blooms for a few months from Summer through Winter, fruiting and flowering can be enjoyed even when other plants are dormant.

📚 Article about Blackberry Jam Fruit formosa

🛒 Order Blackberry Jam tree

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden

🏵 TopTropicals

Date: 29 Nov 2020

Cold protection of tropical container plants

Q: I am long time customer of yours, I live in San Diego California and while the summer and Fall temperatures are warm to mild, the winter temperatures dip to a point where some tropicals die off. We are experimenting with different variations of way to heat and insulate the pots we have the tropicals planted in as a way to keep them alive during the colder winter months. I was wondering if you knew of the ideal soil temperature for these tropical in order to look their best year round. All of the heaters we have installed have thermostats and temperature adjustments so we can now keep the soil anywhere between a range of between 65-75 degrees. Any advise you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

A: This is a very interesting concept you are working with. Indeed, keeping pots/roots warm, may help a lot! We've been experimenting with cold protection for a long time - for the above-ground plant parts. For sure keeping roots protected (even with a thick layer of mulch) will benefit tropical plants during winter. In case with container plants, this may help dramatically.
The guideline is, tropical plants slow down or stop their metabolism at 65F. As long as you can keep soil above that temperature - this should work great. Of course, the higher the better.
Optimum temperature for growing tropical plants in general - 70-85F. Above 90F, metabolism stops too, unless it's a heat tolerant, desert plant.

More information on winter cold protection of tropical plants and zone pushing:

Greenhouse in Virginia
Plumeria cold protection
Ghost Cold Protection
Seven rules of cold protection for tropicals
About Cold Protection
Cold protection - winter action for your plant collection
Tropical Treasures articles on zone pushing.

Date: 25 Mar 2026

Forget the Tropics: These 5 Condo Mango Varieties Thrive in Your Living Room

Mngo tree in a pot

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.

Mango Plant Facts

Botanical name: Mangifera indica
Also known as: Mango
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Large tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryYellow, orange flowersPink flowersEdible plantSeaside, salt tolerant plant
Get personalized tips for your region

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.

👉 See full list of Condo Mango

🌳 4 Essentials for Indoor Mango Care



1. Light: The "Make or Break" Factor

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.

2. Strategic Watering

Mango trees hate "wet feet." Use a fast-draining potting mix and a pot with large drainage holes.

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.

🛒 Dicover Condo Mango

📚 Learn more:
Mango Tree - Mangifera indica - in Plant Encyclopedia
Mango varieties and Condo Mango
Yes, you can grow a mango tree on your patio - here is how to do it right
Mango Tree for Zone 5: top 15 Condo Mango for growing in cold areas
How long does it take for a mango tree to bear fruit?
What are the Condo Mangos - a practical guide
Top 10 Dwarf "Condo" Mango, great for container culture
Yes, you can grow an avocado tree on your patio - here is how to do it right

Avocado Plant Facts

Botanical name: Persea americana, Persea gratissima
Also known as: Avocado, Alligator Pear, Aguacate, Abacate
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Large tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

How to grow tropical fruit outside the Tropics
Yes, you can grow a tropical fruit tree in a pot!
Growing and fruiting Soursop in apartment

Soursop Plant Facts

Botanical name: Annona muricata
Also known as: Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola, Korosol, Corosol
USDA Zone: 10 - 11
Highligths Large tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyEdible plant
Get personalized tips for your region
(PDF download)

#Food_Forest #How_to #Discover #Mango

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