🌈 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).
Where does Blackberry Jam come from? It comes from Gardenia!
Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit, flower
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.
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.
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:
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.
Mango Plant Facts
Botanical name: Mangifera indica Also known as: Mango
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths
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.