Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 24 Jun 2018

TopTropicals

January 24 is Global Belly Laugh Day!

"Humor is laughing at what you haven't got when you ought to have it." (Langston Hughes)

January 24 is Global Belly Laugh Day! Celebrate the Great Gift of Laughter, smile, throw your arms in the air and laugh out loud. Laughs and smiles are sunshine that transform our moments 24 hours a day, on the 7 continents! Let's honor this week's high-spirited holiday by celebrating the chuckle.

To make you laugh and smile even more, here is a 15% off your entire purchase!
use this code: LAUGH2018
Offer expires end of Thursday, January 25. Min order $50 before S&H.

Laugh, get what you want and get it shipped to you for FREE

Date: 24 Jun 2018

TopTropicals

Mysterious Night Blooming Cactus - Epiphyllum. How to grow it?

Q: My friend has a huge Queen of the Night Cactus, and the blooms are so gorgeeous! She gave me a cutting but I am not sure how do I plant it? How long will it take till it starts blooming? Is it true that it has only one flower once a year and only at night?

A: Queen of the Night is a very popular and yet mysterious plant. The flowers open once a year after sunset for one night. However the flowering period can last a month or two during the warm season. So each flower lasts only one night, but there will be more flowers to come! In the Nature, Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night - grows on trees in the jungles of Central and South America. It is actually very easy to grow as an indoor plant in colder climates. Here is South Florida we grow them outside in hanging baskets. This is how to start Queen of the Night from a cutting:
1) Put the cutting in a dim, dry place for three days, with no soil and its base exposed to the air, so it will form a callus.
2) Fill a 4-6-inch pot with slightly damp potting soil or succulent mix. Insert the cutting 1 or 2 inches into the soil and tamp the soil around its base.
3) Place the pot where the cutting will get bright light, but no direct sun. Spritz it occasionally with a spray bottle of water to keep the soil only slightly moist. It should root in couple weeks.
4) Keep the plant on an east- or west-facing windowsill where it will receive direct sunlight only in early morning or late afternoon. Water the cactus until water runs out of the pot's drainage holes. Dump the excess out of the pot's saucer immediately, and wait until the surface of the soil is dry to the touch before watering your cactus again.
5) Fertilize once a month from March through October with a balanced plant food, and apply micro-elements once a month for a healthy vigorous growth. Refrain from feeding the plant in December and January.
6) Position the cactus in partial shade under a porch roof or tree, if you decide to move it outdoors during the summer. This plant likes summer humidity!
7) Repot the cactus only once every two years or so, to keep it slightly root bound. Wait until after it flowers in summer, and repot it after it blooms. Prune off any damaged growth at that time as well.
8) Move the plant to a cooler room over the winter months, one that remains dark during the evening hours with temperatures above 45 degrees. Reduce the frequency of watering, waiting until its soil is dry. Resume regular watering in March.

If grown from cutting, it may take 2-3 years until the plant starts blooming, so if you don't want to wait that long - just get a blooming size plant from our store!

We only have a few plants... if sold out, add to wish list and we will have more soon!

Date: 19 Jan 2022

Avocado Q & A

Sensation: Avocado 2.5 y.o seedling just bloomed!

Ed's Avocado seedling blooming at age 2.5 years old... Go figure!

Q: Can I plant a seed from a store bought avocado and expect it to bear fruit?

A: Avocados grown from seed do not always come true, meaning being the same as the avocado that produced the seed being planted. Also, avocados grown from seed will take upwards of 8 years to flower and bear fruit unless grown by Ed Jones and his witchcraft. Ed Jones, the Avocado Guy... Yes, he is also the Mango Guy, and the Booster Guy... We don't know how he does it. He grows the most beautiful fruit trees, many of them from seed and they all seem to flower within two years! (See his blogs about his Star Fruit, Olive trees, and video about Shaping Mango Trees). All we know for sure, he uses Sunshine Boosters for all his plant experiments.
As far as Avocado , we recommend a grafted variety, where a scion, or branch tip, of a known cultivar is grafted to good rootstock. These trees will usually flower right away and bear good amount of fruit within a couple of years of being planted in the ground.
It's a good chance now to get a good grafted Avocado on our special Happy Value Sale

Date: 5 Nov 2025

How to protect Avocado from cold and how hardy is it?

Avocado tree fruiting indoors

Avocado tree fruiting indoors

❄️ How to protect Avocado from cold and how hardy is it?



Growing Avocado trees in cooler regions is possible with the right variety and care. By choosing Cold Hardy types and protecting them during cold spells, you can successfully grow avocados outside tropical climates. The more mature your tree, the better it handles the cold.
  • ❄️ What is Avocado cold hardiness?



    Most Avocados are sensitive to frost, but some Mexican varieties can survive lows around 15°F once established, and brief dips near 10°F with good care.


👉 Cold tolerance depends on:

  • Duration of cold: Short freezes are easier to survive.
  • Sun exposure: More sun means better cold resistance.
  • Wind protection: Wind can do more harm than temperature alone.
  • Tree health: Regular fertilization, such as Sunshine Boosters, helps strengthen plants.


❄️ How to protect avocados from cold

  • Bigger is better: Mature trees resist cold better than young ones.
  • Wind protection: Plant on the south or southeast side of a building for warmth.
  • Good fertilization: Healthy trees are stronger and more resilient.
  • Watering: Water less in winter; overwatering in cold weather can cause root rot.


❄️ Protection for young plants

  • Cover and mulch: Before a freeze, mound mulch around the base and cover with a blanket. Add Christmas lights or a small heater for extra warmth (use caution).
  • Use microclimates: Plant near walls or buildings where it’s warmer and wind is reduced.


With a little planning and protection, you can enjoy fresh avocados even in cooler climates!

✔️ Check outAvocado Variety Guide interactive chart. Sort them by flower type A or B, tree habit, fruit shape and quality, cold hardiness, origin, season and more!

🛒  Shop Cold Hardy Avocados

📖 Our Book: Avocado Variety Guide, Snack or Guacamole?

📚 Learn more:


#Food_Forest #Avocado #How_to

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Date: 7 Nov 2025

The vine with square stems that heals bones and turns heads

Cissus quadrangularis - Veld Grape, hanging basket

Cissus quadrangularis - Veld Grape, hanging basket

Cissus quadrangularis - Veld Grape, stems

Cissus quadrangularis - Veld Grape, stems

Cissus quadrangularis - Veld Grape plant

Cissus quadrangularis - Veld Grape plant

Cissus quadrangularis - Veld Grape, fruit

Cissus quadrangularis - Veld Grape, fruit

The vine with square stems that heals bones and turns heads

  • Cissus quadrangularis - Veld Grape. This plant is anything but ordinary! It has four-winged stems – square, chunky, and unlike anything else in your garden. Each stem looks like a little green sculpture, with ribs running down the sides. It’s technically a vine, but behaves like a succulent, with thick, juicy stems and tiny tendrils that climb or spill from a pot.
  • Native to Africa and India, veld grape thrives on sunshine, heat, and a bit of neglect. Perfect for hanging baskets or as a quirky groundcover. Just give it some light and occasional water, and it’ll keep growing strong.
  • It’s also famous as a traditional "bone-healing" herb, earning it the nickname Bone setter plant. But even if you don’t use it for that, it’s a total show-stopper for anyone who loves plants with personality.
  • A true show-stopper for collectors and anyone who loves the strange and beautiful side of nature.


🛒 Get your own Veld Grape show stopper

#Container_Garden #Remedies #Fun_Facts

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