Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 25 Dec 2022

Surinam Cherry Lolita and Bermuda Christmas Pie

By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

Black  Surinam  Cherry  Lolita,  fruit

Eugenia uniflora Lolita also known as Black Surinam Cherry, is a tropical fruit tree native to South America. Black fruited Surinam Cherry starts as red and turns black as it ripens and has exceptional flavor.  The plant is vigorous and ready to fruit the same year. The fruit is very sweet, without aftertaste, large 1-1.2 inch, very juicy.  The fruits are being eaten fresh, and also used in jams, jellies, and pies.

One popular use of Surinam Cherry is in Christmas cherry pie - Bermuda Pie, a traditional dessert served during the holiday season. The fruit is cooked down with sugar and spices to create a thick, flavorful filling for the pie. The dark red to really black color of the fruit adds a festive touch to the dessert.

Bermuda  cherry  pie  from  Surinam  cherry

In addition to being used in culinary applications, Surinam Cherry has a number of other uses. The tree is often grown as an ornamental plant due to its attractive foliage and bright ribbed fruit. The fruit is also used in traditional medicine in some parts of South America, where it is believed to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The pulp is a good source of calcium, and a fair source of phosphorus and iron. Its juice is fermented into wine or vinegar.

Black  Surinam  Cherry  on  plate

Despite its many uses, Surinam Cherry is not widely grown outside of its native range in South America. However, it is becoming increasingly popular in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, where it is prized for its attractive appearance and flavorful fruit. This tropical plant can successfully be grown in a pot indoors in the cooler zones.

See Video:

Black  Surinam  Cherry  Lolita,  tree

Date: 13 Nov 2022

Vietnamese Mickey Mouse Plant...
Hoa Mai - for good luck!

Ochna  integerrima  (thomasiana)  -  Vietnamese  Mickey  Mouse  plant,  Hoa  Mai,  Mai  Vang,  black 
 fruit

Ochna integerrima (thomasiana)

What is the yellow flower that brings good luck on Vietnamese New Year (Tet) Celebration? Why is it called Mickey Mouse Plant?

The most celebrated flower in Vietnam, Ochna integerrima, called in Vietnam Hoa Mai or Mai Vang, blooms profusely on the occasion of Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. Commonly known as Yellow Mai Flower (Hoa Mai literally means "yellow blossoms"), this plant is considered the quintessential symbol of Spring. In Southern Vietnam, Hoa Mai are some of the first plants to flower.
This plant is a must for exotic plant collection. It is a rather slow growing, medium size shrub that can be trained into miniature tree. In winter the plant is covered with pretty bright yellow flowers, believed to bring good luck and prosperity. They are followed by cute shiny black berries on bright red sepals that resemble the face of Mickey Mouse.

The plant is easy to grow and relatively cold hardy to light freeze. Start fertilizing your Hoa Moa plant right now through the Winter to encourage early blooms. Luckily, we have a perfect bloom booster liquid fertilizer that is safe to use year around, including Winter months: Sunshine Boosters MegaFlor!

Lunar year 2023 will be a year of the Cat on the Vietnamese zodiac, from January 22nd, 2023 to February 9th, 2024. Cat is the fourth sign in Vietnamese Zodiac, taking place of the Rabbit in Chinese Zodiac.

Ochna  integerrima  (thomasiana)  -  Vietnamese  Mickey  Mouse  plant,  Hoa  Mai,  Mai  Vang,  yellow  flowers

Vietnamese  boy  with  Hoa  Mai  Mickey  Mouse 
 plant

Date: 3 Nov 2022

Plant Horoscope - Scorpio

What is your lucky Zodiac Plant?

By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

Zodiac  lucky  plant  -  Scorpio  -  Pomegranate  (Punica  granatum)

...Scorpio is the "hottest" among aquatic...
...Scorpio loves plants very much, they can provide invaluable assistance to this sign. Plants are able to calm Scorpio, transfer his attention and passionate energy to himself and transform it, directing it into a creative direction.... Scorpio is an aesthete. He loves flowers - unusual, bright, large - and lovingly grows them if he has such an opportunity. Their favorite plants, despite all their effectiveness, are often unpretentious and can grow in the most unfavorable conditions... Of particular importance in the sensual relationships of Scorpio with plants is the smell to which this sign is extremely sensitive. Aromas of some plants can affect Scorpio as an aphrodisiac...
CONTINUE READING >>

Zodiac  lucky  plant  -  Scorpio  -  Cup  of  Gold  (Solandra  grandiflora)

Date: 22 Aug 2022

What tree will fruit indoors?

Fruit  trees  for  indoor  containers

Q: I love your tropical fruit selection and I wish I lived in a warmer climate. Is there any fruit tree that can be happy indoors during winter and have fruit? I am not expecting a big crop but it would be fun to have a small piece of tropics at home. I don't have much gardening experience, can you suggest something easy for a start?

A: Several tropical fruit trees can be grown indoors, in pots, providing bright light that is necessary for flowering and setting fruit. Among them are many varieties of Bananas, Guavas, Annonas and tropical Cherries - these can be easily maintained in containers. Even dwarf varieties of Avocado and Mango are good candidates for indoor culture. You can bring containers indoors for winter and take outside into full sun during warm months so your plants can store lots of energy in Summer.
The easiest fruit tree for indoor culture that doesn't require bright light and can be grown indoors year around is a Coffee tree. Start with it, it is on sale today! Once you gain some experience, you can upgrade to a Chocolate tree!
Remember, all container grown plants need balanced nutrition program. It can be easily provided with Sunshine Boosters your around. For fruit trees, just add some Sunshine C-Cibus Crop Booster to your cart.

Coffee  video

Date: 2 Jun 2022

New Video:
Giant Potato Tree - Solanum macranthum

...The Giant Potato Tree is a showy and very fast growing specimen tree of small to medium size. This plant grows quickly into a bushy tree of 15 feet in height and 15' wide. So this is a great solution when you need to get shade right away - within a couple of months! The leaves are huge, lobed and prickly. Flowers are slightly fragrant and change their color from white to pink to lavender as they mature. This tree is a great choice if you need to create a shady area in your yard within just a few months!..

Giant  Potato  Tree

Giant  Potato  Tree

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