Date: 12 Apr 2019
Dwarf Red Ginger - more than just a pretty face
Q: I've just recently moved to Florida from North Carolina. I don't know much about tropical plants. Can you perhaps suggest an easy and pretty flowering plant for a beginner which I can plant around my garden pond for a tropical feeling?
A: For adding that tropical look to your garden, few plants beat
beautiful ginger! Alpinia purpurata, the Dwarf Red Cone Ginger with its bright red floral
spikes and lush, lance-shaped foliage is no exception. This striking
perennial will add a tropical effect to your garden that will definitely take your
breath away.
The Dwarf Red Cone grows between 3 and 4 feet tall and blooms 8-9
months of the year! The blooms will hold on the plant for up to 3 weeks! It makes
a very attractive and distinctive backdrop for other plants.
Red Cone Ginger likes partial shade and moist, humid conditions, but
will tolerate full sun. It is fast growing, easy to grow and resistant to
disease, heat, and insects. The plant is a wonderful accent in a garden and works
well as a focal point specimen, show-stopping when planted around garden
ponds or near entryways. This ginger also works very well in containers and
planters. Either in mass plantings or smaller groups, all gingers add tropical flair which never disappoints.
In addition, the beautiful flower spikes make for great, long-lasting
cut flowers and is an interesting addition to bouquets.
An added bonus? Dwarf Red Ginger is super easy to propagate. If stems
are cut at the base and placed in water, they will generally root within a few
weeks. Eventually, you can make a whole flowering hedge just from one
plant!
Who does not like a plant that is non-fussy and not only beautiful but easy to grow? Dwarf Red Ginger is more than just a pretty face!
To keep this plant happy and blooming, give it some food: Broad Leaf Plus - Ginger-Heliconia-Banana Booster
Date: 10 May 2024
20% BONUS for a Mothers Day Gift Card!
Don't stress over last-minute gift shopping! Give your mother the gift of choice with a Top Tropicals gift card, allowing her to select the perfect plants for her garden or home.
For this Mother's Day, we're adding an extra special touch: receive a 20% bonus added to every gift card purchase! For instance, purchase a $100 gift card, and we'll issue one with a $120 value!
Let your mom explore our wide selection of tropical plants and create her own green oasis this Mother's Day.
The Gift Card can be used to buy plants, seeds, and garden supplies.
The Gift Card has no expiration date.
Date: 21 Jul 2024
How to Live Longer? Surround Yourself with Plants!
Gardening not only helps you stay active and healthy but can also be a fun and rewarding way to extend your life. Let nature nurture you!
Living Longer with Green Spaces
A study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health found that a 10% increase in vegetation within 1,600 feet of your home can lower your death risk by 4%.
Why Gardening Could Help You Live Longer
- Nature Exposure: Being outside boosts your mood.
- Exercise: Gardening is a great workout.
- Healthy Eating: Grow and eat your own fresh produce.
- Mind Exercise: Gardening can reduce stress and keep your mind sharp.
Gardening and Longevity
- Many centenarians (people living to 100) garden.
- In "blue zones," where people live longer, gardening is common.
- Gardening promotes daily exercise and a plant-based diet.
Natural Movement vs. Gym Workouts
- 100 years ago, 90% of jobs involved physical activity; today, only 10%
do.
- Walking 2 hours a week can lower the risk of major diseases.
- Gardening offers fresh air, exercise, and fun.
Gardening vs. Gym
- Gardening can be as effective as gym workouts.
- Research shows 3 hours of gardening equals a 1-hour gym session.
- Tasks like weeding, digging, and mowing burn significant calories.
Calories Burned in 1 Hour of Gardening
- 340 cal: Chopping wood, using power tools, tilling, mowing with a hand
mower, shoveling.
- 272 cal: Carrying wood, digging, clearing land, wheelbarrow work.
- 238 cal: Blower operation, planting, trimming, weeding.
- 224 cal: Raking and sacking leaves.
- 136 cal: Picking fruit, gathering tools, walking.
- 102 cal: Fertilizing or seeding a lawn.
- 34 cal: Watering plants.
Fun Facts
- Half an hour of weeding burns 150 calories.
- Gardening five hours a week burns 700 calories.
- Over a year, that's 20,000 calories, equivalent to running seven
marathons.
- A lifetime of gardening can burn a million calories.
Date: 30 Aug 2024
Save Double This Labor Day Weekend!
"The fruit of your own hard work is the sweetest." - Deepika Padukone
Labor Day is the perfect time to transform your yard into a tropical paradise! Join us this weekend to find large, well-developed fruit trees and stunning flowering tropical plants, ready to add beauty to your life. Take advantage of the summer growing season and give your garden the boost it deserves. Don't miss out on these incredible plants to make your yard a true oasis!
Labor Day sale: double your savings now!
Automatically save 10% on orders over $200 (excluding S/H), and use code below for an extra 10% off! Double your savings today!
LABORDAY24
Use the code to get an extra 10% off on orders over $200 (excluding
S/H). If your total after the code still exceeds $200, enjoy an additional
automatic 10% discount! Exp. 9-2-24
Additional instant discount:
5% off $100-200 orders
...and more deals below - make it a steal with the code!
Date: 11 Mar 2025
NEW
VIDEO:
What Fertilizer to Use and How?
It's springtime - your plants are growing and need more food! Now is the
perfect time to fertilize. Our customers have been stocking up on
fertilizers and asking lots of questions.
In addition to our recent article What Fertilizer to Use Now and How? Five important keys to healthy
plants, we're excited to share this short
video on how to use Sunshine Boosters.
Our PeopleCats actively participated in the production with real hands-on (paws-on) involvement. Enjoy the show - and your happy plants!
Subscribe to our Channel:
Subscribe to Top Tropicals YouTube Channel and get our latest video news of what is fruiting and blooming!
