Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 24 Jan 2026

Guava Cas cloud drink: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Guava Cas cloud drink

Guava Cas cloud drink

Cas guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum)

Cas guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum)

🍴 Guava Cas Cloud Drink (Quick and Fun Exotic Recipe)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ripe Cas guava pulp (Psidium friedrichsthalianum)
  • 1.5 cups cold water
  • 1 tablespoon sugar (adjust to taste)
  • Ice cubes
  • Fresh mint (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Add Cas guava pulp, cold water, and sugar to a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth and evenly mixed.
  3. Strain the liquid to remove seeds and coarse pulp.
  4. Serve over ice for a cloudy, tangy refresher.
  5. Garnish with mint if desired.

Cas guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum) is a Central American guava known for its bold, tangy flavor and high vitamin C content and Low sugar content. Unlike common guava, the pulp is sharp and refreshing, making it especially popular for drinks, juices, and traditional beverages.

🌱 In the garden:
Cas guava is a small, productive tree suited for warm climates. It prefers full sun, regular watering, and good drainage. The tree is adaptable, fairly fast-growing, and fruits reliably, making it a great choice for home gardens and containers.

🛒 Plant easy and productive Cas Guava

📚 Learn more:

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Date: 16 Sep 2019

What pot is good for Medinilla?

Q: I just acquired a Medinilla plant. I have a cylindrical tall clay pot that I would like to repot this beauty into. Would like to know if a deep pot is good for this type of tropical plants even if the medium is lightweight with bark and perlite allowing adequate drainage. Would appreciate your advice.

A: Medinillas are very close to epiphytes, meaning they like high air humidity and very good soil drainage characteristics. Clay pots usually provide good air circulation, as long as they are not glazed. If you add a lot of soil conditioner into your mix, like orchid mix and perlite, the tall pot will provide a good drainage. Tall pot is also great for displaying the beautiful pendulous blooms!

Plastic pots work well too, as long as you provide a well-drained soil for the plant. If a nursery plastic pot is not pretty enough, you may place it in a fancy planter; however, make sure never let the pot sit in water, Medinillas do not like wet feet.

Date: 5 Apr 2025

10 reasons why chocolate is actually good for you and how you can grow your own

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) fruit on a tree

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) fruit on a tree

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) tree in a pot

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) tree in a pot

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) opened fruit with cacao beans

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) opened fruit with cacao beans

💩 10 reasons why chocolate is actually good for you and how you can grow your own
  • ☕️ That's right - the source of your favorite sweet treat, the Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) we introduced in earlier post, produces cocoa that's packed with powerful health benefits. Growing your own chocolate tree isn't just fun and rewarding - it's a way to bring a superfood right into your backyard!
  • ☕️ Here are 10 reasons why cocoa is a health hero:

  • 🍫 Loaded with Antioxidants - Fights free radicals and supports overall cell health.
  • 🍫 Heart Healthy - Helps lower blood pressure and improve circulation.
  • 🍫 Mood Booster - Promotes feel-good chemicals like serotonin and endorphins.
  • 🍫 Brain Power - Flavanols support memory, focus, and cognitive function.
  • 🍫 Fights Inflammation - Natural compounds help reduce chronic inflammation.
  • 🍫 Supports Blood Sugar Balance - May improve insulin sensitivity.
  • 🍫 Glowing Skin - Boosts hydration and protects against UV damage.
  • 🍫 Aids in Weight Management - May reduce cravings and support metabolism.
  • 🍫 Rich in Minerals - Packed with magnesium, iron, copper, and more.
  • 🍫 Good for Gut Health - Acts as a prebiotic to feed good bacteria.


☕️ With all these benefits, why not grow your own source of chocolate? Plant a Theobroma cacao tree and enjoy the magic of harvesting your very own cocoa pods. It's not just a tree - it's a conversation starter, a wellness booster, and your personal chocolate factory in the making.

🛒 Get your Chocolate Tree today and grow your own goodness

#Food_Forest #Fun_Facts #Discover

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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: 10 Apr 2025

Do good

Do good
🔍 Do good

"While you are young, strong, and full of energy, never tire of doing good! Happiness does not exist, nor should it. If life has meaning and purpose, that meaning and purpose are not in our happiness but in something more rational and greater. Do good!" - Anton Chekhov

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

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