Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 6 Nov 2020

Tropical Plant Art Contest:
we counted all the votes!

Painting above: 3rd place: "Tropical Florida" by Linda Hedary

"WOW! So many great works! Our followers certainly have a GREAT collective talent! Makes me so proud!" - a quote from TopTropicals Art Jury member, artist Mark Hooten.

Now that the whole country in in competition mode, gardeners are no exception! Every painting is a work of art and it was hard for the Jury to make the decision. We counted in all the votes that came in by the deadline ;)
Finally, we are happy to announce the winners of the Plant Art Contest!. Visit our 2020 Tropical Plant Art Contest Page on our website and see all participant entries, winners and their prizes!

See all Winners! >>

All winners will be contacted by us via email or Facebook within a few days for their prizes. If you haven't heard from us by 11/9/20, please contact us with the subject "Tropical Plant Art Contest" and your shipping information. You may also simply reply to this email, just make sure to set the proper subject.
A few entries came late, pass deadline/voting, keep up with the great artwork and don't miss the next contest submission!

Thank you to all the amazing plant lovers who shared your artwork and talents with us. So much creativity and beauty for everyone to enjoy! Happy painting, and stay updated - new contest will be coming soon!

Painting above: "Hibiscus Wish" by Santhoshi Kavali

Painting above: "Mussaenda Marmelade" - Watercolor by Sally Gawler (Audience Appreciation Prize)

Painting above: "Purple Passion" by Joan Maier. Joan's painting "Butterfly" is the 1st place winner (see Contest page)

Date: 29 Oct 2020

Healthy Plants. Q&A from Mr Booster: How to get Ylang Ylang to flowering

Q: I am writing in reference to my Ylang ylang tree. I purchased this from top tropicals a few years ago and although the plant is doing well, I don't see any flowers yet. Can you tell me when it will flower? Do I need to do something special for it to flower?

A: Cananga odorata, Ylany Ylang tree, takes a few years until it starts flowering, hopefully it will bloom for you any time soon.
However, keep in mind that it may be a bit challenging for a potted plant. In natural conditions, this is a large tree that requires lots of room not only for the tree itself, but also for the root system. It is still possible to get Cananga odorata to bloom in container, considering the plant has all necessary nutrients for flowering. Here is the trick.

When grown in the ground, root system can reach out to all necessary elements in surrounding soil (considering soils are not too poor on necessary elements). In a pot, a supply of nutrients can be exhausted very quickly, so a quality fertilizer program is very important. Fertilizer must include all necessary nutrients in easy accessible (soluble) form, and a plant must have their constant supply for proper development.

SOLUTION:
prescribe Ylang Ylang tree the following combination of plant food:

- SUNSHINE Pikake - Fragrant Flower Booster
It will provide well-balanced amounts of high absorption Phosphorus (P) and Nitrogen (N), as well as Potassium (K) - to provide enough flowering energy to the tree, plus a combination of all necessary micro-elements. It is safe to apply this fertilizer as frequent as with every watering, including winter time.

- SUNSHINE-Honey - sugar booster This supplement has a high content of elements Mo and B - once the tree starts getting them on regular basis (a few times a year, according to the label), it will trigger flower production.

You may also consider getting dwarf varieties of Ylang Ylang that starts flowering in container right away:
Cananga fruticosa - Dwarf Ylang-Ylang Currently these high demand plants are sold out, but new plants are establishing and will be ready for sale within couple months. You may add your email to wishlist ("Notify me when available") to get notification as soon as we have it back in stock.
Ylang Ylang vines also start flowering within a year.

Date: 29 Oct 2020

The Best Pineapples

Q: What varieties of the Pineapple are the best for planting in Florida? When do they fruit? I have a small yard, with a room for one or two, but can I keep more in pots? I am excited to grow my own pineapples!

A: Pineapple is truly the King of fruits! One of the most delicious fruits in the world. They start flowering from January to March in Florida and yes, they happily grow in the ground as well as in pots. Heaviest fruiting is in Summer (May to September), and some staggered throughout the year.
Be careful with watering, keep in mind that like any bromeliad, Pineapple needs very little water and needs the soil to get dry between waterings. Use only acidic soil and acidic plant food.
Make sure to feed these plants on regular basis, especially if grown in pots. Pineapples are heavy feeders but are also very sensitive like all bromeliads, so be careful with traditional fertilizers, do not exceed recommended dosage. It is safe to use liquid amino-acod-based Sunshine Boosters Ananas fertilizer year round.

The mot popular pineapple varieties for home growers are:
Elite Gold
Royal Hawaiian - Royale
Sugar Loaf

Date: 23 Oct 2020

PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: the mischievous Jim the Second

In May 2020 we celebrated 16th birthday of Jim the Founder - the Cat who established TopTropicals. It broke our hearts when this Old and Wise Purrrson peacefully passed away this August :(( We want to believe that he is now in Cat Paradise... but we miss him terribly - both humans and PeopleCats. Google the Cat lost his appetite and went into a deep depression after he lost his best buddy... To get him distracted from his separation stress, we decided that Google needs... a Project.
Here he is. Jim the Second. About a month ago we found him in a Human Society shelter. He was a tiny fur ball size of a palm of a hand. But he proudly carries his Godfather's name, for a reason - he likes to EAT - just as much as Jim the First. He eats 3 times more than Google, and he talks a lot. And of course, he pulls everyone's tail, and kicks everything that is kickable...
The Veteran Google complains that young generation of PeopleCats nowadays are nothing but trouble... but they've become friends anyway! Google feels much happier now. He just took Jim Jr to his first walk outside to the lake and showed him some fishing techniques...
Bon voyage Little Jim, you soon will master it all! As Mr Booster claims, Orange Cats Bring Happiness!

TopTropicals PeopleCat Club and Zoo

Thank you for supporting us in helping PeopleCat Community!
Make your kind donation today and receive a surprise gift from us! Every little bit helps. Thank you and God bless you and your pets!

Date: 23 Oct 2020

Cashew Nut tricks and challenges

Q: I bought a cashew plant in May of this year it has been slow-growing well then all of a sudden it started dying. I have cut it back halfway down. So a plant that was close to 3 ft tall is now 1 1/2 feet. I see new leaves trying to spring closer to the root. Help! It's in a huge 18" wide pot, I have not put it in the ground yet. I am in the Orlando area.

A: Generally speaking, Cashew is not the easiest plant to grow. Cutting it down added more stress to the plant. A few thoughts:

1) Chances are, the tree was over-watered (possibly summer rains, we had pretty wet summer this year in FL). Cashew trees are very sensitive to over-watering while young. Considering it sits in pretty large pot, this may have created soggy conditions. Don't bother repotting the plant now, just try to reduce watering. We have less rains now. If you have automatic sprinklers, move it away from sprinkler so you can control moisture manually. Even better - move it under roof (lanai, etc) where it still can get lots of bright light, but you can control water.

2) In Orlando, winters are too cold for this tree. Make sure to protect it from cold - bring inside when temperature drops below 65F, especially considering that the plant is still struggling.

3) Keep in mind that Cashew is semi-deciduous tree, meaning it looses leaves during cooler period. If all leaves are gone but the stem still green (after nail scratch) - just give it time, it may start growing vigorously in Spring.

4) You may apply Sunshine Boosters with every watering (which should be once a week, or even less frequent if the soil is still moist) - SUNSHINE C-Cibus - Crop Nutrition Booster

Keep the plant in full sun or at least very bright filtered light. It must be always warm. Bring inside if below 65F.

Photo above: Cashew Tree flowers are so amusing!

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