Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

📌 New Year with New Plants: how to choose from 17 Tropical Paradise Resolutions

✍️ "A garden is never so good as it will be next year..." - Thomas Cooper.

⚡️ As we step into a fresh new year, it's the perfect time to think about what exciting, special, and life-changing plants we can add to our gardens. The days are getting longer, and spring is just around the corner, so now's the time to make a plan and prepare for the season ahead. Let's take small steps each year to create the garden of our dreams. This winter, consider these fun resolutions:

• 
  💋Hang a bird feeder and install a rain barrel
• 💋Order some tropical plant seeds for an early start
• 💋Ask your grandparents about their favorite garden plants
• 💋Build a raised bed for succulents
• 💋Plant a fruit tree or two to have some crop this year
• 💋Start a compost pile
• 💋Switch to organic fertilizers and plant boosters
• 💋Fill empty spaces with flowering trees, shrubs, and vines
• 💋Add butterfly attractors to your garden
• 💋Provide water for bees and butterflies to help them thrive and pollinate your fruit trees
• 💋Get a bonsai starter to try bonsai art
• 💋Enjoy meals outside as often as you can
• 💋Teach a child how to plant a tree
• 💋Plant berry-bearing shrubs like Tropical Cherries to feed the birds
• 💋Rake up leaves for winter mulch
• 💋Add a few exotic plants to your indoor collection or container garden
• 💋Share plants as gifts all year long

• 🚩🚩🚩🚩 Happy gardening in 2025!

#How_to #Quotes

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🍴 How to eat a papaya?

😂 Cut it open, scoop out the seeds (they're not part of the fun), peel off the skin, and chop it up. Now enjoy the tropical sweetness – no passport required!

🎥 Or, if you are desperate and have no time for prep – do it like Cash in the video!

📚More from previous posts:
Why do we love Papaya?
How easy to grow is Papaya tree?
Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #4 Papaya
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #6. Papaya
How to have fresh Papaya fruit year around
Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties
The truth about Papaya
Papayas contain a secret enzyme

🛒 Shop Papaya trees

#Food_Forest #PeopleCats #How_to #Papaya

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Carefree Garden: How Easy Is It to Grow a Papaya Tree?

👆 For the previous post:

🎮 Practical Guide to Growing Papaya

• 
  ❤️ Papaya is one of the fastest fruiting plants to grow.

Often starting production the same year from planting a seed, papayas are ideal for gardeners seeking quick rewards. Many dwarf varieties reach only 6-8 feet tall, yet produce large crops of full-sized fruit that are easy to harvest. Papaya trees are space-efficient, making it possible to plant multiple trees in even small gardens. Plant 2-3 different cultivars to enjoy year-round harvests of healthy, delicious fruit.
• 
  ❤️ How Easy Are Papaya Trees to Grow?

Papaya trees are exceptionally easy to grow. Technically a large herbaceous plant rather than a true tree, they are resilient and adaptable. They can tolerate light freezes and even hurricane winds without significant damage. Additionally, many varieties are self-fertile, but planting multiple trees encourages better pollination and higher yields.
• 
  ❤️ What Light Levels and Soil Types Are Ideal?

Papayas thrive in full sunlight, so choose a sunny spot in your garden or balcony. They prefer well-draining, fertile soil enriched with organic matter. Add compost or manure to improve soil quality and ensure healthy growth. Avoid waterlogged areas as papayas are sensitive to standing water.
• 
  ❤️ How Much Watering Is Required?

Papayas need consistent watering to thrive, especially during the growing and fruiting seasons. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on your climate, ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. Mulching around the base helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
• 
  ❤️ Growing Papayas in Containers

Papayas can be successfully grown in large containers, making them ideal for gardeners in cooler regions or those with limited space. Choose a container at least 15 gallons in size with good drainage. Use a rich, well-draining potting mix, and place the container in a sunny location. Select dwarf varieties to keep the plant manageable and productive.
• 
  ❤️ Health Benefits of Papaya

Papaya is considered a superfood due to its high nutritional value. Rich in the enzyme papain, it aids digestion and promotes gut health. Papaya is also an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as antioxidants that boost immunity and overall wellness. Additionally, papaya leaves can be used as wraps for cooking meats, naturally tenderizing them.
• 
  ❤️ Papayas are a low-maintenance, high-reward addition to a Southern garden or greenhouse collection, whether in the ground or in a container. Their fast growth, year-round fruiting potential, and health benefits make them a must-have for gardeners and fruit enthusiasts alike.

📚More from previous posts:
Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #4 Papaya
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #6. Papaya
How to have fresh Papaya fruit year around
Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties
The truth about Papaya
Papayas contain a secret enzyme

🛒 Shop Papaya trees

#Food_Forest #How_to #Papaya

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How to grow your own vanilla orchid at home

• 🍨 The Vanilla Bean Orchid (Vanilla planifolia) is a tropical climbing beauty and the source of the world’s favorite spice - vanilla. This luxurious plant adds elegance to any space, indoors or out.
• 🍨 A piece of history: Once revered by the Aztecs for flavoring the decadent cacao drink Xoco-latl, vanilla remains a symbol of comfort, luxury, and flavor.
• 🍨 Why it's special: Vanilla pods are scentless at first and develop their rich aroma after careful curing - a reason it’s the second most expensive spice after saffron.
• 🍨 How to grow Vanilla Orchid:

• · Support: Use a trellis, log, or burlap-covered board for climbing.
• · Light: Bright, indirect light works best.
• · Environment: Keep it warm and humid, like its natural tropical habitat.
• · For pots: Add a mini-trellis or small log to mimic its natural climbing needs.

• 🍨 Why you'll love it:

Growing your own vanilla means adding a slice of the tropics to your home, with the chance to harvest your own vanilla beans for homemade extracts. It's beautiful, exotic, and endlessly rewarding.
• 🍨 Ready to start your vanilla journey? Add a Vanilla Bean Orchiв to your cart and bring this fragrant, elegant treasure home today!

📚 Learn more from previous post:
The Secret of how to Make Vanilla Orchid bloom

🛒 Shop Vanilla Bean Orchids

#Shade_Garden #How_to

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❓ How to care for your mango tree in winter

• 
  If you want to enjoy mangoes like ours (in the video) next summer, protecting your tree in winter is a must! Give it the care it needs now, and you'll reap sweet rewards when the warm weather returns.
• 
  Keep it cozy and protected: Mango trees love warmth, so when winter comes, they need extra care to stay happy.
• 
  Temperature: Mango trees are sensitive to cold. If temperatures drop below 35F, cover the tree with frost cloth or burlap to protect it. For potted mango trees, move them indoors or to a greenhouse.
• 
  Watering: Reduce watering during winter. Mango trees don’t like soggy roots in cold weather. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings.
• 
  Mulching: Add a thick layer of mulch around the base of the tree to insulate the roots and retain warmth. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk.
• 
  No pruning: Avoid heavy pruning in winter, as it can stress the tree. Besides, pruning promotes young tender growth that may get cold damaged. Save major trimming for spring.
• 
  Feeding: Stop dry fertilizer in winter. The tree slows its growth, so too much dry fertilizer can do more harm than good. You can continue using Sunshine Boosters Mango Tango year-round because it is water-soluble and natural, and the amount of food needed will adjust with reduced watering.

🛒 Shop Mango Trees

#Food_Forest #How_to #Mango

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😱 What is the Secret of how to Make Vanilla Orchid bloom? Let it climb!

• ✨ Check out this Vanilla Bean Orchid thriving at TopTropicals! It's happily climbing a tree, gripping the bark tightly with its aerial roots.
• ✨ Here's the scoop: Vanilla orchids won't bloom until they start climbing and feel securely attached to something strong.
• ✨ If you are growing Vanilla in a pot, no worries - just add a small log or a burlap-covered board. This clever hack gives your vanilla the "solid ground" it craves, and soon enough, it'll reward you with blooms and vanilla beans!

📚 Learn more:
Where does Vanilla come from? How to grow your own Vanilla Beans.
Vanilla - The Most Versatile Orchid

📱 How to produce my own vanilla: secrets of Vanilla pollination
Vanilla dillioniana - The Biggest Vanilla Orchid in 100 Gal Pot

🛒 Shop Vanilla Bean Orchids

#Shade_Garden #How_to

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🎩 How to take care of house plants in Winter

💡 Let There Be (Enough) Light!
Shorter days mean less light. Move plants closer to windows but avoid freezing drafts.

🚽 Water, but Sparingly
Overwatering is a winter no-no. Check soil dryness before watering—your plants won’t mind a little thirst.

🌈 Humidity is Happiness
Dry air isn't their friend. Use a humidifier or group plants together for a moisture boost.

👀 Wise Snacks
Use only amindo-acid based liquid Fertilizer in winter, like Sunshine Boosters. Let plants take their seasonal nap from dry plant food.

Keep It Cozy
Protect plants from cold windows and heat vents - consistent warmth is key.

🍀 Dust Those Leaves
Clean leaves help plants soak in the limited light. They'll thank you with a brighter look!

🌱 Your plants may slow down for winter, but with a little care, they’ll thrive until spring!

🛒 Shop Indoor Garden

#Shade_Garden #How_to #Container_Garden

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🍦 What does Ice Cream Bean fruit taste like?

• 🍨 Ice Cream Bean Tree: Eating the fruit and planting the tree 🍨

🍧 Today with Fermin Garcia at Top Tropicals we gonna try the delicious pulp of Ice Ice Cream Bean fruit that tastes just like Ice Cream! And of course we will plant every seed and watch them grow. Fermin promised the new trees to grow in just 7 days! Let's see what happens.

📚 Learn more about Ice Cream Bean from previous post:
Did you know that ice cream actually grows on a tree?

📱 Watch this video in high quality in next post ⤵️

🛒 Order Ice Cream Bean Tree (Inga edulis)

#Food_Forest #How_to

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🌴 How cold hardy are palm trees and how to protect them in winter

• 🌴 Most palms are tropical plants and require a frost-free climate to grow outdoors. However, there are a few exceptions. Adjust care depending on your zone and palm species. 
• 🌴 Some cold-hardy species can handle harsher conditions, with proper protection, making them great options for gardeners in zones that experience occasional freezes.
• 🌴 Mulch generously: Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base to insulate roots. Keep mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.
• 🌴 Water before frost: Water deeply before a freeze to stabilize soil temperature and prevent dehydration.
• 🌴 Cover young palms: Wrap smaller or sensitive species in burlap, frost cloth, or blankets. Avoid plastic, as it can trap moisture and cause damage.
• 🌴 Protect the crown: For cold-sensitive palms, bundle fronds upwards and wrap the crown with cloth or burlap to shield the growing point.
• 🌴 Use heat sources: Place Christmas lights (non-LED) or a heat lamp near the tree, ensuring they’re safe and don't touch the foliage.
• 🌴 Avoid pruning: Keep fronds intact during winter—they provide natural insulation.
• 🌴 Species-specific care: Cold-hardy palms need less protection. Delicate types require more attention, including covering and relocating potted ones indoors.

📷 In the photos:

🌞 Cold sensitive palms:
Coconut palm: Cocos nucifera
Fan palm: Licuala sp.
Areca palm: Areca (Dypsis) lutescens

❄️ Cold hardy palms:
Windmill palm: Trachycarpus fortunei
Cabbage palm: Sabal palmetto
Queen Palm: Syagrus romanzoffiana
Majestic palm: Ravenea rivularis
European fan palm: Chamaerops humilis
Date Palm: Phoenix canariensis

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#Trees #How_to

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