Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 19 Aug 2025

Paws off my flowers

Paws off my flowers

🐸 Paws off my flowers... And yes, the frog's mine too!

"Watching closely... flowers are off-limits. Frog’s off-limits too." - Ricki the Cat

🐈📸 Cat Ricki watching out the window and guarding his Cashmere bouquet - Clerodendrum bungei ... and frogs. At Top Tropicals PeopleCats.Garden. 

#PeopleCats

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Date: 19 Aug 2025

You wont believe what was hiding inside this Siamese twin Valencia Pride mango!

Valencia Pride mango

You won't believe what was hiding inside this Siamese twin Valencia Pride mango!
Mango Rainbow🌈

From our Valencia Pride tree that you saw in earlier video came this giant double mango - two fruits fused into one! On the outside it looked bizarre, but the real surprise came when we cut it open. Want to see what a twin mango looks like inside? Watch the video and find out!

🛒 Shop Mango varieties

📚 Previous posts: #Mango_Rainbow - varieties you should try

#Food_Forest #Mango #Mango_Rainbow

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Date: 18 Aug 2025

No food in years

No food in years
No food in years

"You go ahead and eat... I'll just lie here. No strength left, haven't been fed in ages. No, no, don't worry, no pressure at all. Definitely not a hunger faint." - Macaron the Cat

🐈📸 Cat Macaron laying on the table dramatically... not hungry, not fainting, totally fine... At Top Tropicals PeopleCats.Garden. 

#PeopleCats

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Date: 18 Aug 2025

The mystery of the White Bat Lily - the plant with wings and whiskers

White Bat Head Lily (Tacca nivea)

👻 The mystery of the White Bat Lily - the plant with wings and whiskers
  • Here's a cool shot of the White Bat Head Lily (Tacca nivea) - its dramatic white bracts that flare like wings and those wild, trailing whiskers are impossible to ignore. And it is in full bloom again at Top Tropicals - in the middle of August.
  • This plant that pulls off gothic elegance with two crisp, wing‑like white bracts hovering over a cluster of deep maroon‑black "bat‑face" flowers, complete with long, draping whiskers. Beneath it all lie crinkled, olive‑green leaves that only add to its moody charm.
  • This tropical understory native thrives in humid, shaded spaces - whether that's a greenhouse or a mossy, misty corner indoors. It's an evergreen perennial, endlessly intriguing. When it does bloom, the dark little flowers eventually yield heavy berries - just one more twist in its curious tale.
  • Looking to grow one? You'll need:

✔️High humidity, indirect light, and good air circulation
  • ✔️Rich, orchid‑style soil (think adding bark, peat, perlite to your potting mix)
  • ✔️Consistently moist - but not waterlogged - conditions
  • ✔️And to be patient: flowering often requires a couple of leaves before it even sets stems

  • It's not just a plant - it's a conversation starter, a living gothic sculpture that grows. Maybe a bit finicky? Sure. Totally worth it? Absolutely!


🛒 Add White Bat Head Lily to your collection

Tacca colors: Black, White, Green:
Tacca nivea - White Tacca - the rarest and the most wanted
Tacca chantrieri - Black Tacca
Tacca leontopetaloides - Green Tacca

📚 Learn more:
▫️Spooky Bat Head Devil Flower

#Nature_Wonders #Shade_Garden #Container_Garden
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Date: 18 Aug 2025

🌟Repotting FAQ

Tabernaemontana variegated in container

Q: How big should the new pot be?

A: Only a few inches larger than the old one. Oversized pots hold too much moisture and may cause root rot.

Q: Why are plastic pots better than ceramic?

A: Plastic pots are lighter, easier to handle, and you can cut them if a root-bound plant is stuck. Ceramic pots are heavy, breakable, and often lack drainage.

Q: How do I safely remove a plant from its pot?

A: Turn the pot upside down and let gravity help. Never pull by the stems or leaves. If stuck, lay the pot on its side and squeeze or tap it. Cut the pot if needed.

Q: Should I remove old soil from the roots?

A: No. Roots have tiny hairs that absorb water and nutrients. Shaking off soil damages them and sets the plant back.

Q: Why must the plant sit at the same soil level?

A: Planting too deep suffocates the stem, and planting too high exposes roots. Keeping the same level protects the root crown.

Q: How soon should I water again after repotting?

A: Water thoroughly right after repotting, then wait until the top inch of soil dries before watering again.

🌱 Done! Your plant now has room to grow stronger before fall.

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