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From Top Tropicals Garden Blog

Date:

How to Grow Jackfruit: Practical Guide

How to Grow Jackfruit: Practical Guide How to Grow Jackfruit: Practical Guide How to Grow Jackfruit: Practical Guide How to Grow Jackfruit: Practical Guide
🫡 How to Grow Jackfruit: Practical Guide

  • 🍈 Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a tropical tree that produces the largest fruit in the world, weighing up to 80 pounds and reaching 36 inches in length. The trees thrive in frost-free, humid climates with plenty of sunlight. They require well-draining soil rich in organic matter and regular watering to flourish. Despite their reputation as ultra-tropical, mature Jackfruit trees can tolerate light frost for a few hours without significant damage. Additionally, they can be grown in containers in colder areas with proper care and pruning.

  • 🍈 What Climate is Essential for Growing Jackfruit Trees?


    • Jackfruit trees require a tropical or subtropical climate, with temperatures ideally between 60-95°F. While young trees are frost-sensitive, mature trees can withstand light frost for short periods. However, cold winters can reduce fruit production. Frost-free temperatures are crucial for optimal growth and fruiting.

  • 🍈 How Often Do Trees Need Fertilizing, and What is the Best Type of Feed?


    • Jackfruit trees are heavy feeders. Fertilizing them regularly is key to their health and productivity. During the active growing season (spring to fall), apply a balanced dry fertilizer once a month. Liquid amino-acid-based fertilizers, such as Sunshine Boosters, can be used year-round with every watering. These fertilizers help maintain healthy growth and encourage abundant fruiting. Supplement with organic matter like compost, manure, or peat moss to enrich the soil.

  • 🍈 How Important is Pruning, and When is the Right Time to Prune?


    • Pruning is essential for maintaining a manageable tree size and promoting healthy fruit production. Jackfruit trees produce fruit at the base of the trunk, allowing them to be pruned annually to a height of 7-12 feet. This practice not only makes harvesting easier but also encourages more fruiting. Prune after the fruiting season or in late fall to remove excess growth and shape the tree. Regular pruning also improves air circulation and reduces the risk of disease.

  • 🍈 Key Tips for Successful Jackfruit Production

  • · Climate: Ensure frost-free temperatures and adequate humidity.
  • · Soil: Use well-draining soil enriched with organic matter.
  • · Watering: Maintain consistent soil moisture without waterlogging.
  • · Pruning: Keep the tree under 7-10 feet for easier management and better yield.
  • · Fertilizing: Apply balanced fertilizers and supplements regularly.


🍈 Jackfruit facts

  • · The fruit consists of large, edible bulbs of yellow, sweet, banana-pineapple-flavored aromatic flesh.
  • · Seedlings start fruiting within 3-4 years, with fruit ripening 4-6 months after flowering.
  • · A mature tree can produce up to 200 pounds of fruit annually.
  • · For colder regions, growing Jackfruit in containers is an option, provided the tree is regularly pruned and topped.


👍 Jackfruit trees grow fast and fruit abundantly with proper care, making them an exotic addition to tropical fruit collections.

📚 From previous posts:
The largest tree-borne fruit in the world
How to grow the biggest fruit on Earth

🛒 Plant your own Jackfruit

#Food_Forest #How_to

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

How to take care of a mango tree in winter

How to take care of a mango tree in winter
🥭 How to take care of a mango tree in winter

  • ❄️ Watering

    • During winter, mango trees need minimal watering. Overwatering can cause root rot, especially when temperatures are low. Water the tree only when the soil feels dry about 2 inches deep.

  • ❄️ Fertilizing

    • Avoid feeding in the winter with dry fertilizer. It may cause root burn, plus encourages new growth that is more susceptible to cold damage. Wait until spring when the weather warms up to resume heavy feeding your tree. You can continue using Sunshine Boosters natural liquid fertilizers - Sunshine Mango Tango: it is safe to apply year around since its intake is regulated by reduced water, and only the necessary amount of essential elements will be delivered.

  • ❄️ Temperature Protection

    • Mango trees are sensitive to cold. If you live in a region with freezing temperatures, move your mango tree indoors or to a sheltered location like a garage with a bright light source. If it's in a small container, consider bringing it inside for the winter.

  • ❄️ Sunlight

    • Ensure the tree gets as much sunlight as possible. If indoors, place it near a South-facing window where it can soak up the sun during the day.

  • ❄️ Check for Pests

Winter can bring pests indoors. Regularly inspect the tree for any signs of insect problems around the leaves and stems.

By following these guidelines, your mango tree will be healthier and better prepared for the next growing season.

📚 Learn more: Mango trees and how to deal with cold weather.

🛒 Shop Mango varieties

📝 Earlier posts on #Mango:

#Food_Forest #Mango

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

How to take care of a mango tree in winter

Mango tree indoors with a cat

Q: I bought a mango tree for my husband for Christmas, and we are having kind of a butting of heads on how to take care of it. I personally feel that he has over-watered and over-fertilized. Any advice how to take care of a mango tree in winter?

A: We're happy to help you with your mango tree. It sounds like you're facing some common issues, and we'll guide you through the best care practices, especially for winter.

Watering.
During winter, mango trees need minimal watering. Overwatering can cause root rot, especially when temperatures are low. Water the tree only when the soil feels dry about 2 inches deep.

Fertilizing.
Avoid feeding in the winter with dry fertilizer. It may cause root burn, plus encourages new growth that is more susceptible to cold damage. Wait until spring when the weather warms up to resume heavy feeding your tree. You can continue using Sunshine Boosters natural liquid fertilizers - Sunshine Mango Tango: it is safe to apply year around since its intake is regulated by reduced water, and only the necessary amount of essential elements will be delivered.

Temperature Protection.
Mango trees are sensitive to cold. If you live in a region with freezing temperatures, move your mango tree indoors or to a sheltered location like a garage with a bright light source. If it's in a small container, consider bringing it inside for the winter.

Sunlight.
Ensure the tree gets as much sunlight as possible. If indoors, place it near a South-facing window where it can soak up the sun during the day.

Check for Pests.
Winter can bring pests indoors. Regularly inspect the tree for any signs of insect problems around the leaves and stems.

By following these guidelines, your mango tree will be healthier and better prepared for the next growing season.

Learn more: Mango trees and how to deal with cold weather.

Shop Mango Trees

Cat with mango fruit

Date:

How to grow a Lychee tree and have a reliable crop

Lychee fruit on a tree, Litchi chinensis

Lychee fruit on a tree, Litchi chinensis

Lychee tree in a pot with fruit, Litchi chinensis

Lychee tree in a pot with fruit, Litchi chinensis

Lychee tree with fruit, Litchi chinensis

Lychee tree with fruit, Litchi chinensis

Lychee fruit, Litchi chinensis

Lychee fruit, Litchi chinensis

🧳 How to grow a Lychee tree and have a reliable crop. Practical Guide to Growing Lychee.
  • 🍑 Lychee (Litchi chinensis) is a tropical evergreen tree renowned for its delicious, aromatic fruit. Native to southern China, lychee trees can reach heights of up to 40 feet and are prized for their attractive foliage and bountiful fruit clusters.
  • 🍑 Important factors to consider when planting a Lychee tree

  • 💋Climate: Lychee trees thrive in tropical and subtropical climates with warm, humid summers and cool, dry winters. They require a period of winter chilling (100-200 hours between 32F and 45F) to induce flowering. Mature trees can tolerate temperatures as low as 25F, but young trees are susceptible to frost damage.
  • 💋Sunlight: Plant lychee trees in full sun to ensure vigorous growth and optimal fruit production. They require at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily.
  • 💋Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic soils rich in organic matter are ideal. Avoid heavy clay soils or areas prone to waterlogging, as lychee trees are susceptible to root rot.
  • 💋Spacing: Ensure adequate space for the tree's mature size by planting at least 20 feet away from other trees or structures.

  • 🍑 When and how do you harvest lychee fruit?

  • 💋Lychee trees typically begin to produce reliably after 3-5 years, with the fruit ripening in early summer.
  • 💋Timing: Wait until the fruit's skin turns bright red or pink, indicating full ripeness. Lychees do not ripen off the tree, so it's essential to harvest at the right time.
  • 💋Method: Use pruning shears to cut entire clusters, leaving a short stem attached to each fruit to prolong freshness. Handle the fruit gently to avoid bruising.
  • 💋Post-Harvest: Consume fresh lychees within a few days or store them in the refrigerator to extend shelf life. The skin may darken when refrigerated, but the fruit's quality remains unaffected.

  • 🍑 How to grow a Lychee tree?

  • 💋Watering: Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods. However, avoid overwatering, as lychee trees are sensitive to waterlogged conditions. Mulching around the base helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
  • 💋Fertilization: Apply a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to support healthy growth and fruit development. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can inhibit flowering. Sunshine Boosters C-Cibus - natural liquid fertilizer - is the best choice, and is safe to use with every watering year around.
  • 💋Pruning: Minimal pruning is required. Remove dead or diseased branches and shape the tree to maintain its structure. Pruning after harvest can encourage new growth.


🍑 More practical advice on propagation and harvest in next post 👇

🛒 Shop Lychee trees

#Food_Forest #How_to

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Read Top Tropicals Garden Blog


From Top Tropicals Online Plant Encyclopedia
Detailed plant profiles: 3 plants found

Plant Boosters, SUNSHINE in a Bottle
Plant Boosters
SUNSHINE in a Bottle

See SUNSHINE BOOSTERS PAGE

When people purchase plants and trees either on-line, or from their local nursery, expectation and anticipation for their new find is high. Many times, however, disappointment is encountered due to a variety of reasons. These reasons include changes in light, temperature, water, soil conditions and transportation; just to name a few. So how can the stress on newly transported and transplanted plants be mitigated? Easy! There are plant stimulators able to reduce the shock encountered.

One such plant stimulator is SUNSHINE Epi, a revolutionary, broad spectrum, plant stress reliever, originally developed by innovative Russian scientists. Extracted initially from plant pollen, SUNSHINE Epi can bring back and keep the vigor to stressed plants in both the home and garden. Sunshine is indeed a plant stimulator on the cutting edge of plant care technology. Reasonably priced, and easy to use, Sunshine will be your plants' best friend, next to yourself, of course.

SUNSHINE Epi is a natural plant growth hormone and the first representative of a new generation of agricultural chemicals. It has a broad spectrum of stimulative and protective activities. Synthetically prepared epibrassinolide, active ingredient of SUNSHINE Epi, belongs to a class of brassinosteroids and is identical in all respects to naturally occurring plant hormone.

See also Overview of fertilizers.



See detailed plant profile in new window: https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/epin.htm
Fertilizers, Macro and Micro elements
Fertilizers
Macro and Micro elements

Plants, like living organisms, require adequate nutrition for grown. The concept of plant nutrition includes the following substances:

Carbon dioxide. In the process of photosynthesis with the participation of chlorophyll, in the leaves of plants from water, carbon dioxide and light, organic compounds are formed that participate in the construction of the organism. This is the main and only significant source of organic matter for plants.

MACRO-elements. The macroelements include inorganic compounds necessary for the vital activity of a living organism. The prefix macro-means a relatively high content of these elements in the composition of plants, respectively, their high demand. The macroelements include: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sodium, potassium, chlorine, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Liquid Sunshine Boosters - Mild stable formulas, can be used year-around. Organic acid-based, Sunshine Boosters are perfect for organic gardens, edibles and do not affect crop pure taste. Amino-acid stable formulas have NO EDTA chelators to eliminate nutrients lockup in soil. Pollinating insects friendly. Designed for continuous use, Sunshine Boosters contain no excess salts, maintain soil pH at optimal level (5.5-6.5) and do not require soil flushing or additional pH regulators. They can be use with every watering, year around.

Water-soluble fertilizers - dry (powdered) fertilizers that must be diluted in water before use. EDTA-chelated. Can be used only during hot weather, during active growth season.

Smart release (granulated) fertilizers - Slow-release during 1-3-6-12 month period. EDTA-chelated. Can be used only during hot weather, during active growth season.

MICROelements. Microelements are inorganic compounds involved in the synthesis of enzymes and biologically active substances. The content in a living organism is very low, but they play a vital role in the life of plants. The microelements include: iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum, cobalt.

ULTRA-microelements. Very small amounts of almost all elements of the periodic table are contained in all organisms. They fall into plants with root nutrition from the soil. The necessity for the life of ultramicroelements is not fully proved. Of more or less necessary are considered: vanadium, iodine, nickel, titanium, aluminum, cadmium, fluorine (for plants).

See full article: The role of elements in plant nutrition.

Fertilizers, or Plant Food, contain macro- and micro-elements, for example:

Macro-elements: Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P), Potassium (K).

Micro-elements: Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zink (Zn), Sulfur (S).

Application: Follow directions on the labels. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Less concentration is always better than overdose. Generally, for tropical plants, dry fertilizers should be used only during the growth period when temperatures are above 65F, and Amino-acid based liquid fertilizers can be used year around.

See also: Plant Growth Hormones

For more information about Sunshine Boosters, see SUNSHINE BOOSTERS PAGE and learn more about Essential Nutrients.



See detailed plant profile in new window: https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/fertilizers.htm
Tillandsia xerographica, Xerographica
Tillandsia xerographica
Family:Bromeliaceae
Subfamily:Tillandsioideae
Xerographica
Groundcover and low-growing 2ft plantSemi-shadeFull sunDry conditionsEpiphyte plantRed, crimson, vinous flowers

Beautiful species, very slow growing, but is easy to take care of. It loves sunshine and will take regular watering as long as the water won't stand in rosette, but can stand some drought quite well. This plant grows epiphytically on trees and on rocks in at elevations of 600 to 1,800 feet. Its silvery gray leaves, sometimes almost white, wide at the base and tapering to a point, make an attractive, sculptural rosette, 3 feet or more in diameter and 3 feet high in flower. The inflorescence, on a thick, green stem, from 6 to 15 inches in height, densely branched. The leaf bracts are rosy red; the floral bracts are chartreuse; and the petals of the tubular flowers are red to purple. Xerographica is a slow growing species with very long lasting blooms (months). The plant is currently on the CITES list of endangered species, therefore import/export restrictions apply.



See detailed plant profile in new window: https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/tillandsia_xerographica.htm
Detailed plant profiles: 3 plants found