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Index > Garden Blog

Date:

Grow your own food:
How hardy is a Loquat tree?

Loquat trees and fruit

Q: I am looking for a fruit tree for my backyard that is low maintenance, fast fruiting, and can take some cold (I live in Orlando FL and we do get occasional frost in winter). I like the taste of Loquat fruit, it reminds me of apricots. How cold hardy is this tree?

A: Loquat tree is a very good choice for Florida gardens. It can take both cold and heat and produces lots of tasty fruit right away. Last winter when we had a record freeze in our area with a couple of nights around 25F, the only trees that didn't get any damage at all were Loquats and Macadamias, and those were still young, newly planted 4 ft trees.
To learn more about Loquat trees, check out this video and article: Golden Loquat - the symbol of Prosperity.

Loquat video

Date:

Grow your own food:
Avocado Q & A

from Ed Jones, the Avocado Guy

two avocado fruit

Q: Do I need to have more than one avocado tree in order to produce fruit?

A: While a single avocado tree will normally produce enough fruit for most people, it never hurts to have more than one tree and even more than one variety to increase the chances for good pollination. Be sure to look at our catalog for the many different varieties available from our store.

Avocado tree

Date:

New Video:
Dwarf Guava Hawaiian Rainbow

Psidium guajava "Nana"

Dwarf rainbow guava video

Put a little Aloha in your garden... A guava that will bring a taste of the Islands!
This is a very small version of the favorite aromatic Guava - Nana. It grows only up to 5-6 ft tall with a short trunk and a branching, bushy habit. It is perfect for those who have limited space. It can be grown in a pot and fruits heavily. Provided with warm conditions, the tree can bear fruit almost year around. The fruit is round, about 2", pretty good size for a dwarf tree. The flesh is sweet, aromatic, and varies from white to yellow to pink.

Dwarf Guava Hawaiian Rainbow

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Channel

Date:

Planting in August

Top Tropicals Garden Calendar

Philly's garden calendar

August is the hottest month in most places, and tropical/subtropical areas are not the exception. In Florida we have some hot August days in upper 90's. Is it still OK to plant during hot weather? Yes, and here are some guidelines for you:

1. Hot metabolism.
Many tropical plants grow faster at high temperatures. Select heat-resistant species for August planting (below are just a few suggestions).

2. Water adequately.
Water thoroughly your newly planted tree. Water daily (lightly) with a hose for at least a week, don't rely on sprinklers. Then reduce watering to every other day and gradually switch to sprinkler system if you have it. Do not overwater: non-established plants don't like combination of heat+wet.

3. Mulch well.
Keep mulch 1" away from the trunk to avoid rot.

4. Shading.
Protect the young tree from hot sun with a shade cloth or a sheet if leaves get wilted, for 1-3 days, then remove it, let the plant adjust to bright light.

Trachelospermum jasminoides - Confederate Jasmine

Photo above: Trachelospermum jasminoides - Confederate Jasmine, the toughest jasmine that can take extreme heat and drought.

Date:

Grow your own food:
Tropical Asparagus (Katuk)

By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

Sauropus androgynous - Tropical Asparagus, Katuk

...One of the most popular leaf vegetables in South Asia and Southeast Asia, the Tropical Asparagus (Katuk) - Sauropus androgynus, is notable for its high yields and palatability. Cooked Tropical Asparagus is great with crab meat, minced pork, dried shrimp, or in a soup...
Katuk is one of the most popular leaf vegetables in Southeast Asia. It is among only a few flora containing vitamin K. Leaves and stemmed can be cooked as vegetable; the plant has many medicinal properties.
Katuk is fast growing and keeps growing as you trim it for your kitchen needs. Multiple upright stems can reach 6-7 ft high. It has great ornamental value, has pretty red flowers and ornamental fruit showing shiny black seeds when they crack open. Varieties with green leaves and variegated leaves have slightly different flavor but are equally good for your healthy, fiber-rich diet... CONTINUE READING >>

Sauropus androgynous - Tropical Asparagus, Katuk

Date:

What is your Zodiac Lucky plant?
Leo Plant Horoscope 07/23-08/22

By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

Leo Plant Horoscope

Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters at the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere approximately July 23. Those who are born from July 22-23 (depending upon the year) to August 22 are born under Leo. Leo is a royal sign, there are many stars in its sign - four in the heart only, and the Ruler of its House is not a planet, but a star named the Sun! Leo is one of the largest constellations in the sky...
Find out what are your lucky Zodiac plants!...

Plant Horoscope

Date:

Ground Orchids for every Home
10% OFF 3 days only!

ground orchids

Ground orchids are the easiest and the most rewarding flowers for a tropical garden. They grow in regular garden soil or potting mix, take both sun and shade and bloom nearly year around. And look at these colors! Watch the video:

Ground orchids:
all-summer colors for shady gardens

ground orchid video

10% OFF your entire order!

Top Tropicals has the largest selection of beautiful ground orchids of all kinds of colors, at low prices. Check them out today, while supply lasts! They sell fast!
To make it affordable for everyone, we are offering additional 10% discount coupon so you can collect them all! Hurry up, this offer expires in 3 days! For 10% off any order over $150, use this code:

ALLORCHIDS

Exp. 2022-07-28. Min order $150.

Cats and ground orchids




Ground orchids - new arrivals!

See all new arrivals


Spathoglottis Rainbow - Sorbet Ground Orchid
6609 Spathoglottis Rainbow - Sorbet Ground Orchid
Grown! in
4-6" pot, blooming size

$27.95


Buy Spathoglottis Rainbow - Sorbet Ground Orchid from Top Tropicals

Spathoglottis Snow Angel - Coconut Cloud Ground Orchid
5410 Spathoglottis Snow Angel - Coconut Cloud Ground Orchid
Grown in
4-6" pot, blooming size

$27.95


Buy Spathoglottis Snow Angel - Coconut Cloud Ground Orchid from Top Tropicals

Spathoglottis Tropical Pineapple - Sorbet Ground Orchid
6844 Spathoglottis Tropical Pineapple - Sorbet Ground Orchid
Grown in
4-6" pot, blooming size

$27.95


Buy Spathoglottis Tropical Pineapple - Sorbet Ground Orchid from Top 
Tropicals

Date:

Callisia fragrans, Golden Tendril:
Holistic Medicinal Plant

Callisia fragrans

by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

...This beautiful, low-maintenance plant has been living in our homes for over two hundred years. The name of Callisia speaks for itself - Callisia from the Greek is kallos meaning beauty and fragans means fragrant. It is not only an easy ornamental plant for both garden and indoor collection, it has wide medicinal use in Europe. Its active biological substances that can fight infections, stimulate metabolism, strengthen immunity and circulatory system...
...Moreover, the leaves and flowers of Callisia fragrans are edible, the plant has been used as a food source in tropical countries. The rhizomes are also edible and can be boiled or roasted... Every garden or indoor plant collection should have this easy and useful plant!..
CONTINUE READING >>

Callisia fragrans




Lots of new arrivals!

See all new arrivals


Hog Plum tree, Red Hog Plum, Spondias 
purpurea
1193 Hog Plum tree, Red Hog Plum, Spondias purpurea
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$67.95
  
Sale $42.95


Buy Hog Plum tree, Red Hog Plum, Spondias purpurea from Top Tropicals

Megaskepasma erythrochlamys - Brazilian 
plume
1377 Megaskepasma erythrochlamys - Brazilian plume
Grown in
6-10"/1-3 gal pot

$37.95


Buy Megaskepasma erythrochlamys - Brazilian plume from Top Tropicals

Rollinia deliciosa - 
Biriba
2753 Rollinia deliciosa - Biriba
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$89.95


Buy Rollinia deliciosa - Biriba from Top Tropicals

Vitis rotundifolia - Muscadine Grape Isons Black
3552 Vitis rotundifolia - Muscadine Grape Isons Black
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot, large plant

$42.95


Buy Vitis rotundifolia - Muscadine Grape Isons Black from Top Tropicals

Date:

New video: Royal Poinciana
The most beautiful tropical shade tree

Royal Poinciana video

"The Royal Poinciana is one of the most spectacular flowering trees in the USA, and probably among the top 10 on this planet. In full bloom, it is like a regal elephant caparisoned in red and yellow brilliance." (Larry M. Schokman, The Kampong, National Tropical Botanic Garden)
One of the most conspicuous flowering trees seen in the tropics, Royal poinciana (Delonix regia) has bright fiery red/orange blossoms cover its mimosa type leaves which close up and go to sleep for the night. This large tree, which naturally assumes a spreading umbrella shape, is now found in gardens, parks, and planted along streets throughout the tropics. In late spring, as the new leaves appear, the tree is covered with masses of five-petalled red flowers resembling orchid flowers. Blooming is followed by long, flattened, leathery dark brown or black seed pods. Delonix requires full sun and adequate space to take its characteristic form....
Read Article about this tree.

Royal Poinciana tree

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Royal Poinciana tree flowers




The most spectacular
tropical flowering trees

See full list of flowering trees


Bombax ceiba - Red Kapok 
tree
3272 Bombax ceiba - Red Kapok tree
Grown in
6-10"/1-3 gal pot

$42.95
  
Sale $37.95


Buy Bombax ceiba - Red Kapok tree from Top Tropicals

Saraca indica - Ashoka 
Tree
1405 Saraca indica - Ashoka Tree
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$62.95


Buy Saraca indica - Ashoka Tree from Top Tropicals

Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree
1306 Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$47.95


Buy Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree from Top Tropicals

Plumeria Witsanu Gold, grafted
5771 Plumeria Witsanu Gold, grafted
Grown in
6"/1 gal pot, grafted

$42.95


Buy Plumeria Witsanu Gold, grafted from Top Tropicals

Acacia farnesiana - Sweet 
Mimosa
3247 Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa
Grown in
6-10"/1-3 gal pot

$37.95


Buy Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa from Top Tropicals

Melia azedarach - Chinaberry 
tree
2978 Melia azedarach - Chinaberry tree
Grown in
6-10"/1-3 gal pot

$37.95


Buy Melia azedarach - Chinaberry tree from Top Tropicals

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus
2091 Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$42.95


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Magnolia (Michelia) champaca - Joy Perfume Tree, Champaka, 3 gal 
pot
2853 Magnolia (Michelia) champaca - Joy Perfume Tree, Champaka, 3 gal pot
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot, large plant

$72.95
  
Sale $67.95


Buy Magnolia (Michelia) champaca - Joy Perfume Tree, Champaka, 3 gal pot from Top Tropicals

Erythrina caffra - South African Coral tree, Caffra
3326 Erythrina caffra - South African Coral tree, Caffra
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot, very large plant

$37.95
  
Sale $17.95


Buy Erythrina caffra - South African Coral tree, Caffra from Top Tropicals

Erythrina livingstoniana - Cry Baby 
Tree
6730 Erythrina livingstoniana - Cry Baby Tree
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$42.95
  
Sale $17.95


Buy Erythrina livingstoniana - Cry Baby Tree from Top Tropicals

Date:

The Magic of the Avocado

Cat Plilimon with avocado

The Magic of the Avocado... Is it a super-food? A super fruit? The perfect side dish for any meal? Or does the avocado just taste great? If you need a proof of the Avocado's status as a super-food, here are some of the benefits.
READ MORE >>

At TopTropicals, healthy and tasty avocados are available in a number of varieties, over 30 choices right now! We also have prices as low as $59 and you can always use our newsletter coupons to save even more. Try all the varieties and start or expand your Avocado Super Garden today!

Cat Philimon (a.k.a. Philly Cheesesteak) eating Avocado

Cat Plilimon eating avocado

Avocado makes everyone happy! It is Cat Philimon's favorite food. We always have to share with him. Otherwise he just helps himself. He knows it's good for you!