BLOG | Specialty Tropicals

Jul 115 min read

Growing Plants in LECA: How, Why, When? (And Maybe Why Not?)

"Should I change all my plants over to LECA?" "What the heck is LECA, anyway?" "What's that stuff that looks like Cocoa Puffs people grow...

16 views0 comments

Jul 66 min read

Help, My Plants Have a Drinking Problem! Keys to Watering Success

A straightforward, easy-to-follow guide to watering your tropical plants

27 views0 comments

Jun 237 min read

Know Who You're Dealing With!

How to understand and evaluate the quality and value you'll find from various kinds of plant retailers We've been growing and selling...

11 views0 comments

Oct 27, 20236 min read

PRO FILES: Become an Expert on...Begonias!

Become an Expert on...Begonias!

18 views0 comments

Oct 23, 20233 min read

Vive le Différence: Variegated Plant Basics

There is an old French saying, vive le différence ("long live the difference!") We might also say, "variety is the spice of life." ...

16 views0 comments

Oct 9, 202310 min read

Plants that Prey: Carnivore Basics

From childhood curiosity to lifelong obsession, Carnivorous Plants provide endless fascination, variety, and maybe a little pest control...

34 views0 comments

Sep 23, 20236 min read

Our Story (How Specialty Tropicals Came to Be)

Specialty Tropicals is founded on three pillars: Family, Faith, and Love. Steve Hawkins has been a "plant-nerd" by anyone's definition...

21 views0 comments

Sep 23, 20233 min read

What Medium is Best for My Aroids?

Without a doubt, Aroids (Aglaonema, Anthurium, Dieffenbachia, Epipremnum, Monstera, Philodendron, Syngonium, Thaumatophyllum and many...

6 views0 comments

Aug 26, 20235 min read

Gettin' Dirty

Soil...dirt...compost...humus...potting medium--any way you say it, the stuff plants grow in doesn't really sound exciting (well, to most...

12 views0 comments

Aug 21, 20234 min read

What's Hot in the Pot: This Season's Most-Wanted Plants

Even a hobby as bucolic as gardening isn't immune to trends of fashion, and the nursery industry is responsive to what customers want...

17 views0 comments

Jul 30, 20234 min read

A Plant-Nerd is Born: A Shy Kid, A "Weird" Hobby, and God's Grace

One of the questions just about everyone who visits our nursery asks me (Steve) is, "How did you get started in all of this?" Truth is,...

6 views0 comments

Jul 29, 20232 min read

Jungle Jewels: Aroids for Beginners

Among the most popular categories of plants among collectors are Aroids (that's the family that includes things like Philodendrons--both...

5 views0 comments

Jul 27, 20233 min read

Living with Pets & Plants

Plants are great for us: they provide joy, stress-relief, and clean the air in our homes. Many of us who loves plants also love our...

9 views0 comments

Jul 19, 20233 min read

Orchids are for EVERYONE!!

Tolumnia Jarek Firm 'Big Bang' (Click to view Availability & Pricing) I've often surprised "brown-thumb" friends when they ask for advice...

6 views0 comments

Jul 4, 20231 min read

Red-White-and-Blooming!

As we celebrate Independence Day, it is hot and muggy here in the Carolinas. Our plants are loving the weather; our staff, not so much!...

1 view0 comments

Jun 26, 20231 min read

New Plants EVERYWHERE!!! Check out our new tropical plant offerings

This week, we're adding lots of new one-off and small batch Nepenthes (Tropical Pitcher Plants) to our site, as well as Hibiscus, some...

1 view0 comments

Jun 15, 20232 min read

Next Steps: New Additions at ST Coming Soon!

We're plant people! Steve has been passionate about tropical plants since he was a little boy. What are your interests? Would love to...

2 views0 comments

Jun 9, 20231 min read

What's Happening at ST

This week has been crazy! After a long, long period of preparation for online sales, we're finally in the process of adding plants that...

6 views0 comments

Jun 9, 20230 min read

Tons of New Nepenthes Ready to Sell!

6 views0 comments