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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...
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Jul 12, 20245 min read
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Help, My Plants Have a Drinking Problem! Keys to Watering Success
A straightforward, easy-to-follow guide to watering your tropical plants
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Jul 7, 20246 min read
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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...
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Jun 23, 20247 min read
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PRO FILES: Become an Expert on...Begonias!
Become an Expert on...Begonias!
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Oct 27, 20236 min read
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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." ...
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Oct 24, 20233 min read
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Plants that Prey: Carnivore Basics
From childhood curiosity to lifelong obsession, Carnivorous Plants provide endless fascination, variety, and maybe a little pest control...
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Oct 9, 202310 min read
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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...
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Sep 23, 20236 min read
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What Medium is Best for My Aroids?
Without a doubt, Aroids (Aglaonema, Anthurium, Dieffenbachia, Epipremnum, Monstera, Philodendron, Syngonium, Thaumatophyllum and many...
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Sep 23, 20233 min read
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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...
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Aug 26, 20235 min read
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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...
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Aug 21, 20234 min read
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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,...
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Jul 30, 20234 min read
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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...
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Jul 29, 20232 min read
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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...
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Jul 27, 20233 min read
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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...
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Jul 19, 20233 min read
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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!...
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Jul 4, 20231 min read
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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...
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Jun 27, 20231 min read
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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...
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Jun 15, 20232 min read
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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...
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Jun 9, 20231 min read
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Jun 9, 20230 min read
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