Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
Date:
Thank You for Joining Us!
Happy Moments of Our Fall Plant Market
A big thank you to everyone who came to our Fall Plant Market! last Saturday! We had a fantastic time, and we hope you did too. It was a day filled with fun, plants, and smiles all around.
Check out these happy moments captured during the event! If you spot your friends in the photos, feel free to share the joy and forward the pics to them.
We can't wait to see you again at our December Holiday Market. Stay tuned for more details!
The first 25 customers received the most beautiful handcrafted gift bags, made with love by Kristi and Onika, which added an extra special touch to the day!
Date:
Discover Coral Trees - Erythrinas
the brightest flowers of the Tropics
Q: What tropical tree do you recommend that has a small size and bright showy flowers, specifically red? I love red flowers, they are the most beautiful!
A: Erythrinas are small trees with a legendary beauty and are often considered a symbol of exotic allure. They bring a touch of the extraordinary to a Southern landscape.
Vivid red blooms: striking, coral-red flowers that create a breathtaking visual display.
Eye-catching: makes a stunning focal point with its bold and vibrant floral clusters.
Fast-growing: quickly develops into a magnificent tree.
Unique branch structure: an interesting, sculptural form that adds architectural interest even when not in bloom.
Pollinator magnet: attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, supporting local wildlife.
Drought tolerant: withstands dry conditions once established.
Adaptable: thrives in a range of soils, demonstrating versatility and hardiness.
Low maintenance: requires minimal care.
The Erythrina tree is a must-have for any tropical garden, with its stunning coral-red blooms and unique branch structure that add beauty year-round. Fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance, this eye-catching tree supports pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies while thriving in a variety of conditions. It's the perfect addition for those seeking a vibrant, exotic touch to their landscape.
How to make a Classic Margarita:
🍾 How to make a Classic Margarita:
2 oz tequila
- oz lime juice
1 oz triple sec
Salt for rimming the glass
Lime wedge for garnish
Shake the tequila, lime juice, and triple sec with ice, then strain into a salt-rimmed glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!
Do you have a favorite drink or a go-to way to unwind?
Share in comments!
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🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden
#Quotes #Recipes
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Why Strawberry Tree is called Cotton Candy
Strawberry Tree, Cotton Candy (Muntingia calabura)
- 🍓The Strawberry Tree, also known as Cotton Candy (Muntingia calabura), is a fruit lover's dream!
- 🍓 Its pretty white flowers resemble those of a strawberry plant, giving it its name. The fruits are super sweet, with no acidity, earning it the "Cotton Candy" nickname.
- 🍓 This fast-growing tree is incredibly rewarding, producing two crops a day from spring to fall!
- 🍓 It’s easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and fruits right away even in containers - just watch out for frost if you're outside the tropics.
📚 Lean more from previous post:
What fruit tree will produce right away?
🛒 Get your own Strawberry Tree
#Food_Forest
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How to have the Deep Purple mood year around
Calathea rufibarba - Fuzzy Pheasant Feather, Deep Purple Velvet Furry
- 🟣 Calathea rufibarba - Fuzzy Pheasant Feather, Deep Purple Velvet Furry - a favorite of shade garden landscapers. This thin, fuzzy, rippled leaf Calathea is very attractive as well as durable. A purple leaf back adds to this plants rich color and texture.
- 🟣 The upper foliage of Calathea rufibarba is semi-glossy, and olive green. The under side of the foliage, along with the stems are rich burgundy to deep purple!
- 🟣 The stems are covered with fine purplish-brown hairs.
- 🟣 Place your Deep Purple Calathea in bright filtered or indirect light.
🛒 Order Deep Purple Calathea
#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden
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Im so tired, I could sleep standing up in a hurricane
😶 Get a good rest tonight. Good night...
Share your cats in comments!
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🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden
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Top 10 fast-fruiting trees:
#10. Peanut Butter Tree (Bunchosia argentea)
Peanut Butter Tree, earns its name from its fleshy fruits that boast a delightful peanut butter flavor. Compact in size, small tree reaching only 10-15 ft or kept as a bush, it's a perfect choice for limited spaces. Can thrive indoors, starting to fruit within just 2-3 years from seed.
📚 Learn more from previous post:
- 💋Delectable Peanut Butter Tree
- 💋The best small fruit trees that will produce right away
- 💋How soon will Peanut Butter Tree fruit?
- 💋Top 10 fast-fruiting trees
🛒 Shop Peanut Butter Tree
#Food_Forest
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Is purple your favorite color? This is your plant!
Tibouchina
- 🟪 Tibouchinas are tropical gems famous for their vibrant purple flowers, which feature unique, eyelash-like stamens that give them an enchanting look.
- 🟪 Their soft, velvety leaves add another layer of charm, making these plants a delight for both the eyes and the touch.
🛒 Shop Tibouchina plants
#Hedges_with_benefits
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Bedtime Cat TV
"A bird in the paw is worth two in the bush." - James Thurber
💻 Do you cats watch Cat TV?
Share your cats in comments!
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#Quotes
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Black cat night
"A black cat is the most magical of creatures, bringing mystery and charm into every shadow." - Charles Dickens
Do you have a black cat? How many? 🐈
Share your cats in comments!
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🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden
#Quotes
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Top 10 fast-fruiting trees:
#9. Blackberry Jam Fruit (Randia formosa)
🖤 Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de Rosa is a curious small evergreen tree or bush that combines features of a fragrant flower and delicious dessert fruit which tastes like fresh Blackberry jam. Fragrant white flowers are similar to Gardenia.
📚 Learn more from previous posts:
- 💋The best small fruit trees that will produce right away
- 💋Truth about Blackberry Jam: it comes from Gardenia
- 💋Top 10 fast-fruiting trees
🛒 Shop Blackberry Jam Fruit
#Food_Forest
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What to plant by the pond?
Elephant Ears Illustris Colocasia
- 🐘 Elephant Ears Illustris Colocasia is a classic beauty.
- 🐘 The heart-shaped, large purple-and-green leaves of Illustris are huge, and their dark highlights are stunning.
- 🐘 This elephant ear is a lover of moist shade, but does best with a little dappled sunlight.
- 🐘 It will tolerate boggy conditions.
- 🐘 Provide light shade to full shade and consistently moist or boggy soil.
- 🐘 It is a strong fast growing variety that does great in container, landscapes, ponds and patios.
🛒 Order Illustris Elephant Ears
#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden
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Date:
Join us this Saturday for Fall Plant Market
September 7, 9 am - 4 pm
Join us this Saturday, September 7, for our exciting Fall Plant Market!
This Event will be featuring the largest selection of flowering and fruiting plants! Get unbeatable deals with plants starting at just $2, $5, and $10. Plus, enjoy a free plant with every purchase, and if you're one of the first 25 guests to spend $50, you'll receive a special gift bag!
Our plants have grown big and beautiful over the summer, so don't miss this chance to fill your yard at fantastic prices. Bring friends and family, and let our friendly PeopleCats guide you around the garden. We look forward to seeing you there!
Highlights of the event:
30% OFF online prices, one day only!
(excluding 15 gallon material and rare plants)
Gift bags - for first 25 customers with $50 order
$2, $5 and $10 plants
Raffle
Free plant with any purchase as a token of our appreciation
Event discounts valid at both locations:
Ft Myers Garden
Center: 13890 Orange River, Ft Myers, FL
Sebring B-Farm: 9100 McRoy
Rd, Sebring, FL
Date:
10 common mistakes to avoid
with mail order plants
Q: How to get happy and healthy plants from mail order? Will they survive the trip and grow well after transportation? What mistakes should I avoid?
A: At Top Tropicals, we have over 20 years of experience shipping plants. We know how to pack them properly and ensure the safest journey possible. We ship the biggest and healthiest plants, and our customers are often amazed at how great they look after a few days in a dark box. But receiving a healthy plant is only half the adventure. Now that the plant is in your hands, it's up to you to keep it thriving. The first couple of weeks after shipping are critical. With the right care, your new plant can reward you with beautiful flowers and fruit for years to come. Here are 10 common mistakes to avoid when buying plants by mail order.
1. Not unpacking plants immediately
Leaving plants in the box too long can cause stress or damage. Unpack them as soon as they arrive to let them
breathe and adjust.
2. Ignoring acclimation
Plants need time to adjust to their new environment. Don't place them in full sun or
extreme conditions (heat, wind) right away.
3. Overwatering right after arrival
Many people water their new plants too much. Plants often need time to recover from transit, and too much water can cause root rot.
4. Stepping up too soon
Repotting immediately in a large pot can cause root rot. Plant in a pot just the size of a root ball, step up only after the plant is showing new growth.
5. Ignoring the plant's needs
Research the specific needs of your plant before it arrives. Light, water, and soil requirements vary greatly, and misunderstanding them can lead to issues.
6. Placing the plant in the wrong environment
It's important to give your plant the right temperature, light, and humidity based on its natural habitat. We grow tropical plants. They
won't survive in areas with freezing temperatures.
7. Not trimming damaged branches.
Transit can cause minor damage to leaves or branches. Trimming these parts can help the plant recover faster.
8. Expecting immediate growth
Plants need time to adjust after the trip. Give them a chance to settle for a few weeks before expecting new growth or blooms.
9. Fertilizing too soon
Do not fertilize your plant right after arrival. Let it get established first - usually a few weeks - before adding fertilizer to avoid stressing the
plant.
10. Not checking for pests
Always inspect new plants for pests. Shipping stress can lead to infestations, so a close check is vital.
By avoiding these mistakes and following the planting instructions included with your order, you'll be on the right path to creating your tropical paradise. Take care of your new plant, and it will thrive, rewarding you with vibrant growth for years to come.
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees:
#8. Carambola - Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola)
💛 Growing Carambola tree is a fun and rewarding way to enjoy this unique star-shaped delicious fruit right at home. It fruits on the 3d year from seed. The tree is easy to grow and reliable producer, providing wind protection.
📚 Learn more from previous post:
🛒 Shop Carambola varieties
#Food_Forest
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