Date: 3 Feb 2024
2024: Groundhog Predicted an Early Spring!
Q: Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow this year?
A: Every Feb. 2, the Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil comes out of
hibernation in Pennsylvania to let his shadow "do the talking." If his shadow appears, Americans are in for six more weeks of winter. If it
doesn't, spring will come early. Last year, the groundhog predicted a longer winter.
This year, Phil did not see his shadow, predicting an early spring!
So, what are we waiting for?
Time to do some plant shopping!
Photo above: Capsicum annuum x chinense - Biquinho Pepper
Date: 27 Jan 2024
Valentine Sweetheart Hoya:
a must gift for your Valentine
Q: What plant can you recommend for a Valentines Day present?
A: There is a perfect plant specifically for Valentine's Day! When it comes to finding the ideal plant for an occasion, it doesn't get better than this one. The Sweetheart Hoya, also known as Valentine Hoya or Hoya kerrii, is not only easy to grow but also easy-ship, making it the most user-friendly of all houseplants. Its popularity has soared in recent years, thanks to its unique and quirky "heart" shaped leaves that appeal to everyone and bring smiles to faces. In addition to these charming leaves, the Sweetheart Hoya produces fragrant, beautiful flowers resembling tiny red stars. These flowers are not only stunning but also waxy, durable, and long-lasting.
Caring for the Sweetheart Hoya is a breeze, requiring only minimal attention. It can likely thrive with just one good watering a month - that's how hardy it is. While this plant prefers a reasonably well-lit room for optimal growth, it can still fare well in shadier spots, making it a versatile addition to any home or office. Don't wait till the last moment, get your Valentine's present now - the best one ever!
We have large developed plants, ready to bloom!
Buy one (for her/him) - get one free, for
yourself!
Don't forget some plant food for it!
Date: 20 Jan 2024
Cat of
the Month:
Winter Adventure of Lisa the Cat
After publishing the story about Skogkatts - Norwegian Forest Cats, we received inquiries about Lisa, if she is available for adoption? Luckily, Lisa now has her wonderful sweet home in Sweden, so unfortunately for those who fell in love with her, she is not adoptable. But Lisa's life story wasn't all that sweet and simple! Rather thrilling and adventurous. So we decided to share her story with you...
By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
"...Lisa, who illustrated our story about Skogkatt Cat Breed, lives with my daughter Vanda, along with her family: husband Vitaly and two children - Max and Maria. They live in Sweden. Lisa is 13 years old now. About 10 years ago, Lisa had a heartbreaking adventure almost ended with a tragedy... But luckily, she made it through. However, since then, she can't jump high and sometimes walks funny, sways and limps... And here's what happened..."
Date: 20 Jan 2024
Sunshine Boosters PRO - for Professionals
Q: Winter marks the vegetable season in Florida, and my half-acre vegetable garden in Highlands County thrives during this time. I cultivate a variety of produce, including tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, beets, various lettuces, radishes, and beans. Despite the sandy and poor soils, I manage a bountiful harvest that not only sustains my extended family but also provides for friends throughout the winter. To combat our sandy soil challenges, I heavily rely on fertilizers.
Recently, I came across your Sunshine Boosters products, and the results on my tomatoes were astonishing. They grew twice as fast compared to those on a "manure" bed. What I appreciate most about your product is its natural composition, allowing me to use it on edibles. The convenience of easily integrating liquid fertilizer into our irrigation system is a game-changer.
I'm curious if you offer budget-friendly deals on your boosters for larger gardens?
ON SALE TODAY
A: Absolutely! We have just the solution you're looking for - our Professional Series of Sunshine Boosters is tailored for avid growers like you. Having catered to the needs of various crops, including tomato and hemp farms, our natural, amino acid-based professional formulas are the most economical choice for any scale of production.
Our professional series covers everything, from small backyard gardens to extensive greenhouses. The feeding process involves just three solutions mixed with water in your fertilizer tank: NPK (Advantage or BloomBoom, depending on the growth stage), Ca-Support (Calcium supplement), and Microelements (Constanta-Pro). This comprehensive nutrient package meets all your garden's needs. (See advanced info about Sunshine PRO products.)
Explore our professional solutions at the Top Tropicals Online Store. For larger quantities, you can directly order from the SunshineBooster.com professional selection or just contact us for a customized quote.
If you haven't implemented an injector system yet, consider the Robuster - an easy-to-install, care-free automatic system that takes care of all the work for you.
Date: 15 Jan 2024
Florida Starter Garden in Winter
Photo above: Bauhinia blakeana - Hong Kong Orchid Tree
Q: We just moved to Florida and our yard is currently just plain grass. I want to add some beautiful tropical plants, but I'm not sure where to start. Can you suggest easy-to-care-for plants that look nice in winter, preferably with flowers? Considering it's Winter time and some trees look dormant... But I can't wait to start my tropical garden!
A: Florida residents are blessed to have mild winters, and many tropical and subtropical plants enjoy this climate year around. Just be mindful of your location's specific conditions (sun-shade, wet-dry, cold sensitive or hardy). Here are some recommendations for easy-to-grow, evergreen plants that love Florida and look great even in winter. They'll establish well during cooler months, add a splash of color to your garden with their flowers, and even treat you with fruit!
Winter flowers - will bloom now!
Clerodendrum Winter Starburst
Clerodendrum Blue Butterfly
Eranthemum Blue Sage
Odontonema Firespike
Pavonia - Brazilian Candles
Photo above: Odontonema cuspidatum - Firespike
Fragrant Garden
Banana Magnolia
Jasminum sambac Little Duke Supreme
Vietnamese
Gardenia
Nyctanthes - Parijat
Ylang Ylang vine
Photo above: Gardenia vietnamensis - Vietnamese Gardenia
Curious unusual trees
Hong Kong Orchid Tree
Candle Tree
Photo above: Parmentiera edulis - Candle Tree, Guahalote
Easy fruit
Noni Tree
Yellow Dragon Fruit Palora
Coffee Tree
Photo above: Morinda citrifolia - Noni Tree
Great looking now:
for Shade and Indoor Garden
Calathea
zebrina - Zebra Plant
Black Bat Head Lily
White Bat Head Lily
Medinilla
Vanilla Orchid
Reed Ground
Orchid
Calathea Fuzzy
Pheasant
Colocasia Mojito
Syngonium
Photo above: Tacca nivea - White Bat Head Lily

















