Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 29 Sep 2025

How do we ship plants, Part 3: its Christmas - unwrapping is fun?

How do we ship plants, Part 3: it's Christmas - unwrapping is fun?

🚚 How do we ship plants, Part 3: it's Christmas - unwrapping is fun?



How to take care of your mail order plant (potted plant)



When your plant arrives, carefully remove it from the box and water it right away.
  • Place it in bright light but out of direct sun for the first few days so it can recover from shipping.
  • Keep the soil evenly moist, not soggy.
  • After about a week, gradually introduce it to more sun or move it to its permanent spot.
  • Read detailed instructions.


🌴 How to plant your mail order plant in the ground

  • Don't put a new plant straight from the box into the ground!
  • First, pot it up and let it recover and grow strong for a few weeks.
  • Once it's well established, choose a sunny, well-drained spot outdoors.
  • Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot, place the plant at the same depth, and backfill with good, rich soil.
  • Water thoroughly to settle the roots and add mulch around the base, keeping it away from the stem.
  • Keep watering regularly until the plant takes off.
  • Read detailed instructions.


🎥 Part 3 shows you how to unpack a plant. Happy Gardening!

🛒 Shop plants online

📚 Learn more:


#How_to

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Date: 28 Sep 2025

Why Sphynx cats always need a sweater?

Why Sphynx cats always need a sweater? Why Sphynx cats always need a sweater? Why Sphynx cats always need a sweater? Why Sphynx cats always need a sweater? Why Sphynx cats always need a sweater?

👽 Why Sphynx cats always need a sweater?


  • 😺 Pelmen is a Sphynx cat. Sphynx is the famous hairless cat breed. He looks bald, but really has a soft peach-fuzz coat that feels like suede.

  • 😺 Look, this summer Pelmen even got a suntan! His head is tanned while the rest stayed pale. Why? Because he was wearing a sweater outside! (Yes, he owns a whole wardrobe… the definition of a spoiled baby)

  • 😺 Why a sweater? Sweaters aren’t just for fashion. Since Sphynx cats lack a fur coat, they need extra warmth, regular baths to wash off skin oils, and sun protection.

  • 😺 The Sphynx may look like a little alien, but they’re really velcro cats - clingy, cuddly, and people-loving. The breed began in 1966 when a hairless kitten named Prune was born in Canada. From that quirky start, the Sphynx became one of the most affectionate cats around.


🐈📸 Cat Pelmen is a friend of TopTropicals PeopleCats.Garden.

#PeopleCats

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Date: 28 Sep 2025

10-minute recipe Bo La Lot with a leaf youve never cooked before!

Bo La Lot recipe with Vietnamese pepper Lalot (Piper sarmentosum)

🍴 10-minute recipe Bo La Lot with a leaf you’ve never cooked before!

  • 🌮 Forget boring tacos - this wrap will blow your mind! In Vietnam they call it Bo La Lot - beef wrapped in peppery Lalot leaves.
  • 🌮 It started as grape leaf wraps in the Middle East, but in tropical Asia grapes don’t grow, so people swapped to Lalot. Way more flavor than grape leaves!
  • 🌮 Grilled beef, garlic, onion, lemongrass - all can be tucked into these shiny green leaves. Smoky, juicy, and so good you’ll wonder why you didn't try it sooner! It's better than grape leaf wraps, because it has so much flavor!
  • 🌮 Most large leaf pepper plants will work for this recipe - Vietnamese pepper Lalot (Piper sarmentosum), Betel Leaf (Piper betle), or even large leaves of the traditional Black Pepper plant (Piper nigrum).


🌯 BO LA LOT RECIPE



✔️ Ingredients

  • · 1 pound ground beef or turkey
  • · 2 tablespoons chopped lemongrass (optional)
  • · 1 tbsp spice powder
  • · 1 tbsp curry powder
  • · 1 tbsp finely minced garlic
  • · 1 tbsp oyster sauce or fish sauce (optional)
  • · 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • · 1 tbsp finely minced shallots
  • · 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • · 2 tsp sugar or honey
  • · 1/2 tbsp olive oil
  • · 1/2 tbsp salt
  • · 10-15 fresh Lalot leaves


👉 Directions

  • · Preheat the grill.
  • · Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.
  • · Wrap about 2 tablespoons of the mixture into each betel leaf.
  • · Spear 3 to 4 betel leaf wraps onto a skewer and grill until the meat is thoroughly cooked.
  • · Be sure to eat immediately.


🛒 Grow Leaf Pappers for tasty, peppery recipes

📚 Learn more:


📱

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Container_Garden #How_to

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Date: 28 Sep 2025

Moringa omelet: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Moringa omelet

Moringa omelet

🍴 Moringa omelet: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

  • 🟡Whisk eggs with chopped Moringa leaves, garlic, and a dash of soy sauce.
  • 🟡Pour into a hot pan with some cooking oil and cook for a minute or two until fluffy and golden.
  • 🟡A green power-packed breakfast!

Moringa Omelet

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup fresh Moringa leaves (chopped)
  • 1 small onion (chopped)
  • 1 tomato (diced)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp oil or butter

Instructions

  1. Beat the eggs in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat oil in a pan, sauté onion, garlic, and tomato until soft.
  3. Add the chopped Moringa leaves and cook for 1 minute.
  4. Pour in the beaten eggs and cook until set, flipping once.
  5. Serve hot with rice or bread.

🛒 Plant Moringa tree and harvest superfood year around

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Date: 28 Sep 2025

Guava Tree Plant Care

Tips from Top Tropicals Plant Expert - Tatiana Anderson

Guava trees for sale in 3-gallon nursery pots, healthy young plants with green foliage.

Where to Plant Outdoors

Guavas love full sun — aim for 6–8 hours of direct light. They’re adaptable to many soils but do best in well-drained, organic-enriched mixes. Plant them in a spot where you can water easily; guavas are thirsty trees during fruiting.

Container & Indoor Growing

Don’t have space or live in a cooler climate? Guavas thrive in large pots. Use well-drained potting mix. LINK TO OUR SOIL Keep them on a sunny patio during warm months and bring them indoors when nights dip below freezing. Compact varieties like Dwarf Hawaiian Rainbow or Tikal are especially good for pots.

Winter Care

Mature guavas can handle a light frost (down into the high 20s F), but young plants need protection. If planted outdoors, cover them with frost cloth on cold nights. Container guavas can be wheeled into a garage, greenhouse, or bright indoor window until the weather warms.

Watering and Fertilizing

Water deeply once or twice a week, more often in hot weather or when fruit is developing. They don’t like soggy soil, but they won’t complain about short floods either. Fertilize 3–4 times a year during the growing season with a balanced fruit tree fertilizer. Guavas especially love potassium and phosphorus for strong flowering and heavy crops. We recommend liquid crop booster Sunshine C-Cibus and balanced controlled release fertilizer Green Magic.

Pruning

Prune after fruiting to keep them compact and open up airflow. Remove crossing or dead branches. In containers, trim back vigorous shoots regularly to manage size and encourage more fruiting wood.

Pests and Problems

Guavas are generally tough and pest-resistant. The main thing to watch for in humid or rainy climates is mealybugs - those cottony white clusters on leaves or stems. They're easy to manage with neem oil or a quick spray of horticultural soap.

Fruit time

Guavas fruit young - often within a year or two.

Pollination

Guavas are self-pollinating, so you'll get fruit even with a single tree. Planting more than one tree, however, often boosts harvests and gives you a longer fruiting season.

If you've ever wanted instant gratification from a fruit tree, guava is it.

Ruby Supreme Guava tree with a large ripe yellow fruit, variety known for sweet pink flesh and reliable harvests.

🍴 Guava Recipes

With all that fruit, the next question is always: "What do I do with it?" Here are our favorites:

  • Cas Guava: Make Agua de Cas

    Boil halved Cas Guava fruits with sugar, simmer, strain, and bottle. Dilute with water when serving. The concentrate keeps for months in the fridge.
    Check out the recipe.

  • Hawaiian Gold: Make Drinks

    Perfect for Mojitos or Margaritas. Sweet, tangy juice pairs beautifully with lime and mint. Learn more

  • Araca Pera: Guava Wine

    Famous in Brazil, where the fruit is turned into a vibrant rosу wine. Locals say it’s the taste of summer in a glass — and yes, you can make it at home too. Learn more...

  • Quick snack: Guava Grilled Cheese

    Spread guava paste or fresh mashed fruit with cheese, grill until golden. Sweet and savory heaven. Learn more...

  • Simple Guava Juice

    Blend ripe guavas with water, ice, and a little sugar if you like. Instant refreshment.

✅Ready to Grow? Whether you want fresh juice, sweet fruit, or even your own guava wine, we’ve got the best varieties in stock right now. Your future self, sipping guava juice on a hot summer afternoon, will thank you.

👉 Order your guava tree today

Tabby cat sitting between a glass of yellow guava juice with white guavas and a glass of pink guava juice with green guavas and cut pink guava fruit.

Date: 28 Sep 2025

Guava: The Healthiest Fruit You Can Grow

Collage of guava varieties: pink, white, Cas, red Cattley, and golden Cattley guavas, shown as whole fruits, cut sections, and clusters on the tree.

Guava varieties: Pink flesh (upper left quarter), White flesh and Cas (upper right quarter), Red Cattley Guava (bottom left quarter) and Golden Cattley (bottom right quarter).

Let’s talk Guava. Few fruits check as many boxes: flavor, productivity, health, and adaptability. We’ve grown guava trees at Top Tropicals for years here in Florida, and it never fails to surprise people with how easy it is — and how quickly it rewards you.

🌿 Health Benefits

We know the first question: "Why guava in addition to all the other fruit trees I could plant?" Because guava is one of the healthiest tropical fruits you can eat and grow — and it produces faster than almost anything else.

  • Vitamin C powerhouse — guava has four times more vitamin C than oranges. One fruit covers your daily needs and then some.
  • Potassium and fiber — good for balancing blood pressure and keeping your heart strong.
  • Antioxidants like lycopene and vitamin C — these keep your skin glowing and help protect your cells from damage.
  • Dietary fiber — aids digestion and helps keep blood sugar steady.
  • Guava is a true "food as medicine" tree you can plant right in your backyard or in pot.

♥️ Our Favorite Varieties are Available Now

We currently have a DOZEN excellent guava varieties in stock selected by our plant expert Tatiana Anderson — something special for every garden. Our top picks are:

Pink Guavas

  • Barbie Pink – Yellow pear-shaped fruit with thick pink flesh, sweet and juicy. Cold hardy for a tropical fruit. The best seller.
  • Hong Kong – Large, round, smooth pink fruit. Sweet flavor, very few seeds, and very productive.
  • Tikal – Our top pick. Fast-growing, disease-resistant, and produces the sweetest pink guavas with very few seeds.

White Guavas

  • Indonesian White – Aromatic, classic white-fleshed guava with an excellent tropical flavor.
  • Kilo White – Giant fruit up to 2 lbs (1 kilo) each! Few seeds, creamy white flesh, and fruits even in containers.

Compact/Dwarf

Dwarf Guava Hawaiian Rainbow tree with dense green foliage, inset showing pink-fleshed guava fruit with seeds.

Dwarf Guava Hawaiian Rainbow

Specialty Varieties

Cas Guava fruits on tree, with ripe yellow and unripe green fruit, one cut open to show pale flesh. Traditional Costa Rican Agua de Cas fruit.

Cas Guava with zero sugar for Costa Rican Agua de Cas drink

  • Cas Guava – Bold, tangy, almost zero sugar. The traditional Costa Rican Agua de Cas drink comes from this fruit. Cold hardy.
  • Hawaiian Gold, Yellow Strawberry Guava – The sweetest Strawberry Guava, golden fruit, great for fresh eating and drinks.
  • Brazilian Araca Pera – Rare hybrid used for Guava Wine in Brazil. Tart, concentrated juice makes excellent wine, sorbet, or jelly. Learn more...
  • Pineapple Guava, Guavasteen – Feijoa sellowiana. Strongly perfumed fruit, best enjoyed when the pulp is mixed with sugar – like forest strawberries. Cold-hardy, tolerates freeze, and doubles as a great windbreak. Learn more...

Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana) fruit and flowers. Green oval fruit with soft aromatic flesh, and white-red blossoms with long stamens

Pineapple Guava, Guavasteen – Feijoa sellowiana

Every one of these thrives here in Florida or in warm climate. Some are better in pots, some as landscape trees, but all produce generously.

🎥 Watch short videos about Guava:

💲 Special Offer – 20% off Guava Fruit Plants!

Get 20% OFF already discounted Guava plants with code

GUAVA2025

Min order $100. Excluding S/H, valid online only, cannot be combined with other offers.

Hurry, offer expires October 02, 2025!

Explore Guava Fruit Plants

Date: 27 Sep 2025

Just be my friend

Cats Cash and Bob

Cats Cash and Bob

🐈 Just be my friend

"Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead. Walk beside me… just be my friend." - Albert Camus

🐈📸 Cats Cash and Bob are buddies at TopTropicals PeopleCats.Garden.

#Quotes #PeopleCats

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Date: 27 Sep 2025

How do we ship plants? Part 2: packing in the box

How do we ship plants? Part 2: packing in the box.

🚚 How do we ship plants? Part 2: packing in the box.

  • 📦 In the previous video (Part 1: prepare the plant), we showed you how to prepare a plant for shipping.
    • Now comes the most important step - boxing it up!
  • 📦 We’ll show you how to place the plant in the box, keep it snug and secure, and make sure i'’s ready for a safe trip from our nursery to your door.
  • 📦 Watch out for shipping confirmation email to avoid your package sitting on a hot porch or freezing doorstep.


🎥 Part 2 shows you how to pack a plant.

❗️Stay tuned - the final step is coming in Part 3!

🛒 Shop plants online

📚 Learn more:


Shipping information page

#How_to

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Date: 26 Sep 2025

Dont judge -wait till you see her purr-sonal space

Cat Scooby

🙄Don't judge… wait till you see her purr-sonal space

Don't judge. It's called purr-sonal space!

🐈📸 Cat Scooby sits where she fits at Top Tropicals PeopleCats.Garden

#PeopleCats

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Date: 26 Sep 2025

Tequila Sunrise Hibiscus breaks the rules

Tequila Sunrise Hibiscus breaks the rules Tequila Sunrise Hibiscus breaks the rules

🍸 Tequila Sunrise Hibiscus breaks the rules


  • 🌅 Hibiscus El Capitolio Tequila Sunrise is a cousin of Hibiscus El Capitolio Bloody Mary we introduced earlier. El Capitolio is an unusual type of Hibiscus with a graceful, fountain-like growth habit and unique pendant, double-skirted blooms

  • 🌅 Tequila Sunrise has warm peach-orange tones, often with soft pink highlights. The pom-pom-like flowers stand out against glossy green foliage, adding a bright, exotic touch to the garden.

  • 🌅 Blooming from summer through fall, this hardy hibiscus thrives in full sun to partial shade, tolerates heat, drought, salt, and even wet soils. A fast grower reaching 5-10 ft, it's perfect as a showy specimen, hedge, or container plant in USDA zones 9-11.


🛒 Shop Hibiscus plants

📚 Learn more from previous posts:


#Hedges_with_benefits

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