Meet PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: Bagheera

Bagheera and Mowgli are Kristi's PeopleCats, originally they came together and they stick together. As little kittens, they were raised by Moe, the Mama-cat. Although she is not technically their Mom, but... she is a Mom for everyone!

Bagheera was born with his brother at a gator farm. He was too little to leave his mom, but he needed out. Bagheera is one of the sweetest boys we know. When he was a baby he could not sleep without laying on Kristi's face, both paws stretching across her mouth. Now he's a big brave boy. He rules the inside PeopleCats, stealing food from his human's plates and asking forgiveness at night when he lays above your head with his hands on your face. He's a reminder that we are all still little kittens on the inside...

Bagheera's new nicknames are Mr Biggs, Biggie and Biggy Biggy Biggy!

Check out and more Cat of the Day stories.

❄️ How to Prepare Your Tropical Garden for Winter

Smokey and Sunshine Wrap Up the Garden with Frost Cloth Before the Chill.

Smokey: "Thermometer says 45. Time to wrap the bananas!"
Sunshine: "You wrap the bananas. I’ll guard the mulch… from this sunny spot."
Smokey: "Teamwork, Sunshine. Teamwork."

🌡️ Cold nights are coming - but your tropicals do not need to shiver!

Even in sunny Florida and other warm zones, one cold snap can undo months of growth. Preparation is everything. Tropical plants can handle a lot, but they dislike surprises. Let’s make sure your garden stays safe, strong, and happy all winter long.

Tips from Tatiana Anderson, Top Tropicals Plant Expert

👉 Group and Check Your Plants

You already know which plants are in pots and which are in the ground. What matters now is prioritizing by cold sensitivity. Identify the tender tropicals – papaya, banana, plumeria, adenium, heliconia – and decide which ones get covered first when temperatures drop. Keep frost cloths or old sheets near those areas, ready to grab fast. If your garden is large, label protection zones or mark plants that always need extra care. The goal is to have a plan, not a panic, when the cold alert hits.

Once you know your priorities, you can plan the rest of your protection strategy.

👉 Feed and Mulch

Stop using high-nitrogen fertilizers by late fall. They push soft new growth that freezes easily. Add compost around the base of your plants and top with 3 to 4 inches of mulch. Mulch acts like a blanket: it keeps warmth in, protects the roots, and keeps soil moisture steady. Just make sure the soil drains well; cold and soggy soil leads to root rot. In raised beds, check that water flows away easily.

After you feed and mulch, it is time to look at how your local zone changes the game.

👉 Zone-by-Zone Tips

Moving Tropical Plants Indoors for Winter Protection

• Zone 10: You are lucky! This is mostly a maintenance season. Watch for root rot after heavy rain, trim lightly if needed, and protect tender young trees during surprise chills. Keep some frost cloth ready just in case.
• Zone 9: This is the main action zone. Nights can dip into the 30s. Deep-water your trees once before cold nights to insulate the roots. Apply heavy mulch, and have frost protection ready to go. If you grow tropical fruit like mango or guava, consider wrapping young trunks in burlap or foam pipe insulation.
• Zone 8: This is where tropical gardening becomes creative. Stick to cold-hardy tropicals such as loquat, guava, or cold-hardy avocado varieties. Use portable greenhouses, wrap trunks, and move smaller plants indoors or to a heated porch when frost threatens.

Now that the garden beds are set, let’s look at your pots and containers – your most mobile plants.

👉 Container and Patio Plants

Potted plants are the easiest to protect but also the quickest to freeze. Start reducing watering now so roots do not stay too wet in cooler weather. Before moving them, check for insects hiding under leaves or in the soil. Group your pots close to a wall for reflected heat and wind protection. If you plan to bring them indoors, do it gradually. Move them closer to the house for a few days before bringing them all the way inside to help them adjust to lower light and humidity.

When the chill starts, many gardeners rush to move everything inside at once – but a smooth transition works much better.

👉 Indoor Plants

When bringing plants inside, give them a good rinse to remove dust and bugs, and flush the soil to wash out salts from summer fertilizing. Keep them separate from your houseplants for a week to make sure no pests come along. Expect some leaf drop – it is normal as they adjust to lower light. Give them bright light near a window, and cut watering by about half until spring. Avoid misting too much; good airflow matters more than humidity during winter.

Many tropicals, like hibiscus, brugmansia, and crotons, may look tired for a while, but they will bounce back quickly once days get longer.

👉 Timing Is Everything

The key is to prepare before the first cold warning. Check your weather app regularly once nights start dropping into the 50s. Keep covers, mulch, and supplies ready so you are not running outside at midnight with a flashlight and a frozen hose. Have your frost cloths labeled by plant group and stored in an easy spot. A little organization now saves a lot of stress later.

Many tropicals, like hibiscus, brugmansia, and crotons, may look tired for a while, but they will bounce back quickly once days get longer.

Remember: the goal is to help your plants rest safely. Many gardeners prune or fertilize too late in the season – we will talk about why that can be risky next week." — says Tatiana Anderson, Top Tropicals Plant Expert

Coming next mail-list: The best gadgets for cold protection (lights, heaters, frost covers) and what NOT to do in winter.

📚 Learn more from Top Tropicals Blog:

Cold protection - winter action for your plant collection

What plants are good to order in Winter?

How to take care of house plants in Winter

How to protect tropical plants in Winter

How to take care of a mango tree in winter

How to protect Avocado from cold

Overwintering Adeniums outside of tropics

Protecting Tropical Plants with Frost Covers at Top Tropicals Nursery

😼😺 The Story Behind Smokey and Sunshine 🐾

Some stories are easier to tell with a little humor. Smokey and Sunshine were never just mascots. They represent the two forces behind every decision we make here: bold ideas and careful reality. One dreams big. The other checks the climate zone map. Together, they remind us that growing plants is part science, part optimism, and always personal. If you have ever wondered why they keep appearing in our newsletters, you can read their full story on the Smokey and Sunshine page. They have been with us longer than most people realize.

🐾 Learn the Story of Smoky and Sunshine

Freeze Testing of Grumichama and Cherry of Rio Grande 🍒❄️

When temperatures dropped to 25F, with wind chill near 14F, winter made it clear which tropical trees were truly resilient. Some plants burned back. Tender growth collapsed. But our established Eugenia cherries stood steady. Leaves held. Branches stayed flexible. The canopy remained intact.

Cherry of the Rio Grande (Eugenia aggregata) and Grumichama (Eugenia brasiliensis) are among the most cold-hardy tropical cherries for Southern gardens. Both are native to Brazil and thrive in USDA Zones 9b–11, and even protected 9a sites.

Cherry of the Rio Grande produces dark ruby fruit that ripens almost black, with a rich, full cherry flavor. It flowers early in spring and can fruit well into summer. Mature trees can tolerate brief drops into the low 20s once established. Trees typically grow 8 to 15 feet tall, remain naturally compact, and often begin fruiting within 2 to 3 years.

Grumichama is an evergreen tree known for both beauty and productivity. In spring, it covers itself in white starburst flowers that attract pollinators. Within about four weeks, glossy purple-black fruit develops. Established trees tolerate temperatures into the upper 20s and grow well in the ground or in 5–10 gallon containers. Mature trees can produce hundreds of fruits per season.

Across the Eugenia group, strengths are consistent: early bearing, compact growth, heat tolerance, light freeze endurance, and low pest pressure. They are adaptable to different soils, need modest water once established, and perform in full sun or partial shade. Birds enjoy the fruit, but there is usually plenty to share.

Nutritionally, Eugenia cherries provide Vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants, and notable Vitamin A that supports eye health. They offer sweetness with real dietary value.

In the kitchen, they are simple and rewarding. Cherry of the Rio Grande makes an easy compote. Simmer the fruit with a small amount of water until soft, mash lightly, and spoon over pancakes or warm bread. Grumichama turns into a deep red jam with sugar and lime, or can be blended into a bright spoon drizzle over vanilla ice cream.

Even when not fruiting, both trees remain attractive year-round with glossy evergreen foliage and clean structure. They fit well into edible landscapes, small yards, and container gardens.

Winter will return. The difference lies in planting fruit trees that can handle heat, humidity, and the occasional cold snap. If you are building a food forest for lasting harvests, cold-hardy tropical cherries like Cherry of the Rio Grande and Grumichama deserve a place in your garden.

🛒 Plant hardy Eugenia cherries