🔥 Too hot to function?
20% off QUALITY fertilizers
When it gets this hot, even Macaron the cat gives up on pretending to
care. He flops sideways, paw in the air like he's surrendering to the sun, and
doesn't move for hours. Your plants? They’re doing the same.
That's not neglect. It's survival.
If your tropical plant suddenly stopped growing, it's not mad at you -
it's on summer strike. And the worst thing you can do is try to push it with a
shovel of cheap dry fertilizer.
In our next column we will tell you how to save plants from heat stress,
root burn, or just plain summer sulking. Macaron's Paw of Approval
🐾.
While you're at it - give your plants the gentle support they actually
need - and save!
Use code FERTI20 to
save 20% on fertilizers and garden supplies!
Shady spots aren't a problem - they're an opportunity
Photo above: Niki and Cash, the Top Tropicals PeopleCats-in-residence, lounging in a lush indoor
jungle
Most tropical gardens have at least one corner that gets morning light,
filtered sun, or just bright shade - and that's exactly where Anthuriums thrive, along with many other shade-loving plants. That makes them ideal for spaces where other
tropicals struggle.
Don't have a greenhouse? You don't need one. Anthuriums do beautifully
on a shaded porch, in a screened lanai, or even indoors near a north or
east-facing window. They're perfect for:
Bathrooms with natural light
Bright kitchens with indirect sun
Shaded entryways or under eaves
Hanging baskets under tree cover
Mounting on cork or wood in humid areas
Even a small space can feel like a tropical conservatory with the right
plant - and Anthuriums bring that look without being demanding. They grow
slowly, stay manageable, and don't need constant pruning or repotting.
Best of all, they reward consistency. Keep them warm, give them some
humidity, water when the top inch feels dry, and they'll stay healthy for years.
No drama - just quiet, lasting beauty.
If you've never grown tropicals in the shade, this is where to start.
If you only know dragon fruit from the grocery store, you probably think
it looks pretty but tastes bland. That is because most commercial fruit is
picked early, shipped far, and loses its sweetness. The truth? Homegrown
dragon fruit is juicy, sweet, and full of flavor. The best of all is the
yellow
variety, Palora
(Selenicereus megalanthus), a cactus fruit from Ecuador that bursts
with tropical taste.
🌵 Pitaya or Dragon fruit – what is the difference?
Both names describe the same climbing cactus. In Latin America it is
called Pitaya, while Asia and English speakers say Dragon fruit. There are
three
main kinds:
Some hybrids give purple or magenta flesh. All are beautiful, all are
easy to grow at home.
⚡️ Do
red, white, and yellow taste different?
Yes. White types are mild and refreshing. Reds are sweeter and juicier.
Yellows are the sweetest of all.
⚡️
Flowers from a fairy tale
Dragon fruit flowers are among the most spectacular in the plant world.
They open at night, glowing under moonlight, with pale petals and a sweet
fragrance. Each flower can be a foot wide. Seeing one bloom feels like
stepping
into another world.
⚡️ Top
Dragon Fruit Health Benefits
High in fiber for digestion and gut health
Low in calories but full of vitamins
Great for weight management
Adds color and freshness to smoothies and salads
🍹
Dragon Fruit Smoothie recipe
Blend together:
2 dragon fruits, peeled
1/2 cup mango pulp
1 banana
1 cup milk of your choice
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp lime juice
Ice cubes to taste
Top with mint for a refreshing tropical treat.
Watch
Dragon Fruit short videos:
💲
Special Offer – 25% off Dragon Fruit Pitaya Plants!
Get 25% OFF Pitaya plants with code
DRAGON2025
Min order $100. Excluding S/H, valid online only,
cannot be combined with other offers.
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.
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...
When northern gardens fade into gray, our tropicals wake up. Winter is
color season here - and even if you live up north, you can still enjoy these
same flowering trees indoors or on a sunny patio.
From the fiery Royal
Poinciana to the golden Tabebuia and
violet Jacaranda,
these eight trees prove that winter can bloom anywhere
How to Care for Winter-Flowering Trees
We're often asked, at Top Tropicals, “Can I really grow tropical
trees in winter?”
Yes — with the right light and care, you can.
Here’s what works best both outdoors and indoors, according to our
expert, Tatiana Anderson.
🌡️ Fall Planting Guide
Let’s talk about timing, because that’s the part most people
get nervous about.
Everyone asks: “Isn’t it too cool to plant now?” —
and the answer is no!
Fall and early winter are actually the best months for tropicals in Zones 9
to 11.
Here’s why: the air has cooled off, but the soil is still warm.
Roots love that combination. They quietly spread underground while the rest
of
the plant takes a break.
By spring, those roots are ready to feed a burst of new growth — and
that’s when you’ll see the first big flush of flowers.
Pick a sunny spot that gets plenty of light — six to eight hours
if you can.
Loosen the soil and mix in compost or pine bark so it drains well.
Dig a hole about twice as wide as the pot and just as deep.
Set the plant level with the ground, backfill, and water it deeply to
settle everything in.
Then add mulch — two or three inches is plenty — but keep it
away from the trunk so it can breathe.
Tatiana’s tip: “Fall planting builds roots while everyone
else is resting. By spring, your tree wakes up ready to grow.”
🌳 Outdoor Care (Warm Climates Zones 9–11)
Now, let’s talk about what happens after planting — because
real gardening starts once the plant is yours. Tropical trees thrive on
routine: steady sunlight, deep watering, and just a bit of attention.
Water them about once a week when the weather is mild, more often if
it’s dry or windy.
Always check the soil first — if it feels dry two inches down, go
ahead and water.
Mulch helps more than most people realize — it keeps roots cool in
summer and warm in winter, and it saves you from watering as often.
Now, for those of you in Zone 9, here’s the truth: your trees can
take a chill, but they don’t love surprises.
A quick night in the upper 20s F won’t hurt mature plants, but young
ones appreciate a little help — a frost cloth or being planted at the
south side.
And don’t underestimate the wind. Cold, dry gusts can burn leaves
faster than frost.
Use fences, hedges, or taller shrubs as windbreaks, and take advantage of
microclimates — those warm pockets next to the house, brick patios, or
corners that get extra afternoon sun.
Tatiana’s tip: “A tropical garden in Zone 9 isn’t
about fighting nature — it’s about cooperating with it. Find the
warm corners, protect from the cold wind, and your trees will thank you with
flowers all winter.”
🏚️ Indoor & Patio Care (Cooler Climates)
For our northern friends — yes, you can grow tropicals indoors!
You just need good light, warm air, and a little attention.
Pick a large pot, with drainage holes and a light tropical soil mix.
Place it in a bright window — south or southwest if you can —
or under grow lights for about 12–14 hours a day.
Keep temperatures between 65 and 85 F, and water when the top inch of soil
dries out.
Misting helps keep leaves clean and adds humidity.
Rotate the pot every couple of weeks so all sides get sun. In summer, move
your plant outdoors gradually so it can enjoy real sunlight — then
bring it back in before nights drop below 40 F.
Tatiana’s tip: “Don’t be afraid of growing trees in
pots. They adapt beautifully — just select the right trees and pay
attention to their needs.”
How to Care for Winter-Flowering Trees