Q:
What is the best time to start tropical plants from seeds?
Should I wait till summer?
A:
Traditionally, people prefer sowing seeds in
spring, especially temperate species for vegetable garden:
tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers...
When dealing with tropical plants, you may want to start
your babies indoors, providing additional heating when
needed. If you keep your living space around 75F (ideal
for many species), this is a perfect temperature to get
your seeds started. Tropical plants are not like annual
tomatoes that try to grow through the season as fast as
possible. They may take time. So the sooner you start, the
more chances to get small seedlings just in time when
spring air outside is warm enough - at least in 70's F.
A great advantage of starting tropical seeds indoors is
controlled temperature and moisture. In the plant world,
environment extremes are not good for germination process.
Mild conditions of your home or a greenhouse create better
chances for successful growth. Seeds won't get overheated
in hot summer sun, and won't get rotten because of a
sudden heavy rain. Just keep in mind that some species
require light for good germination. Using an old fish tank
or covering with plastic wrap will help to keep constant
humidity.
Veterans Day is a time to honor those who served and protected our
country. To show our
gratitude, we are offering special discounts on plants, fertilizers, and
garden supplies. It’s the perfect chance to add something new to your
collection while celebrating those who made it possible for all of us to
enjoy the peace of our gardens.
Celebrate
Veterans Day with 20% OFF your
entire order – our way of saying thank you.
Get 15% OFF tropical plants with code
VETERANS2025
Min order $100 (excluding S/H), valid online only,
cannot be combined with other offers and not applicable to existing or
past orders.
Photo above: A long-blooming holiday classic, Schlumbergera New
Deal, an heirloom Thanksgiving-to-Christmas cactus with cascades of
oversized pink flowers. Blooms from Thanksgiving through Easter!
As our way of saying thank you for growing with us all year long, here is
your exclusive holiday code. Use it for 15% off any order over $100 (excluding
shipping and handling):
THANKS2025
Ends November 30th, 2025 (Sunday) at midnight.
Min order $100 (exculuding S/H).
One use per customer.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Cannot be applied to previous orders.
Check out our specials below - hand-picked by our horticulturist for
size, beauty, and vigor! These are the biggest, fullest plants you'll see
all year! Take advantage of this Holiday discount code and get them now at
their best and fullest point!
Gloxinia
sylvatica - Bolivian Sunset. A perfect fall-winter standout: it bursts
with glowing blooms and makes a great holiday gift as a flowering
start.
Gardenia
nitida, Shooting Star: a rare African gardenia with sweet fragrance and
star-shaped blooms that appear several times a year. Soft diamond-shaped
leaves. This true collectors gem blooms in dramatic waves, filling the air
with a strong, sweet scent.
Date: 22 Sep 2025
🐲 The taste you will never forget
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...
