Date: 17 Sep 2023
Cat Horoscope
Virgo Zodiac Cats 08/22-09/23
By Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
How to know the astrological sign of your cat?
The astrological sign of a cat can be determined by either their date of birth or
adoption, as adoption is often considered a second birth for cats...More >>
Purrrrfect office
companions!
Are you someone who occasionally finds themselves in a state of disarray, struggling to maintain a tidy living
space and manage your time effectively? Do you often find yourself behind schedule, struggling to fulfill your plans punctually?
If this sounds familiar, let the Virgo Cat lend a helping paw to restore order and rhythm to your life... The Virgo Cats are more than just a
pet; it's a dedicated companion that excels at instilling structure and cleanliness...
Eventually, you will realise that they want to accompany you to the office to be your office mate. This is why Virgo cats spread themselves over your laptop or sit
deliberately in front of the screen - it is not because they need your attention, but because they (and you!) need to get to
work...
In the photo: introducing a new member of Top Tropicals PeopleCats family - Jacques, September cat by point of entry. He is only 5 months old and still learning how to be an office cat... but he already has very daring plans!
Date: 16 Jun 2023
10 tips how to care of tropical
garden
during hot Summer
Q: Do you have any special recommendations how to take care of plants during hot season, to reduce heat strees?
A: Tropical plants prefer temperatures of 70-90F, except for heat-adapted desert plants. High temperatures above 90F can cause slowed metabolism and signs of stress like wilting, yellowing, and leaf drop. Hot and humid conditions attract pests and fungal diseases. To keep your plants stress-free and healthy, during Summer:
1. Monitor temperature and signs of stress.
2. Provide shade to regulate heat exposure: use shade cloth or simply a sheet of fabric as needed to protect lush foliage from burns.
3. Choose heat-tolerant plant varieties.
4. Plant in groups and levels, with trees protecting smaller shade loving plants (see companion planting).
5. Water deeply in the morning or evening to prevent evaporation.
6. Mulch to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature.
7. Air: ensure good air circulation.
8. Trim damaged foliage and crowded branches.
9. Fertilize: use appropriate fertilization to improve plant heat tolerance. Remember, plants need lots of food during active growth period.
10. Remove weeds, pests, and diseases promptly.
In the photo: Tibouchina multiflora
Date: 14 Apr 2022
Our Ukrainian team update:
Happy Birthday Dasha!
Born amid the war...
A happy update from our Sunshine Boosters team member in Ukraine, Anatoly Bychko: a baby girl
is born!
"...We expected our baby when the war started... So my wife and I left
the basement and drove hundreds of miles trying to get away from deadly
missiles and find a working hospital... We left everything we had, lost our home,
only took our Cat Belyash ("dumpling"). Now we started our new life in a new
city... with a newborn little person - our Angel. Her name is Dasha!.."
All profits from Sunshine Boosters sales are used to help families of our Ukrainian Team
Photo above: Easter present for Top Tropicals, Miltonia spectabilis var. moreliana, hand-crafted cross-stitch embroidery by our Editor Marina Rybka, the original photo
Date: 24 Jul 2021
Healthy Plants: Q&A from Mr Booster
How to fertilize Caladiums and other Aroids
By Ed Jones, the Booster Guy
Q: I have a large collection of Aroid plants, different Monsteras, Philodendrons, and several unique varieties of Caladiums. I've been always told that Caladiums should not be fertilized, they don't like it. Is it so?
A: Caladium farmers often say that these plants don't need any additional fertilizer and that they really don't like it... The thing
is, caladiums do not like DRY fertilizers, and this is why. Most Aroid plants do not like being watered too often, so dry fertilizers in combination
with infrequent watering create excessive salinity for the root system. We have run some tests on the proper fertilizers for caladiums and the best results were
performed after using SUNSHINE
Robusta. It is amino acid based, so the delicate, large-leaved Aroid plants will not have to work quite so hard to take up the nutrients, and there will be no nutrient
lock up in soil. The nutrients are readily available to these plants.
In this article, you will see some test results of caladiums fertilized with
SUNSHINE Robusta vs. other brands of fertilizer, with more vigorous growth and larger leaf size occurring after use of Sunshine Robusta...
Caladiums do not have to be just an accent plant. They can also be the focus point of a garden area. It is said that as many as 98% of the world's caladium tubers come from right here in Highlands County, Florida, also home to the Sunshine Boosters manufacturing facility. It is such a big deal that they have a Caladium Festival here each summer. The fields are absolutely stunning in all of their colors. This year the festival runs this weekend, July 23 - July 25.
CONTINUE READING >>
Date: 10 Jul 2021
Healthy Plants: Q&A from Mr Booster
Pineapple Season is Here!
Pineapple season is here and people often ask, "how do you get them to grow?" Well, the answer is simple really. One method involves cutting the top off a pineapple, prepping it and then planting it. You can find several different ways to do this with a short Google search. Of course the easiest way is to purchase plants that have already been started. You can do that here...
