Plant Horoscope. Virgo Zodiac lucky plants: Jacaranda and Assai palm
Virgo - 8/23-9/22. Virgo is an EARTH sign ruled by the planet Mercury, which also rules Gemini.
Virgo is traditionally the Goddess of the Grain, and is associated with autumn. Her plants often have finely divided leaves or stems, subtle odors, or small, brightly-colored flowers. The most beneficial plants for Virgo are high in potassium and help to calm the nerves.
In its rulership of Virgo, Mercury governs the abdomen and the lower intestinal tract and the entire digestive process. Herbs associated with Virgo assist in digestion (as do Cancer herbs) and help to reduce flatulence. The relaxing, calming scents help Virgo release stress and worries.
Q:
I live in California and about a month ago ordered several plants from you, including fruit trees (Carambola, Mango, Avocado) and flowering trees (Xanthostemon, Adeniums, Champaca, Ylang Ylang). They were all doing well until I tried to move them into full sun, when they got leaf burn immediately. Ylang Ylang was doing great in a shade, but I repotted it from 1 gal into 3 gal and it is drooping leaves now. It has been very hot (over 100F) and dry (humidity is less than 25%). Any suggestions?
A: Hot summer can be pretty challenging time for establishing new plants. These are some guidelines to make your summer gardening more successful and rewarding.
1. You can order plants at any time, but keep your eye on your local weather forecast and try to chose cooler periods to schedule your plant shipments. Here at TopTropcals we monitor weather at destinations, and we can also delay shipment per your request until more favorable conditions.
3. Use shade cloth or simply white sheets to protect young plants and new plantings from hot sun.
4. When establishing mail ordered plants during hot weather, keep them in shade for longer period of time than average recommended 1-2 weeks. Give them a chance to establish really well. In areas with low air humidity, try to create a simple mist system. It can be purchased in your local Home Depot for only $20 and set up takes only 10 minutes! It makes a big difference and can help you save many plants from hot weather stress.
5. Although it may seem that during hot weather plants need more water due to high evaporation, be careful with watering, and check soil with your finger before watering - don't water if it is still wet. Combination of "hot and wet" can be as harmful for the root system as "cold and wet" during winter. Protect root systems from overheating: covering black pots with white cloth will work. Remember when temperature is above 90F, most of plants slow down their metabolism, which means roots slow down or even stop pumping water and become more vulnerable to overwatering. For the same reason, do not hurry to step up into bigger container if roots haven't filled yet the existing pot.
Taurus - 4/20-5/20. Taurus is an EARTH sign ruled by the planet Venus.
Venus is the planet that represents desire and beauty, regarded as the female embodiment of sexual love and human appetite, so Taurus plants often have gorgeous flowers and enticing fragrances and, occasionally, red fruit. It rules the internal sexual organs, the nose and sense of smell.
Because Taurus rules the throat and ears, the best plants for the Bull are often soothing to the throat, or may calm the digestive system after overindulging in the finest foods. Taurus is related to those things we want and value. It harmonizes various body systems, and influences the complexion and facial appearance. Also under Venus's dominion are the abdomen, kidney, thymus, and breasts. Venus-governed herbs are soothing and help to regulate the body's metabolism through the endocrine system. Taurus herbs are traditionally used to attract money and resources. Earthy Taurus sign is all about building a stable and comfortable foundation and can help you generate greater abundance and prosperity in your life.
April 22 Earth Day discount - 15% off fragrant plants! Earth Day is more than just a single day â€"April 22, 2016. It's bigger than attending a rally and taking a stand. Plant one tree at a time to make our Planet better! This Earth Day and beyond, let's make big stuff happen. - See more at: www.earthday.org
Stop Sugar Crashes: 5 Tropical Fruit Hacks for Healthy Dessert
Exotic Tropical Fruits for Blood Sugar Management. Stop the sugar crash cycle. Learn how to manage glucose levels and insulin spikes using tropical fruits, healthy fats, and metabolic hacks for healthy dessert.
🍨 Stop Sugar Crashes: 5 Tropical Fruit Hacks for Healthy Dessert
The smarter way to handle sugar cravings - no restriction required
Tired of the post-cookie slump? Sugar cravings are a physiological response to blood glucose fluctuations, not a lack of willpower. Refined sugars trigger an insulin spike followed by a hypoglycemic crash, trapping you in a cycle of fatigue and hunger.
The secret to metabolic health is managing glycemic load. By choosing nutrient-dense tropical fruits, you satisfy your sweet tooth while maintaining stable energy homeostasis.
The solution is not to give up dessert. It is to change what dessert means. Here is how to use tropical horticulture to hack your biology and regulate insulin:
🍭 1. Choose fruit that comes with fiber
Whole tropical fruits deliver sweetness wrapped in fiber, water, and nutrients. That slows sugar absorption and keeps energy steady.
Try: · Mango, chilled and sliced
Mango Plant Facts
Botanical name: Mangifera indica Also known as: Mango
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths
· Sapodilla - naturally caramel-sweet · Mulberries by the handful · Loquat halves straight from the fridge · Dragon Fruit for light, clean sweetness
Same pleasure. Less crash.
🍭 2. Pair sweet with fat to blunt the glucose spike
Healthy lipids are a biological hack for your metabolism. Fats slow gastric emptying, ensuring a steady glucose release rather than an inflammatory spike. Furthermore, lipids trigger cholecystokinin (CCK) - the hormone that signals satiety to the brain - effectively "turning off" cravings at the source. · Avocado blended into a chocolate-style mousse: The monounsaturated fats create a creamy texture while blunting the sugar response.
Avocado Plant Facts
Botanical name: Persea americana, Persea gratissima Also known as: Avocado, Alligator Pear, Aguacate, Abacate
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths
· Banana with nut butter: Combining fast-acting fruit sugars with dense protein and fats. · Pineapple with raw nuts: The bromelain in pineapple aids digestion, while the fats in nuts provide long-lasting satiety. · Mango mixed into full-fat yogurt: The combination of probiotics, protein, and lipids turns a simple fruit into a complete, low-glycemic snack.
When fruit is balanced with fat, cravings calm down instead of escalating.
🍭 3. Use naturally rich fruits in place of sugar
Some tropical fruits taste like dessert already. · Jackfruit has candy-like sweetness · Sapote is creamy and custard-like · Guava brings floral depth · Cherries add brightness · Mash Banana into baking instead of white sugar. · Blend Mango into yogurt instead of syrup. · Top oatmeal with Mulberry instead of brown sugar.
Dessert stays. The crash disappears.
🍭 4. Balance sweet with tart
Adding contrast reduces the urge to overeat sweetness. · Carambola adds crisp tang. · Pineapple brightens the palate. · Loquat gives gentle acidity.
Balanced flavors satisfy faster.
🍭 5. Start the day right
Skipping breakfast increases late-day sugar cravings.
A morning smoothie with Avocado, Banana, and Mango prevents the afternoon energy dip. Hydration also matters - thirst often disguises itself as a sweet craving.
🍭 In essence
Dessert is not the enemy. Refined sugar is.
When sweetness comes from nature's bounty, it nourishes instead of draining energy.
You do not need to quit dessert.
You just need to let nature handle it.
Consult with a healthcare professional before making significant dietary changes, especially if you have diabetes or metabolic conditions
3 year old macadamia tree after 3 nights of hard
freeze in February 2026 - standing strong.
Earlier in early February we had a rough stretch at the B-Farm in Sebring. Three nights around 25°F with steady wind. Weather like that quickly shows which plants actually belong in Zone 9 and which ones only look good on paper.
Once things warmed up and we could see the real results, a few clear winners stood out. All of the macadamias handled the cold surprisingly well. The grumichamas stayed solid. And the cold-hardy avocado varieties again proved why gardeners rely on them in borderline climates.
Avocado Plant Facts
Botanical name: Persea americana, Persea gratissima Also known as: Avocado, Alligator Pear, Aguacate, Abacate
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths
Instead of listing every tropical plant that might survive a freeze, we decided to keep things practical and focus on the ones that actually went through this cold spell and that we currently have in stock.
If you garden in USDA Zone 8b-9, these are the kinds of trees that make winter a lot less stressful.