Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 28 Dec 2025

🎉 2026 Gardening Resolution That Actually Works

According to our experts: Smokey and Sunshine. When we say experts, we do not mean consultants or trend writers. We mean two real gardeners. Smokey watches patterns. Sunshine notices when people rush. Together, they explain what actually works.

Smokey the tuxedo cat writes gardening plans for 2026 at a table while Sunshine the ginger cat rides a hobby horse holding coffee, with donuts, plants, and a fireplace in a winter room.
Sunshine: Smokey, thank you for the Christmas present. I am riding this hobby horse straight into the Year of the Horse!
Smokey: I am making the plans for 2026. Planning makes gardening successful.
Sunshine: Coffee and donuts help too, so please include them in your plan.

Smokey: Hello gardeners. 2026 is the Year of the Horse.

Sunshine: Horses do not garden.

Smokey: Please do not interrupt me. No, they do not. That is just the calendar. What matters is what gardeners do at the start of every new year. They often rush and repeat the same mistakes.

Sunshine: The biggest one is rushing the garden before morning coffee.

Smokey: Correct. Rushing looks like effort, but it is usually just impatience. Gardens punish impatience very reliably.

Most early-season problems come from doing things too soon:
- watering before roots are active
- fertilizing before growth begins
- planting before conditions settle
- poking plants daily to check how the roots are growing

Sunshine: If you are poking the roots, the plant was fine until you started poking it.

Smokey: Good gardening is not constant action. It is knowing when to act and when to stop interfering.
- Plant when the timing is right.
- Let roots work quietly.
- Leave resting plants alone.

Sunshine: Coffee first. Donuts optional, but highly recommended.

Smokey: One last thing, while you are not rushing.

Our gift cards are still on promotion. They do not need planting, watering, or timing decisions today.

A gift card is a symbol of patience. Buy it now. Use it when the moment is right.

Smokey and Sunshine:
Our resolution for 2026 is simple: stop rushing the garden. Wishing you a calm, steady, coffee-fueled 2026 garden 🐾🌿

Date: 5 Jan 2026

A tuxedo cat planting a small shrub in a tropical garden while a ginger cat relaxes nearby with coffee and donuts, illustrating winter planting in a warm climate.
Sunshine: January might feel warm, but its still winter. Wool socks, scarf, hot coffee.
Smokey: You get warm when you work. Plant now so roots are established before spring growth starts.
Sunshine: Alright. Lets see who stays warmer - you digging or me with coffee.

🌴 Why winter planting works in a warm climate

By our plant expert Tatiana Anderson

We are lucky to live in a warm climate. This is how I think about the seasons here. Winter is for roots. Spring is for growth. Summer is for managing heat and water.

So if we want plants that handle summer better, we plant them in the season that gives them the best start. Winter here is comfortable. The soil stays workable. The days are mild. And plants are not being stressed by heat. That is exactly why winter is the best time to plant in Florida and other warm areas.

If we use this season well, plants go into spring already settled instead of trying to catch up. This is what I like to plant now, and why.

🟢 Trees first. Anything that will be in the ground for years. Fruit trees, shade trees, flowering trees. When we plant them in winter, they can focus on roots before the spring growth surge starts. By the time spring arrives, the tree is anchored and ready to grow on top.
Examples: mango, avocado, Eugenia cherries, jackfruit, sapodilla, longan, lychee, canistel.

🟢 Shrubs next. Shrubs establish faster than trees, but winter still gives them an advantage. They settle in quietly before the spring flush and bloom cycles begin. That usually means steadier growth and fewer problems once heat returns.
Examples: gardenia, jasmine, brunfelsia, hibiscus, clerodendrums.

🟢 Vines are often overlooked. Vines want to grow fast when spring starts. If the root system is not ready, you get weak growth and frustration. Planting vines in winter gives them time to build a foundation first, so spring growth has support.
Examples: Rangoon creeper, stephanotis, Petrea, Mexican Flame Vine.

🛒 Explore cold tolerant plants

Date: 9 Jan 2026

Moringa leaves made simple - daily benefits and 6 easy recipes

Moringa oleifera leaves and flowers

Moringa oleifera leaves and flowers

Moringa oleifera leaves on a branch

Moringa oleifera leaves on a branch

🌳 Moringa leaves made simple - daily benefits and 6 easy recipes



Moringa tree is called the Tree of Life for a reason. Moringa leaves, often called miracle greens, are packed with vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, iron, potassium, and plant protein. Regular use supports immunity, digestion, skin health, energy levels, and overall vitality. Traditionally, moringa has also been used to support blood sugar balance, heart health, and inflammation control thanks to its rich supply of antioxidants and bioactive compounds like flavonoids and polyphenols.

❤️ Key benefits of eating moringa leaves daily:



🌿 Supports blood sugar balance


Moringa may improve insulin sensitivity and help stabilize blood sugar, reducing sudden energy crashes. Regular intake has been linked to better glycemic control and reduced inflammation.

🌿 Improves digestion


High fiber supports gut health, while natural detoxifying compounds help liver function. Moringa may also promote healthy gut bacteria and improve digestion regularity.

🌿 Fights inflammation


Moringa leaves contain compounds that help reduce inflammatory markers in the body, supporting joint, heart, and overall cellular health.

6 easy moringa recipes to try



🌿 Moringa laddoo


Roast whole wheat flour in ghee, add fresh moringa leaves, jaggery, nuts, sesame seeds, and cardamom. Shape into laddoos and store airtight.

🌿 Moringa smoothie


Blend fresh moringa leaves, banana, curd, honey, and water. Top with soaked chia seeds and drink fresh.

🌿 Moringa dal


Cook toor dal with turmeric. Saute moringa leaves, onion, tomato, garlic, and chilies in ghee, mix into dal, and finish with cumin and asafoetida tempering.

🌿 Moringa paratha


Knead wheat flour with moringa leaves, onion, spices, and salt. Roll and cook on a hot tawa with oil or ghee.

🌿 Moringa chutney


Grind moringa leaves with coconut, green chilies, ginger, lemon juice, and salt. Serve fresh.

🌿 Moringa tea


Simmer fresh or dried moringa leaves in water for a few minutes, strain, and enjoy warm with honey or lemon if desired.

🛒 Grow your own Tree of Life - Moringa

📚 Learn more:

Horseradish tree Plant Facts

Botanical name: Moringa oleifera, Moringa pterygosperma
Also known as: Horseradish tree, Ben Oil Tree, Coatli, Drumstick tree, Bridal veil, Miracle Tree
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Plant used for bonsaiLarge tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryWhite, off-white flowersEdible plantPlant attracts butterflies, hummingbirdsDeciduous plantEthnomedical plant. Plants marked as ethnomedical and/or described as medicinal, are not offered as medicine but rather as ornamentals or plant collectibles. Ethnomedical statements / products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We urge all customers to consult a physician before using any supplements, herbals or medicines advertised here or elsewhere.Fragrant plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

· Moringa oleifera in Plant Encyclopedia
· Moringa omelet recipe
· Moringa vs spinach: which one wins for nutrition?
· What edible plants and herbs can reduce your blood pressure
· Top 12 Eye-Supporting Fruit and Plants for Vitamin A - Retinol
· Memory & Cognitive Support (Brain Boosters) Edible Plants and Herbs
· How to grow drumsticks on a tree
· What is the most useful tree in the world?
· How to grow a happy Moringa Tree

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Discover #Trees #Recipes

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 25 Mar 2017

Plant Horoscope. Aries Zodiac lucky plants: Pomegranate and Chilli peppers

Radio Top Tropicals Live Webcast upcoming event: Saturday March 25, at 11 am EST.
Topic: You need a brown thumb TO BE A GREAT GROWER!Manure, Sheeeeeee........it , Fertilizer, What ever you call it. Proper understanding of nutrient plant needs will give YOU great returns. At Top Tropicals, we know our Sheee..... uh, fertilizer. Our Host Robert Riefer - Internationally Certified Crop Adviser and Weed Scientist - answering all your gardening questions.

Listen to Radio Top Tropicals, every Saturday, at 11 am EST! You may use our website radio player DURING AIR TIME. To ask questions using live chat, you need to log in at Mixlr.com or simply call our office 239-887-3323 during air time!
If you missed a live webcast, you may listen to recording by following Showreel item link.

Check out our upcoming radio shows and get your gardening questions ready!

Aries Zodiac lucky plants

Aries - 3/21-4/19. Aries is a FIRE sign ruled by the planet Mars. Plants associated with this element and planet very often have thorns or prickles. They can be also spicy or bitter in flavor, or red in color. Because Aries rules the head, eyes and face, the plants for Aries purify the blood, stimulate the adrenal glands, and/or are high in iron (Mars rules the mineral iron). Mars-ruled Aries is assertive, energetic and fearless. Mars rules the red blood cells, the muscles, and metabolic processes, as well as the motor nerves and the head. These plants help you when you want more get-up-and-go and the courage to take on the world.

Aries Zodiac lucky plants: Governors plum, Hibiscus Karkade, Tapioca, Mamey Sapote, Ruda, Baobab, Euphorbia, Acanthus, Aloe, Caesalpinia, Erythrina, Opuntia, Dragon Fruit, Pachypodium, Pomegranate,Chilli peppers, Syngonium, Begonia, Geranium, Red Sandalwood, Jamiaca pepper (Pimenta, Allspice), Camphor, Jujube, Anise, Red Roses, Tiger Lily, Impatiens, Calendula, Tarragon, Ginger, Coriander, Basil,Ruda, Amaryllis, Wild Indigo, Gooseberries, Sesbania, Campsis, Red Oleander, Maple, Schotia brachypetala, Momordica, Coffee, Amla , Ephedra, Red Kapok.

For links to these plants and other signs information, see full Plant Horoscope.

Date: 26 Jan 2017

Aquarius Zodiac lucky plants

Aquarius - 1/22 - 2/18. Aquarius is an AIR sign ruled by odd-ball Uranus.
The water-bearer's plants will often grow in unusual places and may vary in appearance. They often have purple or blue flowers, or may have unusual colors.
The most healing and beneficial plants for Aquarius are the ones that help circulation, relax the nervous system, or promote inspiration. When Uranus was discovered, it replaced Mercury as ruler of Aquarius. Physiologically, Uranus rules the bioelectrical impulses that power the body's nervous system (nervous tension and nervous exhaustion brought on by powerful changes in the environment are related to both Mercury and Uranus). Physically, Aquarius rules the lower legs, the calves, and the ankles, and the electrical impulses that travel through the body's nervous system. The nervous system itself is ruled by Mercury, and Uranus is said to be a "higher octave" of Mercury. Since Uranus was discovered after the correspondences with plants had been established, the herbs used in Aquarius are Mercury herbs. Always difficult to pinpoint, quirky Aquarius appreciates the unusual and complex flavor of star anise. Use this star-shaped spice when you wish to bring happy surprises into your life.

Aquarius Zodiac lucky plants: Anise, Orchid, Golden rain - Koelreuteria paniculata, Bird of Paradise, Heliconia, Petrea, Mandevilla, Jasminum, Kiwi, Persimmon, Loquat, Olive, Alocasia, Colocasia, Citrus, Apple, Peppers, Gingers, Carambola, herbs spicy with an unusual flavor, White Pothos, Ivy, Shami - Prosopis cineraria, Neem, Medinilla, Sheesham Tree, Catnip, Passion fruit, Valerian, Aloe, Myrrh, Kava-kava, Cinnamon, Clove, Eucalyptus, Coffee, Cola nut, Nepenthes, Vanilla Orchid, Strongylodon - Jade vine, Tacca - Bat Lily, Eranthemums, Agapanthus, Orchid trees, Bolusanthus, Chamaedorea metallica, Clerodendrum ugandense, Clitoria, Duranta, Guaiacum, Jacaranda, Lavanda.

For other signs information, see full Plant Horoscope.

New Video: TopTropicals at TPIE show in Ft Lauderdale. Last week, your friends at Top Tropicals attended the 2017 Tropical Plant International Expo in sunny Ft. Lauderdale Florida. The Expo was an opportunity for Top Tropicals to introduce our SUNSHINE in a Bottle plant boosters as well as to bring a very rare plant Enchanted Incense to the tropical plant market!

Check out this video: TopTropicals at TPIE.

Stay updated with TopTropicals Videos by subscribing to our channel at YouTube.com/TopTropicals and get our latest video news of what's fruiting and blooming!

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