Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 24 Sep 2023

Paws of the week: Clifford, the Watch Dog

Clifford  dog  with  tropical  fruit

Introducing Clifford, the freshest face on the Top Tropicals team at the Garden Center and an honorary partner of the PeopleCats (or should we say, PeoplePaws). This dynamo has been appointed as the chief of our Security Crew, much to everyone's surprise and delight.
Now, the story goes like this: Clifford strolled in from who-knows-where and, with the charm only a puppy can muster, looked up at Chiane with those soulful eyes as if to say, "Hey, can I crash here?" Well, what else could she do? She gave him a warm bath, and lo and behold, beneath all that stray dust, Clifford turned out to be white!
Clifford is a little ball of sunshine. He's got a heart of gold and a zest for life that's absolutely contagious. When it comes to shipping activities, he's the first one to volunteer. And the best part? Clifford is the epitome of punctuality. You can set your watch by him. He shows up for work every day with his tail wagging and ready to conquer the world.
Clifford is not just our head of Security Crew; he's our daily dose of happiness and a reminder that sometimes, the best things in life simply wander in when you least expect them!

Fruit image by jemastock on Freepik

Date: 5 Feb 2019

Happy 2019 - Year of Earth Pig!

TopTropicals.com

2019 is the Year of the Earth Pig, according to the Chinese Calendar, and it just started February 5!
In 2019, the corresponding element is once again Earth, as it was in 2018. So what happens when you mix the Pig with the Earth Element?

An Earth Pig year combines a realistic but happy-go-lucky sociable pig combined with the steady and sensible characteristics of Earth, it combines the relaxed attitude of the animal with a very "down-to-earth" realistic climate, don't try to push too hard, this is a time to take things in stride. For the Pig, it was definitely all about the journey and not the destination! Because of the Pig's willingness to always help others out, it tends to bring good things to everyone around him. The Pig in Chinese culture represents wealth and prosperity.

2019 is a good year for giving your garden a fresh start, and especially for establishing new fruit trees that will bring you the enjoyment of deliciousness and... always healthy good food on the table!

2019 Super Fruit

TopTropicals.com

This year, to keep the Pig happy and helpful, every tropical gardener should get a Hog Plum - a fast-growing and easy to care rare fruit tree with delicious aromatic fruit. It will fruit for you this year!

For lucky Zodiac plants, see Plant Horoscope Page.

Date: 31 Dec 2025

Year of the Fire Horse - what should you grow in 2026?

Year of the Fire Horse

Year of the Fire Horse

🐎 Year of the Fire Horse - what should you grow in 2026?



✔️ Here are the top lucky plants to grow, gift, or decorate with during the Year of the Fire Horse - each one chosen for its symbolism, element balance, and ability to channel that galloping energy in a positive direction:

🌿Anthuriums

Symbolizes: Elegance, passion, transformation
Why it's lucky: Its bold, vigorous leaves and exotic flowers are perfect for 2026.
Where to use it: Place in the southeast corner of your home, office, or garden to draw prosperity and charisma.
🛒 What to plant: Exotic Anthuriums - Anthurium Black Dragon, Anthurium hookeri - Giant Birds Nest, Anthurium veitchii - King Anthurium, Anthurium vittariifolium - Long Leaf Anthurium

💮 Jasmines and Gardenias



Symbolizes: Love, luck, beauty
Why it's lucky: Horses are social and affectionate - jasmine’s sweet scent supports romance and good vibes.
Where to use it: Grow near entrances or windows; use jasmine oil in bedrooms to boost relaxation and harmony.
🛒 What to plant: Fragrant Jasmines - Sambac, French Perfume, Night Blooming, and many varieties of Gardenias.

🌻 Sunflowers and sunny-yellow flowers



Symbolizes: Optimism, vitality, success
Why it's lucky: Bright yellow blooms reflect Fire energy and attract recognition.
Where to use it: Display in the east or south part of your home; great for creative spaces or work areas.
🛒 What to plant: Tropical Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia), Tecoma stans - Yellow Elder, Cassias and Sennas

🎋 Lucky Bamboo, Money Trees and Bonsai



Symbolizes: Growth, flexibility, fortune
Why it's lucky: Combines Wood (growth) with Fire (motivation) - a perfect combo for 2026.
Where to use it: Place arrangements with 3 or 9 in the southeast to promote health and wealth.
🛒 What to plant: Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana), Shaving Brush Tree (Pseudobombax), Money Plant (Pilea), Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)

Edible Greens with Fire-Friendly Energy



Symbolizes: Nourishment, healing, grounded action
Why they're lucky: Green leafy herbs support Wood energy, which fuels Fire. Think fresh, healthy, juicy, and nourishing.
🛒 What to plant: Tropical herbs, spices and edibles, including -
· Chaya (Maya spinach tree)
· Gynura (Longevity spinach)
· Lippia dulcis (Aztec sweet herb)
· Lemongrass and Citronella
· Alspice and Baurum
· Pepper Vines (Pipers) and Chili Peppers (Capsicums)
Grow them near the kitchen, patio, or sunny balcony for both beauty and bite.

❌ What to avoid?



Poisonous or sharp plants. The Horse is a plant lover - but not a fan of painful surprises. Keep the Fire Horse energy smooth, not spiky.

✍️ Final tip: Let the Fire Horse run wild - but not out of control



2026 is your chance to charge ahead - but keep your hooves on the ground. Plants can help you stay focused, bring balance, and add a little luck along the way. So get planting, stay bold, and let the good energy gallop in!

📚 Learn more:


More #Horoscope info for plants and cats
2026: Year of the Fire Horse - time to grow bold, live free, and plant lucky

#Horoscope

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 31 Dec 2025

2026: Year of the Fire Horse - time to grow bold, live free, and plant lucky

2026: Year of the Fire Horse

2026: Year of the Fire Horse

🐎 2026: Year of the Fire Horse - time to grow bold, live free, and plant lucky



🔥 Hold on to your flower pots - because on February 17, 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse gallops in, ready to shake things up.
This zodiac year brings passion, freedom, and a go-big-or-go-home kind of energy.
If you've been itching to make a change, start a new project, or finally plant that herb garden - this is your cosmic green light!

🔥 What kind of energy does the Fire Horse bring?



The Horse is all about movement, independence, and bold decisions. Fire Horses, in particular, are fiery (naturally), adventurous, and stubborn in the best way. They're known for charging ahead fearlessly - sometimes without thinking it through. That means 2026 is a year to take chances, but stay grounded. Think big, but don’t skip the planning.

🔥 What does that have to do with plants?



A lot, actually. Horses are herbivores. In the year of the Fire Horse, plants aren’t just background decoration - they’re fuel, fortune, and Feng Shui. The Fire element thrives on bright colors, strong scents, and warm energy, so the right plants can balance all that intensity, boost your luck, and keep your home and garden in harmony.

📚 Learn more:


More #Horoscope info for plants and cats
Year of the Snake
2025: The Year of the Green Wood Snake A Time for Wisdom, Growth, and Renewal
Green Wooden Dragon's favorite plants

#Horoscope

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 17 Feb 2026

Lunar New Year starts today - welcome the Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with Jasmines

Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with its lucky plants Jasmines

Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with its lucky plants Jasmines

🔥 Lunar New Year starts today - welcome the Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with Jasmines



💮 One of the luckiest plants for 2026 is Jasmine. Today, February 17, 2026, the Lunar New Year begins, welcoming the energetic and passionate Year of the Fire Horse.

💮 If you’ve been feeling restless, ready for movement, or craving something fresh in your life - that’s Horse energy. This year is about action, authenticity, and doing things your way. And in Chinese tradition, certain plants help align your space with that powerful momentum.

💮 Why Jasmine is especially lucky this year


Jasmine symbolizes love, luck, and beauty - three themes closely connected to the Fire Horse’s vibrant spirit. Horses are social, expressive, and affectionate. Jasmine’s sweet fragrance supports harmony, romance, and positive energy in your home.
In Feng Shui traditions, fragrant flowering plants help soften intense Fire energy. Jasmine does exactly that - it balances passion with calm.

💮 How to use Jasmine for good fortune in 2026


· Grow jasmine near entrances or windows to invite good luck into your home
· Place it in patios or garden walkways where its scent can circulate
· Use jasmine oil or candles in bedrooms to enhance relaxation and romantic harmony

💮 Ready for momentum?


Ready to feel bold, inspired, and a little unstoppable? The Year of the Fire Horse moves fast - and it rewards those who move with it. Think you need more clarity, more spark, more direction? Jasmine anchors that fire with calm confidence. It keeps the passion high and the chaos low.
If you’re stepping into 2026 with purpose, don’t just make resolutions. Plant something living. Let jasmine bloom beside you - and grow into the year you’ve been waiting for.

🛒 Discover lucky Jasmine plants

📚 Learn more:
Jasmine species in Plant Encyclopedia
Hoa Mai and the Year of the Horse
2026: Year of the Fire Horse - time to grow bold, live free, and plant lucky
Year of the Fire Horse - what should you grow in 2026?
More #Horoscope info for plants and cats

#Horoscope #Perfume_Plants #Discover

Showy Jasmine Plant Facts

Botanical name: Chrysojasminum floridum, Jasminum odoratissimum, Jasminum floridum, Jasminum fruticans
Also known as: Showy Jasmine, Florida Jasmine, Yellow Jasmine, Fruity Jasmine
USDA Zone: 7 - 10
Highligths Plant used for bonsaiLarge shrub 5-10 ft tallVine or creeper plantSemi-shadeFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyYellow, orange flowersPlant attracts butterflies, hummingbirdsFragrant plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals