Smokey: "December is for planning, not planting."
Sunshine: "Gift card now. Perfect plants later."
Smokey: "You surprise me sometimes. Must be the donuts."
This time of year always feels special to us. The days are shorter, the
garden slows down, and we finally have a moment to pause, look at our wish
lists, and dream a little about spring.
As gardeners, we know winter is not really planting season.
It is choosing season.
It is when ideas take shape. When we think about what we want to grow
next, what we want to add, and what we want to do differently when warm days
return. That is why, in winter, the best plant gift is not a plant itself.
It
is the promise of one.
Cold weather and holiday shipping can make winter plant deliveries
stressful, especially for tropical plants traveling north. A gift card lets
plants
wait for the right moment, and lets the gardener enjoy the fun part now:
planning, choosing, and imagining.
It also solves something we all know too well. Every gardener is
wonderfully different. Some dream of fruit trees, others of flowers, rare
collectors, or easy growers. Some plant in containers, some in the ground.
Guessing is
hard. A gift card lets them choose exactly what fits their garden and their
vision.
🎁
Holiday Gift Card Bonus
To make the season a little brighter, we are offering a holiday gift
card bonus through 12/31/2025.
When you purchase a gift card, we add 15%
extra value. Just add Christmas greeting in gift card message
field.
For example, a $100 gift card becomes $115 to spend.
The bonus value is not valid with other promotions
or discounts.
Gift cards cannot be used to purchase other gift cards.
Bonus value is added at the time of purchase.
Happy 4th of July from the tropics! Whether you're staying local or
escaping for the long weekend, it's the perfect time to enjoy your garden, start
something new, or grab that plant you've been eyeing. Red Desert Roses, white fragrant Gardenias and
Jasmines, rare Blue
Ginger - tropical blooms are showing off right now, and we are
celebrating with a hot summer sale: 20% off everything with code HAPPY4TH25,
plus extra savings on combined DEALS and
BOGO! Add some color to your summer and let your garden do the
fireworks!
Use the code below to save 20% on your entire
order:
In the photo above: Bauhinia madagascariensis, Red Butterfly Orchid Tree - dazzles with
bright red flowers striped in gold. A rare, fast-growing tropical that brings
serious color to your garden, it is one of the most striking Orchid trees you
can grow. It thrives in sun and rewards with nonstop color.
When northern gardens fade into gray, our tropicals wake up. Winter is
color season here - and even if you live up north, you can still enjoy these
same flowering trees indoors or on a sunny patio.
From the fiery Royal
Poinciana to the golden Tabebuia and
violet Jacaranda,
these eight trees prove that winter can bloom anywhere
How to Care for Winter-Flowering Trees
We're often asked, at Top Tropicals, “Can I really grow tropical
trees in winter?”
Yes — with the right light and care, you can.
Here’s what works best both outdoors and indoors, according to our
expert, Tatiana Anderson.
🌡️ Fall Planting Guide
Let’s talk about timing, because that’s the part most people
get nervous about.
Everyone asks: “Isn’t it too cool to plant now?” —
and the answer is no!
Fall and early winter are actually the best months for tropicals in Zones 9
to 11.
Here’s why: the air has cooled off, but the soil is still warm.
Roots love that combination. They quietly spread underground while the rest
of
the plant takes a break.
By spring, those roots are ready to feed a burst of new growth — and
that’s when you’ll see the first big flush of flowers.
Pick a sunny spot that gets plenty of light — six to eight hours
if you can.
Loosen the soil and mix in compost or pine bark so it drains well.
Dig a hole about twice as wide as the pot and just as deep.
Set the plant level with the ground, backfill, and water it deeply to
settle everything in.
Then add mulch — two or three inches is plenty — but keep it
away from the trunk so it can breathe.
Tatiana’s tip: “Fall planting builds roots while everyone
else is resting. By spring, your tree wakes up ready to grow.”
🌳 Outdoor Care (Warm Climates Zones 9–11)
Now, let’s talk about what happens after planting — because
real gardening starts once the plant is yours. Tropical trees thrive on
routine: steady sunlight, deep watering, and just a bit of attention.
Water them about once a week when the weather is mild, more often if
it’s dry or windy.
Always check the soil first — if it feels dry two inches down, go
ahead and water.
Mulch helps more than most people realize — it keeps roots cool in
summer and warm in winter, and it saves you from watering as often.
Now, for those of you in Zone 9, here’s the truth: your trees can
take a chill, but they don’t love surprises.
A quick night in the upper 20s F won’t hurt mature plants, but young
ones appreciate a little help — a frost cloth or being planted at the
south side.
And don’t underestimate the wind. Cold, dry gusts can burn leaves
faster than frost.
Use fences, hedges, or taller shrubs as windbreaks, and take advantage of
microclimates — those warm pockets next to the house, brick patios, or
corners that get extra afternoon sun.
Tatiana’s tip: “A tropical garden in Zone 9 isn’t
about fighting nature — it’s about cooperating with it. Find the
warm corners, protect from the cold wind, and your trees will thank you with
flowers all winter.”
🏚️ Indoor & Patio Care (Cooler Climates)
For our northern friends — yes, you can grow tropicals indoors!
You just need good light, warm air, and a little attention.
Pick a large pot, with drainage holes and a light tropical soil mix.
Place it in a bright window — south or southwest if you can —
or under grow lights for about 12–14 hours a day.
Keep temperatures between 65 and 85 F, and water when the top inch of soil
dries out.
Misting helps keep leaves clean and adds humidity.
Rotate the pot every couple of weeks so all sides get sun. In summer, move
your plant outdoors gradually so it can enjoy real sunlight — then
bring it back in before nights drop below 40 F.
Tatiana’s tip: “Don’t be afraid of growing trees in
pots. They adapt beautifully — just select the right trees and pay
attention to their needs.”
Large Grafted Mango Trees - Plant Now Before
Winter!
"Next Time We'll Specify - A TREE!" - Smokey and
Sunshine Plant a Giant Mango
🌡️ Why plant now?
Fall is the perfect time to plant tropical fruit trees. The
soil is still warm, the air is mild, and your trees can quietly build strong
roots. By spring, they’ll already be settled and ready to grow
fast.
Imagine walking outside next summer and picking your own
mangoes from a tree you planted this fall!
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Top
Tropicals!
Smokey: "We made a list of everything we are thankful for this year."
Sunshine: "I helped. Mostly by napping next to it."
Smokey: "And that is exactly why sunshine naps are on the list."
Smokey and Sunshine wanted to share a short Gardener Thanksgiving Message
about what they are thankful for this year:
"We are thankful for warm laps during cold mornings.
Thankful for every gardener who stopped to scratch our heads between loading
carts.
Thankful for the smell of fresh soil, new plants, and boxes that make
perfect cat forts.
Thankful for mango season (even though humans never let us eat the
fruit).
Thankful for sunshine naps on potting tables and shade naps under
benches.
Thankful for all the tiny moments when gardens and people slow down
together.
And thankful that we get to share this tropical adventure with you."
From the whole Top Tropicals Team and PeopleCats, we wish you a warm,
peaceful, plant-filled Thanksgiving 🙏 ♥️
How to Care for Winter-Flowering Trees
