Date: 12 Dec 2018
Six ideas for the best Christmas gift plants
It's this time of the year again when a million dollar question arises: "What do I get them for Christmas?" It's an easy task to buy a gift for a gardener - because we always have a long wish-list! But what to get for everybody else? The answer a simple - buy a live plant... that can bring: Surprise, Love, Joy, Meaning, Convenience, and an Action into their lives! Below are a few wise suggestions.
1. Surprise for Tradition. Everybody knows Ponsettia. Everybody buys it. Every house has it... Red, yellow, white,
and even purple... unusual? No, simply dyed with a paint. Ahh. Go RARE!
Ponsettia is Euphorbia, get a rare Euphorbia. It has indestructible nature,
almosts zero maintenance, and FREE shipping!
Euphorbia leucocephala - Snows of Kilimanjaro
Euphorbia
geroldii - Thornless Crown of Thorns
Euphorbia Exotic Thai Candyland, variegated leaves
Euphorbia Pink Cadillac
2. Love. Gardenia Aimee Yoshioka First Love. With a dramatic history behind this cultivar, it is a perfect expression of Love that one can bring to another for Christmas...
3. Joy of Miracle. Miracle fruit. It speaks for itself and is one of the greatest container plants.
4. Meaning. Symbol of Long Life! Adansonia digitata - Baobab, also called the Tree of Longivity, can live for 5000 years. Pass this remarkable plant in your family from generation to generation! Regarded as the largest succulent plant in the world, the Baobab tree is steeped in a wealth of mystique, legend and superstition wherever it occurs in Africa, being a tree that can provide food, water, shelter and relief from sickness. FREE shipping and easy to maintain bonsai.
5. Convenience. A gift card will give your loved ones a chance to browse amazing wonderland of Tropical Plant World, pick something they like and have it shipped to them weather permitting. The gift card (certificate) has no expiration date!
6. Action. Coffea arabica - Coffee. Want to give your kids a project to drag them away from their smartphones? Have them grow a Real Coffee tree. It is a rewarding plant that is happy indoors and gives you a feeling of Creator - for your care, it will bloom for you with fragrant flowers and fruit for you with real coffee beans!
Check out the full list of plants that are great gifts!
If you need further advice on great looking gift plants for Christmas, contact us!
Date: 24 Jun 2018
Plant Horoscope. Sagittarius Zodiac lucky plants: Fig and Baobab
Sagittarius
- 11/22 - 12/21. Sagittarius is a FIRE sign
that is ruled by the large and optimistic planet Jupiter.
Archer's plants tend to be large in size and fairly
conspicuous, with a pleasant odor. They may have large, or
elongated leathery leaves and showy flowers.
The best plants for Sagittarius will support the body's
largest glandular organ, the liver. The planet Jupiter
also rules the hips, thighs, lower spine, and the
autonomic nervous system, as well as the process of growth
and preservation. Herbs related to Jupiter have
traditionally been used to treat lower back problems
(including sciatica and lumbago), arthritis, and
rheumatism. Herbs with a high silica content are related
to Sagittarius (they promote a positive frame of mind), as
are plants with large taproots and trees that produce
fruit and nuts. Illnesses of Jupiter are said to arise
from immoderate consumption. Basil is an herb that's both
expansive and cheerful - just like Sagittarius - and its
reputation as a money attractor resonates with this sign's
generous nature as well. Use this happy herb when you want
to infuse your life with fun and prosperity!
Sagittarius Zodiac lucky plants: Mulberry, Ceiba, Chonemorpha, Beaumontia, Baobab, Grapefruit, Anise, Sage, Cinnamon, Blueberry, Thistles, Nut trees, Lemon, all Ficus trees, Peepal, Fig, Coleus, Basil, Banana, Mango, Ironwood Mesua ferrea, Clematis, Peony, Jasmine, Nutmeg, Mint, Tea, Date palm, Guava, Jambul, Maple, Magnolia, Teak, Bird of Paradise, Heliconia, Showy Gingers.
For other signs information, see full Plant Horoscope
Date: 24 Jun 2018
Florida winters and gardening
From
Anna Banana, our Garden Center customer advisor.
Cool weather - no sweat. Here in Florida we are
blessed to have warm winters. We just went to the beach
for Christmas! Winter time is not only a good beach time,
but also the best planting time here. Why? I always refer
my customers to Murray Corman's article Tropical Planting Breaks the
Rules. "...Wintertime does not just mean hard work
for tropical gardeners. It is also a time to enjoy the
fruits of our labor. Winter-blooming plants and the
visitors they attract - birds, bats and butterflies - make
the garden as enjoyable in winter as any other time of
year. Tasks performed during the spring and summer up
north have to be done during the fall and winter here.
Why? The answer is elementary: It's too hot! Taking
advantage of the coolest months of the subtropical year
for heavy chores like planting trees has a twofold
benefit: The gardener can make hay while the sun shines
without getting heat stroke and the plants appreciate the
moderate temperatures, enjoying a break from the stress of
93 degrees in the shade..."
Continue reading...
Winter flowering plants - are a blessing for a tropical gardener. See below what's blooming now! See our recommendations for winter flowering and fruiting plants (PDF)
Date: 12 Nov 2025
How to get lots of Star Fruit
Star Fruit- Carambola Tree, Averrhoa carambola
🌟 Growing tips
🟡 Sun: Loves full sun. The more light, the sweeter the fruit.
- 🟡Temperature: Keep warm and protect from winds. It thrives in warm, tropical climates but can handle light frost if sheltered from cold winds - wind-free is the key.
- 🟡Soil: Prefers well-drained soil. Avoid waterlogging.
- 🟡Water: Regular watering keeps it happy, but don’t let roots sit in soggy soil.
- 🟡Size: Space saver! This compact tree doesn’t take up much room, perfect for smaller gardens. Dwarf varieties also do well in containers.
- 🟡Growth and crop: Fast-growing and early to fruit. Seedlings start producing in about three years, while grafted or air-layered trees fruit right away.
- 🟡Flowers: Beautiful pink blooms appear before the fruit, adding extra charm to the garden.
- 🌟 With just a bit of care and protection from wind and cold, your Carambola tree will reward you with baskets of bright, starry fruit through the cooler months when most other trees rest.
- 🌟 Slice one open and you get perfect star-shaped pieces that brighten up salads, desserts, or smoothies. The fruit is crisp, juicy, and beautifully sweet-tart. It’s nature’s candy - refreshing, low in calories, and rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.
📚 Learn more:
- ✦ Star Fruit from our garden
- ✦ Grow your own Carambola
- ✦ Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #8. Carambola - Starfruit
- ✦ Carambola Banana Whip
- ✦ Carambola Jam recipe
- ✦ When young Carambola trees are covered with fruit
- ✦ Carambola tree is the Star of the orchard
🛒 Explore Star Fruit varieties
#Food_Forest
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date: 23 Nov 2025
📅 Mark Your Calendar - Holiday Plant Market
Holiday season in Florida means sunshine, green leaves, and cats on patrol. On Saturday 12/13/25, our PeopleCats are hosting a special Holiday Plant Market at TopTropicals, 9 am to 4 pm. This is not a regular nursery day. This is the one where you grab a donut in one hand, a mango tree in the other, and try not to trip over a cat giving you a tour.
We are bringing out the best plants we grew all year: big fruit trees with real branches, flowering and fragrant beauties, rare collectors plants, and vines that are ready to take off as soon as you get them home. December is perfect planting weather in Florida, so while the rest of the country is scraping frost from windshields, you can be choosing which banana, mango, or jasmine will perfume your yard next summer.
Holiday extras: 30% OFF online prices, free plant with purchase, 5 to 10 dollar specials, mini donuts and holiday treats, iced tea and citrus water, tropical Christmas music, and raffle prizes. If there is enough ripe fruit in the morning, we will set up a tasting table too. Our PeopleCats will be on duty all day, rearranging plants, checking on visitors, and occasionally allowing themselves to be petted between tours.
Event discounts and specials are valid at both locations:
- Ft Myers Garden Center: 13890 Orange River Blvd, Ft Myers, FL 33905
- Sebring Farm: 9100 McRoy Rd, Sebring, FL 33875
Save the date, tell a friend, and plan your plant hunting route now. Come celebrate the holidays the Florida way: sunshine, rare fruit trees, happy cats, and a car full of tropical plants going home with you.
Facebook event page - Download invitation
