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.
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!
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!
Date: 24 Dec 2016
Plant Horoscope. Capricorn Zodiac lucky plants: Bamboo and Peach
Capricorn - 12/22 - 1/19.
An EARTH sign ruled by the planet Saturn. Capricorn's plants usually have few flowers, or small flowers, are knobby or woody, and may have an unpleasant smell or taste. Saturn rules plants with long lives and slow growth, so plants with annual rings are also associated with the Goat.
Physiologically, Saturn rules the systems that give the body its structure and form: the skeletal system, and the skin, teeth, joints, and knees, so plants that are high in calcium can be very beneficial. Those can be woody plants and shrubs that show annual rings, as well as some poisonous or narcotic plants. Saturn plants are useful in treating arthritis and rheumatism. Traditional Capricorn appreciates a spice that is powerful but familiar. Black pepper adds flavor and a bit of heat to both food and life, creating movement without too much change.
Ordering plants in winter is often easier than people expect - and for
many plants, it is actually better. Lush foliage plants like philodendrons
and medinilla,
fine-leaved trees such as moringa, jacaranda,
and poinciana,
and even sensitive fruit trees like papaya, jackfruit
or starfruit
ship more safely in cool weather without
overheating stress.
Winter is also ideal for subtropical and cold-tolerant plants, dormant or
deciduous plants like plumeria and adenium, orchids - including ground
orchids and vanilla
orchids, and winter bloomers that flower their best right now. Winter
care is simple: water less, use gentle liquid amino-acid fertilizers like Sunshine
Boosters, and monitor insects.
In mild climates, many tropicals can be planted anytime, while
extra-tender plants can stay potted until spring. Winter is a
perfect time to bring tropical warmth indoors and enjoy greenery when you
need it most.
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.”
What tropical plants survived Floridas historic freeze without protection
Florida historic freeze
What tropical plants survived Florida's historic freeze without protection
In the first week of February 2026, arctic air pushed deep into Florida. For many areas, this was the coldest event in over a century.
We received one question over and over: How did your gardens do?
Top Tropicals Farm in Sebring, Florida is up and running - and this freeze became a real-world hardiness test for tropical and subtropical plants. Below is our initial field report after inspecting established plantings.
📊 Weather data - February 1-6, 2026
Sebring, Florida - 132 years of recorded observations
This was not a light frost. It was prolonged, windy, penetrating hard freeze.
🌡 Minimum temperature: 25F ❄️ Wind chill: 14F ⏳ Duration: 3 nights of 8-10 hour hard freeze ☀️ Daytime temperatures: around 50F for 7 days 🌀 Wind: sustained 20 mph, gusts 40-50 mph
Cold protection
In-ground trees: selected plants covered with frost cloth, especially
Mango Plant Facts
Botanical name: Mangifera indica Also known as: Mango
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths
mango and young
Avocado Plant Facts
Botanical name: Persea americana, Persea gratissima Also known as: Avocado, Alligator Pear, Aguacate, Abacate
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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avocado trees. Tender container plants: moved into greenhouses with propane heat above 34F. Hardy container plants: frost cloth and wind protection only - no plastic Nutrition support: plants fertilized regularly during the growing season with Green Magic and Sunshine Boosters to maintain vigor and hardiness.
However, the plants listed below had no protection at all.
All were established trees 2-3 years in the ground.
The plants below had NO PROTECTION, established trees 2-3 years old
Botanical name: Psidium cattleyanum, Psidium littorale Also known as: Cattley Guava, Sand Plum, Strawberry Guava
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Eugenias (Grumichama, Rio Grande, Surinam and more)
Olive trees
Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis)
Fig trees (Ficus carica)
Prunus sp - Peaches, Plums, Nectarines
Persimmons
Rubus (Blackberries) including Tropical Mysore Raspberry
Elderberry (Sambucus)
Yerba Mate - Ilex paraguariensis
Opuntia - Nopal Cactus, Prickly Pear
🌸 Flowering Trees and Shrubs:
Beaucarnea recurvata - Pony Tail
Ponytail Palm Plant Facts
Botanical name: Beaucarnea recurvata, Nolina recurvata Also known as: Ponytail Palm, Pony Tail, Bottle Palm, Nolina, Elephant-foot Tree
USDA Zone: 10 - 11
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Callistemon - Bottlebrush
Yucca
Tabebuias
Magnolia figo and Little Gem
Banana Magnolia Plant Facts
Botanical name: Magnolia figo, Michelia figo, Magnolia fuscata Also known as: Banana Magnolia, Banana Shrub, Port Wine Magnolia
USDA Zone: 7 - 10
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Calliandra tweedii - Red Powderpuff
Sophora tomentosa
Yellow Necklace Pod Plant Facts
Botanical name: Sophora tomentosa Also known as: Yellow Necklace Pod, Silverbush
USDA Zone: 8 - 11
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Galphimia gracillis - Thriallis
Thriallis Plant Facts
Botanical name: Galphimia gracillis, Galphimia gracilis, Galphimia glauca Also known as: Thriallis, Rain of Gold, Spray of Gold
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Acacia trees
Osmanthus fragrans
Tea Olive Plant Facts
Botanical name: Osmanthus fragrans, Olea fragrans, Olea ovalis, Osmanthus longibracteatus, Osmanthus macrocarpus Also known as: Tea Olive, Fragrant Olive, Sweet Olive, Kinmokusei in Japan
USDA Zone: 8 - 11
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Abutilon trees
Erythrina - several species
Monkey Ear tree - Enterolobium cyclocarpum
Bauhinia Orchid Trees - several species
Pseudobombax ellipticum - Shaving Brush Tree
Shaving Brush Tree Plant Facts
Botanical name: Pseudobombax ellipticum, Bombax ellipticum Also known as: Shaving Brush Tree
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Bulnesia arborea- Vera Wood
Vera Plant Facts
Botanical name: Bulnesia arborea Also known as: Vera, Verawood, Vera Wood, Maracaibo Lignum Vitae
USDA Zone: 10 - 12
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Caesalpinia mexicana, Mexican Bird of Paradise
Mexican Bird of Paradise Plant Facts
Botanical name: Caesalpinia mexicana Also known as: Mexican Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Poinciana
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Sansevieria - Snake Plant
Foxtail fern - Asparagus densiflorus
Lonicera - several varieties Jacaranda tree
Eucalyptus
Plumbago Imperial Blue
Philodendron bipinnatum
Gardenias
Gingers (dormant rhizomes)
✳️ Minimal leaf damage only:
(These plants showed light cosmetic damage but no structural injury)
🍑 Tropical Fruit Trees and Edibles:
Glycosmis pentaphylla - Gin Berry
Ash sheora Plant Facts
Botanical name: Glycosmis pentaphylla, Limonia pentaphylla Also known as: Ash sheora, Orangeberry, Rum Berry, Gin Berry
USDA Zone: 9 - 10
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Black sapote tree
Tamarind tree
Syzygiums: Rose Apple and Java Plum
🌸 Flowering Trees and Shrubs:
Pandora vine
Jasminum - several species
Stenocarpus sinuatus - Firewheel Tree
Firewheel Tree Plant Facts
Botanical name: Stenocarpus sinuatus Also known as: Firewheel Tree
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Xanthostemon
Quisqualis indica
Rangoon Creeper Plant Facts
Botanical name: Combretum indicum, Quisqualis indica Also known as: Rangoon Creeper, Burma Creeper, Chinese Honeysuckle
USDA Zone: 10 - 11
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Schotia tree
Eranthemum pulchellum - Blue Sage
Blue sage Plant Facts
Botanical name: Eranthemum pulchellum, Eranthemum nervosum Also known as: Blue sage, Blue eranthemum, Lead Flower
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Hiptage benghalensis - Helicopter Flower
Hiptage Plant Facts
Botanical name: Hiptage benghalensis, Hyptage bengalensis Also known as: Hiptage, Helicopter Flower
USDA Zone: 9 - 10
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🏡 What this means for Florida gardeners
This freeze was a stress test few gardens are prepared for. Yet many species handled 25F, wind, and multi-night freeze conditions without protection.
Choosing proven survivors, planting in smart microclimates, and maintaining strong plant health during the growing season makes a measurable difference.
More updates will follow as full recovery continues - but these early results already help define a stronger plant palette for future winters.