Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 8 Nov 2024

Why you should grow your own Pomegranate Tree:
The "Fruit of Miracles" in your backyard

Pomegranate  tree  with  fruit

Pomegranates aren't just pretty to look at - they're packed with nutrients that make them a true "fruit of miracles". Adding a pomegranate tree to your garden can offer you a bountiful supply of this health-boosting superfruit and bring a bit of Mediterranean charm to your backyard.

Health Boosters in Every Bite

Pomegranates are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals. These nutrients work wonders for your health, from boosting hemoglobin levels to strengthening your immune system. Here's why this gem of a fruit deserves a spot in your diet (and your garden):

Antioxidant Power: Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants that fight off free radicals - those pesky molecules that can damage cells and lead to various diseases.

Heart Health Hero: They can reduce cholesterol and improve blood flow, lowering your risk of cardiovascular issues. Plus, they're known for increasing hemoglobin!

Blood Sugar Support: Pomegranate helps regulate blood sugar and offers a whole range of benefits, from diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects to even a little pain relief!

Beauty Booster: This fruit has benefits for your teeth, can help prevent hair loss, and even promotes youthful-looking skin.

Seeds of Goodness

Ever thought about tossing those pomegranate seeds? Think again! Eating the seeds can help keep your gut and hormones in check. These tiny bits are packed with oils that do wonders for your skin, blood vessels, and heart.

How often to indulge?

To enjoy the maximum benefits, you can eat one pomegranate daily or drink 300 ml of juice. Try to do this 30-40 minutes before a meal to prepare your stomach for digestion.

So, why not give this "miracle fruit" a home in your garden? You'll have a natural health booster right at your fingertips, ready to add a pop of flavor and color to your meals!

Pomegranate  tree  with  fruit

Date: 8 Nov 2024

Mark your calendars: December 14, 2024

December  14,  2024  -  SATURDAY  -  Holiday  Plant  Market

Holiday Plant Market
Saturday, December 14, 9 am - 4 pm

Save the date! Join us on December 14 for our Holiday Plant Market!

It's the perfect time to find unique holiday gifts in our Tropical Wonderland, where lush greenery and vibrant blooms replace snow. Discover a stunning variety of tropical plants, from fragrant flowering shrubs and rare vines to fruit trees and spice plants - ideal for holiday giving!

Enjoy amazing deals with plants starting at just $5 and $10, plus receive a free plant with every purchase. Our plants have grown big and beautiful over the summer. Bring friends and family to explore, and let our friendly PeopleCats help you find the perfect plants. Celebrate the season with us in full tropical style - we can't wait to see you there!

Highlights of the event:

30% OFF online prices, one day only! (excluding 15 gallon material and rare plants)
$5 and $10 plants
Raffle
Free plant with any purchase as a token of our appreciation

Event discounts valid at both locations:

Ft Myers Garden Center: 13890 Orange River, Ft Myers, FL
Sebring B-Farm: 9100 McRoy Rd, Sebring, FL

Plant  Market

Holiday  Plant  Market  Cat

Plant  Market

Date: 5 Nov 2024

How much water is too much?

Cat  in  the  pool  with  umbrella

"Always over-water your plants: just improve their soil drainage!" - Murray Corman, horticulturist, rare tropical fruit tree expert.

Q: I always tend to overwater my plants. How often should I water container plants and how to determine if it's too much water?

A: One of the most common challenges in tropical plant care, including houseplants, is overwatering, particularly in container gardening. So, how much water is too much?

The rule of thumb: let the soil dry out a bit before watering again, and never water if the soil feels wet to the touch. For indoor plants with saucers underneath, ensure they don't sit in standing water by removing any excess from the saucer after watering. However, remember that the watering schedule alone isn't the only key to success!

Improve drainage. Surprisingly, water itself isn't harmful to plants, no matter how generous your watering is. The real issue is poor drainage, which leads to stagnation and bacterial buildup, ultimately causing root rot.

In the nature. If you've traveled to places like Hawaii or explored tropical jungles, you might have noticed plants thriving between rocks with minimal soil, receiving a near-constant fine mist of rain. Conversely, swamps support very few trees - only bog or water plants adapted to wet conditions can survive there. The lesson? It's not the water, it's the growing medium!

The Soil Solution: for potted plants, always use a high-quality potting mix with excellent drainage properties. This should include ample "soil conditioners" such as perlite, vermiculite, and pine bark. At our nursery, we use a professional soil mix called Abundance. Learn more about potting soil.

Pot size matters. And the last but not least: if you tend to overwater your potted plants, consider using the smallest container size that comfortably fits the root system. A pot that's too large can mean excess wet soil, increasing the risk of root rot. With proper fertilizer program, container plants don't need to much soil to thrive.

Datura  Metel  -  Horn-of-Plenty

Photo above: Datura Metel - Horn-of-Plenty - doesn't need a large container for happy blooming indoors!

Date: 5 Nov 2024

Plant of the month:
Lipstick Tree, Annatto

Bixa  orellana  -  Lipstick  Tree,  Annatto,  Achiote

Bixa orellana - Lipstick Tree, Annatto, Achiote... Meet the plant that lipstick is made of!

The enchanting Lipstick Tree brings a splash of South American magic to your garden with its bold, heart-shaped leaves and charming pink blooms. But the real showstopper? Its vibrant seed pods brimming with annatto - a natural pigment famed for painting dishes with rich golden hues and spicing up kitchens worldwide.

Annatto isn't just a culinary delight; it's a beauty secret too, adding natural, radiant color to lipsticks and cosmetics. Beyond its practical uses, Bixa makes a striking hedge or screen, adding both beauty and function. This tree is your garden's ticket to tropical flair and everyday usefulness!

Bixa  orellana  -  Lipstick  Tree,  Annatto,  Achiote,  fruit,  seeds

Date: 1 Nov 2024

Cat of the month: Persephone
The Queen of the Underworld

Cat  Persephone

Well, well, well... it seems we have a new purrsonality around here! A few days ago, we discovered a mysterious little purrrson living under the TopTropicals office. Did a customer leave her behind? Or was she simply drawn to our PeopleCats paradise? Who can say! Either way, since she made her grand entrance from the underground, we decided to name her Persephone, after the Greek goddess and Queen of the Underworld.

Persephone has come a long way - she finally let us pet her, and now she's taken over the office desk! She even drools a little when she gets those precious head scratches. Persephone has officially joined our Nursery Team, adding her charm to Customer Service

Come and see our PeopleCats (including the Queen herself!) in purrrrson at our Garden Center in Ft Myers, Florida!

Cat  Persephone

Cat  Persephone