Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 6 Jul 2025

Who is Percephone?

Persephone Cat

💻 Who is Percephone?



Meet the PeopleCats of TopTropicals, your guides through our gardens and plant nursery! We have 14 cats at Ft Myers and 12 cats at Sebring location.

Today's guest in the studio is Percephone, who already made an appearance in our earlier posts.

🐈📸 Persephone - the Queen of the Underworld at PeopleCats.Garden 

#PeopleCats #Quotes

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 8 Jul 2025

How to grow Dragon Fruit from a cutting - Quick Guide

Dragon fruit, Pitaya - Hylocereus sp.

🌵 How to grow Dragon Fruit from a cutting - Quick Guide

  • 🐉 Get a healthy cutting


    Use a 6-10 inch long stem cutting from a mature dragon fruit plant. Let the cut end dry in the shade for 2-5 days so it forms a callus. This also helps prevent rot and fungus.
  • 🐉 Prepare the soil


    Use well-draining soil - well drained potting mix, Adenium mix, or cactus mix is ideal. Dragon fruit hates wet feet!
  • 🐉 Plant the cutting


    Stick the callused end about 2-3 inches deep into the soil. Make sure it's planted upright (the way it grew on the parent plant).
  • 🐉 Support it


    Add a trellis or post. Dragon fruit is a climbing cactus and needs something to grow on.
  • 🐉 Water lightly


    Water once after planting, then wait until the soil dries before watering again. Overwatering can rot the cutting.
  • 🐉 Give it sun and warmth


    Place in bright, indirect sunlight while it roots. Once established, it can handle full sun.
  • 🐉 Watch it grow!


    Roots usually form in 2-4 weeks. New growth means it's taking off! This is the time to Ferilize it!


🛒Shop Dragon Fruit plants and cuttings

📚 Learn more:


#Food_Forest #How_to #Dragon_Fruit

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 15 Jul 2025

🔥 Featured: 7-Gal Royal Poinciana

Delonix 
 regia

Bigger Tree, Bolder Start

Our 7-gal Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) is the real deal. Carefully trimmed for strong branching, and ready to burst with tropical growth. Unlike smaller 3-gal plants, this tree already has a well-developed root system, woody trunk, and structural shape. It's ready to anchor your landscape or patio with presence.

While we trim it for safe shipping, this does not set the tree back — in fact, it encourages new lateral growth and canopy development. You’ll see fast recovery and faster flowering in the seasons ahead.

This tree is perfect for:

  • Creating instant tropical curb appeal
  • Adding shade and structure in a small space
  • Getting a head start on future blooms — it matures faster than small plants

Even if you're not in Florida, this 7-gal size brings the bold look of the Tropics — and yes, we'll ship it to you!

Order Royal Poinciana
Royal  poinciana  flower  close  up

Date: 16 Jul 2025

Who is stealing my fruit?! How to protect mango fruit from critters

How to protect mango fruit from critters

🐰 Who’s stealing my fruit?! How to protect mango fruit from critters.
  • 🥭 It's Mango season! But somehow, the mangoes are disappearing. Looks familiar? Squirrels, bunnies, birds, rats, raccoons… They all love the fruit. But sharing? Not so much. You’re lucky to get their leftovers!
  • 🥭 Here’s what we do to protect our mangoes and avocados - and it works! We use fruit protection bags. They are made of a strong mesh netting with easy drawstrings - keep out bugs, birds, and every other freeloading critter! Just slip it over the fruit and tighten both ends. They’re inexpensive, about 15 cents each, worth every penny! 💰


🐁🐿 Save your fruit - and maybe even have some left to share!

🛒 Don't own a mango tree yet? Plant one now to enjoy fruit tomorrow!

📚 Learn more:


How to protect fruit in your garden from greedy competitors
Penelope, the Squirrel Cat

#How_to #Food_Forest #Mango_Rainbow #Mango

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 17 Jul 2025

Curcuma: one plant, two powers - color and spice!

Curcuma - Siam Tulip, Turmeric

🌷 Curcuma: one plant, two powers - color and spice!

  • 🌷 Curcuma, also called Siam Tulip or Turmeric, brings bold tropical blooms and practical benefits to your garden.
  • 🌷 The bright pink, white, yellow, or purple flowers rise above lush foliage and last up to two weeks in a vase.
  • 🌷 It's easy to grow in pots or beds - just keep the soil moist and give it filtered light.
  • 🌷 Best of all, the roots are the source of turmeric, the golden spice used in cooking and natural wellness. Beautiful above, useful below!


🛒 Plant Curcuma for cut flowers and herbal use

📚 Learn more :

Turmeric Plant Facts

Curcuma sp.
Turmeric, Siam Tulip
USDA Zone: 9-11
Small plant 2-5 ftSemi-shadeShadeRegular waterKeep soil moistYellow, orange flowersRed, crimson, vinous flowersBlue, lavender, purple flowersPink flowersSpice or herb plantDeciduous plantEthnomedical plant.
Plants marked as ethnomedical and/or described as medicinal, are not offered as medicine but rather as ornamentals or plant collectibles.
Ethnomedical statements / products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We urge all customers to consult a physician before using any supplements, herbals or medicines advertised here or elsewhere.Subtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time

Curcuma - the tropical tulip with a secret spice twist

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals