Date: 31 Oct 2018
Lighting for overwintering tropical plants indoors
Q: Days are getting shorter and darker... I brought my tropical plants indoors for overwintering (I live in Atlanta, GA). Could you give me some advice on what lamps should I use for additional lighting of my plants?
A: Indoor
plants are very unlucky: they have to grow in"caves,"and everybody knows
that plants don't grow in the caves. The luckiest plants win sunny windowsills,
but even there they dwell rather like in underbrush under tall trees, where
the sun illuminate them only early in the morning or in the evening, and its
light is diffused by foliage.
Usually domestic plants are in desperate lack of illumination not only
in winter, but also in summer. No light - no growth, no flowering. So, plants
need extra light to compensate the lack of illumination in the"room-cave"
conditions.
Before you will start any practical actions to help your plants, you
need first to decide whether you are going to set an additional illumination,
or provide full lamplight. In the case of just additional illumination, rather
inexpensive luminescent lamps will do, and you don't have to think about
their spectrum. Continue reading...
Date: 7 Aug 2025
Blackberry Jam Fruit - the sweetest surprise
Tea and Jam with the PeopleCats – A Tropical Afternoon Beneath the Randia
Meet the cats behind the jam! The tuxedo cat is none other than Google-the-cat - our beloved elder and one of the original cat-fathers of Top Tropicals PeopleCats.garden. At 18 years old, he’s still sharp, curious, and very much in charge. The orange fluffball? He represents the universal image of cat joy - and we’ve got a few real-life orange sunshine residents just like him.
Why do you include cats in a plant newsletter?
Because they’re part of the garden. Our rescued PeopleCats live among the plants, nap under the mango trees, inspect new arrivals, and occasionally steal a sunspot meant for seedlings. They’re not mascots — they’re part of our team. Sharing their presence is like showing a part of the soul of our space.🐈
Are the cat images real or AI-generated?
All our cats are real! We take lots of pictures and videos. And a few images are AI-generated illustrations inspired by our real PeopleCats.garden residents. While not literal photographs, they are creative interpretations that capture the spirit of our tropical home and its furry citizens.🐾
Are the stories about the cats true?
Mostly! The jam-making, tea-drinking, and greenhouse meetings are creative interpretations - but inspired by real personalities. We use AI scenes to bring their spirit to life. Real cats. Real plants. Imagined adventures.🐱
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
Date: 5 Jan 2026
☘️ What plants are easy to ship in Winter?
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.
🌿Learn more: easy plants for Winter shippingDate: 24 Feb 2026
5 Heart-Shaped Plants Every Gardener Needs This Spring
Aristolochia " The "alien" flower that hosts rare butterflies.
Dombeyaflowers on the bush
Hoya kerrii Sweetheart Hoya
Philodendron leaves
Piper - edible leaves
❣️ Why heart-shaped?
Heart-shaped leaves instantly soften a garden. They feel welcoming, romantic, and just a little bit playful. But if you choose wisely, you will get much more than a cute leaf shape.
Before adding a plant to your collection, look beyond the foliage. Does it flower? Does it attract pollinators? Does it offer edible or fragrant benefits? The right heart-shaped plant can bring beauty, fragrance, butterflies - even flavor - to your landscape all year long.
Here are five plants that truly give your home a little love.
💚 1. Aristolochias - bold leaves and wild flowers
If you want a conversation starter, Aristolochia is the answer. These vines don't just offer bold, oversized heart foliage and produce "alien-looking" blooms that defy garden norms.
· Garden Hack: Use it to create "living shade" on hot west-facing walls to naturally cool your home.
- · Extra benefits: Many species are host plants for Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies, making them essential for pollinator gardens. They grow fast, create dense shade, and can cool down hot garden walls during summer. 👉Explore Aristolochias
💚 2. Dombeyas - winter flowers when little else blooms
Dombeyas bring heart-shaped foliage together with spectacular winter blooms. Their large clusters of pink flowers resemble hydrangeas and appear when many other plants are resting.
Extra benefits: They bloom in the cooler months, feeding bees when nectar sources are limited. These fast-growing shrubs create privacy quickly and fill the air with a light, sweet fragrance during flowering season. 👉Explore Dombeya
💚 3. Hoya kerrii - the living Valentine
Often sold as a single heart-shaped leaf in a pot, Hoya kerrii is known as the Sweetheart plant. But when mature, it becomes a climbing or trailing vine with thick, succulent foliage.
Extra benefits: It is extremely low maintenance, tolerates dry indoor air, and can live for many years. When happy, it produces clusters of star-shaped, lightly fragrant flowers. It is compact enough for desks and shelves, yet long-lived enough to become a true keepsake plant. 👉Explore Heart Hoya
💚 4. Philodendron - classic hearts, endless varieties
If you picture a heart-shaped leaf, you are probably imagining a Philodendron. From deep green to bright chartreuse like Golden Goddess, there is a variety for every style.
Extra benefits: Philodendrons adapt easily to indoor or outdoor growing in warm climates. They help improve indoor air quality, tolerate lower light, and require minimal care. In the garden, they thrive in shade and add a lush tropical feel without demanding constant attention. 👉Explore Philodendrons
💚 5. Piper - beautiful and edible
Many Piper species have attractive heart-shaped leaves, but they offer more than good looks. Some are edible and culturally significant.
Extra benefits: Piper betle and Piper sarmentosum leaves are used fresh in Southeast Asian cuisine, while Piper nigrum gives you real black pepper from your own vine. These plants grow well in warm, humid climates, thrive in partial shade, and combine ornamental appeal with practical harvest. 👉Explore Pipers
💚 Ready to add some 'love' to your landscape?
Heart-shaped foliage is charming, but the real value comes from what these plants give back - flowers in winter, butterflies in spring, edible leaves in summer, or easy indoor greenery all year.
Choose plants that not only look lovely but also work hard in your garden. That way, your landscape is not just pretty - it is alive, useful, and full of personality.
🛒 Discover tropical plants with benefits
📚 Learn more:
- · How to bring butterflies in your garden with Ditchmans Pipe
- · Five steps to everblooming Rose Hydrangea
- · The best Valentine’s Day gift that actually lasts - Sweetheart Hoya
- · The Marble Queen philodendron that thrives on neglect
- · How to grow your own Pepper plants. Five most valuable 'Pipers'.
#Container_Garden #Hedges_with_benefits #Discover
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