Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 20 Feb 2026

Florida freeze damage - what to replant after a record cold winter

Magnolia champaka new shoots

Magnolia champaka new shoots

Scratch test on a bark

Scratch test on a bark

❄️ Florida freeze damage - what to replant after a record cold winter

    • 🌱 A record freeze changed Florida gardens



    After the recent record cold across Florida, many gardeners are now seeing the real damage - browned leaves, split stems, collapsed shrubs, and fruit trees that may not recover.
    Some plants surprised us with new growth. Others are clearly gone.
    The practical question is simple: what should you replant so it does not happen again next winter?
    The good news - you can build a more frost-resilient garden without giving up beauty or fruit.

    • 🌱 First - do not rush to rip everything out



    Before replacing anything, check carefully:

Scratch the bark lightly - green underneath means the branch is alive.
  • Wait for consistent warm weather - some plants re-sprout weeks or even months later.
  • Look for growth higher on the stem, not just at the base.
After freezes, many tropicals look worse than they are. Patience often saves money.

    • 🌱 Why some plants survived and others did not


    Freeze survival depends on several factors:

Duration of cold - 2 hours vs 8 hours makes a major difference
  • Microclimate - south-facing walls, wind protection, canopy cover
  • Plant maturity - established roots handle stress better
  • Pre-freeze health - overfertilized, soft growth freezes faster
This explains why two identical plants in the same yard can perform very differently.

    • 🌱 What to replant for a frost-resilient garden



    Instead of replacing losses with the same tender species, consider:

Cold-hardy fruit trees
  • Proven freeze survivors from this winter
  • Shrubs that tolerate brief dips below freezing
  • Layered planting for wind protection

    • When redesigning:
  • Plant tender species closer to structures.
  • Use hardy trees as windbreaks.
  • Avoid low frost pockets.
  • Improve drainage - wet roots freeze faster.
You do not have to remove tropical character. You just have to plant smarter.

✍️ Check the list of freeze survivors:


What tropical plants survived Florida's historic freeze without protection

    • 🌱 Rebuild with strategy, not emotion


    After freeze damage, many gardeners replant quickly - only to repeat the same losses.
    A better approach:

Identify what truly died.
  • Learn which species survived locally.
  • Choose varieties proven in your climate zone.
  • Design with cold in mind.
One freeze can become a turning point. Many Florida gardens become stronger after a hard winter because the plant list gets refined.

🌱 Spring Equinox - a natural reset


The Spring equinox marks equal day and night and the astronomical start of spring. From this point forward, daylight increases and active growth accelerates.
For Florida gardeners, it is a natural reset.
New growth begins. Roots wake up. Replacement planting becomes safer.
This is the right time to rebuild.

🛒 Explore cold tolerant tropical plants and cold hardy Avocados

📚 Learn more:


#Discover #How_to

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 23 Dec 2023

Heat Pack will keep them snug!

cat keeps warm on the stove

How to keep plants warm during shipping

Q: Can I buy tropical plants mail order during winter? I have a warm sunroom for plants but it is pretty cold outside, is it a problem for shipping plants?

A: If you are thinking of getting a tropical plant to brighten up your winter, but worried it might get too cold during delivery, no worries! We have a simple solution for you - the Heat Pack.

The Heat Pack, or Shipping Warmer, ensures that your plants stay warm and safe during their journey from Top Tropicals to your home. It keeps a cozy temperature for up to 72-96 hours (depending on outside temperature), making it a must-have if the weather drops below 40F in your area.

For larger orders, you might need 2-3 packs, and if you're ordering big 3-7 gallon plants, especially the extra-sensitive ones, consider using one pack per plant. Reach out to us for more details about specific plant species.

Hold locations. Also note that the carriers we use - FedEx and UPS - keep their boxes in temperature controlled rooms during transportation (unless it's a ground service). To ensure the box is not sitting on your cold porch all day, you may use temperature controlled FedEx Hold locations at FedEx stores, Walgreens, many Dollar General Stores and others. See more information on Hold locations.

Don't let the cold weather spoil the excitement of getting your new plants - grab a Heat Pack and keep them snug!

Add heat pack

Heat Pack, Shipping Warmer

Date: 24 Jul 2023

Easy, stress-free plants
for Summer planting

Cat with Bananas

Q: With the rising temperatures, I'm concerned about shipping my plants safely. Can they withstand the heat during transit? Also, is it okay to plant them in the ground now, or should I wait for cooler Fall weather?

A: Your concern about shipping plants in hot weather is valid. For sensitive plants, we'll delay shipping until conditions are more favorable in your area. However, there are plenty of heat-tolerant tropical plants that handle shipping well with minimal stress. These plants adapt easily when planted during the hot summer months. Simply follow the included planting instructions, gradually acclimate them to full sun, and they should thrive.

Certain flowering tropical plants, such as Allamandas, Calliandras, Caesalpinias, Adeniums, and Clerodendrums, are excellent options for shipping and establishing during the summer. Flowering vines like Jasmines also adapt well. Consider using Sunshine Booster fertilizers to promote robust growth, they are safe to use right after planting.

Additionally, many fruit trees flourish in heat. Mangoes, Avocados, Pomegranates, Pineapples, Loquats, Eugenias - Tropical cherries, Bananas, Jackfruits, Dragon Fruit, and Olive trees are great choices for summer planting. Noni trees are hardy survivors and usually ship and grow well during the summer, in spite of their lush tropical leaves.

Feel free to check with us about the specific plant you plan to order for its suitability in summer shipping. We're here to take care of your green babies and address your year-round planting needs!

Shop Fruit Trees

Pitaya Yellow Dragon Fruit, Selenicereus megalanthus

Pitaya, Yellow Dragon Fruit, Selenicereus megalanthus

Shop Flowering Vines

Cat with Bananas

Jasminum sambac Maid of Orleans thrives and blooms in hot sun

Shop Succulents

Cat with Bananas

Kalanchoe synsepala Magnificent

Date: 10 Nov 2022

Fertilizing indoor plants in Winter

Sunshine boosters for indoor palnts

What is the best fertilizer for indoor plants?
Can I fertilize house plants in Winter?

The best fertilizer for indoor plants is liquid fertilizer Sunshine Boosters (TM). It is amino-acid based, natural, and is safe to use with every watering and year around. Unlike dry fertilizers that are not recommended to use during Winter, Sunshine Boosters formula is mild and scientifically balanced. Your houseplants will consume exactly as much nutrients as they need even during cooler months of less active growth. Sunshine boosters will not burn roots and won't create nutrient lockup (excessive salts that often caused by dry fertilizers). Sunshine Boosters is a perfect food for all kinds of plants, and different boosters available for different plant types (flowering, fruiting, even for orchids). Check out Sunshine Boosters selection.

Shop Sunshine Boosters

Arundina graminifolia - Bamboo Orchid, Bird Ground Orchid

Grow Purple! In the photo: Arundina graminifolia - Bamboo Orchid, Bird Ground Orchid

Date: 10 Oct 2020

Healthy Plants: Q&A from Mr Booster

How to keep bugs away naturally?

Q: I started moving my tropical plant collection indoors as it's getting colder... And all of a sudden, I noticed bugs on leaves! I know for sure all my plants were bug-free when I kept the pots outside in my lanai. What happened? And how can I keep them clean and healthy without using any harsh chemicals? I have many edibles and herbs that I use in my cooking and prefer to stay away from insecticides. Any suggestions?

A: It is very common when healthy looking plants, once moved indoors for the winter, get insect infestations. The main reason is change of environment that puts a plant into stress and makes it susceptible to parasites and diseases. Just think about what a plant is missing, a whole combination of necessary conditions that provided a good life:
- Bring light -> light level reduced, so beneficial UV spectrum is gone
- Air circulation -> less wind = more bugs thriving
- Warm temperature -> from upper 80's in summer to 70's in your AC room
- Air humidity -> although humid air is believed to be causing some issues (for example fungus), however, reducing humidity overall puts a plant into stress and makes it more vulnerable.

Many gardener prefer to avoid chemicals, especially when it comes to treating edible plants and indoor collections. The solution to your problems is - Organic Solution!

SUNSHINE NoBug - Natural Plant Protector.
Shampoo for Plants - for both indoors and garden

SUNSHINE NoBug - is a natural solution to keep your plants healthy and bug-free without harsh chemicals. It is great for organic gardening and edibles, eco-safe and non-toxic for humans and pets. It kills, repels and prevents: spider-mites, mealybugs, whiteflies, aphids and many more. No wait time required - spray and play! And it smells like jasmine, forget stinky insecticides!
How does it work? Just look at these ingredients: Kosher Glycerine, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Palm Oil, Oat Protein, Organic Soap, Horticultural Oil, Jasmine Oil, Water. Yum! But bugs hate it - they suffocate in it! This is why your plants will have NO BUGS with NoBug, that's it!

Directions are simple:

- Mix 100 ml (3-4 oz) with 1 qt (32 oz) of water, or 500 ml (16 oz) in 1 gal of water - for larger applications
- Spray foliage to drip point, including underneath leaves.
- Repeat the treatment in 7 days.
- As a preventive care, spray leaves once a month to keep insects away.
- You may use a paper towel saturated with this solution to wipe the leaves and remove residue from insects.
- Store at room temperature.

This poor Pepper plant was tossed into garbage can by a neighbor... it looked hopeless, infested with mealybugs. We saved it with NoBug

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