Date: 24 Jun 2018
Growing Bougainvillea and Plumeria in Florida
Q: I have recently moved from New Jersey to Florida (Orlando area) and I am so excited to start my own Tropical Paradise Garden! A few years ago I visited Hawaii and saw many beautiful colorful Bougainvilleas as well as fragrant Frangipani. Do they grow well in Florida? These are flowers of my dream!
A:
Both Bougainvillea and Plumeria grow well in most
parts of Florida, especially South and Southwest.
Bougainvillea can tolerate some light freeze and can be
seen in the streets of Central Florida (young plants
require some cold protection for the first year), so it is
a very good candidate for your new garden. Keep in mind
that unlike in Hawaii, where they bloom year around,
Bougainvilleas tend to have a distinctive flowering season
which in Florida is winter time - these plants enjoy dry
weather that triggers their bloom. To enjoy Bright
bougainvillea flowers for a long time, apply balanced fertilizer, prune
regularly (this promotes flowering on new growth) and keep
established plants on a dry side. Dwarf cultivar Pixie is super compact and
can be grown in pots or in a small garden without any
pruning! See photo of Pixie on the left.
Plumerias, all-time perfume
favorites and symbols of Hawaii, are also residents of
many gardens and collections throughout state of Florida.
Their cold hardiness is close to the one of Bougainvillea,
however keep young plants protected from frost. There are
also many new exciting cultivars including multiple
"rainbow" colors, and several dwarf varieties, some of
them are evergreen - Plumeria obtusa
Date: 23 Nov 2025
How to overwinter the tropical Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae - the Bird of Paradise, bug plant
Strelitzia reginae - the Bird of Paradise, flower
❄️ How to overwinter the tropical Bird of Paradise
- Strelitzia reginae - the Bird of Paradise is a resilient tropical that can adapt to indoor conditions through winter if given bright light, moderate warmth, and careful watering. With a few preventive steps and timely protection, plants will stay healthy and reward you with vigorous new growth and blooms when warmth returns.
When should you move plants indoors?
Move Bird of Paradise indoors before nighttime temperatures consistently drop below 55F. Extended exposure to cooler air can slow growth and stress the plant. In central and south Florida, this often means late fall; in cooler zones, aim for early to mid-October. Once temperatures fall below 50F, leaf damage and root stress can occur.
What is the right location for a Bird of Paradise in winter, and why?
Place the plant in the brightest spot available - ideally near a south- or west-facing window. Strelitzia reginae is light-hungry even during dormancy. Low light leads to leaf yellowing, weak petioles, and slowed recovery in spring. If natural light is limited, supplement with a full-spectrum grow light set 12-18 inches above the foliage for 12-14 hours daily. Maintain room temperatures between 65F and 75F.
Do you need to do anything before moving them indoors?
Inspect the plant for pests such as mealybugs, scale, and spider mites, which often hide in leaf bases. Rinse the leaves and petioles thoroughly and check the soil surface for insects or snails. Prune off any damaged or aging leaves. If the plant has spent the summer in heavy rain, allow the soil to dry slightly before bringing it indoors to avoid fungus gnats or root issues.
Do plants need watering or feeding during winter?
Reduce watering. Indoors, the Bird of Paradise grows slowly in lower light, and excess moisture can cause root rot. Let the top 1-2 inches of soil dry before watering again. Avoid fertilizing during winter rest; resume feeding in spring when new growth appears. If the air indoors is very dry, increase humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier rather than overwatering.
Can you overwinter Birds of Paradise outdoors?
In frost-free areas of Florida (USDA zones 10-11), they can remain outdoors year-round. In zone 9, occasional cold snaps require protection. Mature clumps tolerate brief dips to about 30°F, but foliage burns easily at low temperatures.
What tips do you have for protecting plants outdoors?
When frost threatens, water the soil thoroughly a day before - moist soil retains heat better than dry. Cover the plant overnight with frost cloth or breathable fabric, not plastic, to trap ground warmth. For large clumps, wrap the base with mulch or straw to protect rhizomes. After cold events, remove damaged leaves but wait until spring to cut deeply, as live tissue below may still recover.
📚 Learn more:
How to grow Bird of Paradise
🛒 Plant Bird of Paradise
#How_to #Container_Garden
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date: 20 Dec 2025
☃️ Winter is choosing season
Smokey: "December is for planning, not planting."
Sunshine: "Gift card now. Perfect plants later."
Smokey: "You surprise me sometimes. Must be the donuts."
This time of year always feels special to us. The days are shorter, the garden slows down, and we finally have a moment to pause, look at our wish lists, and dream a little about spring.
As gardeners, we know winter is not really planting season. It is choosing season.
It is when ideas take shape. When we think about what we want to grow next, what we want to add, and what we want to do differently when warm days return. That is why, in winter, the best plant gift is not a plant itself. It is the promise of one.
Cold weather and holiday shipping can make winter plant deliveries stressful, especially for tropical plants traveling north. A gift card lets plants wait for the right moment, and lets the gardener enjoy the fun part now: planning, choosing, and imagining.
It also solves something we all know too well. Every gardener is wonderfully different. Some dream of fruit trees, others of flowers, rare collectors, or easy growers. Some plant in containers, some in the ground. Guessing is hard. A gift card lets them choose exactly what fits their garden and their vision.
🎁 Holiday Gift Card Bonus
To make the season a little brighter, we are offering a holiday gift card bonus through 12/31/2025.
When you purchase a gift card, we add 15% extra value. Just add Christmas greeting in gift card message field. For example, a $100 gift card becomes $115 to spend.
The bonus value is not valid with other promotions or discounts. Gift cards cannot be used to purchase other gift cards. Bonus value is added at the time of purchase.
Date: 28 Dec 2025
🎉 2026 Gardening Resolution That Actually Works
According to our experts: Smokey and Sunshine. When we say experts, we do not mean consultants or trend writers. We mean two real gardeners. Smokey watches patterns. Sunshine notices when people rush. Together, they explain what actually works.
Smokey: I am making the plans for 2026. Planning makes gardening successful.
Sunshine: Coffee and donuts help too, so please include them in your plan.
Smokey: Hello gardeners. 2026 is the Year of the Horse.
Sunshine: Horses do not garden.
Smokey: Please do not interrupt me. No, they do not. That is just the
calendar. What matters is what gardeners do at the start of every new year.
They often rush and repeat the same mistakes.
Sunshine: The biggest one is rushing the garden before morning
coffee.
Smokey: Correct. Rushing looks like effort, but it is usually just
impatience. Gardens punish impatience very reliably.
Most early-season problems come from doing things too soon:
- watering before roots are active
- fertilizing before growth begins
- planting before conditions settle
- poking plants daily to check how the roots are growing
Sunshine: If you are poking the roots, the plant was fine until you
started poking it.
Smokey: Good gardening is not constant action. It is knowing when to
act and when to stop interfering.
- Plant when the timing is right.
- Let roots work quietly.
- Leave resting plants alone.
Sunshine: Coffee first. Donuts optional, but highly
recommended.
Smokey: One last thing, while you are not rushing.
Our gift cards are still on promotion. They do not need planting, watering,
or timing decisions today.
A gift card is a symbol of patience. Buy it now. Use it when the moment is
right.
Smokey and Sunshine:
Our resolution for 2026 is simple: stop
rushing the garden.
Wishing you a calm, steady, coffee-fueled 2026 garden
🐾🌿
Date: 31 Dec 2025
Year of the Fire Horse - what should you grow in 2026?
Year of the Fire Horse
🐎 Year of the Fire Horse - what should you grow in 2026?
✔️ Here are the top lucky plants to grow, gift, or decorate with during the Year of the Fire Horse - each one chosen for its symbolism, element balance, and ability to channel that galloping energy in a positive direction:
🌿Anthuriums
Symbolizes: Elegance, passion, transformation
Why it's lucky: Its bold, vigorous leaves and exotic flowers are perfect for 2026.
Where to use it: Place in the southeast corner of your home, office, or garden to draw prosperity and charisma.
- 🛒 What to plant: Exotic Anthuriums - Anthurium Black Dragon, Anthurium hookeri - Giant Birds Nest, Anthurium veitchii - King Anthurium, Anthurium vittariifolium - Long Leaf Anthurium
💮 Jasmines and Gardenias
Symbolizes: Love, luck, beauty
Why it's lucky: Horses are social and affectionate - jasmine’s sweet scent supports romance and good vibes.
Where to use it: Grow near entrances or windows; use jasmine oil in bedrooms to boost relaxation and harmony.
- 🛒 What to plant: Fragrant Jasmines - Sambac, French Perfume, Night Blooming, and many varieties of Gardenias.
🌻 Sunflowers and sunny-yellow flowers
Symbolizes: Optimism, vitality, success
Why it's lucky: Bright yellow blooms reflect Fire energy and attract recognition.
Where to use it: Display in the east or south part of your home; great for creative spaces or work areas.
- 🛒 What to plant: Tropical Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia), Tecoma stans - Yellow Elder, Cassias and Sennas
🎋 Lucky Bamboo, Money Trees and Bonsai
Symbolizes: Growth, flexibility, fortune
Why it's lucky: Combines Wood (growth) with Fire (motivation) - a perfect combo for 2026.
Where to use it: Place arrangements with 3 or 9 in the southeast to promote health and wealth.
- 🛒 What to plant: Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana), Shaving Brush Tree (Pseudobombax), Money Plant (Pilea), Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)
Edible Greens with Fire-Friendly Energy
Symbolizes: Nourishment, healing, grounded action
Why they're lucky: Green leafy herbs support Wood energy, which fuels Fire. Think fresh, healthy, juicy, and nourishing.
🛒 What to plant: Tropical herbs, spices and edibles, including -
- · Chaya (Maya spinach tree)
- · Gynura (Longevity spinach)
- · Lippia dulcis (Aztec sweet herb)
- · Lemongrass and Citronella
- · Alspice and Baurum
- · Pepper Vines (Pipers) and Chili Peppers (Capsicums)
❌ What to avoid?
Poisonous or sharp plants. The Horse is a plant lover - but not a fan of painful surprises. Keep the Fire Horse energy smooth, not spiky.
✍️ Final tip: Let the Fire Horse run wild - but not out of control
2026 is your chance to charge ahead - but keep your hooves on the ground. Plants can help you stay focused, bring balance, and add a little luck along the way. So get planting, stay bold, and let the good energy gallop in!
📚 Learn more:
- More #Horoscope info for plants and cats
- 2026: Year of the Fire Horse - time to grow bold, live free, and plant lucky
#Horoscope
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals