Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
Date: 7 Nov 2025
Riki the cat is watching TV
Date: 7 Aug 2025
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.
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.🐈
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.🐾
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: 18 Aug 2025
A: Only a few inches larger than the old one. Oversized pots hold too much moisture and may cause root rot.
A: Plastic pots are lighter, easier to handle, and you can cut them if a root-bound plant is stuck. Ceramic pots are heavy, breakable, and often lack drainage.
A: Turn the pot upside down and let gravity help. Never pull by the stems or leaves. If stuck, lay the pot on its side and squeeze or tap it. Cut the pot if needed.
A: No. Roots have tiny hairs that absorb water and nutrients. Shaking off soil damages them and sets the plant back.
A: Planting too deep suffocates the stem, and planting too high exposes roots. Keeping the same level protects the root crown.
A: Water thoroughly right after repotting, then wait until the top inch of soil dries before watering again.
🌱 Done! Your plant now has room to grow stronger before fall.
Date: 17 Sep 2025
Mulberry Care and Growing Tips
Mulberries are tough, low-maintenance fruit trees that adapt to many conditions.
One to two years, sometimes the very first season.
USDA zones 5–10, from -20F winters to hot summers.
Standard trees 20–30 ft; dwarfs 6–10 ft in pots.
No, they are self-pollinating.
Sweet and juicy, like a blend of blackberry and raspberry.
Everbearing types ripen gradually from summer into fall.
Yes, but trees are so productive there’s plenty to share.
Dark-fruited varieties can stain; white mulberries do not.
Yes, dwarf types (Dwarf Everbearing, Issai) fruit well in pots.
Many live for decades; Illinois Everbearing can endure for generations.
Mulberries are low-glycemic, support healthy blood sugar, improve heart health, and are rich in antioxidants.
Date: 17 Nov 2025
Pram Kai Mai Mango crop in a basket
Pram Kai Mai Mango