Jenes Tropicals

Tired of watching your tropical dreams wither faster than a tourist’s sunscreen? Welcome to Leaf It to Jene, the only podcast where paradise gets planted… and then gently roasted with puns.

Host Jene of Jene’s Tropicals (St. Pete’s greenest pit-stop on the way to Treasure Island Beach) is here to help you get your green thumb back for good—no musical-chairs transplanting required. She’ll spill the dirt on salt-tolerant stunners like the brilliant-red Jatropha, sandpaper-leaf Geiger trees, weeping hibiscus that hang like graceful drama queens, golden-shower Cassias that rain yellow happiness, and the show-stopping Royal Poinciana (a.k.a. the tree that basically grows overnight and makes Texans weak in the knees).

Expect practical tips (best time to plant? Yesterday. Second-best time? Right after you finish listening), pest drama (looking at you, cottony-cushion scale), and enough flower-power to make your landscape pop year-round. Whether you’ve got a sprawling yard or a pot on the patio, Jene’s got a tree that’ll branch out just for you.

Tune in every Saturday and remember: trees are permanent fixtures… so choose wisely, plant promptly, and never leaf your paradise to chance. Find her at tropicalfruit.com or roll up to 6831 Central Avenue—she’ll even babysit your new leafy friends while you hit the beach.

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🍂 It’s the end of October in Florida — the air’s kinda crisp, the leaves are kinda turning, and your garden’s definitely judging you. Have you finished your fall pruning yet? Better leaf no branch untrimmed, because time is running out faster than a squirrel in a pecan grove!

This week, Jene digs deep (pun absolutely intended) into all things shrub-tacular — from planting and pruning to the fertilizer fiascos you’ll want to avoid. Learn the root of good landscape care and avoid the mulch-itude of mistakes that can trip up even seasoned gardeners.

🌴 Need a little extra “plantspiration”? Stop by Jene’s Tropicals, 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or visit tropicalfruit.com — your one-stop spot for blooming success all year long.

Got a question or topic that’s bugging you? Email jenetropical@gmail.com — we’d love to hear from you and might even make your query the pick of the crop next episode! 🌺

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It’s that magical time of year when Florida stops sweating (just a little) and starts shedding—humidity, pests, and overgrown chaos. 🍂 In this episode of Dryer Days & Dirtier Deeds, Jene from Jene’s Tropicals digs deep into how to prep your garden for the cooler, dryer October weather. From battling spidermites (the original web developers 🕷️) to fertilizing smarter, not harder, we’re covering all the mulch-necessary info.

Learn how to keep your tropicals happy, your soil sassy, and your plants unbothered as the seasons shift. Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or just here for the punshine, this episode will leave you rooted in knowledge.

🌿 Stop by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Pete, or visit us online at tropicalfruit.com for everything you need to leaf summer behind.

Got a burning plant question or a topic you’d fernly love us to cover? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com. Let’s grow through it together!

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At some point in your botanical journey, you're gonna get bugged—literally. In this spook-tacular October episode, Jene dives antenna-first into the frightful world of the Pink Hibiscus Mealybug, Florida’s fluffiest little plant vampire. These cotton candy-colored creepers may look sweet, but don’t be fooled—they’re on a sticky mission to sap the life out of your tropical treasures.

Jene’s got the dirt on how to stop these sap-suckers dead in their tiny tracks, without losing your hibiscus (or your sanity). Learn how to spot the signs, fight the fuzz, and prevent a full-on mealybug invasion before your garden turns into a ghost town.

🌺 Stop by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or sprout your browser over to tropicalfruit.com for all your spring plant needs—because nothing says "new growth" like a mealybug-free mango tree!

Got a pest-y question or a plant topic that’s bugging you? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com—we’d love to chew the leaf with you and may your hibiscus stay mealybug-free! 🌿

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🌸 Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow? No, we're not talking time travel—we're talking Brunfelsia americana! This week, Jene’s going full bloom as we dig into this fragrant favorite that keeps the flowers coming, even when the temps drop. It’s cold-hardy, low-maintenance, and blooming with personality—just like Jene!

🍑 Plus, we loquat some pollinators you need in your life. Jene spills the nectar on this sweet, bee-attracting fruit tree that’ll have your backyard buzzing (literally). If you're looking for tough plants with a soft spot for cooler weather, this episode is your ground cover.

🎙️ So grab your gardening gloves and your best soil puns, and join us as we root around in the world of cold-tolerant tropicals.

Stop by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL or visit us online at tropicalfruit.com for all your cooler weather plant needs.

Got a burning plant question or a topic you want us to dig into? Email jenetropical@gmail.com—we’re all ears (of corn).

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From 300 BC to your morning smoothie, bananas have been the top banana for birds, monkeys, and humans alike. In this a-peeling episode, Jene climbs the banana tree of history to uncover how over 500 species of this fruity superstar have swung their way across continents, cultures, and compost piles.

Whether you're a backyard grower in Florida or just really into potassium, you’ll go bananas for the juicy details—like why bananas aren't trees (surprise!), how they grow like weeds (but tastier), and which varieties are worth planting when spring swings around.

Slip on in and visit Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL or visit us online at tropicalfruit.com to start your own banana empire.

Got a fruity question or a tropical topic you’d love to hear more about? Drop us a line at jenetropical@gmail.com—we’d love to hear from you!

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say beauty is pain—but in the case of bougainvillea, it's mostly just beauty (with a tiny prickly side). In this blooming episode, we're getting thorny... but in the most fabulous, floral way. 🌸🌵

Discover why the bougainvillea is vine and dandy for your landscape, how it thrives on tough love, and why it might just be the budding star of your spring garden. From ground cover to wall-crawlers, this plant does it all—and looks bougain-brilliant doing it.

Don't let those thorns throw shade—bougainvilleas are the low-maintenance, high-impact drama queens your garden deserves.

🌴 Want to grow your own slice of paradise? Visit us at Jene’s Tropicals, 6831 Central Ave., St. Pete, FL—or click your way to the tropics at tropicalfruit.com.

Got a thorny garden question? A topic idea? A pun that just has to be shared? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com—we're all ears (and leaves).

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Do you leaf a little extra room in your plant collection for some serious root awakening? 🪴 Well, it's time to branch out and grow your knowledge about the wonderful world of aroids! From the show-stopping Alocasia (aka elephant ears 🐘) to the ever-charming Chinese Evergreen 🌿, Jene’s got all the dirt on these leafy legends.

Join us on this leafy adventure as Jene unravels the quirks, the beauty, and the secret lives of these exotic specimens that’ll leaf you with a newfound appreciation for your tropical friends. Spoiler alert: puns may leaf you rolling your eyes... but they’ll also make you smile. 😏

Stop by Jene’s Tropicals in St. Petersburg, FL (6831 Central Ave) for all your plant needs or shop online at tropicalfruit.com—because it’s always the season for plants! 🌸

Got a burning question or an idea for a show topic? Plant your thoughts in an email to jenetropical@gmail.com—Jene would love to hear from you!

It's gonna be roots of fun!

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Are you ready to squamosa-ly fall in love with one of nature’s sweetest treats? In this episode, we’re dishing out the inside scoop on the Annona squamosa—better known as the sugar apple. From its cousin, the atemoya, to a whole bunch of fruitful facts, you’ll learn why this tropical delight is the apple of everyone’s eye (and taste buds). 🍎💚

Whether you’re looking to branch out into new fruits, grow your own sugar rush, or just want to leaf with more knowledge than you came with, this podcast is ripe for you.

Stop by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or visit us online at tropicalfruit.com for all your spring plant needs.

Got a question or topic you’d like covered on the show? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com—we’d love to hear fruit from you! 🍏😂

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

🌱 We’re talking soil structure: the underground hero that holds your garden together. Sure, it might look like “just dirt,” but when it comes to growing happy, healthy plants, soil is the root of all success. We’ll dig into the gritty challenges (compaction, drainage, nutrients—oh my!) and unearth some simple ways to make working with your soil a whole lot easier. From turning rock-hard ground into soft garden gold, to giving your plants the bed they truly deserve, this episode will have you feeling grounded in garden knowledge.

Stop by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or visit us online at tropicalfruit.com for all your fall plant needs. 🌴

Got a question or topic you’d like covered on the show? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com—we’d love to hear what’s on your mind (or in your soil)!

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lettuce turnip the beet, Florida—fall gardening season is almost here, and it’s kind of a big dill. For the next 9 months, you can squash your gardening doubts and kale it in the veggie patch. Whether you’re corny for corn, pumped for pumpkins, or just want to pepper your garden with flavor, Jene’s got the root of all veggie wisdom. She’ll spill the beans on warm-season showstoppers and cool-season cuties, plus share all the thyme-tested tips you need to avoid garden mis-steaks.

From tomatoes that make you say “Oh my gourd!” to watermelons worth their weight in seed, this episode will have you grinning from ear (of corn) to ear. So romaine calm, carrot on, and beet your way over to listen.

Stop by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL or visit tropicalfruit.com for all your planting needs. Got a question or topic for the show? Email jenetropical@gmail.com—we’re all ears… and sometimes artichokes. 🌽🍆🥗

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It’s August in Florida—which means it’s hot enough to melt your flip-flops and steam your glasses just by stepping outside. But guess what? That’s prime time to level up your landscape and grow some seriously sassy tropical plants! 🌴🔥

In this episode of Jene’s Tropicals, we’re spilling the (potting) soil on how to turn your yard from “meh” to “WOWZA” with flowers, bushes, and trees that thrive in this sauna we call summer. Yes, you’ll sweat. Yes, your hair will frizz. But your landscape will look fabulous, darling.

So grab a shovel, a gallon of water (for you, not the plants), and let’s get planting!

🌺 Visit Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or online at http://tropicalfruit.com — where the plants are hot and the advice is hotter.

💌 Got a burning garden question? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com — we’ll happily dig into it!

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this helpful episode of Jene’s Tropicals, host Jene shares practical advice for planting and caring for tropical plants during Florida’s hot, humid summer months. Learn which flowering plants thrive right now — including bougainvillea, hibiscus (like Hula Girl and Fiesta), Tibouchina, King’s Mantle, and Allamanda — plus tips on using crotons for colorful foliage. Jene covers soil preparation, proper planting depth, mulching, watering during rainy spells, and important Pinellas County fertilizer restrictions.

Perfect for Florida gardeners looking to add color and create a tropical paradise this summer.

Stop by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or visit us online at http://tropicalfruit.com for all your spring plant needs.

Got a question or topic you'd like covered on the show? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com—we’d love to hear from you!

#JanaysTropicals #FloridaGardening #TropicalPlants #SummerPlanting #Hibiscus #Crotons #StPetersburg #TropicalFruit #LandscapingTips #GreenThumb #FaithTalkTampa

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When you think of Florida gardening, you probably picture palms, oranges, and maybe that one neighbor who tries to grow pineapples in a kiddie pool. But surprise! Florida is also a hotspot for growing some of the world’s tastiest culinary spices. On today’s zesty episode of Jene’s Tropicals, Jene spills the (bay) leaves on flavor-packed plants like allspice (spoiler: it’s not literally all the spices—sorry, overachievers), bay laurel, bay rum, curry leaf, coffee, tea plants, and more.

So if your garden is feeling a little bland, it’s time to add some sizzle, sass, and savory goodness. Spice up your life (and your backyard) with some tropical flavor!

Stop by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or visit us online at http://tropicalfruit.com for all your spring plant needs.
Got a question or topic you'd like covered on the show? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com—we’d love to hear from you!

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that magical time of year in Florida when mangos are dropping like sunshine-scented confetti from the sky—and Jene is here to catch ‘em all! 🍋🥭

In this episode of fruity fun, Jene peels back the layers on the mighty mango: the do’s, the don’ts, the health perks, and why your neighbor’s mango tree is suddenly your favorite neighbor. Whether you’re slicing, dicing, or just standing under a tree with your mouth open, this episode has all the juice.

Just in time for the Tropical Fruit Event at Jene’s Tropicals—don’t miss your chance to go mango mad with us!

Swing by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or visit us online at http://tropicalfruit.com for all your spring plant needs.

Got a mango mystery or fruity question? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com—we’d love to hear from you!

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buckle up, fruit freaks—this week, Jene goes full tropi-crazy with two mysterious, magical, and mildly suspicious fruits: the Lychee Nut and the Longan, aka the Dragon Eye Tree (yes, it’s watching you... and it’s delicious).

As Florida turns into one big mango smoothie this July, Jene gears up for her legendary annual fruit tasting extravaganza—the event where locals gather to bite into things they can’t pronounce but definitely want seconds of. She’s talking about the fruit equivalent of treasure chests: one’s sweet and floral, the other’s like a grape from outer space, and both look like something a wizard would snack on between spells.

Will you develop superpowers from eating a Dragon Eye? Probably not.
Will your taste buds do the conga line? Oh yes.
Will Jene say the word “juicy” more times than scientifically recommended? 100%.

So swing your fruity self over to Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or teleport your thumbs to http://tropicalfruit.com for all your planty pleasures.

Got a burning question or a weird fruit dream you need decoded? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com—we’re not saying we’re fruit psychics, but we are very good guessers.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tampa Bay isn’t just a hotspot for sunshine and snowbirds—it’s a fruit lover’s paradise! Thanks to our glorious subtropic weather, you can grow goodies from just about anywhere in the world… right in your backyard. In this episode, Jene dives into the juicy world of subtropical fruit trees and plants—from mangoes that taste like your last vacation to guavas that might make your abuela weep with joy. Whether you’ve got a green thumb or a history of plant-based heartbreak, Jene’s got tips to help you grow tropical treats with ease (and minimal crying).

Stop by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or visit us online at http://tropicalfruit.com for all your spring plant needs.

Got a burning botanical question or a fruit tree tale? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com—we’d love to hear from you!

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your landscape looking more "blah" than "ahh"? Don’t sweat it—literally! Sure, it's hotter than a jalapeño in a sauna here in Florida, but it’s never too late to spice things up in your yard. In this episode, Gene spills the soil on her top summer landscape pop picks—from the tropical flair of Hibiscus to the bold beauty of King’s Mantle and beyond. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just trying to keep a potted plant alive, we've got something for you.

Tune in for laughs, tips, and some dirt on how to turn your flower beds from drab to fab. 🌺🌿

Stop by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or swing by online at http://tropicalfruit.com for all your summer plant needs.

Got a burning plant question or a topic you’d love us to dig into? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com—we’re all ears (of corn…just kidding, but seriously, write us)!

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your lawn looking more “crispy toast” than “lush paradise”? This week, Jene dives headfirst (safely) into the wild world of summer lawn care in Florida. From battling sad sod to decoding mysterious brown patches, she’s got the tips and tricks to turn your struggling yard into the neighborhood’s green envy.

Don’t know what’s wrong with your grass? Just scoop up a handful, toss it in a plastic bag (gently), and bring it to Jene. She’s like the lawn whisperer—only with better jokes and more tropical fruit.

Stop by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or visit us online at http://tropicalfruit.com for all your summer plant needs.

Got a lawn mystery or burning question? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com and you might hear your conundrum solved on the next episode!

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calling all big kids, little kids, and dads—why not surprise Mom with something special and lasting? Starting a flower garden is a fun and meaningful way to spend time together as a family, learn something new, and create lasting memories. In this episode, Jene shares everything you need to know to get started, including her top flower picks for June in Florida.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just getting your hands dirty for the first time, Jene’s got you covered with tips, tricks, and inspiration to help your garden bloom beautifully.

🌸 Visit Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL
🌿 Shop online at http://tropicalfruit.com for all your spring planting needs

Got a question or a topic you’d like us to dig into? Email us at jenetropical@gmail.com—we’d love to hear from you!

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.