Jenes Tropicals

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 [email protected]—we’d love to chew the leaf with you and may your hibiscus stay mealybug-free! 🌿

🌸 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 [email protected]—we’re all ears (of corn).

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 [email protected]—we’d love to hear from you!

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 [email protected]—we're all ears (and leaves).

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 [email protected]—Jene would love to hear from you!

It's gonna be roots of fun!

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 [email protected]—we’d love to hear fruit from you! 🍏😂

🌱 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 [email protected]—we’d love to hear what’s on your mind (or in your soil)!

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 [email protected]—we’re all ears… and sometimes artichokes. 🌽🍆🥗

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 tropicalfruit.com — where the plants are hot and the advice is hotter.

💌 Got a burning garden question? Email us at [email protected] — we’ll happily dig into it!

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 tropicalfruit.com for all your spring plant needs.

Got a question or topic you'd like covered on the show? Email us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear from you!

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

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 tropicalfruit.com for all your spring plant needs.
Got a question or topic you'd like covered on the show? Email us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear from you!

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 tropicalfruit.com for all your spring plant needs.

Got a mango mystery or fruity question? Email us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear from you!

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 tropicalfruit.com for all your planty pleasures.

Got a burning question or a weird fruit dream you need decoded? Email us at [email protected]—we’re not saying we’re fruit psychics, but we are very good guessers.

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 tropicalfruit.com for all your spring plant needs.

Got a burning botanical question or a fruit tree tale? Email us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear from you!

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 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 [email protected]—we’re all ears (of corn…just kidding, but seriously, write us)!

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 tropicalfruit.com for all your summer plant needs.

Got a lawn mystery or burning question? Email us at [email protected] and you might hear your conundrum solved on the next episode!

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 tropicalfruit.com for all your spring planting needs

Got a question or a topic you’d like us to dig into? Email us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear from you!

Ever wish you could grow your own tropical fruit—without the drama? Say hello to starfruit! In this juicy episode of Jene’s Tropicals, Jene spills the (composted) tea on why starfruit is the ultimate backyard MVP. It’s easy to grow, low-maintenance, and cranks out fruit like it’s on a mission. Whether you’ve got a green thumb or just wish you did, this episode is your golden ticket to starfruit success.

Swing by Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL or browse our fruity wonders online at tropicalfruit.com.

Got a burning plant question or a topic idea? Drop us a line at [email protected]—we’re all ears (and leaves)!

Did you know jackfruit can grow up to 100 pounds? That’s basically a fruit the size of a 6th grader. And here’s the kicker—it smells like Juicy Fruit gum. Coincidence? We think not. Today, Jene peels back the layers (literally) on the world’s largest tree fruit. From wild facts to tasty tips, we’re talking everything jackfruit—how to grow it, eat it, and impress your neighbors with it.

Swing 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 burning fruit question or a tropical topic you'd like Jene to tackle? Email us at [email protected]—your inbox-to-podcast dreams could come true.

When's the best time to plant a tree? According to Jene, the answer is simple—yesterday! In this episode, Jene shares why there's truly never a bad time to get a tree in the ground, especially in the subtropical climate of Florida. From tropical fruit trees to flowering favorites, she highlights the best picks for planting in May and June, along with the unique benefits of getting started now.

Whether you're looking to add shade, beauty, or fresh fruit to your landscape, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice to help your yard thrive.

Visit Jene’s Tropicals at 6831 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL, or browse our selection online at tropicalfruit.com.

Got a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear from you!