There are so many different reasons to love hoyas, plant friends. They are gorgeous, drought-tolerant, and relatively easy to care for once you nail down a few key tips! Hoyas had a moment on social media in 2021 and 2022 due to their incredible diversity—Hoyas can look so different from each other, and if you’re a curious plant collector (see which one are you with my plant personality test), this is the perfect genus for you!

In this ongoing mini-series, I’ll take you through how to care for hoyas indoors and I will also introduce you to my favorite Proven Winners varieties!

In this episode, we learn:

• [01:27] Why is Hoya the perfect plant?
• [03:12] How Hoya became part of my wedding!
• [03:49] Where can you find Hoyas?
• [04:43] Hoya care: lighting
• [06:01] Hoya care: watering
• [07:14] Hoya care: soil
• [08:05] Hoya care: humidity
• [08:31] Hoya care: potting
• [09:38] How to get your Hoya to bloom
• [12:18] How to trellis your Hoya
• [14:03] My favorite Proven Winners leafjoyâ„¢ Hoyas?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
• Espoma Organic Orchid Mix
• Growing Joy Ep 226: How to Repot Houseplants
• YouTube Video: How to Repot houseplants
• Grow lights
• Endless Cascadesâ„¢ Green Lightâ„¢ - Hoya carnosa
• Endless Cascadesâ„¢ Shining Sea Starâ„¢ - Hoya carnosa
• Endless Cascadesâ„¢ Fresh Rainâ„¢ - Hoya rangsan
• Endless Cascades â„¢ - Quinquenervia
• Endless Cascadesâ„¢ Shadow Fallsâ„¢ - Hoya callistophylla
• Endless Cascadesâ„¢ Sarawak Cream - Hoya latifolia

For my proven and tested tips on hoya care,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners

To care for hoyas successfully, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Big news, plant friends. I've moved! After four wonderful years living in the Catskills my husband and I have packed up our lives–and my plants–and headed south to Florida. That’s from Zone 6B to Zone 10B! As a lifelong New Yorker, I've only ever known four distinct seasons. But now, I’m literally going to experience a whole new gardening action in a climate that feels almost tropical. And I'm feeling like a total beginner again. So, I called in the big guns—my friend Janey from Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat. She's a hot climate gardening expert, and she's got some amazing tips for us hot climate gardeners!

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] I’ve moved to Florida!
• [04:36] What should you do when changing garden zones?
• [05:04] Who is Janey Santos?
• [12:16] What are temperennials?
• [13:47] What is “true annualâ€�?
• [15:49] Wind River Chimes
• [17:24] Espoma Organic
• [18:50] What are other examples of temperennials?
• [22:03] What are some gardening tips for hot climates?
• [24:39] Why drip irrigation could be useful
• [29:09] Why should you use mulch?
• [31:09] The best kind of mulch
• [32:02] Garden Supply Company
• [37:56] Why should you know your season?
• [40:20] What does Janey’s garden look like?
• [43:42] Connect with Janey

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Best for the West - Janey Santos of Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat
• Growing Joy Ep 176: Landscaping in the Southwest
• Growing Joy Ep 241: Small Space Cut Flower Gardening for Beginners
• Growing Joy Ep 06: Enjoy a Living, Potted Christmas Tree for the Holiday Season!
• Supertunia Vista® Bubblegum®
• Lantana
• Caladium
• Monrovia
• Youtube video: 🌱 Surprising My Pregnant Sister with a Dream Raised Bed Garden!
• Cool Flowers: How to Grow and Enjoy Long-Blooming Hardy Annual Flowers Using Cool Weather Techniques

For Janey's reliable hot climate gardening tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Janey:

Website

Podcast

YouTube

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Gardener's Supply

Discover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

You've probably seen that funny meme going around that says "pets are the new children, and plants are the new pets." I couldn't agree more! We're all out here treating our plants like our babies and our pets like our kids. But what happens when these two loves collide—and your toxic plant harms your pet? In this episode, I share the different plants that are safe for our furry babies, how to keep pets away from toxic plants, and other things to keep in mind when caring for both plants and pets.

In this episode, we learn:

• [01:44] Things you need to know if you have pets and plants
• [04:10] Which plants are the most toxic for pets?
• [05:34] How do you keep your pets away from your plants?
• [09:07] Make summer unforgettable with a personalized Wind Chime!
• [10:42] Protect your pets and the planet with high-quality, organic plant products
• [13:10] Which plants are pet-friendly?
• [15:25] What other resources can help you?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants by ASPCA
• Pet Poison Helpline
• Mosser Lee ML1121 River Rock Soil Cover
• Grannick's Bitter Apple for Dogs Spray Bottle
• GJ EP 123: How to Manage Deer, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Moles, Voles and Other Animals in Your Garden with Brie The Plant Lady

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Anthuriums have everything a plant parent could want. This genus has the most widely distributed, easily grown plants as well as some rare and expensive collectibles. Both its leaves and flowers are also indispensable. I especially love it because of its heart-shaped leaves and its gorgeous long, skinny stems. And I’ll tell you all about it and how to care for it in this episode of Proven Winners Mini Series.

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:17] Why I love Anthuriums!
• [02:55] Anthurium mental wellness note
• [03:56] High-level overview of the Anthurium genus!
• [06:56] Care #1: Watering your anthurium
• [07:21] Care #2: Light requirements for anthurium
• [08:07] Care #3: Humidity needs for anthurium
• [09:18] How to troubleshoot your anthurium problems
• [12:27] Take my Plant Parent Personality test!
• [12;46] Thank you, Proven Winners Leafjoy!
• [14:04] What are the different Anthurium varieties?
• [20:49] Which Anthurium variety suits your plant personality?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Dome Glass Cloche
• Glass Terrarium
• Grow Light
• Mini Watering Globe Set
• Arching Amourâ„¢ Alexandrite is Right™ (Crystallinum)
• Arching Amourâ„¢ Heart's Desireâ„¢
• Arching Amourâ„¢ Tall Tale™ (Bird's Nest Anthurium)
• Arching Amourâ„¢ Follow Your Heart™ (Brownii)
• Growing Joy Episode 92: Begonias with Marc from NYBG

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners

If you want an indoor anthurium jungle, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

How do you level up from being a casual plant lover to a true pro in the horticulture industry? What does it take to become one? There are plenty of things we don't get as hobbyists about the horticulture industry—so much more happening behind the scenes than we can imagine. Fortunately, Leslie Halleck, a favorite guest on the podcast and one of my best plant friends, is here to tell us about how the horticulture industry works and how you might become part of it!

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:45] How to turn plant passion into a horticultural career
• [06:54] What is Leslie's background in horticulture?
• [14:46] Don't let shorter days dim your plant's shine with Soltech grow lights!
• [17:01] Nourish your plants with Espoma’s premium organic products!
• [18:42] Leslie’s career transitions
• [23:04] What other jobs are in the horticulture field?
• [24:52] How do plants get from farm to store?
• [29:23] What affects plant prices and availability?
• [34:58] What are the common mistakes aspiring plantrepreneurs make?
• [40:53] What are the educational pathways in horticulture?
• [48:49] Why is horticulture mostly family businesses?
• [51:48] Women's positions in a male-dominated horticultural sector
• [53:27] Leslie’s new horticulture business courses + coaching programs
• [01:00:37] Where can you find out more about Leslie?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Cultivate '24
• Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE)
• COURSE: The Business of Horticulture
• COURSE: The Business of Selling Plants
• 'Tiny Plants' by Leslie Halleck
• Professional Horticulture Program | Longwood Gardens
• Horticulture Classes | New York Botanical Garden
• Master Gardeners - American Horticultural Society

 

For a deeper look into the processes behind the plant industry,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Leslie:

Website

Coaching

Instagram

Facebook

X

Pinterest

YouTube

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

 

How many times have you heard someone say "My garden is my therapy" or "Plant care is self-care�? These phrases have become so popular lately, and they're absolutely true! As someone who's written a whole book on this topic, I can tell you that being connected to nature gives us so many gifts: perspective, gratitude, love, and as we'll explore today, reverence and reciprocity. I have a deep-rooted connection with Gaia (or Mother Earth) that I’m gonna share with my equally deeply spiritual friend, Jessica Zweig, business coach and author of ‘The Light Work’. We both have spookily similar experiences moving out of congested cities into nature and seeing the shifts in our systems and lives that have happened. I hope you take something good from this ep!

In this episode, we learn:

• [06:38] Jessica’s evolution of connecting with nature
• [10:41] Moving to the countryside
• [14:40] Unwind and relax with Wind River Chimes
• [16:15] Begin your homesteading life with Simple Country Living by Annette Thurman
• [17:22] How does nature help alleviate our worries?
• [20:36] What is the practice of reciprocity?
• [23:14] What is the frequency of Gaia?
• [26:28] What are the codes of Gaia?
• [30:21] Successfully grow anything with Gardener Supply Company
• [32:17] Meeting the Kichwa Anangu tribe
• [36:45] Where can you find Jessica’s book?
• [38:25] Where can you find Jessica on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Birds of Tennessee Field Guide (Bird Identification Guides) by Stan Tekiela
• Merlin Bird ID
• Simply Be by Jessica Zweig
• The Light Work by Jessica Zweig
• Comunidad Kichwa Añangu
• Lion’s Gate Activation Summit

For Jessica's nature-based wellness practices,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Jessica:

Website

Podcast

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Pinterest

LinkedIn

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Quarto: Simple Country Living by Annette Thurmon

Grab Simple Country Living: Techniques, Recipes, and Wisdom for the Garden, Kitchen, and Beyond by Annette Thurmon at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble or amazon.com.

Gardener's Supply

Discover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Are you running out of ideas on how to use the tomato and cucumber harvest from your garden? As summer goes on, many gardeners end up with a ton of produce they don't know what to do with. Those eight tomato plants that seemed like a good idea in spring are now producing more than you can eat! But my guest this episode has got you covered with some of her delicious and creative ways to use up your garden bounty. I had an amazing conversation with Julia from Lemon Stripes about her new cookbook "Garden Grown," and I'm excited to share some fantastic recipes and preservation techniques that will help you make the most of your tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs.

In this episode, we learn:

• [05:51] Who is Julia and how did she start her gardening journey?
• [08:06] Julia’s small-scale homesteading project
• [11:15] What are her tomato recipes (tomato confit!)
• [15:24] Actionable garden solutions in any weather with Kim Stoddart's "The Climate Change Resilient Vegetable Garden"
• [16:52] How to preserve your harvest
• [19:12] How to make a tomato tart
• [21:58] What is cowboy caviar?
• [24:51] Fish with tomato recipe
• [28:17] Simple pickling recipes!
• [30:30] Cucumber Basil Margarita Recipe!
• [32:40] What is a hot and cold cucumber salad?
• [34:46] Marinated cucumbers (a snack homage)
• [39:03] Vegetarian rainbow rolls (with peanut sauce)
• [43:00] Herb salt and homemade teas!
• [47:08] Exploring shrubs and simple syrups
• [50:55] Where can you find Julia and her book, Garden Grown?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Episode 195: Homesteading for Beginners with Michelle Bruhn and Stephanie Thurow
• RITUAL ZERO PROOF Tequila Alternative
• Garden Grown by Julia Dzafic
• Anel Dzafic (@botanicalbosnian)

For Julia's easy and delicious tomato and cucumber recipes,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Julia:

Website

Recipes

Instagram

Pinterest

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Quarto: The Climate Change-Resilient Vegetable Garden by Kim Stoddart

Grab the book at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble or amazon.com.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Here’s a special late-night edition of Growing Joy with Plants: After Dark where I spill the planty tea and share a cocktail with my two incredible plant friends, Agatha Isabel and Kamili Bell Hill. You might know Kamili as @plantblerd on Instagram and Agatha as @agathatisabel on Instagram. They've been my real-life plant friends for years, and we recently had a blast at the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show—and had a sleepover at Kamili's house the night before, which resulted in this episode! This is a candid chat as we dish the dirt on everything from embarrassing plant parent moments to the real talk about representation in the plant community.

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:53] Growing Joy After Dark: Real conversations about plant parenthood
• [02:18] Plant connections and friendships!
• [05:36] What has their collection looked like over time?
• [11:18] What is the dark side of plant collecting?
• [13:37] Get a personalized wind chime!
• [15:11] Safe, high-quality potting mixes and fertilizers
• [20:29] What are their favorite plant species?
• [23:33] Plant care tips and humidity hacks
• [26:24] Grow houseplants even in low-light spaces
• [27:57] What is the balance between the joy and stress of plant care?
• [30:56] Taking care of plants when traveling
• [32:42] Resilient plants and hoyas
• [33:25] Some plant disaster stories
• [37:16] What's the craziest plant experiment they’ve done?
• [39:34] What are the signs of being a true "plant parent"
• [51:21] Where to find Agatha and Kamili on social media

Mentioned in our conversation:

• The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion | New York Botanical Garden
• Summer Rayne Oakes
• Bad Seeds on Apple Podcasts
• Bad Seeds on Spotify
• Happy Plants, Happy You by Kamili Bell Hill
• Houseplant Hookups by Agatha Isabel

For our truest, deepest thoughts on plant parenthood,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Agatha:

Website

Plant Ma Shop

Instagram

Events

Follow Kamili:

Linktree

Instagram

TikTok

Pinterest

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Soltech Solutions

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Have you ever come across the terms "regenerative gardening," "permaculture," or even "chaos gardening"? These are all over social media lately, but what do they actually mean? And more importantly, how can we use these practices to grow happier, healthier plants while also helping Mother Nature? Today's episode is a deep dive into all of this with my new plant friend, Stephanie Rose, founder of Garden Therapy and author of 12 books, who is so committed to helping you garden for at least five minutes a day to receive the benefits gardening can give us. Let's break it down!

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:15] How Stephanie got into regenerative gardening and built Garden Therapy
• [07:15] What is permaculture?
• [09:46] What is the origin of Stephanie’s ‘charity garden’?
• [14:55] Grow your dream garden with Gardener's Supply Company
• [16:39] Sustainable gardening with high-quality products from Espoma Organic
• [21:18] What is chaos gardening?
• [24:32] Regenerative gardening vs permaculture
• [26:36] What is the ‘no-till’ method?
• [29:34] Try Crescent Garden's self-watering planters
• [32:15] What is hügelkultur?
• [35:00] What is the relationship between lasagna garden and hügelkultur?
• [36:51] The difference between a regenerative approach to soil and a basic gardener's approach to soil?
• [38:44] Different water conservation methods for regenerative gardening
• [42:11] How does intensive planting benefit gardeners?
• [48:09] Why do regenerative gardens tend to have fewer pests?
• [51:26] Regenerative projects that Stephanie has planned for her new house?
• [58:47] Where can you find Stephanie online?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Northwest Flower and Garden Show
• Books by Stephanie Rose:
• Garden Alchemy
• Regenerative Garden
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

For Stephanie's regenerative gardening tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Stephanie:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

Twitter

YouTube

TikTok

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Gardener's Supply

Discover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Crescent Garden

Head to growingjoywithmaria.com/crescentgarden and use code GROWJOY15 to curate your dream garden today.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

You are likely overestimating how much light you have in your home for your houseplants, plant friends! Yes, it's a tough truth to swallow. In fact, the largest cause of houseplant death is a misunderstanding of light. That’s because our houseplants perceive light differently from us. Don’t worry, because I have your back. I've spent seven years learning about light and distilling everything I've learned into this one short episode to break down how you can confidently assess the natural light in your home and buy the correct plant that will do well in that environment.

This episode is part of the Growing Joy with leafjoy mini series. Thanks to Proven Winners leafjoy for partnering on this episode.

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:50] Why it’s important to know your light level before you go plant shopping!
• [06:06] How plants use light for photosynthesis to produce their food
• [07:22] Why chlorophyll is important
• [14:58] Why low light plants = low light tolerant
• [16:43] #1 Understanding your window orientation + light exposure
• [18:12] Look for obstructions outside your window
• [20:57] #2 Defining direct, indirect, and low light situations!
• [24:27] Supplement with grow lights
• [25:34] Troubleshooting common light issues

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Gardening Under Lights by Leslie Halleck
• Soltech Aspectâ„¢ LED Growlight
• African Mask Plant - Alocasia longiloba | Proven Winners
• Monstera Deliciosa/Thai Constellation | Proven Winners
• FREE DOWNLOAD - Understanding Natural Light
• Plant Parent Personality Quiz
• Growing Joy Ep 182: Spring Houseplant Care

For a complete guide on indoor light levels,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners leafjoy

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Plants just help liven up any space, that’s a fact. And I don't know if you know this, but I suck at interior design. It does not come naturally to me. I often overlook details—and interior design in general is about the details. I came to houseplants for the aesthetic because plants seem to be the common thread of all the design magazines, articles, and inspirations that I was reading as I was curating my apartment in New York City.

And when you have a lot of houseplants, that can create a chaotic, cluttered interior. That's why I'm sitting down with interior design expert and my friend, Betsy Helmuth, the founder of Uploft Interior Design and the host of the Affordable Interior Design podcast to discuss some basic interior design principles that we can tailor specifically for houseplant lovers.

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:21] What exactly is the focus of Betsy's Uploft Interior Design?
• [06:45] How to find your interior style
• [10:26] What are the most popular interior design styles?
• [14:01] Nature-based aesthetics you should keep our eyes out for
• [15:25] Give the gift of peace and beauty this summer with a personalized Wind River Chime!
• [17:00] Grow happier houseplants with Espoma Organic's high quality gardening products!
• [20:37] How do you blend two different interior design styles using a 'two-word phrase' approach?
• [27:54] Why choosing an inspiration piece is important
• [29:02] How to choose the right color palettes
• [33:18] Styling with plants and pots
• [34:59] What is the 60-30-10 rule?
• [39:32] Other rules and guidelines for starting interior design projects
• [43:03] How plant placement affects interior design choices
• [46:19] What are the common mistakes people make with art/wall decor?
• [48:45] Tips for people who are scared to get art
• [50:54] Innovative planter solutions
• [53:06] What can you do in the bedroom to make it cozy?
• [58:43] Where can you find Betsy on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Affordable Interior Design: High-End Tips for Any Budget by Betsy Helmuth
• Apartment Therapy
• Houzz
• West Elm
• Pottery Barn
• World Market
• AptDeco
• Justina Blakeney (@justinablakeney)
• The New Bohemians by Justina Blakeney
• Eco Wall Planters by WallyGrow

For Betsy's expert tips on easy and affordable home decor,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Betsy:

Website

Podcast

Course

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

I have always been a fan of ferns, but for some reason, I could never manage to keep them alive. But those days are over, and I have done a complete 180 on ferns! If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you've probably heard me say how I don't like ferns and how they're just not my recommended houseplant. However, for the past year or so, I've been successfully caring for ferns, and I'm obsessed. I've learned so much, and I can't wait to share my top tips with you!

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:10] Ferns 101
• [04:03] How resilient are ferns?
• [05:00] What are the brown spots you see on ferns?
• [05:34] Are ferns a good choice for a home with limited natural light?
• [06:32] How should you water your ferns?
• [07:33] The right kind of pots to use
• [09:13] How sphagnum moss helps keep ferns healthy
• [09:51] How important is the humidity for ferns?
• [11:40] What are the benefits of grouping plants together?
• [12:09] How to fertilize your fern
• [12:39] How to prune ferns
• [14:04] Troubleshooting tips for ferns
• [16:43] Proven Winners Leafjoy Fern species
• [17:49] What ferns are not recommended for beginners?
• [19:27] Ferns to bring home: Bird's nest fern
• [20:35] Ferns to bring home: Rabbit's foot fern
• [21:43] Ferns to bring home: Boston fern/Lemon button fern
• [22:15] Ferns to bring home: Staghorn fern

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Self-watering planters
• Ceramic pot
• Sphagnum moss
• Glass cloche
• Grow lights
• Espoma Organic Indoor! Plant Food
• Bird’s Nest Ferns: Living Lace® Victoria, Living Lace® Hurricane
• Living Lace® Davana - Blue Star Fern/Rabbit's Foot
• Emerald Vase - Boston Fern
• Living Lace® Cute as a Buttonâ„¢ - Button Fern
• Living Lace® Sword Danceâ„¢ - Staghorn Fern

For all of my foolproof tips on fern care,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Can you feel that summer energy in the air? The summer solstice is upon us—the longest day of the year and the official start of the summer season. For us plant parents, this transition is everything. All our patient tending in the spring is paying off as our gardens burst into full bloom.

The summer solstice is a powerful energetic pivot point that I always like to honor and celebrate. And I am so delighted to have my dear friend Rachael of Our Infinite Nature join us again in this episode! Rachael is our resident modern green witch—she has such a beautiful way of connecting plants, nature, and spirituality. In our conversation, we explored what the solstice means from an energetic and astrological perspective, and how we can align ourselves with these potent seasonal energies.

In this episode, we learn:

• [05:00] What does summer mean to Rachael?
• [05:27] What is the energy of summer?
• [06:30] Why fire is vital for growth in plants and humans
• [10:24] What is the difference between spring's action-taking energy and summer's action-maintaining energy?
• [15:03] Make any summer gift unforgettable with a personalized Wind River Chime!
• [16:38] Take the stress out of summer gardening with Crescent Garden TrueDrop Self Watering Planters!
• [19:19] What's going on astrologically these days?
• [23:13] Is fire energy out of balance in our world, leading to burnout?
• [24:13] How can we use the elements (earth, water, fire, air) to address burnout, especially during the summer solstice? (and a little bit of meditation!)
• [29:57] Feed your plants with Espoma Organic for beautiful summer blooms and delicious harvests!
• [31:42] What are some ways to work with the element of air?
• [32:27] Connecting with the elements: water, earth, air
• [38:03] How do you ritualize the summer solstice?
• [41:25] Where can you find Rachael on social media?
• [41:52] Summer solstice meditation

Mentioned in our conversation:

• DIY Spring Flower Crown | Easy Craft Tutorial!
• Growing Joy Ep 234: Eco Anxiety with Rachael
• Growing Joy Ep 223: Cultivating Intuition with Nature with Rachael
• Growing Joy Ep 223: Plant Magic: How to Be a Green Witch with Rachael

For Rachael's recommendations on balancing the different elements this solstice,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Rachael:

Website

Instagram

TikTok

Facebook

YouTube

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Crescent Garden

For a limited time only, head to growingjoywithmaria.com/crescentgarden and use code GROWJOY15 to curate your dream garden today.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Some of my happiest childhood memories are of my mom's garden bursting with homegrown flower bouquets. Whenever we had visitors, she'd snip whatever was in bloom, bundle it up with herbs from her kitchen garden, wrap it in a wet paper towel and tinfoil, and gift it to our guests. I just thought it was the simplest, kindest way to grow joy for herself and for her friends—and that's the beauty of growing cut flowers.

Speaking of beauty, I couldn’t get enough of this episode’s guest and her amazing book! Lisa Ziegler is the founder of The Gardener's Workshop and the author of the book I just devoured, ‘The Cut Flower Handbook.’ We had a high-level overview of what you need to know if you want to delve into cut flower gardening!

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:13] What sparked Lisa's desire to grow cut flowers?
• [07:32] How did Lisa's hobby bloom into a flower farm?
• [10:23] Are spacing guidelines for cutting gardens important?
• [13:07] What is the best place for a cutting garden, and why is it different from where you usually plant flowers?
• [17:00] Where to get hassle-free self-watering planters
• [18:42] The best indoor and outdoor gardening products for you
• [21:08] What is Lisa’s garden zone?
• [21:47] Which cut flowers are best for beginners?
• [27:10] What are the recommended filler flowers to grow with Zinnias?
• [28:13] What are the benefits of starting seeds indoors versus direct sowing in the garden?
• [31:46] Annuals vs perennials
• [34:10] What are magnet plants?
• [37:17] Tps for setting up a low-maintenance cutting garden for beginners
• [45:49] How and when should you pinch plants in a cutting garden?
• [50:38] Is there a rule of thumb for how many leaves to leave when pinching or cutting back annuals in a cutting garden?
• [51:25] What are the biggest mistakes people make during harvesting?
• [55:59] Why are Bells of Ireland a coveted flower (and what is the secret to growing them)?
• [57:11] How can zone six growers use large grow bags to create a cutting garden with transplants and direct-sown seeds?
• [01:02:57] Poppy vs cosmos: which is easier to grow?
• [01:04:22] Where can you find Lisa on the internet?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Lisa Ziegler’s books:
• The Cut Flower Handbook
• Cool Flowers
• Vegetables Love Flowers
• Sunflower, ProCut Orange Excel
• Benary’s Giant Zinnia Seed, Mixed Colors
• Basil, Mrs. Burns' Lemon

For Lisa's expert flower gardening tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Lisa:

Website

Courses

Books

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Crescent Garden

For a limited time only, head to growingjoywithmaria.com/crescentgarden and use code GROWJOY15 to curate your dream garden today.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Moving is such a pain in the neck. Packing boxes, saying goodbye to familiar surroundings, and navigating new neighborhoods—it's enough to make anyone break a sweat. But you know what can be worse than that, plant friends? Moving with houseplants!

If you know, you know, and if you haven't moved with your houseplant collection yet, consider yourself lucky. Our guest today just moved across countries and into a different garden zone. We've both moved multiple times in the last few years, dragging our plant collections of over a hundred plants each, far and wide. This conversation with Becca from Becca De La Plants was also very heartfelt, as we discussed not only moving with plants but also how it relates to our lives.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:32] What have the last couple of years looked like for Becca?
• [06:08] How does it feel to move into a completely different garden zone? (from zone 9 to 6)
• [09:06] Did Tucson spark Becca's gardening passion, or was it the Missouri land?
• [15:33] Make this summer unforgettable with personalized Wind River Chimes!
• [17:04] Discover how tending to your houseplants can improve your well-being with "Happy Plants, Happy You" by Kamili Bell Hill
• [18:06] How Becca’s houseplant collection changed since she moved to Missouri
• [19:56] How does Becca divide her time between plants, work, and her baby?
• [22:00] How did Becca decide which plants to keep when moving?
• [26:36] Maria’s method of moving plants
• [31:03] New home, new garden? Discover new gardening essentials at Gardener's Supply Company
• [33:52] Moving is stressful, let’s admit that
• [34:31] What other things should you do on moving day?
• [37:19] What difficulties arise in Becca's first month of adjusting to her new home?
• [41:58] Maria’s evolving home setups for podcasting
• [46:21] How life phases (motherhood, new homes, and personal growth) influence changes in style and confidence?
• [52:07] Becca’s profound experience with a plant that shifted her perspective on life
• [58:07] Advice for people moving to a completely different place
• [01:01:37] Take advice from the old ladies at a garden center
• [01:02:53] Where can you find Becca on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Ep 151: Beginner's Guide to Greenhouses
• Interview with Maria: Planty Chat & How to Plan a Plant Event

For Becca's moving experience and tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Becca:

Podcast

Book

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

TikTok

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Gardener's Supply

Discover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.

Quarto: Happy Plants, Happy You by Kamili Bell Hill

Check out Happy Plants, Happy You at your favorite local bookstore, quarto.com, Barnes and Noble, or amazon.com.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

While we are stewards of the land, we are also stewards of the native animals that call it home. And birds, with their declining population, need our help to keep them flying high in our shared environment. Our responsibility is to protect their home, provide them with food, and minimize the threats they face.

When I realized there was someone else who shares my deep passion for birds AND gardens, and that she wrote a whole book on making bird-friendly gardens, I knew I needed to meet and befriend her immediately. So in this episode, Jen McGuinness, aka Frau Zinnie, talks all about optimizing our gardens for our birds.

If you follow me on social media, you know that I'm a crazy bird lady. I think Frankie, my parakeet, knows that this episode is special because he’s especially loud behind the scenes.

In this episode, we learn:

• [05:29] How Jen became a plant/bird lady
• [08:08] What is Jen’s gateway bird?
• [09:31] What does bird-friendly gardening mean (beyond the bird feeder)?
• [13:17] How will a bird-friendly garden help you and your garden?
• [14:12] What is a native plant?
• [15:26] Bring the soothing sounds of summer to your loved ones with Wind River Chimes
• [17:01] From balconies to backyards, grow your best garden yet with Gardener's Supply Company
• [18:37] What do birds eat?
• [23:07] What are the 4 major flight paths used by migratory birds?
• [28:48] What can we put in our gardens to help birds build nests?
• [31:41] Should you add a nesting box to your garden?
• [33:28] Nourish your plants and attract birds with safe, organic Espoma products.
• [35:27] How should you set up your bird baths?
• [40:36] How should you create a bird-friendly feeder setup in your garden?
• [45:02] How to choose bird-friendly native plants for your growing zone
• [54:28] What are some easy DIY projects to attract birds to a small balcony/garden plot?
• [57:53] Where can you find Jen and her book?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Ep 220: How to Make a Tiny Meadow in Your Yard with Graham Laird Gardner
• BirdCast
• Merlin Bird ID
• Birdsy
• Bird Buddy
• National Audubon Society
• USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
• The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees, by Doug Tallamy
• Bird-Friendly Gardening, by Jen McGuinness
• Micro Food Gardening, by Jen McGuinness

For Jen's tips on how to attract more birds to your garden,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Jen:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

X

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Gardener's Supply

Discover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hydrangeas are beautiful flowers, and they represent a wide range of emotions in different cultures. Yes, they can be tricky to grow, but they are relatively low-maintenance with the right care! In this episode, you will learn everything you need to know about hydrangeas from Ryan McEnaney aka @ryanplantsplants, your new best plant friend. I bumped into him in Seattle during the Northwestern Flower Show a few weeks back. We grabbed dinner and it was crazy how much we clicked!

Ryan is a fifth-generation member of Bailey Nurseries, which is known for their Endless Summer hydrangeas, Easy Elegance Roses, and First Edition shrubs. His lifetime spent with hydrangeas has given him a strong grasp on their care, and he’s willing to share these tips with us!

In this episode, we learn:

• [06:13] What has Ryan’s plant parent journey looked like?
• [09:54] What are the 4 main species of hydrangea?
• [13:42] Understanding bloom cycles for pruning
• [16:56] Say goodbye to balcony watering stress this summer with self-watering planters!
• [17:23] Learn how to create the perfect cutting garden for bouquets with The Cut Flower Handbook
• [18:25] What is the blooming cycle of hydrangeas?
• [20:09] When should you prune hydrangeas?
• [22:40] How does soil affect the color of Hydrangea macrophylla blooms?
• [28:58] What should you know about planting hydrangeas in the ground?
• [30:12] What’s the general light guideline?
• [30:42] Common mistakes people make with planting hydrangea
• [31:23] Get everything you need, from containers to raised beds, with Gardener's Supply Company
• [32:40] Check your hydrangeas’ soil acidity with Espoma Organics
• [34:30] Why is it important to choose hydrangeas with flower buds?
• [42:42] How to extend the length of hydrangea blooms
• [48:26] Where can you find Ryan on social media?
• [48:43] Where can you get Ryan’s book ‘Field Guide to Outside Style’?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Northwest Flower and Garden Show
• Bailey Nurseries
• First Editions
• Youtube: 210 How to Grow Citrus Indoors
• Pop Star® Reblooming Hydrangea
• Endless Summer Hydrangeas
• Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier
• Espoma Organic Garden Lime
• Espoma Organic Holly-tone Organic Fertilizer
• Espoma Organic Rose-tone Organic Fertilizer
• 'Limelight' - Panicle Hydrangea - Hydrangea paniculata
• Vanilla Strawberryâ„¢ Panicle Hydrangea

For Ryan's professional and proven hydrangea-growing tips,

check out the full show notes here!

Follow Ryan:

Website

Instagram

Book

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Gardener's Supply

Discover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.

Quarto: The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa M Ziegler

Pick up The Cut Flower Handbook at your favorite local bookstore, quarto.com, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble or amazon.com.

Crescent Garden

For a limited time only, head to growingjoywithmaria.com/crescentgarden and use code GROWJOY15 to curate your dream garden today.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Did you know that watering is one of the most common causes of houseplant death? You saw a gorgeous new plant baby from a store, and then you brought it home full of excitement and good intentions. In fact, you wanted to do your best, so you read the watering instructions in the packet and tried to follow them as closely as possible… And then tragedy happens. The once vibrant leaves start to wilt, turn yellow, or fall off entirely.

It’s a rookie mistake! But I’m here to share my hard-earned watering technique so you can keep your plants happy (and your plant parent pride intact). We’ve all been there, plant friends.

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:27] Why, when, and how of watering houseplants
• [04:12] Why do our houseplants need water?
• [06:04] How do houseplants absorb water?
• [09:04] When should we water our houseplants?
• [10:54] Frequency errors in watering
• [15:00] How to determine soil moisture
• [16:00] What is top watering?
• [20:20] Grow your garden with the highest quality houseplants from Proven Winners leafjoyâ„¢
• [21:52] What is bottom watering?
• [24:08] What are self-watering pots?
• [25:29] Why you shouldn’t use freezing water
• [26:18] Knowing when your plant needs water by weight
• [29:45] Why is drainage important in houseplant care?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Soil Moisture Meter
• Modern Sprout Watering Can
• Plant Mister
• Pump Sprayer
• Soil Probe
• WallyGrow Loop Hanging Wall Planter
• TERRAPOT TRCOT 10
• Growing Joy Ep 219: How to Care for Alocasias
• Growing Joy Ep 228: Everything You Need to Know About Calathea
• Growing Joy Ep 232: Everything You Need to Know About Philodendron
• What's Your Plant Parent Personality?

For my foolproof watering tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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How can you use plants to promote more mindful thinking? In this episode, I had the most amazing chat with my longtime plant friend Brittany Gowan (@brittanygowan). Brittany and I go way back to our NYC plant mom days when we used to have plant swaps and brunches together. It is pretty wild how plants can bring people together like that.

Brittany is one of a kind—she blends her skills in psychology and coaching with her deep love of nature. On the show, we discussed how plants can reduce stress, foster compassion, and increase joy.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:06] Who is Brittany Gowan? (one of my OG plant friends!)
• [06:16] Finding peace in a stressful job
• [10:12] What are some ways that city people can connect with nature?
• [12:59] Importance of noticing and appreciating “little thingsâ€� in urban areas
• [16:03] Celebrate special moments and create lasting memories with Wind River Chimes
• [17:51] Discover fun, plant-filled projects that add joy to your life with '¡Verdura! – Living a Garden Life' by Perla Sofía Curbelo Santiago
• [19:07] How has our ability to focus changed in a multitasking-driven society?
• [21:53] What are the metaphorical ways light/darkness can be interpreted?
• [28:20] How to develop compassion through plant care
• [30:09] Add a touch of spring to your home with Soltech's stylish grow lights
• [33:42] Finding joy in unexpected, small moments
• [39:32] How can plants and nature help with anxiety?
• [43:38] Returning to the wild and reconnecting with our roots
• [47:06] Meditation and mindfulness

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Pause With Plants Podcast
• Brittany’s book: Turn to the Sun: Your Guide to Release Stress and Cultivate Better Health Through Nature
• Seattle Spheres

For Brittany's mindful tips on growing joy through nature,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Brittany:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

1-on-1 Coaching

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all engraveable wind chimes.

Quarto: ¡Verdura! – Living a Garden Life by Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago

Grab ¡Verdura! at your favorite local bookstore, quarto.com, bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble or amazon.com.

Soltech Solutions

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15". 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

If you have 250 plants in your home, what would you do? That seems like WAY too many plants to care for, right? But for Samantha Hermann, better known as @houseplusplant on Instagram, this is her second nature. She’s my newest plant friend, and I’m so excited to have a casual conversation with her on this episode (let me know if you want more episodes like this). Samantha has been successfully keeping that many plants alive and happy for years, and I’m sure it’s a lot of work. But she’s here to share her best tips for managing a large indoor plant collection without stressing out!

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:46] Meet Samantha, the houseplant expert with over 250+ plant babies
• [05:37] What happened at the recent Tropical Plant International Expo?
• [11:22] When did Samantha start collecting houseplants?
• [15:09] Grow healthy plants in any corner of your home with Soltech’s stylish grow lights
• [17:26] Make your houseplants happy with Espoma Organic's high-quality, premium potting mixes
• [21:39] Why you should try new methods/species to avoid boredom and burnout
• [25:30] How Samantha’s plant collection has evolved over the years
• [30:51] What does Samantha’s research process look like for a plant? 
• [32:30] Why is trial and error in plant care important?
• [36:25] How does she take care of her plants every day?
• [39:24] What is her approach to controlling pests?
• [45:44] How does she care for her plants while she is away? (and smart home gadgets!)
• [51:25] Tips for maximizing your plant space through styling and organization
• [57:23] What are the challenges she faced having to take care of a large plant collection?
• [01:03:03] Why you shouldn’t let plant care become a source of stress (dark side of plant care)
• [01:03:59] Tips for moms on how to manage both children and plants
• [01:08:35] Starting her Instagram plant account
• [01:11:20] When did she realize that she wanted to be a full-time plant content creator?
• [01:14:37] Where can you find Samantha on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE)
• Foliage Focus
• Foliage Pro
• Prop Drops | Market Botany
• Market Botany (@marketbotany) | TikTok
• Mossify
• 46th IAS Annual Show and Sale Information
• Cultivate'23
• Sol Soils
• Pocket Wall Planters | WallyGrow
• Growing Joy Ep 219: How to Care for Alocasias
• YouTube: Make Your Own Moss Pole for Indoor Climbing Plants

For Samantha's simplified plant care routine,

check out the full show notes and blog here! 

Follow Samantha:

Website

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

Facebook

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Have you ever felt a sense of worry, fear, or anger when you think about climate change and the state of our planet? If so, you may be experiencing what's called "eco-anxiety." As plant lovers who are so connected to nature through our gardens and houseplants, it makes total sense that eco-anxiety could affect us. We care deeply about the Earth because we are part of it. So, let us spend some time with my dearest friend and resident green witch, Rachael Cohen, to better understand this concept.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:33] What is eco-anxiety?
• [07:14] Rachael’s personal story of identifying/managing eco-anxiety
• [09:45] Coping with eco-anxiety
• [11:21] How perspective affects happiness
• [12:16] What is the environmental impact of our actions, and how does it relate to our well-being?
• [15:21] Fill your homes with the most ethereal sounds with the new Wind River Eclipse Collection (use code GROWINGJOY)
• [17:26] Discover gardening tips, kitchen tricks, and family activities to reduce waste and save money with ‘Simple Country Living’ by Annette Thurmon
• [18:39] What is Rachael's book, Self-Care for Eco-Anxiety, all about?
• [20:01] Is corporate responsibility being misdirected, with consumers unfairly blamed?
• [22:30] How to shift from fight/flight to parasympathetic rest and digest mode
• [24:18] Somatic practices to release severe negative feelings associated with eco-anxiety
• [29:01] Finding neutrality and managing anxiety
• [30:10] What is the concept of “the mother treeâ€� in Rachael’s book?
• [32:25] What is the mycelium network?
• [36:42] What are some ways we can give back to Mother Nature?
• [41:37] Rachael’s favorite strategy for bringing oneself back from an eco-anxiety spiral
• [43:23] How is the book constructed?
• [46:55] Where can you get the book?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest, book by Suzanne Simard
• The Overstory: A Novel, book by Richard Powers
• Growing Joy Ep 229: Why You Should Care About the Spring Equinox
• Self-care for Eco-Anxiety: 52 Weekly Practices for Positive, Personal Change Through the Power of Nature, book by Rachael Cohen
• Growing Joy Ep 223: Cultivating Intuition with Nature with Rachael of Our Infinite Nature
• Growing Joy Episode 209: Plant Magic: How to Be a Green Witch with Rachael from Infinite Succulent

For a list of simple ways that you can give back to Mother Nature,

check out the full show notes and blogs here!

Follow Rachael:

Website

Instagram

TikTok

Facebook

YouTube

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all engraveable wind chimes.

Quarto: Simple Country Living by Annette Thurmon

Grab Simple Country Living: Techniques, Recipes, and Wisdom for the Garden, Kitchen, and Beyond by Annette Thurmon at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble or amazon.com.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

You may have heard that compost is the key to a healthy garden, and feeding the soil is more important than feeding your plants. And if you don't garden, you've probably heard about composting as an eco-friendly way to live more sustainably and support the planet. That is why I dedicate an entire episode explaining what composting is and how it works.

My guest, Michelle Balz, is a true composting guru who has written, not one, but two incredible books solely focused on this amazing soil amendment. By the end of our conversation, you'll understand exactly what compost is made of, how it benefits your garden's soil, why it's so great for the environment, and best of all—how to successfully compost both indoors and out.

In this episode, we learn:

• [06:49] What has Michelle’s journey been in composting?
• [09:24] How many different composting systems does Michelle have in her home?
• [10:20] Compost vs soil vs potting mix
• [12:02] What makes compost so special?
• [13:53] How does composting benefit the environment, ourselves, and our gardens?
• [14:31] Carbon sequestration
• [15:40] Discover the secrets to attracting birds to your garden with 'Bird Friendly Gardening'!
• [17:44] Skip the hassle of making your own compost with this organic Compost Blend!
• [20:51] How does composting impact gardeners?
• [26:42] How does compost help support the mycorrhizae?
• [27:20] What can and cannot be composted?
• [29:52] Is the composting ratio important?
• [32:18] What do we need to know about anaerobic/aerobic composting?
• [34:17] Indoor composting
• [35:07] How does vermicomposting work?
• [36:55] How can compost be extracted without worms?
• [40:30] Bokashi composting
• [42:57] Terracotta pot composting
• [45:22] What are the best composting options for outdoor gardeners? (bin and in-garden systems)
• [49:27] How do you know when the compost is finished/ready?
• [50:13] What is the life cycle of composting, how long until the first batch, and how can you nurture it effectively?
• [01:01:23] What is Hügelkultur?
• [01:02:45] What is an African keyhole garden?
• [01:05:14] Where can you find Michelle's books and social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Lomi tabletop composter
• No-Waste Composting: Small-Space Waste Recycling, Indoors and Out. Plus, 10 projects to repurpose household items into compost-making machines (No-Waste Gardening), book by Michelle Balz
• Composting for a New Generation: Latest Techniques for the Bin and Beyond, book by Michelle Balz

For Michelle's recommended composting methods,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Michelle:

LinkedIn

Instagram

X

Amazon

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Quarto: Bird-Friendly Gardening by Jen McGuinness

Grab the book at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble or amazon.com.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

If you're a houseplant lover like me, chances are you already have a philodendron or two in your collection. These awesome tropical plants are some of the most popular and beloved houseplants for good reason—they come in tons of different shapes, colors and sizes, and they're relatively easy to care for too! In this episode, I'm going to give you the full rundown of everything you need to know about growing these amazing plants at home. We'll cover the basics of their natural habitat and key care requirements, and I'll introduce you to some of my current favorite philodendron varieties.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:50] Philodendron high-level overview
• [09:38] Care #1: Light
• [13:43] Care #2: Water
• [15:38] Care #3: Soil
• [16:05] Care #4: Humidity
• [17:08] Care #5: Fertilizer 
• [17:39] Troubleshooting philodendron issues
• [19:10] Thank you Proven Winners leafjoyâ„¢ for sponsoring this episode!
• [21:01] Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
• [22:21] Philodendron 'Brasil'
• [22:37] Philodendron 'Lemon Lime' (as seen on my podcast art!)
• [24:13] Prismacolorâ„¢ Brandtianum
• [25:16] Philodendron atabapoense
• [26:05] Philodendron 'Silver Sword' (Philodendron hastatum)
• [27:11] Prismacolorâ„¢ Philodendron Fozzieâ„¢
• [28:38] Philodendron 'White Wizard' (Philodendron erubescens)
• [30:18] 'Prince of Orange' Philodendron
• [32:08] Prismacolorâ„¢ Sun Red Philodendron
• [32:33] Philodendron 'Pink Princess'

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Prismacolorâ„¢ Sun Red - Philodendron hybrid
• Prismacolorâ„¢ Atabapoense - Philodendron hybrid
• Prismacolorâ„¢ Brandtianum - Philodendron hybrid
• Prismacolorâ„¢ Florida Green - Climbing Philodendron
• Prismacolorâ„¢ Fozzie - Fuzzy Petiole Philodendron
• Prismacolorâ„¢ Gloriosum - Creeping Philodendron
• Prismacolorâ„¢ Hastatum - Silver Sword Philodendron
• Prismacolorâ„¢ Pink Princess - Philodendron hybrid
• Prismacolorâ„¢ Rojo Congo - Philodendron hybrid
• Prismacolorâ„¢ Sun Red - Philodendron hybrid
• Prismacolorâ„¢ White Wizard - Philodendron hybrid
• Prismacolorâ„¢ Lemon Lime - Philodendron hybrid

For a list of my current Philodendron favorites,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

If you interact with the houseplant community online at all, you've definitely felt the impact of The Sill on our plant niche. I honestly can't believe that it took me a whopping 230 episodes to finally have Eliza Blank, founder of The Sill, grace the Growing Joy with Plants podcast! Her female founder story of recognizing a need for a houseplant brand and building it into a million-dollar company would make you feel empowered, as it did me.

In case you didn’t know, The Sill was one of the OG plant brands that helped start the houseplant craze before the pandemic. And when I first started my podcast, they were also the first to reach out and show their support! So I want to take this opportunity to show you the story behind the success of The Sill live on stage at the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival in Seattle.

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:30] The Sill and its impact on the houseplant community
• [05:23] How did Eliza get into houseplants?
• [07:28] How exciting/challenging is it to launch a houseplant brand early on?
• [11:20] How did The Sill come about?
• [13:13] How Eliza built a multimillion-dollar brand
• [14:25] Why “fake it till you make itâ€� mindset works WONDERS!
• [15:47] Create the perfect Danish hygge atmosphere with Wind River Chimes
• [18:57] What was the struggle for The Sill during COVID? 
• [20:34] Navigating challenges in the plant industry
• [22:23] What’s the process of sourcing and acquiring plants?
• [24:14] What’s Eliza’s definition of success (and has it changed over the years?)
• [25:10] What it feels like being a woman in a male-dominated industry
• [26:56] Trends and customer preferences in 2024
• [29:01] What’s next for The Sill? 
• [30:01] Eliza’s personal life and hobbies beyond plants
• [32:30] Eliza’s favorite client story!

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Northwest Flower and Garden Festival
• Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE)
• Growing Joy Ep 18: Prepping Your Houseplant For Spring and the Science Behind Fertilizer With Chris Satch from The Sill
• Growing Joy Ep 30 Orchid 101 with Chris from The Sill
• Growing Joy Ep 38: Transitioning Your Plants Back Indoors for Winter with Chris from The Sill

For a deeper dive into The Sill's story,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Wind River Chimes

Turn your home into a relaxation oasis with chimes! Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. They are launching a new collection of chimes called Eclipse, which are Corinthian bells uniquely tuned to the Lydian mode, a scale that creates an ethereal atmosphere of enchantment that matches the mystery and wonder of the solar eclipse and of outer space. Plus, these chimes make for amazing personal gifts to your loved ones!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all engraveable wind chimes.

Follow Eliza:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

X

YouTube

LinkedIn

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Climate change is real, plant friends—and it’s impacting our world too fast! Because of that, it’s becoming extremely important for us plant parents/gardeners to adapt our practices to ensure our gardens can withstand the challenges that lie ahead. In fact, it’s already impacting our gardens in SO many ways—from unpredictable weather to increased pest infestations. So in this episode, I invited a new plant friend, Kim Stoddart, who is a passionate gardener, climate advocate, and author of "The Climate Change–Resilient Vegetable Garden," to discuss strategies for building a climate-resilient garden.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:39] How Kim became a passionate climate activist and gardener
• [11:44] The Resilient Gardener vs. The Resilient Garden
• [15:06] Deepen your meditation practice with the Wind River Meditation Chime
• [16:49] Grow a thriving, climate-resistant vegetable garden with Espoma Organic!
• [19:03] What are the climate issues to consider when building a resilient garden? (doom & gloom)
• [20:44] What are the effects of soil erosion and flooding on gardens?
• [22:56] What does “no-tillâ€� gardening mean?
• [24:59] What helps the soil become more resilient?
• [33:52] What is rainwater harvesting and what are the strategies for building water resiliency?
• [38:45] What is the importance of seed sovereignty in creating a more secure and sustainable garden?
• [44:01] What specific steps can you take to strengthen your garden's pest resistance?
• [46:08] What is polyculture?
• [49:57] What is Kim’s current garden practice? (aka what her homestead looks like)
• [52:12] Where can you find Kim on social media?
• [52:55] Where can you get her book, Climate Change Resilient Vegetable Garden?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Ep 227: Homesteading Basics with Kevin of Epic Gardening
• Growing Joy Ep 191: The Mushroom Miniseries: How to Grow Mushrooms Indoors
• Growing Joy Ep 189: Companion Planting Basics with the Garden Managers of The Lodge at Woodloch, Ep 189
• Growing Joy Ep 183: The Mushroom Miniseries: How to Grow Functional Mushrooms in Your Garden
• Growing Joy Ep 178: The Mushroom Miniseries: Mushrooms 101 Plus the Answer to "What is the Mushroom Growing in My Houseplant!"
• Growing Joy Ep 123: How to Manage Deer, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Moles, Voles and Other Animals in Your Garden with Brie The Plant Lady
• The Woodchip Handbook: A Complete Guide for Farmers, Gardeners and Landscapers, book by Ben Raskin
• The Climate Change Garden, UPDATED EDITION: Down to Earth Advice for Growing a Resilient Garden, book by Kim Stoddart
• The Climate Change–Resilient Vegetable Garden: How to Grow Food in a Changing Climate, book by Kim Stoddart

For a more detailed list of Kim's resilient gardening tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Turn your home into a relaxation oasis with chimes! Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. They are launching a new collection of chimes called Eclipse, which are Corinthian bells uniquely tuned to the Lydian mode, a scale that creates an ethereal atmosphere of enchantment that matches the mystery and wonder of the solar eclipse and of outer space. Plus, these chimes make for amazing personal gifts to your loved ones!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all engraveable wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

If you want a garden that provides, set it up for success with high-quality soil, fertilizer, potting mix and more! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Kim:

Website

Instagram

X

Kim Stoddart | The Guardian

The Climate Change Garden

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

What are your plans this Spring Equinox? Spring equinox is like a special day when light and dark are balanced just right. As it draws closer, it comes with a reminder that nature has its own patterns that repeat over and over, and this particular event shows us that winter is ending and spring is starting… bringing new life and growth. Tuning into the Earth's frequencies during this season can help us grow and feel refreshed too. In this episode, I’m so happy to welcome back our residential green witch and my dear plant friend, Rachael of Our Infinite Nature! She’s here to celebrate the upcoming Spring Equinox, share her insights on what's happening in the earth, sky, and ourselves during spring, and offer practices for connecting deeply with the powerful changes that happen in spring.

In this episode, we learn:

• [01:58] Connecting with nature and the seasons
• [04:18] Cultivating intuition with plants
• [05:58] Why “aweâ€� is a spiritual emotion
• [09:15] The importance of “seasonal livingâ€�
• [12:16] What is happening to the earth during Spring Equinox?
• [15:48] Brighten up your plants this spring with Soltech's grow lights!
• [18:01] Learn modern, low-maintenance approach to home food gardening with "The Layered Edible Garden" by Christina Chung
• [20:34] How external stimuli trigger personal growth/development
• [25:15] What are the astrological insights for the Spring Equinox?
• [29:33] In case you don’t know, I’m an Aries baby!
• [30:15] Why new moon in Aries = start of the new year (astrologically)
• [32:34] What are the positive aspects of the eclipse season?
• [35:09] Gardening tips for different moon phases
• [37:52] What are the best practices to nurture growth and vitality during spring?
• [45:51] Plants that embody spring energy
• [55:25] How to create your own seasonal bowl/altar
• [58:10] Spring awakening (a guided meditation)
• [01:08:10] Where can you find Rachael?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Ep 265 Everyday Plant Magic with Rachael of Infinite Succulent
• Growing Joy Ep 225 Indoor Plant Projects for Stress Relief with Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago
• Growing Joy Ep 223 Cultivating Intuition with Nature with Rachael of Our Infinite Nature
• Growing Joy Ep 219 How to Care for Alocasias
• Growing Joy Ep 209 Plant Magic: How to Be a Green Witch with Rachael from Infinite Succulent
• Growing Joy Eo 182 Spring Houseplant Care, Ep 182
• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, book by Robin Wall Kimmerer 
• ¡Verdura! – Living a Garden Life: 30 Projects to Nurture Your Passion for Plants and Find Your Bliss, book by Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago
• Pre-order Rachael’s new book Self-care for Eco-Anxiety: 52 Weekly Practices for Positive, Personal Change Through the Power of Nature by Rachael Cohen

For a deeper dive into Rachael's guided spring meditation,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

Ensure your plants are ready for the spring sun when you supply them with enough light indoors! Soltech Solutions offers grow lights with full-spectrum white light that mimics the sun to keep your plants happy and healthy: whether you are looking for a pendant light, track lighting, or a simple bulb to screw into any standard light fixture, Soltech has got you covered. They offer quality products with great customer service, free shipping, and a multi-year warranty. Keep the sun shining and the plants green inside your home with Soltech Solutions.

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".

Quarto: The Layered Edible Garden by Christina Chung

Say goodbye to long, straight rows of vegetable plants lined up and prone to pests and diseases, and say hello to taking your cues from nature and creating a garden filled with layers of food-producing plants with the new book The Layered Edible Garden. Food gardening pro Christina Chung of @fluent.garden introduces a modern approach to home food gardening that follows nature’s lead by growing plants in mixed communities, instead of in agriculture-centric monocultures. Learn how to build a mini “food forest� of 8 different layers that will produce food for years to come and require less work and fewer resources.

Grab the book at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, quarto.com, Barnes & Noble or amazon.com.

Follow Rachael:

Website

Instagram

TikTok

Facebook

YouTube

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Calatheas have a bit of a reputation among plant parents for being dramatic "divas." And I'm not going to lie—they can be particular about their care. But don't let that scare you off! If you try to understand their preferences, you can totally grow lush, vibrant prayer plants at home. That’s what we’re going to talk about in this episode!

In this episode, we learn:

• [01:44] Understanding calathea (now also called Goeppertia)
• [02:21] Why calathea isn’t for everyone (so set your expectations)
• [05:46] Why calatheas are the perfect statement plant!
• [06:17] Understanding the natural habitat of Calathea
• [06:51] Why calatheas are called “prayer plantsâ€�
• [07:41] High-level overview of Calathea
• [08:41] Calathea Care #1: Lighting
• [11:10] Calathea Care #2: Watering
• [14:42] Top tip: Calathea enjoy filtered water 
• [15:28] Enjoy superior quality and a variety of plants from Proven Winners Leaf Joy!
• [17:14] Mindful goal reflection through daily plant check-ins
• [18:13] Calathea Care #3: Humidity
• [21:04] How do you create a microclimate for your plants?
• [22:02] Why Calathea are resilient
• [23:42] Calathea Care #4: Fertilizing
• [24:08] Calathea Care #5: Troubleshooting
• [24:46] Tip: Trim the brown edges off your Calathea!
• [28:20] Different Calathea species
• [28:43] #1 Rattlesnake plant (Calathea lancifolia or Goeppertia insignis) = low maintenance
• [30:01] #2 Calathea majestica Diamond Dazzler White Star
• [31:30] #3 Calathea picturata = drama queen
• [32:38] #4 Calathea orbifolia = Instagram favorite

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Episode 224: Everything You Need to Know About Ficus
• Growing Joy Episode 219: How to Care for Alocasias
• Understanding Natural Light Worksheet
• Potting Soil Mix by Espoma Organic
• Terracotta Pots
• Ceramic Pots
• Plastic Pots

For my personal ranking of popular calathea varieties,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Is homesteading your ultimate dream? Because mine too, plant friends! Like most gardeners, I've always dreamed of someday creating a homestead and being more self-sufficient. I very much enjoy growing my own fruits, veggies, and herbs, but starting homesteading seemed a little scary. That’s why I was so excited to speak with gardening influencer Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening, who has spent the last few years turning his suburban property into an enviable homestead. Kevin shared his advice for transitioning from gardener to homesteader, one step at a time.

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:43] Managing multiple projects and Kevin’s homestead building
• [04:51] What got Kevin interested in homesteading?
• [07:59] Homesteading vs gardening
• [09:14] What are the aspects/elements of homesteading?
• [11:15] What is “greywaterâ€� and its potential for water recycling?
• [14:17] Different uses of rainwater (and why you should start collecting them!)
• [15:22] Experience cozy mindfulness with Wind River Chimes!
• [16:53] Learn actionable steps to build resilience in your garden with ‘The Climate Change Resilient Vegetable Garden’ by Kim Stoddart
• [18:40] Kevin’s rainwater harvesting system (which gauges the amount of rainfall one can capture over a year)
• [21:59] How solar energy works and how the net metering system operates
• [26:47] What is the role of a pond in homesteading?
• [28:53] Creating an aquaponic system
• [31:30] Switch to Espoma Organic's soil, compost, and plant food for a healthier homestead garden.
• [33:24] How has Kevin's experience raising chickens been?
• [36:51] Chicken care tips!
• [39:12] Can you do homesteading indoors?
• [40:53] What was the inspiration for Kevin's orchard?
• [42:30] What are the various fruits grown by Kevin?
• [43:47] What is the food forest approach to growing food?
• [45:47] What is Kevin’s favorite way of preserving food?
• [46:55] What’s next for Kevin?
• [48:08] Check out Kevin’s book, Epic Homesteading

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Book by Kevin Espiritu, Epic Homesteading
• Dr. Bronner's Soap
• BAR SOAP – Oasis
• Aquascape
• Carolina Coops
• ChickenGuard
• Growing Joy Episode 210: How to Grow Citrus Indoors With Danny of via Citrus
• Growing Joy Episode 206: The History of Italian Gardens and Italian Citrus With Helena Attlee

For a list of homestead components that you can start with,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home with chimes. Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition to your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

Quarto: The Climate Change-Resilient Vegetable Garden by Kim Stoddart

Our gardens can face a lot of concerns with this changing climate, from water-usage restrictions, extended heat waves, disastrous flooding, “super weeds,� or prolonged pest life cycles, there’s daunting challenges ahead for food growers around the world. Author Kim Stoddart outlines a clear path toward building resilience in your vegetable plants, your soil, and yourself with their new book The Climate Change-Resilient Vegetable Garden. With actionable tasks that reduce resource use, stabilize the garden’s ecosystem, and offer regenerative solutions to the most challenging issues faced by gardeners, this book provides advice to help you weather these storms with ease. 

Grab the book at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble or amazon.com.

Espoma Organic

If you want a garden that provides, set it up for success with high-quality soil, fertilizer, potting mix and more! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Kevin:

Personal Website

Epic Gardening

Shop

Facebook

YouTube

Podcast

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter

Discord

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Do you know that repotting and potting up mean different things? As our houseplants grow happily under our care, eventually they will outgrow their current pots. Determining whether your plant needs to simply have its soil refreshed (repotting) or be shifted to a larger container (potting up) can be challenging for new plant parents. In this episode, I will walk you through when to pot up versus repot, proper techniques for both, tips to avoid issues, and how to turn repotting into an uplifting self-care ritual by really tuning into your plants' needs and creating an environment that allows them to thrive.

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:30] Things I learned about repotting in the last couple of years
• [03:34] Some personal plant care routines
• [04:59] Do some spring cleaning!
• [06:28] Repotting vs potting up vs potting up water-rooted cuttings
• [09:04] Some rules to remember in potting up
• [10:43] Do the two-inch “bump upâ€� rule when potting up
• [11:59] When should you pot up?
• [13:08] What is repotting and why is it important?
• [14:36] How do you repot a plant?
• [15:03] Get stylish, minimalist grow lights your plants will love with Soltech!
• [17:16] Give your plants the love they deserve with Espoma's organic, eco-friendly potting mixes!
• [19:08] Common mistake people make when repotting/potting up
• [19:30] How do you pot up water-rooted cuttings?
• [21:02] General steps for repotting/potting up/potting up water-rooted cuttings
• [27:31] The best time to repot or pot up houseplants
• [29:05] Why you should not pot your houseplants in dirt from outside
• [32:00] Make sure that you saturate the soil!
• [32:35] Pay attention to the type of container or pot you are using
• [34:08] Use repotting as an opportunity for mindfulness
• [37:16] A letter to my pepper plant going into transplant shock

Mentioned in our conversation:

• How to Repot Plants // A Step By Step Guide
• Growing Joy Ep 182: Spring Houseplant Care
• Growing Joy Ep 192: How To Overcome Burnout Through The Healing Power Of Nature
• Growing Joy Ep 200: Common Houseplant Pest Identification And How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies And Mealybugs: Grow Better
• Potting Soil Mix by Espoma Organic
• Cactus Potting Soil Mix by Espoma Organic
• African Violet Potting Soil Mix by Espoma Organic
• Orchid Mix - Coarse Bark Mix by Espoma Organic

For repotting dos and don'ts,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

With shorter days and colder days upon us, ensure your plants are getting enough light indoors! Soltech Solutions offers grow lights with full-spectrum white light that mimics the sun to keep your plants happy and healthy: whether you are looking for a pendant light, track lighting, or a simple bulb to screw into any standard light fixture, Soltech has got you covered. They offer quality products with great customer service, free shipping, and a multi-year warranty. Keep the sun shining and the plants green inside your home with Soltech Solutions.

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".

Espoma Organic

If you want plants that thrive, set them up for success with high-quality soil, fertilizer, potting mix and more! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Do you feel a little sad or bored being stuck inside this winter (at least those in the northern hemisphere)? I hope the winter months haven’t got you down too much because I know we’re all feeling a bit cooped up lately. That’s why I brought on a new plant friend, Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago, a gardening expert and horticultural therapist, to share some of her favorite simple DIY indoor plant projects to spark joy during these months. Note that these are all featured in her new book ¡Verdura! – Living a Garden Life, which celebrates little plant-inspired passion projects to nurture our creativity!

In this episode, we learn:

• [01:53] Rebranding of my YouTube Channel
• [02:43] Introducing Perla Sofia Curbelo-Santiago aka Agrochic!
• [04:24] How did Perla develop her passion for gardening and plants?
• [07:05] How did Agrochic start?
• [09:38] How did Perla balance Spanish and English content?
• [11:32] What does her plant collection and garden look like?
• [15:08] Make meditation more relaxing and meaningful with Wind River’s Meditation Chimes!
• [16:51] Learn how to grow cut flowers with The Cut Flower Handbook’s beautiful illustrations!
• [18:41] Why are people drawn to nature and plants right now? 
• [21:08] Seeking simplicity to escape social media overstimulation
• [22:08] Perla’s interesting success stories about bringing plants into clients' lives
• [29:17] What is nature’s role in mood and healing?
• [30:42] Concept of gardening as a means to reconnect with one's inner child
• [34:18] Rediscover a sense of "awe" and childlike wonder
• [38:21] What is Perla’s barefoot garden project all about?
• [45:02] How do you create a miniature garden for yourself?
• [50:34] Get Perla’s book and follow her on social media!

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Book by Perla ¡Verdura! – Living a Garden Life: 30 Projects to Nurture Your Passion for Plants and Find Your Bliss
• Book by Florence Williams The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative
• GardenComm
• My Garden Break
• KidsGardening

For step-by-step tutorials on these indoor plant projects,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home with chimes. Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition to your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

Quarto: The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa M Ziegler

One of the most joyful things you can do in the garden is to grow flowers! If you are interested in upping your cut flower game, make sure to grab The Cut Flower Handbook by professional flower farmer Lisa M Ziegler. It is the bouquet-building bible gardeners have been waiting for! Included in The Cut Flower Handbook are 50 extensive flower profiles, planting tips, instructions, and images on how to pinch plants, how to make your cuts, how to dig a planting bed, and more. Plus, there are over 200 photos of the best cut flowers for home gardeners to grow and advice on caring for a cutting garden.

Pre-order now online or in-store, and if you're checking out this episode after February 27th, pick it up at your favorite local bookstore, quarto.com, bookshop.org, Barnes &Noble or amazon.com.

Follow Perla:

Website - Spanish

Website - English

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter/X

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

I am completely obsessed with ficus! Over the last few months, I've been slowly collecting different ficus varieties and learning how to help them thrive. There's just something about the colorful leaves, sculptural shapes, and tree-like growth that makes me love this plant genus. I love my ficus collection and feel like this genus has been overlooked, with the fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) getting most of the hype. But there are so many gorgeous, easy-to-grow ficus species that make excellent houseplants. I have spent the last few months cultivating a variety of ficus so you can grow these beautiful plants at home.

This episode is made in partnership with Proven Winners leafjoy houseplants.

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:43] We’re all about ficus today!
• [02:49] Reasons to love ficus
• [04:03] Did you know Michael Scott from The Office has a Ficus benjamina in his office?
• [05:06] How about a Boston fern in Will & Grace?
• [05:48] Why Ficus elastica is a good beginner plant
• [07:08] How do you care for ficus?
• [08:09] Ficus care #1: Light
• [09:11] Story about Figaro, my Ficus lyrata, before and after grow lights
• [11:11] Variegated/color = more light
• [12:27] Ficus care #2: Water
• [13:40] Why it’s important to make sure their leaves are clean
• [14:58] Ficus care #3: Humidity
• [15:56] Ficus care #4: Fertilizer
• [16:34] Ficus care #5: Pruning
• [17:52] Why you should wear gloves when pruning ficus
• [18:07] How to troubleshoot your ficus
• [18:15] Troubleshoot #1: Leaf drop
• [19:35] Troubleshoot #2: If it's not growing, it needs more sun
• [20:12] Get quality ficus plants that are resistant to leaf drop from Proven Winner Leafjoy!
• [22:37] Ficus lyrata
• [23:09] Ficus benjamina
• [24:00] Ficus benjamina ‘Twilight’
• [24:27] Ficus benjamina ‘Anastasia’
• [24:40] Ficus cyanthistipula
• [26:07] Ficus elastica
• [26:32] Ficus elastica ‘Abidjan’
• [27:22] Ficus elastica ‘Tineke’
• [27:50] Ficus elastica ‘Chloe’

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Office Ladies Podcast
• Growing Joy Episode 51: How To Live With A “Crazy Plant Personâ€�
• Growing Joy Episode 125: Palm Care 101 With Chris Satch
• Soltech Aspectâ„¢ LED Growlight
• Cling-On® Anastasia - Weeping Fig - Ficus benjamina | Proven Winners
• Plant Tour of Mickey Hargitay Plants

For a list of my favorite ficus species,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Proven Winners leafjoy

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

How can we use plants to connect with intuitive energy? If you're anything like me, simply being around plants makes you feel happier, calmer, and more like your true self. I've always felt plants have some extra special magic that goes beyond their pretty leaves. That's why I was so excited to welcome back our resident “green witch" Rachael from Our Infinite Nature (formerly Infinite Succulent—yes, she just rebranded!) on the podcast this week to talk about how plant care can open up our intuition and help us reconnect with our own inner magic!

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:46] Infinite Succulent just rebranded to Our Infinite Nature!
• [03:27] Check out Rachael’s Intuitive Magic Group Coaching
• [07:57] A little bit about Rachael’s background + certifications
• [08:53] When did she discover her mediumship and intuitive talent?
• [09:31] Reiki certification and intuitive coaching
• [10:53] What is intuition?
• [11:30] Understanding energy, spirit, and nature
• [12:35] Why is learning intuition similar to learning a language?
• [15:13] Experience mindfulness and coziness with personalized Wind River wind chimes!
• [16:54] Make gardening easy with Tony O'Neill's Simplify Vegetable Gardening book!
• [18:19] What is the symbiosis that happens when we get in tune with nature and with plants?
• [19:25] What is the importance of cultivating intuition in harmony with nature?
• [20:05] Impact of nervous system on intuition
• [21:20] Is instinct similar to intuition?
• [22:57] Take your Human Design personality!
• [24:50] How can we use plants to connect with intuitive energy?
• [26:17] Intuition is figuring out one's next step, not predicting the future
• [27:36] How to recognize subtle communication with nature
• [30:14] Get high quality potting mixes, fertilizers, and more at Espoma Organic
• [33:41] It's your choice to live life through magical lens or see it as trivial
• [34:50] What is the role of energy in our lives?
• [35:56] How working with plants allowed Rachael to experience life force energy
• [38:34] What are some activities that can help you connect with plants and your intuition?
• [44:12] How to connect with a tree? (a step-by-step guide)
• [50:34] Where can you sign up for Rachael’s Intuitive Magic course?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Ep 209: Plant Magic: How To Be A Green Witch
• Growing Joy Ep 165: Everyday Plant Magic
• Growing Joy Ep 60: DIY Succulent Crowns
• Rachael’s Books
• Rachael's Intuitive Magic Course: A 10-session Group Coaching
• Human Design Personality Test

For a closer look into magic and nature,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home with chimes. Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition to your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

Quarto: Simplify Vegetable Gardening by Tony O'Neill

Simplify Vegetable Gardening by Tony O'Neill of YouTube's Simplify Gardening is a plant nerd's dream: integrating botany, biology, and earth science concepts into the subject of food gardening. Read through an exciting approach that uses science to grow more food and utilizes the interconnectedness of Earth’s many systems to help your plants thrive. This book offers a deep dive into the science of growing a robust and sustainable home garden that will empower you to have your best garden yet.

Pick Simplify Vegetable Gardening up at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, quarto.com, or amazon.com.

Espoma Organic

If you want plants that thrive, set them up for success with high-quality soil, fertilizer, potting mix and more! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Rachael:

Website

Instagram

TikTok

Facebook

YouTube

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Do I really need a humidifier? Why do my plants get crispy leaves when I crank the heat? When it comes to houseplant care, humidity is right up there with water and light as one of the most important factors. I’ve spent years stressing about humidity levels. Fortunately, I invited my dear plant friend and humidity expert, Leslie Halleck, for another session of Grow Better. Understanding the science behind humidity has helped me stop freaking out and keep my plant collection happy.

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:44] Beware of random blogs you find online!
• [05:43] Why is humidity important and how does it affect the plants?
• [08:57] Important role of transpiration in a plant's health
• [13:32] The three terms you need to know (relative humidity, absolute humidity, vapor pressure deficit)
• [14:49] Grow your indoor garden like never before with Soltech's grow lights!
• [17:10] Cold air vs warm air
• [20:54] Is your hygrometer relative or absolute humidity?
• [22:45] Why is it so much drier in the winter?
• [25:18] How elevation affects vapor pressure deficit
• [31:00] Methods for increasing humidity
• [31:48] Why misting doesn’t work
• [33:36] Why pebble trays also don’t work
• [35:04] Why grouping plants together work
• [37:40] Is growing plants under glass effective?
• [40:25] Leslie’s obsession with glassware and mushrooms
• [41:26] What is burping?
• [42:07] What are Wardian cases?
• [42:50] What are Orchidariums?
• [49:13] How Leslie maintains the humidity in her house
• [51:01] Check out Leslie’s Tiny Plants
• [52:14] Sign up for Leslie’s courses!
• [54:37] Where can you find Leslie on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Botany for Gardeners Course, UCLA Extension
• Indoor Plants: Care and Maintenance Course, UCLA Extension
• Leslie’s Book Tiny Plants
• Growing Joy Ep 169: How To Prep Your Houseplants For Winter
• Growing Joy Ep 107: How To Care For A Large Plant Collection
• How to Care for Alocasia // My Favorite Alocasia Varieties! // Alocasia Care Guide
• Leslie’s Architectural Digest interview

For a deeper dive into humidity basics and light principles,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

With shorter days and colder days upon us, ensure your plants are getting enough light indoors! Soltech Solutions offers grow lights with full-spectrum white light that mimics the sun to keep your plants happy and healthy: whether you are looking for a pendant light, track lighting, or a simple bulb to screw into any standard light fixture, Soltech has got you covered. They offer quality products with great customer service, free shipping, and a multi-year warranty. Keep the sun shining and the plants green inside your home with Soltech Solutions.

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".

Follow Leslie: 

Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

It’s almost that glorious time of year again...seed starting season! I don’t know about you, but this is hands-down one of my favorite times in the garden. There’s just something touching about growing those tiny pieces of potential life into healthy plants and vegetables. However, I’d be lying if I said I’ve had perfect success right off the bat. Seed starting has a bit of a learning curve, but making mistakes is all part of the fun and learning in the garden! As long as you don’t lose an entire flat of precious tomato seeds (guilty!), then it’s fair game.

To help you avoid disappointment and heartache in your seed starting endeavors, I brought back renowned gardener Joe Lamp’l to share the top mistakes he sees people make. With years of seed starting expertise, including creating his online Master Seed Starting Course that I absolutely love, he’s seen it all.

Get $100 off Joe’s Master Seed Starting Digital Course!

Discount only applies through January 29th, 2024 so grab it while it’s live!

In this episode, we learn:

• [05:13] Joe’s OVG Course and adding flowers to his garden
• [08:25] How long has Joe been growing his garden from seed?
• [08:51] Understanding the nuances of seed starting
• [09:17] What is the educational value of the seed-to-plant process?
• [11:56] What are the challenges and differences in seed starting compared to caring for houseplants?
• [12:49] How did Joe come up with the top 5 seed starting mistakes?
• [14:09] Misconceptions people have when it comes to starting seeds
• [15:35] Seed starting mistake #1: Your seeds don’t germinate!
• [15:53] #1.a Soil temperature is not appropriate 
• [16:37] #1.b You plant them too deep or too shallow
• [19:05] #1.c They’re getting either too much or too little water
• [22:52] Seed starting mistake #2: Maintaining proper soil moisture (weigh your soil!)
• [26:47] You can use a moisture meter!
• [29:12] Seed starting mistake #3 Light requirements
• [30:42] Blue and red light frequencies promote growth more than other light frequencies
• [34:18] Why Joe recommends investing in a grow light
• [35:24] Seed starting mistake #4 Gardeners often don’t read seed planting guidelines
• [40:08] Older seeds may not be viable for planting (so check the sell date!)
• [41:25] #5 Process of “hardening offâ€� (preparing seedlings for outdoor life)
• [48:21] Where can you enroll in Joe’s seed starting class?
• [53:18] Sign up for Joe's Master Seed Starting Course before January 29 and get $100 off!
• [54:01] Where can you find Joe on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Joe's Master Seed Starting Course -- Get $100 off with this link!
• Online Gardening Academy
• Organic Vegetable Gardening Waitlist
• Book by Joe Lamp’l The Vegetable Gardening Book
• Growing Joy Ep 173: Seed Starting Basics With Joe Lamp’l
• Growing Joy Ep 114: Seed Starting 101 With Joe Lamp’l
• Soltech Aspect LED Growlight

For a more detailed look into seed starting fixes,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Joe: 

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Podcast

Twitter

Pinterest

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

When I think of the word “meadow,� I imagine a glorious landscape filled with grasses and wildflowers swaying in the breeze. While beautiful, these meadows also seem completely out of reach for most home gardeners. But in this episode, meadow expert Graham Laird Gardner, author of ‘Tiny and Wild: Build a Small Scale Meadow Anywhere,’ is here to show us that we can recreate tiny meadows, even on the smallest scale.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:40] How Graham became the “meadow manâ€�
• [06:27] Living off-grid in Puerto Rico
• [07:54] Why did he write a book about meadows?
• [11:34] We are nature!
• [13:22] What makes a meadow a “meadowâ€�? (and why it’s better than cut flower garden)
• [15:31] Treat yourself to a comforting, soothing moment with Wind River Chimes
• [17:01] Learn self-sufficiency and homesteading with Kevin Espiritu's book: Epic Homesteading
• [18:27] What are the benefits of adding a meadow to your yard or local community garden?
• [21:10] What makes a native plant native, and how much of your meadow should be native plants?
• [24:11] Are all native plants perennials?
• [26:10] Are shrubs and trees what distinguish a meadow from a forest?
• [26:27] How little of a lawn could be converted without significantly affecting the overall effect?
• [27:52] What are the components of a meadow?
• [31:30] Consider seasons and species when planning your planting
• [32:26] Understanding meadow maintenance
• [35:04] What are the basic design elements that you need to think about in a meadow?
• [35:23] Site Selection
• [36:17] Layering and plant selection
• [38:40] Is there an ideal sun exposure for a meadow?
• [39:56] How do you balance the wild and the chaotic when designing a native plant meadow?
• [43:18] Seeds vs plants
• [48:08] Why should you have a meadow?
• [50:04] Where can you find Graham on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Book by Douglas W. Tallamy, Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants
• Book by Graham Laird Gardner, Tiny and Wild: Build a Small-Scale Meadow Anywhere
• Book by Kevin Espiritu, Epic Homesteading: Your Guide to Self-Sufficiency on a Modern, High-Tech, Backyard Homestead
• Homegrown National Park
• Catskill Native Nursery

For a complete list of meadow gardening basics,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

This new year, bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home with chimes. Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition to your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

Quarto: Epic Homesteading by Kevin Espiritu

Take the first step towards self-sufficiency with Epic Homesteading, an accessible, beginner-friendly guide to starting a modern, high-tech homestead with advice on growing and preserving food, raising chickens and bees, utilizing solar power, harvesting rainwater, and so much more. Follow large and small step-by-step DIY projects to power up your homestead quickly, as well as advice on more complex subjects, such as investigating local zoning regulations and permitting requirements, staying organized, understanding your limitations, and designing your homestead for efficiency and beauty.

Grab Epic Homesteading at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, quarto.com, Barnes & Noble, or amazon.com. 

Follow Graham:

Instagram

LinkedIn

Linktr.ee

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

If there is one genus of plants that has captured my imagination for years but repeatedly evaded me, it’s Alocasia. These tropical plants with their large, alien-esque leaves and jewel-toned undersides have long obsessed me. I’d often pick them up from the garden center, only to watch them rapidly decline in my dry, temperate home. But after lots of trial and error, I’ve finally cracked the code to make them thrive! In this episode, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about growing Alocasia houseplants, including care tips, troubleshooting, and some of my new favorite varieties that are thriving in my home.

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] Maria’s experience with Alocasia
• [02:21] Why Alocasia is not difficult to care for—it just requires very high standards of care!
• [02:43] Why Alocasia are called alien-like plants
• [03:34] Characteristics and other common names of Alocasia
• [05:02] Where do Alocasias grow naturally?
• [06:31] Alocasia Care #1: Light requirements (bright indirect light)
• [09:06] Light is very independent of every person's own environment!
• [10:30] Alocasia Care #2: Soil moisture (keep them in evenly moist soil)
• [11:58] 2 different ways that you can measure soil moisture
• [13:34] What types of pots can you use for your Alocasia?
• [14:47] Alocasia Care #3: Humidity
• [15:28] Why you should use a humidifier
• [17:20] Other tricks to increase humidity in your home
• [18:19] Alocasia Care #4: Fertilizer (fertilize when you see growth)
• [19:13] Alocasia Care #5: Dormancy (aka quiescence)
• [20:11] Use plant-life parallels for your personal growth
• [20:50] Alocasia troubleshooting tips
• [21:24] Understanding your Alocasia's needs
• [22:25] How to save a plant from dying
• [24:20] Find the best Alocasia varieties for your plant collection with Proven Winners LeafJoy!
• [26:41] What are the different Alocasia species?
• [27:11] Alocasia 'Ninja'
• [27:46] Alocasia cupraea
• [28:49] Alocasia baginda 'Dragon Scale'
• [30:08] Alocasia longiloba
• [30:46] Alocasia watsoniana
• [31:33] Alocasia macrorrhiza 'Stingray'

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Ep 46: Understanding Natural Light: General Rules
• Growing Joy Ep 47: Understanding Natural Light: Measuring Tools
• Growing Joy Ep 74: Grow Lights 101 With Leslie Halleck
• Growing Joy Ep 92: Begonias With Marc From NYBG
• Growing Joy Ep 200: Common Houseplant Pest Identification And How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies And Mealybugs
• Growing Joy Ep 213: How Much Light Do My Houseplants Need?
• Free Download: Understanding Natural Light
• Moisture Meter and Hygrometer Review / Humidity Products for Houseplants Haul
• How to Save and Revive a Dying Houseplant: Saving My Prayer Plant from the Brink of Death!

For my favorite alocasia varieties,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Proven Winners

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Happy New Year, plant friends! And you know what that means—time for some serious reflection about the previous year and thinking about how we want to step into 2024! I'm all about assessing what worked and what didn't across all areas of life. But today, let's talk about plants and how you and I can use them to cultivate as much happiness as possible in the coming year.

When we show up consistently for our plant hobby, I firmly believe it can help us feel better, more peaceful, and more grounded. So I carved out some time to get clear on my goals based on what 2023 taught me. The name of the game is joy, calm, and some nervous system regulation from our plants!

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:31] Let's talk about what our community aims for in 2024!
• [05:55] Here’s a framework to help you set your own goals.
• [06:50] #1 Look back at how 2023 treated you and your plants (what brought you joy and what didn’t?)
• [07:53] #2 Set goals for 2024 (think about how your plants will fit into that)
• [10:01] #3 Don't forget to write them down! (as accountability for yourself)
• [10:59] Exciting news—Billy and I are heading south! <3
• [13:45] Goal #1: R&D (Research & Development) year
• [15:05] Try the new Wind River Meditation Chimes for ultimate relaxation!
• [16:48] Grow your best vegetable garden ever with the all-in-one guidebook
• [18:00] I want to make new plant friends (and get familiarized with the area)
• [19:31] Goal #2 figure out sustainable routines
• [21:08] What is habit stacking?
• [21:42] Take a quick 3-minute break from work 
• [22:38] Goal #3: Reconnect with the first-year plant parent Maria
• [25:13] Follow me on my social media!
• [25:40] Exciting new content coming your way - expect episodes on houseplants, gardening, and finding wellness through nature's lens!

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Ep. 165 Everyday Plant Magic With Rachael Of Infinite Succulent
• Ep 217 Plant Audit episode (not yet published)
• Book by Maria Failla Growing Joyâ„¢: The Plant Lover’s Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)
• Plant Parent Personality Quiz
• Book by Cal Newport Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

For a deeper dive into creating sustainable routines,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Quarto: Gardening Know How – The Complete Guide to Vegetable Gardening

Looking for a new gardening book to add to your collection? Snag this all-encompassing guide to growing your own food, filled with creative tips and practical advice from the editors of the world’s most-visited gardening website. Gardening Know How is an indispensable handbook for vegetable gardeners and includes not only the essential information you need to succeed but also a wealth of expert tips and real-world advice to smooth the many inevitable bumps on the road to a productive edible garden. There are detailed plant profiles with specific cultivation information and unique growing tips for each vegetable crop, allowing you to pick and choose which crops to grow based on your climate and personal preference!

Pick it up at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, quarto.com, Barnes & Noble, or amazon.com.

Wind River Chimes

This new year, bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home with chimes. Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition to your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Happy almost New Year, plant friends! For my last episode of 2023, I wanted to get a little reflective about the joy and growing parts of “Growing Joy.� This year, I bravely held a funeral for many of my houseplants that were no longer bringing me joy. Yes—I lost a LOT of houseplants this year. Some of the plants I said goodbye to weren’t even fully dead yet. They just weren’t happy in my home anymore, and I took it upon myself to consciously let them go in a ritualized way that released me from guilt.

This is a taboo subject for some plant parents. But I believe we need to openly discuss “plant loss� to release guilt and make space for more plant joy. So I’ll be walking you through my plant funeral experience, and how you can perform your own plant audit to grow even more joy in 2024!

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] I recently held a funeral for my dead houseplants this year
• [01:21] Why I performed a plant audit of my entire collection!
• [03:47] Let’s celebrate plant loss together
• [04:09] An excerpt from my book about plant death
• [04:41] Two options when a plant dies
• [04:52] Option A: Let it confirm you're a failure, then give up
• [05:21] Option B: Allow it to make you more curious and a better plant parent
• [06:33] Why I had such dramatic plant loss this year (I was diagnosed with melanoma!!)
• [08:52] Allow your plant collection to grow and change as much as you will in your lifetime
• [09:40] Why I felt guilty about failing to care for the Hoya plants Marcia gave me
• [10:25] Learn 30 simple and budget-friendly gardening projects with ¡Verdura! – Living a Garden Life
• [11:45] Find your perfect houseplant with Proven Winners LeafJoy's high-quality, diverse selection
• [13:53] Steps for performing your own plant audit
• [14:26] #1 Give yourself a nice amount of time, play music, clear table space
• [15:33] #2 Walk through your entire collection and assess its state
• [17:09] #3 Revisit neutral plants - do they spark joy or not?
• [18:20] #4 Gratitude ritual
• [19:20] #5 Figure out the highest vibe way to discard your plants
• [19:56] #6 Donate your healthy plants
• [20:19] You’re still a good person!
• [20:56] Consider "life audit" too - are aspects that need culling?
• [22:05] Where can you find me on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Book by Maria Failla Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)
• Book by Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago ¡Verdura! – Living a Garden Life
• Book by Marie KondÅ� Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up (The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up)
• Lomi’s tabletop composter

For a detailed list of ways to do a plant audit,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Quarto: ¡Verdura! – Living a Garden Life by Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago

Celebrates the power of adding more green to your life with 30 simple and budget-friendly gardening projects that promote well-being through plants. Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago of Agrochic.com has put together 30 projects found in ¡Verdura! to transform the initial spark of joy from plants into a healthy habit that enhances your life in many ways.

¡Verdura! is available January 2nd so preorder at your favorite local bookstore, quarto.com, bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble or amazon.com.

Proven Winners

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

I still clearly remember the first time I used an Espoma product—their liquid indoor plant food to be exact. I had struggled so much with trying to find the right fertilizer for my houseplant collection, leading to a huge mess all over my kitchen from failed mixing attempts. But when I tried their simple liquid formula, I finally had the answer to my search, and healthy, thriving plants with gorgeous growth. And I became a lifelong Espoma convert!

Little did I know then about the impressive 95-year history behind this organic garden brand. Espoma has been family-owned for four generations, starting way back in 1929. As my passion for gardening expanded over the years, Espoma continued to be my go-to for quality potting mixes, organic fertilizers and magical “tones� to feed all my container plants and garden beds.

I’ve loved learning more behind the scenes over the past several years while partnering with Espoma on the Growing Joy podcast. The Brunner family leading this company today truly feels like family themselves in how they’ve supported my own budding planty business. In this episode, I wanted to highlight their heritage, expertise, and products that have nourished gardens for nearly a century.

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:48] An overview of what four generations of Espoma’s 95 year-history looked like!
• [18:03] How was Jeremy's first 10 years at the company after he graduated?
• [18:25] How they address each other at work
• [20:07] How has the family business influenced their company culture and relationships with employees?
• [22:51] Where can you find the best-quality cultivated indoor plants?
• [24:49] What does being “keepersâ€� of the company mean for Jeremy? (Stewardship model)
• [27:02] What is the Bank of Espoma?
• [29:27] What's the history of their famous Holly Tone?
• [33:19] How do they approach Espoma’s product development?
• [38:43] On expanding and building a new facility!
• [44:07] Why Espoma hid its sustainability approach? (organic before organic was cool!)
• [49:10] How do they navigate the complexity of different certifications?
• [52:05] On solar-powered facilities and sustainability commitments!
• [53:50] Their greatest accomplishments as a family-run company
• [01:00:40] How the Espoma brand has evolved on social media
• [01:05:43] What does Jaime enjoy most about the business and working with her family?
• [01:08:11] The story of how my lime tree Limey was successfully shipped to Florida!
• [01:09:38] Where can you find Espoma?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Episode 193: War Gardens, Victory Gardens Or Pandemic Gardens: The History Behind Why People Grow Plants In Hard Times With Maggie Stucky
• Growing Joy Episode 205: Houseplant Styling Tips, How To Be A Professional Houseplant Stylist And All Things Maryah Greene
• Soltech Grow Lights
• Summer Rayne Oaks
• Holly Society of America
• Espoma Product Lines
• CDFA (California Department of Food and Agriculture)

For a deeper dive into Espoma's sustainability commitment,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Proven Winners

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Follow Espoma Organic:

Website

Instagram

Twitter/X

Facebook

YouTube

Pinterest

TikTok

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

The winter can be challenging for indoor tropical houseplants that thrive in hot, humid environments. While our houseplants do not experience the true dormancy of outdoor deciduous plants (plants that drop all their leaves at some point in the year), they can enter a period of slowed growth known as “quiescence.� During this time, they require adjusted care to stay happy and healthy. After keeping houseplants for many winters and making my share of mistakes, I want to share the knowledge I’ve gained about their winter care needs in this episode.

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:05] Dormancy vs quiescence
• [05:47] Why winter is a great time to explore your inner quiescence
• [06:25] #1 The light levels are going to change
• [07:14] Why some plants might have more light availability during winter (exception to the rule)
• [08:29] Few things to do to help your plants survive the winter when there is less light available
• [10:13] #2 Your houseplants are going to hate your heaters
• [12:18] Tips for dealing with dry heat
• [15:05] Where can you find quality products for your indoor and outdoor planting needs?
• [16:43] Looking for unique and soothing chimes as a holiday gift?
• [18:48] #3 Winter is the time that pests like to show up
• [19:51] How to deal with plant pests
• [21:41] #4 Fertilize if you see new growth
• [23:28] I just got a Monstera Thai constellation!
• [24:26] Bonus Tip #1: Don't freak out that much about dropping leaves
• [25:36] Bonus Tip #2: If you’re dying, force bulbs inside!
• [27:14] Key insights you can learn to experience quiescence in your life!

Mentioned in our conversation:

• GJ Ep 158: Grow and Make Essential Oils With Chris Satch
• GJ Ep 200: Identification And How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies And Mealybugs: Grow Better With Leslie
• GJ Ep 208: Diy Houseplant First Aid Kit With Leslie Halleck
• Soltech Aspectâ„¢ LED Growlight
• Espoma Liquid Fertilizers
• Painters Tape

For additional tips on winter plant care,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Espoma Organic

Make sure your plants are all set for the new season! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Wind River Chimes

This holiday season, bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home with chimes. Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition to your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones this holiday season!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Have you ever wondered, “Could working with plants really be my full-time job?� Well, dear plant friend, the answer is a resounding yes! There is a whole world of opportunities waiting for you in the horticulture industry should you decide to turn your plant passion into a career. In this episode, we’ll dig into 9 jobs in horticulture with my dear friend, Daniel Fuller. Daniel is a national council member for the Australian Institute of Horticulture, host of the “Plants Grow Here� podcast, and a writer for publications like the Hort Journal Australia. 

With over a decade of experience as a maintenance gardener, he offers a valuable perspective on helping people find meaningful careers in horticulture.

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:06] How Daniel built his career in horticulture
• [09:32] What's the easiest way to quickly enter the horticulture industry and gain experience?
• [09:49] #1 Maintenance gardening
• [10:11] #2 Retail nurseries
• [13:14] What's the best way to learn maintenance skills when you're just getting started?
• [15:28] Where can you find sleek, minimalist grow lights that complement your home decor?
• [17:22] Looking for unique and soothing chimes as a holiday gift?
• [18:50] #3 Production nurseries
• [20:47] Why Cert 3 is important in Australia
• [21:33] #4 Plant breeding
• [24:06] What’s the difference between breeding and production?
• [28:37] What’s the difference between garden designers and landscape designers?
• [30:18] Where can you find quality products for your indoor and outdoor planting needs?
• [36:26] #5 Landscape construction
• [38:34] #6 Leadership and management
• [43:50] #7 Sales
• [46:02] #8 Education
• [47:26] #9 Media and content creation
• [55:41] Where can you follow Daniel Fuller?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• TAFE NSW
• Australian Institute of Horticulture
• New York Botanical Garden
• Hort Journal Australia
• Hort People
• Growing Joy Ep. 208: DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit With Leslie Halleck
• Growing Joy Ep. 80: Plant Laws And Plant Patents
• Crimes Against Horticulture on Facebook
• Book by Simon Sinek, Leaders Eat Last
• Plants Grow Here Episode 160 with Bruce Durant
• Plants Grow Here Episode 178 with Scott Smith
• Hort People Blogs

For a complete list of plant-based jobs you can explore,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

With winter just around the corner, ensure your plants are getting enough light indoors! Soltech Solutions makes the grow lights you’ve heard me talk about for years: whether you are looking for a pendant light, track lighting, or a simple bulb to screw into any standard light fixture, Soltech has got you covered. They offer quality products with great customer service, free shipping, and a 5-year warranty. Keep the sun shining and the plants green inside your home with Soltech Solutions.

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".

Wind River Chimes

This holiday season, bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home with chimes. Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition to your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones this holiday season!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

Make sure your plants are all set for the new season! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Daniel:

Website/Podcast

Instagram

X/Twitter