Plant Daddy Podcast

*tap tap* ...Is this thing still on? Our hiatus has lasted slightly longer than we expected, but Maria from Growing Joy is on the very short list of people who can coax us out of podcast retirement. We hope you enjoy this conversation about caudex plants– a flavor we both love!

From Growing Joy Podcast:

"Are you ready to add some unique, eye-catching beauty to your plant collection? Meet the caudex plant—also known as the foot, Stephania erecta, or even the Potato Plant. While these plants may be stunning, they can be a handful to take care of without proper knowledge. Join us as we explore the world of caudex plants with expert guests Stephen and Matthew from the Plant Daddy Podcast. From the well-known Stephania erecta to other varieties that are more accessible and easy to care for, we'll share everything you need to know to be successful with caudex plants."

Growing Joy with Maria Podcast - Empowering Plant Parents Worldwide

Our Season 3 finale is here, and we’re wrapping up with a Q&A show covering succulent substrates, flowering plants for beginners, opinions on “rare” and “status plants,” favorite moments from this season, and more! Remember Lightning Rounds? To Stephen’s delight, Matthew throws one in. Have we forgiven our Mandarin Plants yet? And have we forgiven ourselves for the Paperwhite episode? Let’s just say we’re ready for a vacation!

Then on the After Show, we chat more about our summer plans – both planty and otherwise. To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!
https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

Have a good summer, see you in August!

Now that Summer weather has finally reached us here in Seattle, we sit down to share our plant-oriented reading and listening lists. Then we welcome Maria Failla back on the show to tell us about her new book, Growing Joy: The Plant Lover’s Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants), one we both loved! Remember almanacs? Which Plant Daddy gives Ortho some credit? And how are the Chinquapins doing? Happy Summer, y’all!

Don't forget to pick up your copy of Growing Joy!
https://bloomandgrowradio.com/book

Then on the After Show, we continue chatting with Maria to ask her a few more questions about the process of writing Growing Joy, and who she would have wanted to record the audio version if it hadn't been her. To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!
https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-143-our-planty-summer-reading-lists

It’s truth time. Since we *so bravely* shared our plant goals earlier this year, have we made any progress? Stephen started using windows, and he finally has some results to report. And Matthew is doing a certain thing a lot more consistently. But do we still have those Mandarin Plants? Let’s just say you can tell we’re getting close to the end of our season! Also, what’s 2+3? Asking for a friend.

And a special thank you to our new Patrons for the month of June! Head over to Patreon to become an Official Patron to listen ad-free, and get access to our exclusive After Shows!
https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

Need a plant sitter? We’ve teamed up with Watering Can App! https://www.wateringcanapp.com

Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-142-so-how-are-those-plant-resolutions-coming

At long last, The Plant Daddies will break their silence… and talk about Air Plants. We've discussed other Bromeliads in the past, so how has it taken this long to cover perhaps the most popular genus?! Perhaps it's because we don't consider ourselves great Air Plant growers, so we brought Tillandsia expert, Emily Allsop from Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle, to help! There’s a lot of varying care advice for these, so what does she recommend? What have our experiences and/or struggles been? And what are some ideas for more experienced growers?

Then on the After Show, do we feel more compelled to buy plants that contain the names of family and friends? To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!
https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

Are you in the Seattle area? Come see us live at the Volunteer Park Conservatory June 18th as we host a Pride Plant Parenthood Panel! Tickets at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pride-plant-parenthood-with-plant-daddy-podcast-tickets-341371761127

Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-141-air-plants

If you do everything right, the plant we’re discussing this week will look kind of dead! Did that get your attention? If that sounds appealing to you - and it does to us - then you really should give the Bundle of Sticks Plant, Cynanchum marnierianum, a try. What are our experiences with this surprisingly easy plant? How can you even tell if it's thriving? And why are we not surprised Stephen already owned it? This is one we both love!

Then on the After Show, we discuss what we found when we looked for online communities of Plant Parents with a love for "Dead Stick Plants," and what this interest might look like outside of the succulent world. To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!
https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

Are you in the Seattle area? Come see us live at the Volunteer Park Conservatory June 18th as we host a Pride Plant Parenthood Panel! Tickets at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pride-plant-parenthood-with-plant-daddy-podcast-tickets-341371761127

We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!

Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-140-bundle-of-sticks-plant

This month, we revisit a perennial Plant Parent passion – propagation! See what I did there? Thank you. Anyway, are there any new trends lately? What propagation are we doing in our own collections? And what the heck do we plan to do with these new plants? We “get into it” discussing sphagnum, perlite, and other preferred propagation mediums. But both Plant Daddies agree that this part of the hobby is so fun!

And a special thank you to our new Patrons for the month of May! Head over to Patreon to become an Official Patron to listen ad-free, and get access to our exclusive After Shows!
https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!

If you haven't seen the striking, bright orange growth of the Mandarin Plant, Chlorophytum orchidastrum, then you’re in for a treat. We were so intrigued that we both tried growing them! After 6 months, what have we learned? Which Plant Daddy had a better experience? How are their flowers? And could this be the Spider Plant’s prettier, moodier cousin?

Then on the After Show, we discuss the plant pots we never have success with. Are they cursed? To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!
https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!

Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-138-the-mandarin-plant

Looking for a Hoya you can thoroughly enjoy… even without flowers? This week, the Plant Daddies check in on Hoya polyneura, one they both consider a favorite “foliage Hoya”. How did we cut through the varying care information found online? How did our plants fare in our different conditions? And why does Matthew prefer mermaids to fish?

Then on the After Show, what are our next Hoya goals… if we have any left? To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!
https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!

Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-137-the-fishtail-hoya

We know it’s an unlikely choice for most plant parents, but the strategies and fun involved in cultivating unusual houseplants like Welwitschia mirabilis is an experience we’re excited to share! And even if he has never touched one, Matthew loves the botanical and evolutionary mystery this living fossil presents. What can we do when there’s no clear care info for a plant? Does Stephen even know what he’s doing yet? Say hello to Aunt Ephedra for us.

Then on the After Show, what is Stephen’s long term plan here? And what might be protecting wild populations? To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!
https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!

Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-136-welwitschia

We have plenty of plant thoughts and goals on our minds as we sit down for our Spring-themed Chill 'n Chat! Should you put our houseplants outdoors during the warm months? As seasonal selections improve at plant stores, what are our current strategies to avoid plant burnout or over-collecting? Do you have to get a former goal plant if it’s cheaper now? And the real bombshell – is Stephen finally ready for a Pothos? Brace yourselves!

And a special thank you to our new Patrons for the month of April! Head over to Patreon to become an Official Patron to listen ad-free, and get access to our exclusive After Shows!
https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!

Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-135-spring-strategies-grab-bag

Looking for a low-stress succulent with beautiful, unusual flowers? Then Huernia zebrina should be on your list. We’ve both kept this plant for years, so we’ll share plenty of mistakes for you to learn from! What is soil compaction? What is the easiest way to propagate? And what about the other amazing plants in the Stapeliad group? This is one we’re both excited about!

Then we did another After Show - head over to Patreon to hear it! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!

Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-134-lifesaver-plant

We found articles calling Ficus Audrey and Ficus umbellata “the next Fiddle Leaf Figs.” So we decided to put this bold claim to the test. Do they live up to the hype? How similar is their care to the FLF? And years later, how are Matthew’s "It Plants" doing? Stephen does a wellness check, and one of these shows promise!

Then we tried something we’re calling the After Show! Head over to Patreon to hear it! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!

We’re back with another classic that may straddle the world of houseplants and…indoor herbs? Beyond impressively easy care, we'll explore our own experiences with this ubiquitous plant over the years. Does it have uses beyond soothing burnt skin? Has its efficacy as a home remedy been studied? Will we find any good aloe recipes? And is this the first time we consume a plant as we talk about it?

Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST at checkout!

We can talk about techniques one by one, but sometimes a scenario – like adopting an old plant – is the best way to discuss how we think of them *all working together*. Today we’ll talk through fertilizing, potting substrate, pruning, and dividing, and when we’d consider each. Will we agree? Expect a few propagation and pruning tips in this one, and of course some teasing between us.

Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Use code PLANTDADDYPODCAST at checkout to save 15%!

Have you ever listened to a friend’s vacation recap, but wished they would ONLY talk about the plants they saw? If you answered “Yes!,” “Maybe,” or “...What?”, then this episode is for you! What did Stephen see that surprised him? And which plant-centric spots does he recommend? Most of all, will this finally coax him to get a Monstera?

We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Use code PLANTDADDYPODCAST at checkout to save 15%

Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

It’s Chill 'n Chat time again! This month, we decided to go way back and revisit the first 5 plants we covered in the show. How are they doing in our collections? And how have our opinions changed? Let’s just say some things have changed since 2019, and some things haven't.

We discuss: Jungle Cacti (00:06:00) | Staghorn ferns (00:17:45) | Pilea peperomioides (00:23:40) | Begonia maculata (00:28:17) | Pothos (00:33:02)

We’re excited to team up with Soltech Solutions! Use code PLANTDADDYPODCAST at checkout to save 15%

Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

Is there a perfect Hoya substrate recipe? Our answer may surprise you. We’ll walk through our preferred ingredients, why we use them, some ideas for both new and experienced Hoya parents, and even the “potting equation” as a whole! You know us – we couldn’t help getting into the details! What is a “coarse” mix? How do we both feel about coconut husk chunks? And which one of us hasn’t repotted one of their Hoyas in 5 years?

Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

So… what is an asparagus fern anyway? We’ll share cultivation “experiments” that may help you avoid some common frustrations with these resilient classics, and we’ll cover the common species that share this moniker at plant stores. How much water do these really need? Does Stephen *actually enjoy* these? And can Matthew resist talking about edible asparagus? These “ferns” deserve a second look!

Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast

Over the holidays, the Plant Daddies both tried some boxed bulbs from the clearance rack (...it turns out!), and our “results may have varied.” Now that indoor bulbs are gone from store shelves, this post-Paperwhite wrap-up is more about the experience, less about the care advice, and even leaves us questioning …what IS a houseplant to us? We get on our soapboxes. Did adding alcohol work? And what does Thalassa Cruso have to say? Buckle up for an interesting ride this week!

Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast