Bloom and Grow Radio

Have you ever picked up a plant at the garden center and wondered how the houseplants even get here? I didn't think about it much until I was invited to speak at Cultivate, one of the biggest horticulture industry conferences, and I spent the whole time walking the halls. I'd been caring for plants for years. But I had no idea how much love and time go into getting one plant onto a store shelf. So I asked my friend Justin Hancock to walk us through it. Justin is a horticulturist at Costa Farms, the largest houseplant grower in the world. We talked about plant hunters, secret R&D areas in greenhouses, years of testing, and literally millions of cuttings before a plant ever makes it onto a store shelf! Let's dive in!  In this episode, we learn:[01:33] Come hang out with me over on Substack! [02:58] Welcome back, Justin Hancock! [05:19] Why the horticulture industry is so grounded and generational [06:30] What has Justin’s experience in the horticulture industry been like? [07:38] Why many horticulture businesses are passed down through generations [09:29] How a plant gets from discovery to your local garden center [11:12] What is a plant hunter, and how do you become one? [12:14] What makes a good new houseplant [14:00] How long does a plant spend in R&D before it hits shelves? [14:11] How growers forecast plant trends years ahead of social media [15:51] Meet the plant rebels who changed history in Rebel Gardeners by Camilla Anderson! [17:43] Plant hunting vs. plant breeding [19:35] Why aureums are so shy to flower… [20:52] What happens after a plant passes R&D? (propagating from one cutting to thousands) [22:40] Costa's five-point testing process and why variegated plants are so tricky to produce [24:40] The other roles that touch plants before they reach the garden center [25:19] How Costa is making its potting mixes more sustainable and locally sourced [26:33] How many plants make it out of R&D (and the Monstera subpinnata that flopped) [28:37] How tissue culture fits into plant hunting and production [29:33] What is tissue culture, and how is it different from growing from a cutting? [30:53] Should everyday plant parents buy tissue culture plants? [34:01] When trends move faster than production: the pink princess philodendron [36:12] What's hot right now and the new genera coming out of R&D [38:55] Inside Justin's book, The New Complete Guide to Houseplants [40:40] Bonus plant profiles and signed copies when you pre-order through Costa Farms! [42:31] Rapid-fire questions: underrated & overhyped houseplants [44:00] The plant Justin always kills, and the one he grows best! [45:30] The one thing he wishes every person understood about their houseplants  Mentioned in our conversation: The New Complete Guide to Houseplants by Justin Hancock Mike Rimland (Plant hunter at Costa Farms) Monstera Bulbasaur Growing Joy 357: Motherhood, Seasons of Life and Changing Plant Passions with Becca De La Plants Growing Joy 300: Exploring the Different Types of Pothos: From Marble Queen to Albo to Climbing Giants with Justin of Costa Farms  Where do your favorite houseplants come from?Check out the full show notes and blog to find out!   Follow Costa Farms: Website Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok Pinterest LinkedIn  Thank you to our episode sponsor:Quarto: Rebel Gardeners by Camilla AndersonGrab your copy of Rebel Gardeners at quarto.com, wherever books are sold, or through your local bookstore.    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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you're already dreaming about your 2027 garden, I fully support you! But I also want to encourage you to take a beat... because the best thing you can do for next year's garden is to properly put your garden to bed for winter right now. So here's one of my favorite conversations for the Best of Growing Joy series. It's with author and garden influencer Resh Gala, and it's all about what she does at the end of the growing season to feed the soil, support wildlife, and make spring gardening so much easier. We cover compost, cover crops, what to leave behind, and what to clean up during your fall garden cleanup. And Resh shares the one crop you should plant before winter so you can enjoy it in the spring. In this episode, we learn:[05:19] Resh's gardening journey and how understanding soil quality led to her success [07:53] How does Resh balance gardening, extending the growing season, and self-care in her small backyard garden? [09:37] Creating a greenhouse effect in snowy conditions with bent metal or PVC pipes [11:24] Why preparing and “putting to bed” gardens for winter is important [13:20] What are the sustainable gardening practices for winter that you should know about? [16:57] Importance of adding compost to garden beds before winter to improve soil health [19:13] What should be done in spring to prepare the soil for planting? [20:18] Nourish your garden with Espoma Organic's diverse range of organic composts [22:19] Gift a touch of harmony this holiday with Wind River Wind Chimes [25:10] Why cover crops are a valuable addition to regenerative gardening and soil enrichment [28:54] Why it’s easy to grow garlic during winter (keeps pests away, resilient, and is a gardener’s favorite!) [32:09] Why is it important to reflect on the gardening season as part of self-care in plant care? [34:09] Resh’s favorite list of what to grow in preparation for the next garden season (tomatoes and cucumber varieties) [39:59] What kinds of flowers does Resh like to grow in her garden to attract pollinators? [48:19] Pre-order Resh's upcoming book Vegetable Gardening Made Easy later this year [50:52] Where can you find Resh on social media?   Mentioned in our conversation:Building and Installing a Low Tunnel Hoop House — Resh Gala Growing Joy Ep 168 Grow Your Own Tea: Intro To Herbalism With Juliet Of Chestnut School Of Herbal Medicine Growing Joy Ep 199 How To Grow Garlic With Jill Winger Growing Joy Ep 200 Common Houseplant Pest Identification And How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies And Mealybugs Sundried Cherry Tomatoes — Instagram Reel Tomato crops Cucumber crops Pre-order Resh Gala’s book, Vegetable Gardening Made Easy   Are you already dreaming about next year's garden?Check out the full show notes and blog for why putting your garden to bed for winter is the best thing you can do!   Follow Resh: Website Instagram YouTube Hundred Tomatoes     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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This might be uncomfortable to ask you, plant friends, but when was the last time you had an original thought? Meaning, it shouldn’t be something you heard from a podcast, Instagram, or even ChatGPT. I’ve been itching to ask this question since coming back from maternity leave. And even when I sat down to write this, I caught myself scrolling, trying to find more about how to stop doing exactly that. This might be a little different from what we always talk about, but I figured it's something we can all have a conversation about. Let's dive in!  In this episode, we learn:[02:04] Why is it so hard to hear yourself coming out of maternity leave? [04:49] How it's possible to go a whole day without one original thought [07:33] What is information overload? [08:24] Why do self-help, wellness, and meditation apps sometimes add to information overload? [09:56] Why we need space and the ability to get bored again [11:40] “Look at a plant before you look at a screen” [12:33] How did trading coffee with my phone for coffee with my plants change my mornings? [15:35] Have you tried single-origin Manukora honey?  [17:21] Make fertilizing and mixing chunky soil simple with Espoma Organic! [19:21] Why plants are such a gentle place to put your attention [20:21] What is attention restoration theory? (Directed vs. involuntary attention) [22:36] How a 40-second green roof microbreak improved focus [24:35] Why I'm telling you to turn off this podcast… [25:55] Check out my Substack! [26:14] Back to the original question:  when was the last time you had an original thought?  Mentioned in our conversation:Growing Joy episodes:322: From Plant Care to Nature Therapy: A Solo Heart to Heart 310: Digital Detox: What 3 Days in Nature Taught Me (and How You Can Recreate It at Home) 192: How to Overcome Burnout Through The Healing Power of Nature 2015 Study: 40-Second Green Roof Views Sustain Attention Subscribe to my Substack  Are you up for my no-screen mornings challenge?Check out the full show notes and blog for more details!  Thank you to our episode sponsors:ManukoraGo to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts! Espoma OrganicVisit 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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The first time I visited Arizona, I could not believe my eyes. I could not believe that, as someone who spent my life growing up in the Northeast, an arid desert like Arizona exists! The southwestern climate is so wild because I don't understand how a desert garden could look and feel lush and magical, just like a tropical oasis, but it can. It's all about desert landscaping with low-water plants and native desert plants that are built to grow on less. So I visited the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona a couple of years ago, and I got to interview Tina Wilson, their Director of Horticulture, who gave us this crash course on how to landscape in the desert. So for this episode of the Best of Growing Joy series, I wanted to bring back this conversation for any of our listeners living in arid desert areas in the Southwest. Because plant friends, there are gorgeous drought-tolerant plants and smart drip irrigation systems that will bring pollinators and gorgeous beings to your southwest garden, so it grows well instead of just looking fried! In this episode, we learn:[04:58] How Tina Wilson became Director of Horticulture at Desert Botanical Garden [06:13] Tina's duties as Director of Horticulture [08:04] Unique vegetation in Arizona [10:02] What is desert landscaping? (and its 3 characteristics!) [13:08] Gardening zones in the Southwest [14:06] Key factors to consider when landscaping in the desert [14:42] Right plant at the right location! [15:51] What are the plants recommended for desert landscapes? [16:46] The impact of the southwestern sun on plants [18:17] Protecting plants from sunburn with shade cloth [19:16] What is a plant palette? [21:08] Where to find the best bamboo bedding for health and comfort? [23:36] Want to grow fresh berries in your own garden? [25:09] The importance of water conservation and irrigation in the desert [26:22] Why reduce grass/turf in desert landscapes? [29:24] The process of renovating a yard: soil profiling and testing [31:07] Why are native desert plants so well-suited to desert conditions? [33:34] An overview of desert plants' root systems [34:17] How a Saguaro cactus stays upright despite its shallow root system [35:53] Exploring water harvesting techniques [37:02] What are some of the drought-tolerant plants? [40:20] Tina's favorite pollinator-attracting plants [42:04] Maria's experience at the New York Botanical Garden [42:39] Join Desert Landscape School now for an exceptional learning experience. [45:26] Is there a season for growing food in the desert?   Mentioned in our conversation:Channy Gray Home Elevated Gardening New York Botanical Garden Desert Botanical Garden Marriott Hotel Phoenix Desert Landscaping School of Desert Botanical Garden   Have you ever killed a plant by loving it too much?Check out the full show notes and blog for why overwatering is the #1 desert landscaping mistake!   Follow Desert Botanical Garden: Website Instagram Facebook Twitter Tiktok 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

So, plant friends… all my plants are dead. Well, not all of them. But MANY of them. I had a baby in June, and my houseplants did not survive my postpartum era. What’s interesting is that I've heard from listeners who went through this exact thing. I never judged them once and coached them through it. But I still thought it would never be me, because I have a whole podcast about houseplants. But here we are. Let's talk about it!   In this episode, we learn:[00:00] My plants are dead!!! [01:55] 12 weeks postpartum in Florida with a baby… and a lot of sad plants :( [03:06] My pregnancy, buying/renovating a house, and a very difficult birth [05:09] How 'mom brain' affected me [06:54] How I’m redefining plant parenthood [07:46] The syngonium I found on my honeymoon [08:37] What are the life transitions that quietly change how I care for plants? [10:02] 8 years of shifting my interests (houseplants, growing food, cut flowers, propagation, tropicals) [12:50] What I actually want now in this new season of life [14:17] Low maintenance, high impact (stroller walks, snipped bouquets, and birdsongs) [15:35] Experience the richness of single-origin honey with 3x more antioxidants with Manukora Honey! [17:21] What connecting with nature indoors looks like [18:51] Caring for Polpettino and feeling more like a mammal than ever! [19:47] Why this episode is "All My Plants Are Dead," not "I Killed All My Plants" [20:09] Not giving up on plants and what I'm committing to in Zone 10B! [21:24] What does your growing joy look like right now, and what do you want it to look like in 2027?  Mentioned in our conversation:Growing Joy Episode 357: Motherhood, Seasons of Life and Changing Plant Passions with Becca De La Plants Clarkson's Farm (TV Series 2021– )  What's next for my plants?Check out the full show notes and blog here!   Thank you to our episode sponsor:ManukoraGo to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts!   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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Did you know that Becca from Becca De La Plants and I delivered our babies 24 hours and 3 minutes apart?! We didn't plan that. We've been friends for almost 10 years now, and the first time we hung out, she was planning her wedding. Since then, we've gotten married, moved, built businesses, and now she's had her second baby, and I've had my first! For some reason, we keep landing in the same season of life at the same time. So I asked her to come talk with me about it. About two hard pregnancies, about the identity shift nobody warns you about properly, and about what plants have been quietly teaching us the whole time. Come join our conversation!   In this episode, we learn:[02:14] Meet Becca De La Plants [06:53] The TikTok comment that flagged her cholestasis! [08:22] Where social media saves you, and where it wrecks you [10:22] Running my business from bed through a sick first trimester [11:43] What prenatal depression took from Becca’s toddler's first years [13:41] The beliefs we absorb about how pregnancy is supposed to feel [14:51] Joey Santore’s Concrete Botany [15:55] Espoma Organic [17:57] Why I wouldn't let myself attach to this pregnancy after two losses [20:42] How one Five Guys order sent me to the ER with gallstones [24:22] How a hard pregnancy made the newborn phase feel blissful! [25:53] Becca's HG lifting the day she delivered and finally being able to eat [28:47] Why snap-back culture makes no sense when you barely gained weight [29:49] The identity shift of becoming a mom! [35:46] How thinking in seasons gives you permission to be fully present [37:37] Is "don't lose yourself" actually good advice? [38:21] My HOT take: why you should have your kids later [42:01] What slow-germinating seeds taught me about timing [42:59] What it's like being last to have a kid when you've always gone first [46:19] Second-baby calm vs. logging every single diaper in the app [47:53] Sibling age gaps, and watching your own sister dynamic play out in your kids [49:49] Childcare, pumping, and holding the next year with an open hand [51:50] Why first-time moms should be allowed to be weird (the mammal side of postpartum) [54:18] Do I let Growing Joy expand beyond plants? [57:22] Why evolving your content is the only way to keep it honest [58:50] A six-month check-in with Becca!   Mentioned in our conversation:Growing Joy 240: How to Move with Houseplants with Becca De La Plants, Ep 240 Huckleberry App: Baby Tracker & Sleep Experts Understanding Natural Light Green Up Your Workspace  For all of my and Becca's motherhood hot takes,check out the full show notes and blog!   Follow Becca: Podcast Book Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok   Thank you to our episode sponsors:Quarto: Concrete Botany by Joey SantoreGrab your copy of Concrete Botany at quarto.com, wherever books are sold or through your local bookstore. Espoma OrganicVisit 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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever wandered through the citrus section of a nursery, inhaling the sweet scent of Meyer lemons and key limes, and thought “Oh my, I want one”? As someone who impulse purchased a struggling lime tree years ago—which I named Limey, by the way—growing citrus indoors is possible with the right care and conditions. Citrus plants can be great houseplants if you set them up for success, and they present a unique opportunity to engage all five senses! In this episode, I invited my long-lost dear friend Danny Trejo from Via Citrus to share with you everything you need to know to cultivate your own indoor citrus plant, from choosing the right variety to proper care for growth and fruiting.   In this episode, we learn:[00:00] What citrus varieties has Maria grown over the years?  [11:59] What is Danny's background with citrus? [19:39] What citrus varieties does Danny recommend for beginners? [21:20] Other citrus varieties Via Citrus are growing [24:13] What conditions do citrus plants need to thrive indoors? [28:01] Grow light specifications for citrus (a crash course) [31:28] Why you should have a proper watering schedule [34:09] Soil care and drainage hole for your citrus [35:52] How often should you fertilize citrus? [37:11] How to prepare your citrus in the winter [38:37] When is the best time to prune your citrus plants? [41:40] How to increase humidity for citrus in the winter [42:53] What are some common citrus troubleshooting tips? [44:08] Can you grow citrus from seeds? [45:28] What is grafting? [49:53] How to ensure that your plant's buds develop into fruit [51:52] What exciting new sustainable pot line is Danny creating? [55:06] Where can you find Danny on social media? (use code ‘GROWINGJOY' for 10% discount!)   Mentioned in our conversation:Growing Joy Ep 206 The History Of Italian Gardens And Italian Citrus With Helena Attlee Growing Joy Ep 203 How To Bring Your Plants Indoors For The Winter YouTube video Limey’s Grand Adventure // Flying My Lime Tree To Florida Helena Attlee’s book, The Land Where Lemons Grow: The Story of Italy and Its Citrus Fruit We The Wild Soltech Aspect Lights Collection Espoma Organic Citrus Tone Espoma Organic Citrus Food   Set your indoor citrus plant up for success with Danny's expert tips!Check out the full show notes and blog here!   Follow Danny: Website Instagram Repots Facebook Email   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     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you fallen down the greenhouse rabbit hole yet, plant friends? If you've had plants for more than a year, you're probably like me, who's started Googling "how to put a greenhouse in my backyard" already. And I learned that a greenhouse isn't a big plant shelf but a structure, and it's probably the largest single purchase you'll make as a plant parent. I'm in Zone 10b in Florida and I still haven't built mine. So I asked Leslie Halleck, a favorite podcast guest, a long-time friend, and someone who has a master's in greenhouse production and a new book called Home Greenhouse Revival, what to figure out first. And I think she also holds the guest record for most appearances on the show! Let's dive in!   In this episode, we learn:[02:06] Meet Leslie Halleck [02:33] Moving her whole life and business from Texas to Oregon [03:29] Why the Pacific Northwest is a ‘horticultural mecca’ for gardeners [04:42] Lelie’s new 6-acre property (what she calls folia forest farm) [06:49] What does her "pocket farming" look like? [09:03] Why are greenhouses trending? [12:51] What is the biggest greenhouse mistake? [14:13] Why cooling a greenhouse is so much harder than heating one [15:29] Manukora Honey [17:47] Hoop house vs. glass house [18:47] What are the elements that make up a greenhouse? [21:21] Greenhouse framing materials and glazing! [22:43] Is there a beginner-friendly greenhouse? [25:04] What Leslie thinks about thrifted/DIY vintage window greenhouses [27:41] How to pick the right greenhouse size? [29:48] Greenhouses as the expensive part of a cheap hobby [30:33] Using multiple greenhouses to zone temperature and humidity [32:47] What about a half-empty greenhouse? [33:26] What is AOI (angle of incidence)? How roof pitch and sun angle affect how much light gets in [35:49] Inside the plant profiles (PPFD, DLI, photoperiod, fertilizer PPM, and VPD) [39:21] How does pest management in a greenhouse work? [43:33] Leslie's dream greenhouse for her new property (and why she's leaning Venlo) [48:23] How greenhouse pricing and options have changed and where to find good manufacturers [50:26] Why you want someone local who knows your climate and orientation [51:29] Starting small without setting yourself up to fail (and reviving a greenhouse that already flopped) [54:10] Where to find Leslie, the book, her gardener's round tables, and her UCLA courses!   Mentioned in our conversation:By Leslie Halleck:Home Greenhouse Revival Plant Parenting Gardening Under Lights The Gardener's Roundtable Episodes:331: What is Forest Bathing: Exploring Forest Therapy with ANFT 250: The Business of Horticulture with Leslie Halleck 222: Humidity and Houseplants with Leslie Halleck 208: DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit with Leslie Halleck 204: How to Identify Houseplant Disease with Leslie Halleck 173: Seed Starting Basics with Joe Lamp'l Prime Video: Clarkson's Farm   For Leslie's expert greenhouse advice,check out the full show notes and blog here!   Follow Leslie: Website Shop Facebook X Pinterest YouTube Instagram  Thank you to our episode sponsor:ManukoraGo to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts!    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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How can we use flowers to further connect with nature and with the world? My mom once photocopied an entire flower dictionary for me from the thick pages of The Language of Flowers. I loved that she did it, but then I never really used it because it was too dense and there were a lot of meanings nobody says out loud anymore. But then I’ve thought deeply about it. I've grown dahlias my whole life. I have four hibiscus in my front lawn now. What if those choices were saying something? So I sat down with Mary Kelava, a former florist and author of A Bouquet of Words, to finally learn the language of flowers as a gardener. Come learn with me!   In this episode, we learn: [01:27] Meet Mary Kelava! [02:12] How she became a florist and a flower language expert [03:41] Two types of flower books you’re bound to read! [06:08] My mom’s photocopied dictionary part of ‘The Language of Flowers’ [07:41] Where does the language of flowers come from? [10:21] How did the Victorian era understand the language of flowers? [11:38] What the flowers you're drawn to might be telling you [12:46] Why color, personal memory, and fragrance matter as much as the meaning [15:03] Espoma Organic [16:54] Leslie Halleck's new book, Home Greenhouse Revival [18:30] Kate Middleton's wedding bouquet, Queen Elizabeth's funeral flowers, and a Lego hibiscus [20:16] Do flower colors carry meanings of their own, or is it just color psychology? [21:46] What zinnias mean, and how to handle flowers bred in every color [22:58] What the research for her book ‘A Bouquet of Words’ looked like [23:57] Do flower meanings hold up across cultures? [25:35] How to start learning the language of flowers easily [27:02] How to build a themed garden with meaning using easy-to-grow flowers [28:29] Planning a flower memorial garden for a pet [31:01] How to write notes that go with the bouquet [32:29] Bringing this to the florist (or to the $6.99 Trader Joe's flowers) [34:46] Bouquet recipes for housewarmings, Christmas, and new babies [36:26] What are some birth month and zodiac flowers? [37:02] Get well flowers, and giving hydrangea to someone who's persevered [37:50] Why Mary assigns a signature flower to her closest friends [38:34] What flowers to give someone in grief? [40:49] Where to find Mary and A Bouquet of Words!   Mentioned in our conversation: A Bouquet of Words by Mary Kelava Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh Episode 339: How to Grow Sweet Peas, The World's Most Nostalgic Flower with Marryn Mathis   To grow flowers that have meaning to you, check out the full show notes and blog for Mary's recommendations!   Follow Mary: Website Instagram Blogs   Thank you to our episode sponsors: Espoma Organic Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront. Quarto: Home Greenhouse Revival by Leslie F. Halleck Home Greenhouse Revival is available for pre-order now at quarto.com and launches in September. Pre-order your copy wherever books are sold or through your local bookstore.   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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the fewer the plants, the bigger the impact? Right now my house is a construction zone, and my plants are on their own. I have an eight-week-old baby, a '70s house we gutted mid-pregnancy, and a carpeted garage. So yes, a few plants have died. But something else is happening too! My taste is changing. I'm letting go of a lot of little plants, and I want one big beautiful plant for my bathroom instead. In fact, my friend Samantha Hermann of @houseplusplant and I are both in a transitional season of life. She’s moving into a house she designed around her plants... and cutting her collection from 300 to about 100. Here's what she taught me. Let's dive in!   In this episode, we learn: [01:42] Grab a mini course for whatever your plants need right now with the Growing Joy Academy! [02:57] Welcome back, Samantha of @houseplusplant [04:05] How much did her plants influence her home design aesthetic? [06:07] Instagram vs. reality: where do plant people actually keep their plants? [07:36] Cutting her collection from 300 plants down to 100 (intentional vs. collector) [10:11] Why she's only keeping big statement plants now [12:03] The guilt of letting a plant go [15:23] Manukora Honey [19:22] What is she most excited about in the new house? [22:20] Renovating a 1970s house while I’m pregnant! [24:33] Collecting pieces with a story instead of getting them off Amazon [25:29] What are some plant styling rules for a calm home? [28:21] Treating a statement plant as art! [30:19] What makes a plant grouping actually work? [32:33] Does the rule of threes work for plants? [33:54] Why there's always a hoya in her groupings [36:49] Blooming houseplants that don't get enough credit! [37:49] The custom window shelves she's sad to take down [40:00] How to build grow lights into your house (outlets, dimmers, timers, and hiding cords) [42:16] Why spreading plants throughout your home makes you enjoy them more [45:20] What makes her book House + Plant different and QR codes to her DIYs [47:28] Pre-orders, the October 6th release, and where to find Samantha!   Mentioned in our conversation: Growing Joy Academy House Plus Plant Equals Home by Samantha Hermann Beautiful Views Shelves Soltech Highland™ LED Track Light System (Use Bloom15 for 15% off) SANSI LED Grow Lights Collection for Indoor Plants Episode 235: How to Care for a Lot of Plants (AKA Have a Large Plant Collection) with Samantha of @houseplusplant   For Samantha's amazing tips on how to do more with fewer plants, check out the full show notes and blog here!   Follow Samantha: Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook   Thank you to our episode sponsor: Manukora Go to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts!   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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When I got engaged, I figured choosing wedding flowers would be the easy part. I'm a plant person, right? Wrong. Wedding florals are an entire world of their own, and I was lucky to have a florist who walked me through all of it and built the floral landscape of my dreams. That florist is Corina of The Botaniste, and in this Best of Growing Joy episode, she's sharing the wedding flower crash course I wish I'd had from day one. We get into how to choose blooms that actually hold up and don't wilt (spoiler: several of my first picks were a hard no), why conditioning matters more than expensive stems, how to work with seasonal availability instead of fighting it, and how to lean on greenery to stretch your budget. Corina also covers the trends she's seeing, how to talk to a florist even if you don't know a single flower name, and how to repurpose arrangements so they outlast the ceremony. And if a wedding isn't in your future, don't skip this one because it all applies to backyard bouquets and dinner party tables too! In this episode, we learn: [02:22] Introducing Corina [04:16] What to expect of the last episode of My Botanically Inspired Wedding Series [09:29] Corina shares her experiences planning wedding florals with couples [10:33] Why Pinterest is every bride’s best friend AND worst enemy [11:52] How Corina became a plant lady and how she started The Botaniste [17:29] Corina’s biggest influences in floral styling [18:18] What are current and upcoming trends for wedding flowers? [19:46] What elements are there in a tablescape? [22:28] Is there a difference between wedding flowers and event flowers? [26:14] Maria shares her decision-making process with her wedding florals [28:02] How flowers elevate any event [29:26] How to preserve your wedding flowers [31:00] What are the best and the worst flowers to have at your wedding? [34:01] Which flower is an alternative to peonies? [35:54] New rose varieties to try in your wedding flowers [39:27] How to condition cut flowers [41:23] How to keep cut hydrangeas from wilting [42:58] Where to get the best organic indoor and outdoor gardening products [44:12] Planning to grow from seeds this coming garden season? [48:15] How to work with florists and where to start with your wedding flower planning [52:33] Building a trusting relationship with your wedding florist [55:08] Corina’s advice for couples planning to DIY their wedding [58:51] Maria’s garland and greenery vision [01:00:40] How to style a wedding with greenery [01:03:38] Incorporating bud vases in your wedding [01:07:55] Adding statement greenery to your wedding venue and reception [01:12:49] What you should know about greenery [01:14:38] Corina’s ultimate tip for wedding planners and contractors [01:15:15] Corina’s current favorite flowers and combinations [01:17:00] What Maria loved about blushing bride protea [01:18:08] Where you can hire Corina as your florist [01:20:25] Maria’s Wedding Series reflections   Mentioned in our conversation: Check out Corina's video on how to arrange a big bridal bouquet! Lush Magnolia Flower Preservation artist DIY Wedding Copper Arbor blog BAGR Episode: 3 Plant Inspired DIY Wedding Ideas that Live on After the Big Day BAGR Episode: 26 Ways to Incorporate Plants Into Your Wedding BAGR Blog: 26 Ways to Incorporate Plants Into Your Wedding   What flower would you love to have in your wedding bouquet? Check out the full show notes and blog for the blooms that actually hold up on your wedding day!   Follow Corina: Website Instagram Facebook Yelp     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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is it possible to tell time with your garden? Apparently, birds and plants can tell us what time of day it is! When we recorded this episode, I was in my third trimester, so sometimes I would be up at 2 AM whether I liked it or not. Which was how I found out that the birds in my Florida backyard start up around 4! For a while, I'd check my phone to see how close we were to sunrise. Now I learned to listen. That's the idea behind The Fullness of Time by Cathy Haynes. It's a book I read about how to tell time without a clock, instead using birdsong, blooms, shadows, and stars. It touched the gardener in my soul, and I knew I needed to have Cathy on the podcast to talk about all of the different ways our ancestors kept time in their gardens and in nature. Come learn with me!   In this episode, we learn: [02:07] Meet Cathy Haynes! [03:12] What is The Fullness of Time book about? [04:05] The evening primrose in her London backyard that started all of this! [05:55] How does gardening change your sense of time? [07:17] How did ordinary people tell time before clocks? [09:26] Cock crow, midnight spirits, and what each part of the day means! [11:42] Reading a clock vs. actually sensing time [12:20] What is the ornithological clock (how to tell time through birds)? [15:24] Espoma Organic [17:00] Learning to pick out the individual singers in the dawn chorus [17:36] Merlin app to learn birdsong [18:38] What third-trimester insomnia taught me about the 4 AM birds [21:53] What is this Linnaeus’s flower clock? [23:55] Did the Bern Botanical Garden get a living flower clock to work? [26:30] Daisies, chicory, and the timekeeping plants hiding in pavement cracks [28:40] Which time-telling plants can you add to your own garden? [30:59] Why mature sunflowers stop following the sun and just face east [33:26] How did our ancestors use shadows to tell time? [35:21] Ancient scratch sundials on churches and Icelandic hills! [37:37] Light pollution and how to adapt to the sun in a city [39:32] Can you tell the time by the stars? [41:42] What are some simple ways to get started with your time garden? [44:52] Where to find Cathy and The Fullness of Time!   Mentioned in our conversation: The Fullness of Time: Marking the Day by Birdsong, Blooms, Shadows, and Stars by Cathy Haynes Merlin Bird ID Collins Bird Guide App A Botanical Timekeeper - The Flower Clock Growing Joy Episode 186: The History of Houseplants with Jane Perrone   Interested in tracking time with your local birds and flowers, check out the full show notes and blog here!   Follow Cathy: Website Instagram   Thank you to our episode sponsor: 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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're going back to basics today on how to propagate pothos, plant friends! It's one of the simplest things you can do as a plant parent. And pothos is probably the easiest plant to propagate, which is exactly why it's where you should start. I just want you to do it right the first time because one success is what turns this into a lifelong habit. So I brought propagation expert Lindsay Sisti back on the podcast to walk through pothos propagation from the very beginning. Join us as we talk beginner-friendly propagation tips, how to root pothos cuttings in water, light and watering, and why making that first cut actually helps your plant grow. Let's prop!   In this episode, we learn: [02:51] Meet Lindsay Sisti and her challenge for you! [04:24] Why pothos is the best plant to learn propagation on [06:00] Why your pothos cutting speeds up your other props [07:02] Plant anatomy 101: What do you need to know before you cut? [09:11] Why you should leave the leaves on your cuttings [10:19] Internodes vs. nodes (aka plant knuckles) [13:31] Node cuttings vs. tip cuttings, and what "sterilized shears" really means [15:30] Manukora Honey [17:16] Espoma Organic [19:54] What is a petiole and why will a single pothos leaf never root? [21:22] Leaf removal and water setup! [23:12] Why cutting back a balding pothos makes it bushier (apical dominance explained) [26:57] Do pothos cuttings need to callus first? [27:55] What rooting hormone actually does, and the tradeoff of changing your water [30:36] The different methods of propagating different types of vining plants like pothos [31:44] Sphagnum, fluval stratum, and perlite (why water still wins for pothos) [35:02] Can you root bare nodes with no leaves? Plus prop box basics [37:40] Does cinnamon work as a rooting hormone? [38:56] Why the thrift store is the best place to find propagation vessels [40:15] Root length sweet spot! [41:25] Potting up: indoor mix, extra perlite, and starting small [47:03] Why light matters while rooting [48:19] Propagation walls and test tube shelves [51:30] Thrifted candelabras, champagne racks, and DIY propagation stations [53:27] Where to find Lindsay, her book, and all of her propagation resources!   Mentioned in our conversation: Growing Joy 129: How to Root Bare Nodes or "Wet Sticks" Growing Joy 350: Propagation Tips For Plant Parents That Actually Work: Prop Boxes, Ikea Grow Cabinets and How to Avoid Mold Damage Growing Joy 309: How to Propagate an Alocasia Corm Growing Joy 289: How to Propagate Plants in Fluval Stratum The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation by Lindsay Sisti Clonex Rooting Gel   For Lindsay's different propagation methods, check out the full show notes and blog here!   Follow Lindsay: Website Instagram YouTube TikTok   Thank you to our episode sponsors: Manukora Go to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts! 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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When it comes to killing plants, it's not a matter of if... it's a matter of when. And killing a plant doesn't mean you're bad at plants. It just means you're a plant parent. But so many of us carry real shame around plant death. One loss, and we decide we're a plant killer and quit for good. In this Best of Growing Joy series episode, I'm bringing back my conversation with Cassidy from Succulents and Sunshine about the guilt that comes with plant death, especially with succulents. They get sold as easy care plants. They're not. We get into why even plant experts lose plants, how to know when to treat versus when to toss, and why your plant number shifts with the seasons of your life. In this episode, we learn: [00:00] Does being a plant parent mean you’re also a plant killer? [05:24] Who is Cassidy and how she became the plant parent she is today [06:00] What is Succulents and Sunshine about? [10:55] Cassidy's take on how plant parents handle plant death [12:45] Trying to keep an echeveria succulent alive [14:36] When to toss vs. treat your plants [it's simple!] [16:24] The importance of a plant care routine [18:34] Why it’s important to know your plant number [19:27] Emotional attachment to our plants [feat. Maria's lime tree story] [22:20] Maria's experience with generational plant gifts [25:45] What Cassidy learned from every plant failure [25:52] Tip #1 Be more attentive to your plants [26:18] Tip #2 Different plants require different care [27:41] Tip #3 Don't be too hard on yourself; plants die in the wild too [28:43] Where to get plant seeds that are guaranteed to last longer [30:40] Get quality grow lights that will last and look stunning next to your plants [32:31] Why most of the plants we have aren’t designed to live in our homes. [34:39] Why Haworthia is most suitable as your indoor succulent [36:37] Should you try to grow the same plant again or let it go completely? [41:20] What are some ways to reduce your plant collection? [44:13] Learning to let go of dying plants [48:32] The mental cost of holding onto something that no longer serves you [51:23] What are the two options when you kill a plant?   Mentioned in our conversation: Snappy pots Smart Passive Income Hygrometer Lomi composter   Have you ever killed a plant that someone special gave you? Check out the full show notes and blog for a gentler way to think about losing your heirloom plants!   Follow Cassidy: Website Instagram 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We often talk about garden-to-table, but what about garden-to-glass? AKA how to grow plants for garden inspired cocktails, and all the ways to turn a harvest into something delicious, regardless if you drink alcohol or not. I spent a full year not drinking, first through fertility treatments and then through pregnancy. And I learned that the mocktail section of most menus is a trap. Everything is so sweet that you finish it in about 90 seconds. And then I met Belinda and Venise at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. They're sisters, they're plant ladies, and they run a garden-to-glass syrup company called Simple Goodness Sisters. They also wrote the book called Drink Your Garden. In this episode, they share different ways you can enjoy your garden harvest in easy yet delicious cocktail and mocktail recipes. Let's dive in!   In this episode, we learn: [02:46] Meet Belinda and Venise of Simple Goodness Sisters! [03:26] How did their syrup business begin? [06:29] Venise's homesteading story [10:49] What the farm grows for the business vs. for their families [13:52] What counts as a cocktail garden? [15:29] Home Greenhouse Revival by Leslie Halleck [17:07] How to use edible flowers [18:18] Which edible flowers are easiest to grow? [21:33] What actually belongs in a cocktail garden [22:41] Why purple sage and mojito mint taste better in drinks [23:49] Rows vs. interplanting, reusable mulch [27:05] Building a bar cart from your garden [29:32] Why they wrote the book they couldn't find [30:34] What is a syrup and how do you make one? [32:06] Their favorite syrups [36:09] What is a shrub and how do you drink it? [38:57] Beet shrub showstopper [40:05] How to make a blue mocktail for a baby shower [40:48] Tinctures vs. bitters [42:42] How an infused spirit becomes a liqueur [44:59] Buzz button gin, cherry bourbon, and Midnight at the movies [49:03] Travel syrups hack! [52:06] Cordials, and balancing sweet, sour, bitter, and spirit [53:00] What to gift a gin-obsessed dad, and why you might just dislike tonic [55:00] How to make your own compound gin at home [56:38] Garnishing like a container garden (thriller, filler, spiller, and powdered rims) [58:30] Braided chives, pickled garnishes, and drinks you can snack on [1:00:10] Where to find Belinda, Venise, the book, and the Farm Club subscription box! [1:02:47] The herbal lemonade and blue spritz I served at my baby shower   Mentioned in our conversation: Join the Cocktail Farm Club - Simple Goodness Sisters Drink Your Garden: Recipes, Stories and Tips from the Simple Goodness Cocktail Farm by Belinda Kelly and Venise Cunningham USDA Organic Blue Spirulina Powder Organic Apple Cider Vinegar | Bragg Herb Garden Syrup (Lemon Herb)   For Belinda and Venise's scrumptious cocktail recipes, check out the full show notes and blog here!   Follow Simple Goodness Sisters: Website Instagram YouTube Recipes   Thank you to our episode sponsor: Quarto: Home Greenhouse Revival by Leslie F. Halleck Home Greenhouse Revival is available for pre-order now at quarto.com and launches in September. Pre-order your copy wherever books are sold or through your local bookstore.   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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you're looking for a large, tree-like plant, a pop of color, or a cool, structural statement piece for your home, might I suggest the rubber plant? Ficus elastica is one of the most underrated houseplants out there, and today we're giving it the hype it deserves! In this Best of Growing Joy series, I pulled my conversation with Raffaele of Ohio Tropics, a fellow rubber plant lover, where we talk about everything you need to know about rubber plant care: how to help your rubber plant truly grow, how to stop it from dropping its leaves, and how to keep those glossy leaves from crisping up. Because whether it's a simple green rubber tree or a stunning variegated variety like my beloved Ficus Belize on my green wall, those huge, glossy leaves make such a statement in your home. Listen in to learn simple rubber plant care tips, plus the most common mistakes plant parents make (and exactly how to avoid them), so you can grow your very own iconic indoor tree. In this episode, we learn: [00:43] Maria’s plant and personal updates [02:12] Introducing Raffaele from Ohio Tropics [03:14] Your invitation to a free 10-day virtual garden festival! [03:58] What to expect from this rubber plant episode [06:40] How Raffael became the plant parent he is today [10:06] What is a rubber plant? [11:26] Do rubber trees produce latex? [12:53] Where can you find rubber plants in nature? [14:33] What are the different types and varieties of rubber plants? [18:54] How to water rubber plants [21:27] Raffaele’s watering tip using a turkey baster [23:21] How much sunlight does a rubber plant need? [27:35] Are rubber plants low-light plants? [28:35] What kind of soil mix is good for rubber plants? [30:52] Where to get pre-grown plants and seeds for your spring garden [32:09] The best indoor and outdoor gardening products [34:49] How to fertilize rubber plants [37:11] Rubber Plant FAQ #1: Why is my rubber plant not growing? [39:03] Rubber Plant FAQ #2: How do I get my rubber plant to branch and be bushier instead of taller? [39:51] What is the air layering propagation method? [44:15] Rubber Plant FAQ #3: Why are my new leaves smaller than the older ones? [45:32] Rubber Plant FAQ #4: Why are my rubber plant leaves dropping? [48:20] Why overwatering can cause issues to your plant (in ways you might not expect) [49:12] Rubber Plant FAQ #5: My plant looks healthy, but the branches are all over the place; why is this happening? [50:26] Rubber Plant FAQ #6: What are the tiny white spots on my rubber plant? [51:26] Rubber Plant FAQ#7: Why are the edges of my variegated rubber plant browning? [54:09] Rubber Plant FAQ #8: My rubber plant has aerial roots, but do they grow better in slightly cooler conditions? [55:18] Raffaele’s recommendations of the best rubber plant varieties for beginners [57:35] What Raffaele’s book Houseplant Warrior is about! [59:41] Where to connect with Raffaele [01:01:52] Upgrade your plant education with these two events!   Mentioned in our conversation: Houseplant Warrior: 7 Keys to Unlocking the Mysteries of Houseplant Care, book by Raffaele Di Lallo The Great Grow Along Virtual Garden Festival   Which rubber plant variety are you most excited to try? Check out the full show notes and blog to start growing your own statement rubber plant!   Follow Raffaele: Blog Instagram YouTube Book     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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Propagation is your best friend as a plant parent. It's a free way to make more of the plants you already have, and watching new roots grow is so much fun! But there's more to it than sticking a pothos in a glass of water, not to mention that if you get the humidity wrong, you’ll get mold. So I invited over my go-to propagation nerd, Lindsay Sisti, to guide us through the different ways you can propagate successfully. She’s a propagation expert, plant breeder, and author of The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation. She’s been in the podcast before, and we've both survived mold cleanup in our own homes. Listen in!   In this episode, we learn: [02:22] Welcome back, Lindsay, my propagation nerd and friend of the pod! [04:28] What tropical houseplants are found in the rainforest? [06:00] Why your heating/AC sucks the humidity out of your home [10:00] Why growing houseplants indoors in Florida is hard! [10:56] When does humidity become a big aspect of plant keeping? (common plants vs. the divas) [14:51] Experience the richness of single-origin honey with 3x more antioxidants with Manukora! [16:36] Why filling your house with humidifiers isn't realistic [17:45] Lindsay's black mold nightmare in her 100-year-old home! [21:20] How humidity travels through your HVAC and grows mold where you'd never expect [23:29] Humidity hacks that fail (sorry!) [25:09] Why misting is mostly pointless and when it causes problems [28:31] IKEA grow cabinets 101: the MILSBO, Rust-Oleum, and building your glass box [33:40] Choosing grow lights: Barrina, Monios, and T8 vs. T5 [35:53] Why you need fans and airflow (transpiration and guttation explained) [40:18] What prop boxes are and why they root plants better than a glass of water [43:21] Building a prop box (containers, sphagnum moss, and the "wrung-out sponge" rule) [46:30] Lindsay's layered setup! [49:44] Do you really need to "burp" your prop box? [52:31] How to rebuild Raffi the Rhaphidophora from node cuttings [58:16] Should you let cuttings callus first? Variegated vs. non-variegated [1:01:16] Mold vs. algae, and the diluted hydrogen peroxide fix [1:03:18] Final steps: lid on, into the window, and when to transplant [1:06:56] Can you crowd the nodes? [1:08:11] Why are prop boxes low stakes? [1:09:43] Where to find Lindsay and her propagation book! [1:11:21] Update: how Raffi's prop box actually turned out   Mentioned in our conversation: The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation by Lindsay Sisti IKEA MILSBO Barrina Grow Light Monios-L Grow Lights LECHUZA-PON   For Lindsay's different propagation methods, check out the full show notes and blog here!   Follow Lindsay: Website Instagram YouTube TikTok   Thank you to our episode sponsors: Manukora Go to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts! ZenAI Visit zen.ai to start your first vibecast for free.   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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever thought about growing your own luffa? Someone sent me a packet of luffa seeds about four years ago. I think I won them in a giveaway, and they just... sat there. I never planted it because something about luffa felt kinda different. It's not your classic garden edible, and I couldn't picture how it worked. So I invited Janice Cox over to talk about growing luffa! Janice is a garden and natural beauty expert, and she's written a whole workbook on this plant. Now I can't stop thinking about growing luffa, harvesting it, and figuring out what to make with it. Turns out it's way simpler than I built it up to be in my head. Learn with me!   In this episode, we learn: [01:47] Meet Janice Cox, the luffa queen! [02:34] What is luffa, and why does it have so many surprising uses? [04:10] How Janice backed into gardening through natural beauty writing [05:57] Why clean beauty pushed her toward aloe vera and label-reading in the US [10:12] How luffa went from ancient Egypt to WWII oil filters [12:18] Turning a luffa harvest into soap, crafts, and pet toys [15:29] Feed your midsummer garden with Espoma Organic! [17:47] What does luffa need to grow? (full sun, pollinators, and a trellis) [19:54] Male vs. female flowers and hand-pollinating your luffa [22:06] What the luffa growth stages look like and how to know when to harvest [25:24] Water and light requirements for luffa [26:44] How do you process your luffa? (peeling, saving seeds, and cleaning for gifts) [29:09] Direct sowing vs. starting luffa seeds indoors [30:58] How to slice, flatten, and sew with dried luffa [33:59] What are the different luffa varieties? [35:52] What are the most common mistakes first-time luffa growers make? [38:30] Why luffa makes a great gift and a full-circle, sustainable plant [40:15] Luffa seed tips: nicking, soaking, and testing for viability [42:06] Where to find Janice, her books, and her guides   Mentioned in our conversation: Growing Joy 310: Digital Detox: What 3 Days in Nature Taught Me (and How You Can Recreate It at Home) Growing Joy 319: How to Preserve Food From Your Garden with Staci and Jeremy Hill Janice Cox’s books: Natural Beauty At Home Handbook Beautiful Luffa Beautiful Roses Beautiful Lavender Beautiful Flowers   For foolproof luffa growing tips, check out Janice's guide in the full show notes and blog!   Follow Janice: Website Instagram Blog Books   Thank you to our episode sponsor: 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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Philodendron might just be the most underrated genus in the houseplant world, and plant friends, it's completely beginner-friendly! This isn't a plant you bring home from the garden center only to watch it shrivel, brown, and die within a week. It gives you trailing vines, climbing drama, bold pops of color, and incredible leaf shapes. It's one of my all-time favorites, and it's the star of today's episode of our Best of Growing Joy series. We're breaking down everything you need to know about philodendron care, aka this iconic houseplant genus that's been beloved for decades and never goes out of style. Today's episode covers philodendron light requirements, philodendron watering tips, and the best philodendron varieties to add to your indoor plant collection. You'll also learn how philodendron grow in the wild and discover which variety might just become your next plant obsession. 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 leafjoy™ 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] Prismacolor™ Brandtianum [25:16] Philodendron atabapoense [26:05] Philodendron ‘Silver Sword' (Philodendron hastatum) [27:11] Prismacolor™ Philodendron Fozzie™ [28:38] Philodendron ‘White Wizard' (Philodendron erubescens) [30:18] ‘Prince of Orange' Philodendron [32:08] Prismacolor™ Sun Red Philodendron [32:33] Philodendron ‘Pink Princess' Mentioned in our conversation: Prismacolor™ Sun Red – Philodendron hybrid Prismacolor™ Atabapoense – Philodendron hybrid Prismacolor™ Brandtianum – Philodendron hybrid Prismacolor™ Florida Green – Climbing Philodendron Prismacolor™ Fozzie – Fuzzy Petiole Philodendron Prismacolor™ Gloriosum – Creeping Philodendron Prismacolor™ Hastatum – Silver Sword Philodendron Prismacolor™ Pink Princess – Philodendron hybrid Prismacolor™ Rojo Congo – Philodendron hybrid Prismacolor™ Sun Red – Philodendron hybrid Prismacolor™ White Wizard – Philodendron hybrid Prismacolor™ Lemon Lime – Philodendron hybrid What's your go-to philodendron, and how long have you had it? Check out the full show notes and blog for all my favorite philodendron varieties! 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your backyard could feed you for decades with way less work than a tomato patch? You can achieve this with fruit trees! I met arborist Allen Taylor at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show earlier this year. He's the founder of Conservation Tree Care, and he shares how to grow fruit trees in your own backyard with confidence and patience. I'm a homeowner now, and I am so excited to finally have fruit trees of my own!   In this episode, we learn: [01:52] Meet Allen Taylor, founder of Conservation Treecare! [02:17] What is forestry, and how did Allen get into it via a college course? [03:22] How arboriculture differs from forestry (individual trees vs. whole ecosystems) [04:45] The Overstory and tree climbers who work up in the canopy [09:37] How his passion for large trees relates to small fruit trees [10:51] Seattle's century-old orchard trees! [12:32] What are the two starting points for fruit trees? (assessing a bare site vs. inheriting mature trees already there) [14:07] Why you also have to think about harvest volume you can handle [15:02] Check out The Essential Guide to Ecological Gardening by the American Horticultural Society! [16:17] Set your fruit trees up right from planting with Espoma Organic! [18:21] Why it's okay to treat a fruit tree as a low-maintenance shade tree (that happens to fruit) [19:38] What makes something an "orchard" vs. just having a tree? [22:30] Why fruit exists (spreading seeds) and how domestication changed fruit itself [24:10] Fruit tree timeline! What age of wood trees fruit on? [26:55] Which fruit trees are most popular by region, and why local zone/climate matters so much? [29:19] Why local extension services and nurseries beat big box stores for picking trees [31:41] What does the yearly care for fruit trees look like (pruning, planting, harvest windows)? [34:17] Planting and transplant shock! [35:52] Fruit trees planting basics: hole size, soil, mulch, watering to establishment [39:03] Sun and site selection (full sun, flat ground, and thinking about ladder access) [42:38] Why you should prune fruit trees compared to other edibles [43:58] Why does dormant pruning work with the tree's stress response? [46:14] Should you remove blossoms in year one, or just leave the tree alone and wait? [47:33] Pruning vs. training explained [48:59] Pruning intensity tips [52:10] What are the top beginner mistakes you commit with trees? [57:10] The 3 types of pruning cuts (removal, reduction, heading) and how the tree responds to each [59:06] Why fruit trees are a great gateway into caring about trees generally [59:51] Allen's favorite fruit tree and the joy of sharing homegrown harvests with neighbors! [1:01:33] Where to find Allen, Conservation Treecare, and his work at the Amazon Spheres   Mentioned in our conversation: Robert Jan Van Pelt’s Books The Overstory by Richard Powers   For Allen's fruit tree tips, check out the full show notes and blog here!   Follow Allen: Website Instagram   Thank you to our episode sponsor: Quarto Grab the Essential Guide to Ecological Gardening at quarto.com and wherever books are sold. 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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.