Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care

Join us as Corinne shares her powerful journey to kitchen garden wellness and herbal healing. Facing chronic health issues like MCAS and severe migraines, Corinne found answers in herbalism and growing her own food. She reveals how making a rosemary tincture helped manage her migraines by increasing blood flow, and how a simple garlic oil infusion effectively treated her daughter's recurring ear infections. Beyond specific remedies, Corinne explains how her kitchen garden in Raleigh, NC (Zone 8A) became a profound space for nervous system regulation, helping her tap into a parasympathetic state without even trying. Discover how growing herbs like chamomile and thyme, alongside fall crops like kale, broccoli, and sugar snap peas, transformed her health and mindset. Corinne emphasizes that the garden is more than just a vegetable patch; it's a beautiful, accessible wellness practice woven into daily life, teaching patience and providing a non-judgmental space for healing. Learn how to integrate gardening into your routine, whether it's enjoying morning coffee among your plants or sharing harvests with neighbors. Corinne's story highlights how growing your own food can be a wellness revolution for the whole family, even inspiring kids to eat their vegetables. Let's dive in!

In this episode, we learn:

• [01:21] Why I'm about to start my first in-ground garden in Florida
[02:41] Meet Corinne! + how health issues led her to herbalism
• [04:12] Growing in a Zone 8A kitchen garden
• [07:39] How rosemary helped her MCAS migraines
• [08:24] What is MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome)?
• [10:29] How to make a rosemary tincture
• [12:55] Why she learned the herbal remedy first before growing the plant
• [14:36] How garlic oil cleared her daughter’s ear infections
• [15:41] Grow food in small spaces with The Container Kitchen Garden by Claus Dalby!
• [17:01] Feed your houseplants this fall with Espoma Organic’s premium plant foods!
• [20:02] What should a beginner medicinal herb garden include?
• [23:24] How the kitchen garden can help your nervous system
• [25:01] Have we overcomplicated wellness?
• [27:14] How gardening also teaches us patience
• [28:25] How her garden grew from pots to raised beds
• [30:37] What grew well in her summer garden
• [31:49] When to plan and plant your fall kitchen garden
• [32:34] Seeds vs. seed starts (aka growing for the season of life you're in)
• [33:52] How do you turn your kitchen garden into a wellness practice?
• [37:16] Sharing the garden with friends and neighbors!
• [39:03] How gardening got her son to eat vegetables
• [40:27] What Corinne’s kitchen garden coaching looks like
• [42:05] Where to find Corinne and The Nourished Garden!

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Episodes:

• 349: Grow Your Own Luffa: Luffa Gardening Tips for Plant Lovers with Janice Cox
• 319: How to Preserve Food From Your Garden with Staci and Jeremy Hill, Ep 319
• 168: Grow Your Own Tea: Intro to Herbalism with Juliet of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine

•

Start small and with what you'll use,

check out the full show notes and blog for Corinne's fall kitchen guide!

Follow Corinne:
Website
Coaching
Workshops
Instagram

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Quarto: The Container Kitchen Garden by Claus Dalby

Grab your copy of The Container Kitchen Garden at quarto.com, wherever books are sold, or through your local bookstore.

Espoma Organic

Visit https://www.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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is a plant ever really just a plant? I don't think so. I went from former plant killer to a house full of green in about three months. And somewhere along the way, my plants stopped being decor and started being company. For many of us, plants are also routine and a reason to get up in the morning. And for Krystal Duran of Plants With Krystal, they were a big part of healing after losing her husband. In this episode, we talked about grief, growth, and why you don’t have to be at your peak all the time. Come join our conversation.

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:08] Join my free Substack newsletter!
• [03:04] Meet Krystal Duran from @_plantswithkrystal_
• [03:42] What it’s like to write a book after years of short-form plant content
• [04:46] Short-form videos vs. long-form writing
• [06:26] What was Krystal’s relationship with nature like as a kid? (+ the first houseplant she killed!)
• [09:46] Why some popular houseplants just don’t work for every home
• [11:33] How a move to Indiana and a career in social work led her to plants
• [14:01] Why she started with cacti and succulents for her plant collection
• [15:32] Learn 35+ ways to make new plants with The Essential Guide to Plant Propagation from the American Horticultural Society!
• [17:05] Keep your houseplants cared for this fall with Espoma Organic’s premium gardening products!
• [19:00] Is your succulent growing, or is it stretching for light?
• [20:22] Krystal’s love story with her husband, Tony
• [22:49] What happens when a plant lover marries a minimalist?
• [26:11] Plant life parallels
• [27:27] How plant care helped her decompress after hard workdays
• [30:09] Why plants offer "companionship without expectation"
• [32:11] Losing her husband and dealing with grief on social media
• [35:24] How the plant community showed up for her (even inside Animal Crossing)
• [37:10] What happened to her 300-plant collection while she was grieving?
• [40:00] What grief taught her about patience and finding joy in small things
• [43:11] Why we're not supposed to be at our peak all the time
• [44:34] The indoor lotus pond she built that didn't last
• [47:22] Why she shifted toward low-maintenance plants
• [51:16] Inside More Than Just a Plant (her book about grief, plant care, and community)
• [53:11] What are some creative ways to gift plants to new plant parents?
• [55:48] Where to find Krystal and her book!

Mentioned in our conversation:

• More Than Just A Plant by Krystal Duran
• Growing Joy 330: 2026 Garden and Houseplant Trends: My Main Takeaways from Northwest Flower and Garden Festival
• Growing Joy 247: Growing Joy "After Dark": Spilling the Planty Tea with Kamili Bell Hill and Agatha Isabel

Needing more lift from your plants?

Check out the full show notes and blog.

Follow Krystal:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
YouTube

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Quarto: The Essential Guide to Plant Propagation by the American Horticultural Society

Grab your copy of The Essential Guide to Plant Propagation at quarto.com, wherever books are sold, or through your local bookstore.

Espoma Organic

Visit https://www.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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When winter sets in and our gardens go dormant, that 'green itch' doesn’t go anywhere!

In this Best of Growing Joy replay, I’m revisiting my conversation with returning guest Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago, certified horticultural therapist and author of Verdura: Living a Garden Life, all about indoor plant projects for stress relief and mental health.

Perla shares her genius tiny barefoot garden, a shallow pot of fragrant thyme you can rest your feet on for a little grounding when it’s too cold to go shoeless outside (an idea I’ve used ever since). We also cover creating a miniature garden escape, gardening for your inner child, and why just 15 minutes with plants can lift your mood for days.

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

Is your green thumb getting restless this winter?

Check out the full show notes and blog for indoor plant projects that ease stress while your garden sleeps!

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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You probably spend most of your day inside. Most of us do... about 93% of our time, actually. Not to mention you’re definitely on your phone all the time. This is a health risk! To explain how harmful this habit is, I invited my dear friend Dr. John La Puma to explain what these habits might be doing to our brain and heart. He was on the show before, where we talked about culinary medicine and gardening! John is a board-certified internist, a trained chef, and he runs an organic regenerative farm in Santa Barbara. He also read 2,200 studies to understand why being outside feels so good. What he found became his book, Indoor Epidemic, which became the focus of our conversation, and how we are so starving for nature. Listen in!

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:31] Sign up for my Growing Joy newsletter on Substack!
• [03:10] Welcome back, Dr. John La Puma!
• [04:50] How a doctor and chef became a nature as medicine expert
• [06:46] Why does nature feel good?
• [07:38] Buying an abandoned plant nursery and reading 2,200 studies
• [09:19] How his work shifted from ecotherapy to the indoor epidemic
• [11:21] How blue light at night affects your heart health (and what to use instead)
• [14:31] What is the indoor epidemic?
• [16:20] Get a daily dose of antioxidants and immune support with Manukora Honey!
• [18:09] How hinoki oil and forest bathing help improve immunity and blood pressure
• [21:14] Why 17 minutes outside a day is all you need (optimizing the 7%)
• [23:04] Light first, coffee second…?
• [26:38] Why sunglasses and windows block morning light
• [28:12] Why burnout is really digital overload
• [29:07] What is a zeitgeber?
• [30:15] How CO2 buildup indoors affects your brain
• [31:50] How awe and sunsets calm the vagus nerve
• [34:40] Attention restoration theory (why nature rests your brain)
• [36:24] Why you need to put your phone down outside
• [38:26] Plant blindness and how to find nature in the city
• [40:37] How does gardening help improve mental health and dementia?
• [43:28] Can light therapy help with seasonal depression? (10,000 lux study vs. Prozac)
• [46:30] John’s number one morning routine protocol!
• [49:14] How to get kids off screens and outside
• [50:55] Where to find John, Indoor Epidemic, the free toolkit, and the Nature Number quiz!

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Indoor Epidemic by Dr. John La Puma
• Dr. John on The Oprah Winfrey Show
• Growing Joy 131: Culinary Medicine from Our Gardens with Dr John la Puma

You only need 17 intentional minutes of outdoor time,

check out the full show notes and blog on how it works!

Follow John:

Website
Blog
Books
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
TikTok

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Manukora

Go to http://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, a guidebook, and an onboarding call with Manukora's clinical specialist, PLUS $75 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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Anderson

Grab 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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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:

Manukora

Go to http://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 https://www.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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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)

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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:

Manukora

Go to http://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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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 Santore

Grab your copy of Concrete Botany at quarto.com, wherever books are sold or through your local bookstore.

Espoma Organic

Visit https://www.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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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:

Manukora

Go to http://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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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 https://www.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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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 http://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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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 https://www.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

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Subscribe to the Growing Joy YouTube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

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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 http://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 https://www.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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://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: http://www.growingjoywithmaria.com/

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.