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

Looking for free, natural ways to decrease stress and increase joy and calm in your life?

by Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness

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

Looking for free, natural ways to decrease stress and increase joy and calm in your life? The answer might be simpler than you think: houseplants, gardening and nature. On Growing Joy with Plants, learn alongside Happy Plant Lady, Maria Failla to care for plants, engage with nature, and use them to manage your overwhelm, anxiety and experience happiness and calm you thought was only available on vacation.Plant care is self care. Come grow some joy with us. Follow along on socials @growingjoywithmaria

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Episodes

New episodes usually drop on Tuesdays.190 episodes

Nov 13, 2026 · 19 min

A plant gift for every budget and every plant parent: 2026 Gift Guide for Plant Lovers

Gift ideas for beginner plant parents, plant nerds, gardeners and new moms who love plants.
Nov 10, 2026 · 58 min

She Lost Her Flower Field, Then Found a 20-Acre Farm: Resilience and Cut Flowers with Jennifer Gulizia

This week I chat with my plant friend Jennifer Gulizia, a passionate cut flower farmer who transformed her childhood dream into a thriving 20-acre property in the Hood River Valley. Jennifer shares her incredible journey, from her early days planting clearance blooms in a tiny Portland backyard to a serendipitous pivot from wedding photography into full-time flower cultivation. She recounts the challenges of losing…
Nov 3, 2026 · 45 min

The Fall Kitchen Garden as a Wellness Revolution: Why Growing Your Own Food Is the Ultimate Wellness Practice

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…
Oct 27, 2026 · 59 min

More Than Just a Plant: Finding Joy Again After Loss with Krystal Duran

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…
Oct 22, 2026 · 49 min

The Surprising Wellness Benefits of Gardening With Perla Sofía Curbelo: Best of Growing Joy Replay

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…

Earlier episodes (185)

Oct 20, 2026 Nature as Medicine: What 2,200 Studies Taught Dr. John La Puma About Getting Outside
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…
Oct 13, 2026 How Houseplants Get Made: Plant Breeding, Trend Forecasting and What It Takes to Grow Millions of Plants
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…
Oct 8, 2026 7 Gardening Tasks to Do Before Your Garden Goes Dormant: Best of Growing Joy Replay
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…
Oct 6, 2026 When Was the Last Time You Had an Original Thought?
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…
Sep 24, 2026 Desert Landscaping Tips for a Thriving Southwest Garden: Best of Growing Joy Replay
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…
Sep 22, 2026 All My Plants are Dead
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.…
Sep 15, 2026 Motherhood, Seasons of Life and Changing Plant Passions
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…
Sep 10, 2026 Indoor Citrus Trees: Light, Water, and Fruiting Tips: Best of Growing Joy Replay
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…
Sep 8, 2026 Listen to This Before You Buy a Greenhouse!
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.…
Sep 1, 2026 The Secret Language of Flowers Every Plant Lover Should Know
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…
Aug 25, 2026 Elevate Your Interior Decor with Plants: A Plant Design Crash Course
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…
Aug 20, 2026 Wedding Flowers 101: How to Choose Blooms That Last: Best of Growing Joy Replay
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…
Aug 18, 2026 How to Tell Time with Your Garden (And Not a Watch)
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…
Aug 11, 2026 How to Propagate Pothos and Other Vining Indoor Plants
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…
Aug 6, 2026 Why Killing Houseplants Doesn’t Make You a Bad Plant Parent: Best of Growing Joy Replay
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…
Aug 4, 2026 Garden Inspired Cocktails and Mocktails for Joyful Living
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…
Jul 30, 2026 Why Rubber Plants Are The Most Underrated Houseplants: Best of Growing Joy Replay
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…
Jul 28, 2026 Propagation Tips For Plant Parents That Actually Work: Prop Boxes, Ikea Grow Cabinets and How to Avoid Mold Damage
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…
Jul 21, 2026 Grow Your Own Luffa: Luffa Gardening Tips for Plant Lovers
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…
Jul 16, 2026 Philodendron Care 101: Light, Water, And Growth Tips: Best of Growing Joy Replay
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…
Jul 14, 2026 Growing Fruit Trees for Plant Parenthood and Joyful Living
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…
Jul 9, 2026 How Biophilic Design Can Boost Productivity In Your Home Office: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Did you know plants for your home office can do more than just look nice? Office or work from home, they can boost your focus, spark creativity, lift your mood, and cut your stress. It's been proven over and over. So today, for the Best of Growing Joy series, I'm digging into the archives and refreshing an old solo episode from the middle of the pandemic. Fair warning, you'll hear me talk about work from home a…
Jul 7, 2026 Why Plant Parents Need Nighttime Garden Break for Mindful Gardening
What if the most relaxing time for you in your garden isn't during the day, but after dark? In those cool summer nights when garden chores aren't practical because you can't see very well, we have a unique opportunity to ease burnout, support mental health, and deepen your connection to plants and nature. So I'm joined by a friend, Perla Sofia Curbelo-Santiago, a repeat guest and the author of Verdura , to talk…
Jun 30, 2026 Think Beyond Pots: Design A Landscape With Herbs
What if herbs go beyond the small, contained, and kitchen-window plants we use them for? Herbs could do so, so much more! In this episode, I sit down with Sue Goetz , a garden designer, author, and herb obsessive, to explore the many different ways we can use our favorite herbs in our garden landscape. She has a five-foot rosemary hedge in her backyard and uses chamomile between her stepping stones. She also grows…
Jun 25, 2026 Fern Care Guide: Easy Care Ferns for Plant Parents: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Ferns are some of the most gorgeous houseplants you can grow... and one of the oldest plants on the planet. They're basically living dinosaurs. But if you've ever watched a maidenhair fern grow in a sidewalk crack, only to crumble the second you bring it indoors, you know exactly why ferns have a reputation for being impossible to keep alive. Most people aren't failing at ferns. They're just growing the wrong fern…
Jun 23, 2026 Let Nature Be Your Garden Designer
What if we don't design or control our gardens, but instead collaborate with them? I moved from the lush woods of Zone 5B to a front yard full of sand in Zone 10B Florida and felt like I had no control over my garden design. It was frustrating! So I sat down with Evan Meyer of Bloedel Reserve, a 140-acre garden and wild lands complex on Bainbridge Island just outside of Seattle, to help me feel more grounded in my…
Jun 16, 2026 Carnivorous Plants: Care Guide and Types of Carnivorous Plants for Indoor Growing - Best of Growing Joy Replay
We’ve likely all had some run-in with a carnivorous plant. I brought one of those little Venus flytraps home from the hardware store, even though I had no idea how to care for it. Maybe you have marveled at the wide array of these plants at your local botanical garden. Or maybe you just know the man-eating Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors! However you found them, you have probably figured out that these plants…
Jun 11, 2026 How to Repot Plants: The Ultimate Repotting Tutorial: Best of Growing Joy Replay
If you are just starting out as a plant parent, there comes a moment when you realize your plant has outgrown its pot and you need to figure out how to repot it. And in learning how to repot plants, you might feel like you are doing it wrong, or you end up being way too careful and precious about the whole thing. Repotting is actually a very simple process, and it can even become a really fun and meditative part of…
Jun 9, 2026 Feeling hopeless? Try growing flowers. Here's how.
Aren't flowers just the perfect little pockets of joy? I have been following Claudia from In the Garden with Claudia on Instagram for over a year now, and I live for her cut flower garden stories! I’ve been feeling a little humbled by my own garden setbacks in South Florida recently. So when I finally got her on the podcast, I thought we were going to do a straight-up how-to on growing flowers. And we did, kind of.…
Jun 4, 2026 9 Garden Design Tips from an Interior Designer: Best of Growing Joy Replay
If you're looking for your garden to be a little more curated, calm, and cohesive (put together in a way that just feels right) what if you've been looking for advice in the wrong places? What if you shouldn't be looking at a garden designer at all, but instead at an interior designer to give you garden design tips that help pull everything together? I'm bringing this one back as part of the Best of Growing Joy…
Jun 2, 2026 What is Hügelkultur and How to Install a Hügelkultur Garden Bed
Have you ever heard of the hügelkultur gardening method? I first heard the word ‘hügelkultur’ a couple of years ago while visiting The Lodge at Woodloch's organic farm. They had this beautiful setup where they grew the food that the spa guests would eat. And in the middle of it all was this raised bed that looked like it was mid-construction. It was a hügelkultur bed. Since then, I kept hearing that word,…
May 29, 2026 How to Keep Calatheas Alive Without Losing Your Mind: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Calathea is one of the most gorgeous and often most disappointing houseplants a new plant parent can bring home. If you've ever taken a beginner plant shopping, you already know: they walk straight to the calatheas. Can you blame them? These plants look like they were literally hand-painted by Mother Nature. But calathea care is pretty tricky. The leaves curl. The edges go crispy and brown. The humidity demands…
May 26, 2026 Biophilic Design Explained: Boost Mental Health With Nature At Home
Does this design decision bring me closer to nature? When I started renovating our new home a few months ago, I wasn’t going to make a single design choice without asking this question. This lens is called biophilic design , and I actually had an episode about it before ! But to talk about it more, I’ve invited Oliver Heath, an architect, designer, and thought leader in biophilic design. Oliver is based in England,…
May 21, 2026 The Wild Truth About Plant Intelligence and Human Connection: Best of Growing Joy Replay
What if your houseplants are doing so much more than just looking pretty on your windowsill? What if they’re actually communicating, sensing their environment, and responding in ways we’re only beginning to understand? In this Best of Growing Joy replay, I sit down with Paco Calvo and Natalie Lawrence , co-authors of Planta Sapiens , to explore plant intelligence, plant behavior, and the big question: do plants…
May 19, 2026 Beneficial Insect Consult on My Greenwall with DMV Beneficials
Do you have the guts to release beneficial insects in your home? I recently invited Jamie, the co-founder of DMV Beneficials, into my studio to do exactly that. We spent the afternoon performing a professional consultation on my green wall. We examined my alocasia, philodendron, hoya, and more under a microscope to see what was really going on. We found broad mites, spider mite eggs, and a possible infestation…
May 14, 2026 The Hydrangea Care Secrets Behind Those Massive Summer Blooms: Best of Growing Joy Replay
To me, a hedge of hydrangea is one of the most iconic things you can do for your garden. They're epic, gorgeous, and yes, they have a reputation for being a little high maintenance. But once you set them up for success, hydrangeas can be one of the easiest flowering shrubs to grow. In this Best of Growing Joy replay, I'm sitting down with Ryan McEnaney aka @ryanplantsplants a fifth-generation member of Bailey…
May 12, 2026 How to Grow Sweet Peas, The World's Most Nostalgic Flower
Don't sweet peas have the most amazing floral scent? I remember them as a scent before I ever knew them as a flower, like the Bath & Body Works body spray that no other brands can seem to replicate. Then I realized I had never actually done an episode on these before, so there’s no better time than to invite my dear plant friend, Marryn Mathis, the Sweet Pea Queen, to share her story! Marryn quit a 21-year IT…
May 7, 2026 Grow Your Own Salad: How to Grow Lettuce from Seed to Harvest: Best of Growing Joy Replay
If you knew where most grocery store lettuce comes from and what it goes through before it lands in that plastic box, you’d never look at bagged salad the same way again. In this Best of Growing Joy episode, I’m sharing a practical, beginner-friendly guide on how to grow lettuce from seed so you can harvest fresh, crunchy salad greens right outside your door with my friend and garden coach, Nicole Burke of…
May 5, 2026 Monarch Butterflies, Growing Milkweed, And The Power Of Plant People
Why are monarch butterflies so special? If you follow me on Instagram, you already know my answer. The monarch butterfly has completely taken over my heart. I literally dressed up as one for Halloween this year, and I have zero regrets! Ever since my husband and I moved to Florida, I started planting milkweed just to watch them hatch in my own yard. And wow . Seeing their life cycle happen right in front of me made…
Apr 30, 2026 Herbalism 101: Grow, Harvest, and Use Medicinal Herbs: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Did you know your “regular” herb garden can double as a medicinal herb garden, and that the mint you grab for mojitos can actually calm your nerves and your digestion? I used to think herbalism meant mysterious tincture bottles and complicated formulas… until I started turning the basil, mint, and lemon balm I grow into simple herbal teas I actually drink every night. In this Best of Growing Joy episode, I’m…
Apr 28, 2026 Gardening Tips for Seniors: How to Adapt Your Garden as You Age Gracefully
I’ve always wanted to make gardening a lifelong hobby because I plan to have dirt under my nails well into my 80s or 90s , but I never really thought through HOW to make that happen. Because as much as we love our plants, gardening as you age is not about doing the same thing forever. I see it with my mom who’s an incredible gardener. She has that true plant parent energy, but even she has to change how she…
Apr 23, 2026 Mushroom Cultivation 101: The Mushroom Miniseries: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Did you know mushrooms aren’t actually plants, but a completely different kingdom that plays a huge role in soil health, plant health, and the success of your indoor and outdoor garden? This is the third episode in our Mushroom Mini Series , and this week we’re having a high-level conversation all about what mushrooms are, how fungi and mycelium work, and why they matter so much for plant parents and anyone…
Apr 21, 2026 Spring Bulb and Summer Bulb Planting Tutorial with Jenny Rose Carey
Did you know that your bulb garden doesn't have to be high-maintenance? One of my earliest memories is my mom planting what felt like endless tulip bulbs—500 of them, in fact. She was a young mom with three kids, no spare time, and definitely not a person who could fuss over plants every day, but somehow, she always had color! Bulbs showed up for her, and she did not have to slave over her garden to get them.…
Apr 16, 2026 How to Grow Functional Mushrooms in Your Garden: The Mushroom Miniseries: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Did you know that you can actually grow edible gourmet mushrooms in your garden right alongside your tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, herbs, and veggies? You can! And by doing that, you can improve your soil health, support your garden ecosystem, and add another delicious crop to harvest and enjoy throughout the growing season. This is the second episode in our Mushroom Mini Series . Last week, we re-released our…
Apr 14, 2026 Permaculture for Plant Parents: The Simple Gardening Method That Gives Back
My goal this year is to find more ease and joy in my garden! I love my plants, but I don’t want my yard to feel like another job. And when I realized that was a theme that was gonna keep coming up, I knew I needed to do an episode on permaculture. So I invited my plant friend, Brandy Hall. She’s a permaculture designer and has helped me see it as a simple, practical way to garden. She calls herself a garden editor…
Apr 9, 2026 How to Grow Mushrooms Indoors: The Mushroom Miniseries: Best of Growing Joy Replay
What if your next houseplant could double in size overnight and end up on your dinner plate? Today we’re talking about how to grow mushrooms indoors and why it might be one of the most fun, beginner-friendly ways to grow edible mushrooms at home. A couple of years ago, I recorded a Mushroom Miniseries with my husband and mushroom expert Louis from North Spore , and we talked about everything from growing mushrooms…
Apr 7, 2026 Why Social Media Is Killing Your Indoor Plants with @tannertheplanter
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sea of information about indoor plants, wondering which tips to trust? You're not alone! Join me on this enlightening episode of "Growing Joy with Plants," where I chat with Tanner, the creative mind behind Tanner the Planter. Tanner's journey into the world of plants began in his childhood in Oregon, and he’s here to share his passion for plant care and how he navigates the…
Mar 31, 2026 How to Make Plant Care Less Stressful
2026 is the year of ease, joy, and low-maintenance plant care! It’s time that plants make us feel good instead of dread every time we walk past them. Something’s off if plants are stressing you out. So I invited my friend Cassidy Tuttle from Succulents and Sunshine back on the podcast because if there’s anyone who embodies easy plant care, it’s her! We talked about what’s actually happening in our plant lives right…
Mar 26, 2026 How to Grow Flowers and Create Your Own Cut Garden: Best of Growing Joy Replay
If you ask me, the secret to being everyone’s favorite neighbor or friend is always having a handful of blooms ready to share. And the best way to do that is to grow your own cut flower garden so you can step outside, snip a few stems, and instantly make someone’s day. In this Best of Growing Joy replay, I’m bringing back one of my favorite conversations with flower farmer and friend Brooklyn Sherri , a…
Mar 24, 2026 Tree History: Finnish Mythology and Tree Worship
Have you ever wondered how the trees around you might hold stories of spirits and ancient traditions? Join me, on this enchanting journey into the heart of Finnish mythology, as I chat with the incredibly talented Nina, an illustrator and researcher from Finland. Nina's profound connection to nature, rooted in her upbringing in a forestry village, brings an enlightening perspective on tree worship and the animistic…
Mar 19, 2026 Leca vs Pon: Which Is Better for Indoor Plants? Best of Growing Joy Replay
What if you could grow 300+ indoor plants without hauling watering cans to the shower every weekend… and without even dealing with soil? In this episode of the Best of Growing Joy series, we’re revisiting one of the most amazing approaches to plant care: passive hydroponics, often called semi-hydro . My friend Kay from @inrootedlove is back for what we’re calling Passive Hydro 2.0 , and we’re diving into the…
Mar 17, 2026 What is Forest Bathing: Exploring Forest Therapy with ANFT
I'm getting certified as a forest therapy guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT)! Every single time, though, people’s response is the same. "Oh my God, that sounds so cool. But what is that?" I get that the words "forest therapy" or "forest bathing" sound vague. Some think it’s like hiking or yoga in the woods, but many can be mistaken. I spent years focused almost entirely on houseplants.…
Mar 12, 2026 A Guide to Measuring Light for Your Indoor Plants: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Welcome back to part two of our Understanding Natural Light series . We’re bringing this conversation back as part of our Best of Growing Joy episodes because it’s one of the most helpful discussions we’ve ever had about indoor plant lighting. This episode is a replay of my conversation with Leslie Halleck, a dear plant friend of mine and a horticulture and lighting expert. If you’re a plant parent trying to…
Mar 10, 2026 2026 Garden and Houseplant Trends: My Main Takeaways from Northwest Flower and Garden Festival
This is my third year attending the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle, and I come back with all the plant tea! Every year, this festival just keeps getting better. The only way I can describe what it feels like is that I walked into a convention center and forgot I was in one. In front of me, there were 20 full garden landscapes installed on the concrete floor. The lights are dimmed, and you can hear…
Mar 5, 2026 Natural Light for Indoor Plants: What Plant Parents Get Wrong: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Natural light for indoor plants is one of the most misunderstood parts of plant care. Most plant parents think their homes are bright enough for houseplants… but the truth is, we often overestimate how much light our plants are actually getting. So we all know that the concept of bright indirect light is kind of a disaster. It’s one of the most confusing things in indoor plant care, and most plant parents wildly…
Mar 3, 2026 Low Maintenance Gardening with Continuous Vegetable Gardening
Are you tired of the boom-and-bust cycle of traditional gardening? Imagine a world where your garden is a source of joy and sustenance all year round! Join me, in this enlightening episode of Growing Joy with Plants, where I chat with the incredibly knowledgeable gardening expert, Charlie Nardozzi. Together, we dive deep into the realm of low maintenance gardening and explore innovative techniques that not only…
Feb 26, 2026 Biophilic Design for Plant Parents: Indoor Plants for Wellness at Work: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Hands down, without a doubt, incorporating indoor plants into my office has been the single best thing I’ve done for my mental health during the workday. And at this point, plant friends, if you or someone you love is working without plants in the workplace, we need to talk. Because this is not just about aesthetics. This is about biophilic design and workplace wellness . It is about the science that proves how…
Feb 24, 2026 I'm Pregnant After Loss: Exploring Seasons of Grief and Joy
I’ve been waiting a very long time to write these words. I’m pregnant!!! And we’re having a baby boy! His nickname is Polpettino (which means ‘little meatball’ in Italian) because my husband Billy is fourth-generation Irish, and this baby is going to come out the most Irish kid you've ever met, so he's getting to be Italian while he's still in there. And we love him so much already. But before we get to the joy, I…
Feb 19, 2026 Understanding Frost Dates: Beginner Gardening Guide
When I first started gardening, the second someone mentioned hardiness zones or frost dates, my eyes would immediately glaze over. I had no idea what my USDA hardiness zone was. I didn’t know how to find my last frost date. I didn’t understand what “Zone 6B” or “Zone 10A” even meant for my plants. I had lived in the same place my entire life and somehow never once looked at a zone map. I didn’t think it mattered.…
Feb 17, 2026 Growing a Plant Business, A Marriage and A Community of Plant Parents with @mrstannertheplanter
Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a passion for plants into a thriving business? Join me as I sit down with Erika, the incredible wife of Tanner the Planter, to explore their inspiring journey in the plant business. From their unexpected meeting during a lunch break to co-owning the flourishing plant shop, Famous in Oregon, which opened its doors during the pandemic, Erika shares the heartfelt story…
Feb 12, 2026 Hydroponic Growing for Indoor Plants: A Beginner’s Guide for Plant Parents
Have you ever been scrolling Instagram before and seen a picture where it looks like plants are planted in Cocoa Puffs, like little brown balls, or gravel? Maybe as you've been scrolling, you've seen the words semi-hydroponics, passive hydroponics, or LECA. Well, today’s episode is a deep dive into the art of growing plants hydroponically, but specifically through semi-hydroponics, a popular soil-free growing…
Feb 10, 2026 Buy Nothing Garden: 4 Ways To Build a Dream Garden for No or Low Cost
Are you ready to transform your garden into a thriving sanctuary without breaking the bank? Join me, as I chat with the incredible Stephanie Rose, also known as the Garden Lady. Stephanie's journey into gardening began during a challenging time in her life, marked by illness and isolation. Her latest book, "The Wild and Free Garden," is a testament to her philosophy of mindful gardening—a perfect fit for those…
Feb 5, 2026 Ultimate Begonia Care Guide for Indoor Plant Parents: Best of Growing Joy Replay
So what if instead of feeling mysterious, kind of weird, and sometimes dramatic, begonia care was actually much simpler than it seems? Begonias are such a beautiful and diverse family of plants, with so many stunning varieties, yet they’re often misunderstood. While they can be disappointing for some plant parents, the truth is that indoor begonia care can be surprisingly easy when you understand what they need.…
Feb 3, 2026 Tending to Hope and Healing in Nature
Have you ever felt the weight of the world lift as you dig your hands into the soil? Join me, in today's episode of "Growing Joy with Plants" as I sit down with the incredible Diane Dreher, a professor emeritus and author whose journey through gardening has shaped her understanding of healing in nature. With a passion for plants that was nurtured by her grandfather, Diane shares her inspiring story of how she has…
Jan 29, 2026 The Ultimate Seed Starting Guide: Everything You Need to Know For Starting Seeds Indoors: Best of Growing Joy Replay
If you’re new to gardening, seed starting indoors can feel scary and overwhelming. I know it did for me. For a long time, I stuck to buying seedlings because starting seeds felt like too much. The equipment, the space, the timing, the fear of doing it wrong. All of it can feel intimidating, especially for new plant parents. In today’s episode, we’re bringing back a favorite from the Growing Joy archives all about…
Jan 27, 2026 Can Water Quality Affect Your Plants?
Did you know that the quality of water you use can be just as crucial for your plants as it is for your health? 🌱 Join me on this enlightening episode of Growing Joy with Plants as I chat with Cydian, the brilliant mind behind Pure Water Northwest and a true water quality expert. Together, we explore the often-overlooked yet vital topic of water quality and its profound impact on both our well-being and the health…
Jan 22, 2026 Low Waste Plant Parenthood: Sustainable Plant Care Tips for Joyful Living: Best of Growing Joy Replay
What if low waste plant parenthood began with just one houseplant? In this episode, I’m joined by urban farmer and plant coach Nick Cutsumpas (aka Farmer Nick) to explore how sustainable plant care can become a powerful gateway to mindful gardening and environmental action. As part of the Best of Growing Joy series, we revisit this meaningful conversation from the archives to look at plant parenthood through a…
Jan 20, 2026 Exploring the Intersection of Black American History, Culture, and Botany Through Trees
Have you ever stopped to consider the stories that trees could tell if they could speak? In this episode of Growing Joy with Plants , I’m thrilled to welcome the incredible Beronda Montgomery, a renowned botanist and author, as we dive deep into her groundbreaking new book, When Trees Testify . Together, we explore the profound connection between humans and plants, particularly how trees bear witness to history,…
Jan 15, 2026 African Violet Care Guide for Plant Lovers - Best of Growing Joy Replay
African violets often get a bad reputation as fussy, old-fashioned houseplants, but what if they’ve just been misunderstood? In this African violet care guide, we’re bringing back a favorite episode from the Best of Growing Joy series to change the way you think about caring for African violets. Lisa from Houseplant Guru joins us to bust common African violet myths and explain why these so-called “grandma plants”…
Jan 13, 2026 From Plant Care to Nature Therapy: A Solo Heart to Heart
Are you ready to transform your relationship with nature and unlock the secrets to true wellness? Join me in the first episode of Season 11 of "Growing Joy with Plants," where I take you on a reflective journey through the past year of my life as a plant care educator, podcaster, and fellow plant lover. This episode is packed with insights on how nature therapy can elevate your mental health, helping you reconnect…
Jan 8, 2026 Snake Plant Care: Find Joy with Thriving Sansevieria: Best of Growing Joy Replay
I’ve been on an eight-year campaign to bring more attention and love to the plant we’re doing a deep dive on today, as you’ll find out. Because this plant, the snake plant (otherwise known as the san), is often touted as a low-light plant. But it wants to soak up the sun, plant friends. It deserves so much more than it gets. So today, we’re revisiting a favorite episode of mine with guest Chris Satch, which is a…
Jan 1, 2026 Holistic Plant Care Projects for Kids: Best of Growing Joy Replay
I’m so excited to bring you today’s child-friendly episode with a dear friend of mine, Joe Dombrowski. You might know him as @mrDtimes3. He’s the classroom teacher who went viral several years ago and was featured on Ellen for doing a joke spelling bee with his kids. But Joe is actually a massive plant parent, and we became friends a couple of years ago because he listened to the podcast. When I learned that he was…
Dec 30, 2025 A Day in the Life of a Plant Consultant Helping Plant Parents Fight Pests (and the Scariest Scale on Plants Infestation You've Ever Seen)
Have you ever wondered how a single pothos plant could change your entire life? Join us in this inspiring episode of "Growing Joy with Plants" as we engage in a heartfelt conversation with Richard, affectionately known as Lord Fierce, the visionary founder of Plant Daddy NYC. We explore the vibrant tapestry of the plant community, recalling our first encounter at PlantCon in New York City and the influential…
Dec 18, 2025 Defying Gravity: How Air Plants Grow, Bloom, and Inspire Wonder: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Air plants don’t get nearly enough love in the houseplant community. They’re an incredible low-maintenance, low-light-tolerant option, and one of the most fascinating plant species out there. They completely defy gravity, hanging from trees without soil. I appreciate them on an even deeper level now that I live in Florida, where I see air plants thriving in their natural habitat every single day, clinging to trees,…
Dec 16, 2025 Botanical Printing: Transform Your Plants Into Stunning Fabrics for Joyful Living and Mindful Gardening
Have you ever wondered how the vibrant colors of flowers can transform your wardrobe? Join us in this episode of Growing Joy with Plants as we dive into the enchanting world of botanical printing with Ceilidh, the visionary founder of the sustainable clothing line BillyNou. Together, we explore the art of natural dyeing, where the beauty of plants meets the creativity of fashion. Ceilidh shares her journey as a…
Dec 11, 2025 How to Prep Your Houseplants for Winter: Best of Growing Joy Replay
As we move into the winter season and you notice the days are getting shorter, you might also notice that your plants start looking a little sleepy. Maybe they start growing a little slower. Maybe they have some leaves die back, and this episode is created to help you not panic and learn that the plants are moving into a cozy season just like we are. So this is an old episode that we're bringing back in the Best of…
Dec 9, 2025 Food Preservation for Plant Parents: Transform Your Gardening Journey into Sustainable Joy and Wellness
Have you ever wondered how a simple vegetable garden can transform into a thriving source of joy, health, and sustainability? Join host Maria Failla in this inspiring episode of Growing Joy with Plants as she welcomes Jeremy and Staci, a passionate husband-and-wife duo who have dedicated over 21 years to the art of gardening and food preservation. Discover their incredible journey from planting seeds in their…
Dec 4, 2025 The Joy of a Living Christmas Tree: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Did you know that you can have a living Christmas tree in your home that can be planted and live long after the ornaments come down? I didn't know this until seven years ago when I interviewed Joe Lamp’l , otherwise known as Joe Gardener, all about how to have a living Christmas tree indoors that you plant in later years. It was a fascinating episode, and it is Part 2 of our Christmas Tree Series that we've brought…
Dec 2, 2025 Explore the Healing Plants of the Sonoran Desert
Plant friends, today let’s talk about the Sonoran Desert , one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. As a former New Yorker turned Florida plant parent, I will never forget the first time I visited Arizona and that surreal feeling of standing in a place so unlike anywhere I’d ever been. And lucky for us, I have invited a new plant friend and someone who knows the Sonoran Desert ecosystem like the back of her…
Nov 27, 2025 Christmas Tree Extravaganza Part 1/2 - Cut Christmas Trees: Best of Growing Joy Replay
I am so tickled to bring you this episode, a very special episode in the Best of Growing Joy series. This is the fifth episode I ever published in my over 300 episodes on this podcast, but I figured the timing is perfect for me to bring back this oldie but goodie that even if you've been a real devout listener of the podcast, you might have missed because it's so far down the feed. It's perfect for the Best of…
Nov 25, 2025 Discover Coherent Water: Boost Plant Vitality and Enhance Self-Care with Nature for Plant Parents and Lovers
Did you know that the water we drink and use in our gardens isn’t in its most natural, optimal form? That simple idea cracked open one of the best conversations I’ve had in my 300+ podcast episodes, plant friend! I talked to Mario Brainovic, the CEO of Analemma Water , to learn about coherent water: what it is, why it matters, and how it affects both our bodies and our plants. This conversation inspired me and made…
Nov 20, 2025 How Plants Communicate: VOCs, Mycorrhizae & the Hidden Language of Plants: Best of Growing Joy
Plant friend, I'm so excited to bring you this Best of Growing Joy series, a throwback episode to 2020. In the pandemic, I let my plant nerd freak flag fly extremely high. New York Botanical Garden had only in-person classes at the Botanical Garden in the Bronx, and in the pandemic they brought those classes online. I took every class they had to offer: soil science, plant science 101, and this class on tree…
Nov 18, 2025 How to Propagate Anthurium From Seed - New Houseplant Propagation Guide
If you’ve been hanging around the planty corners of the internet lately, you’ve probably noticed something: there’s a particular surge in interest in Anthuriums in our community over the last couple of years! These beautiful and dramatic houseplants are so beautiful, and more and more plant parents in our Growing Joy community have been asking about them. So when I met the Cass, aka plantaddicted_cass , the…
Nov 13, 2025 5 Plant Holiday Crafts that Make Amazing DIY Holiday Gifts: Best of Growing Joy Replay
What if your holiday gifts didn't just look beautiful, but they kept growing long after the season ended and reminded the giftee of you and what an amazing person you are? In this Best of Growing Joy episode, it's a little short for you, but it's packed with really fun DIY plant holiday crafts that you can start doing now so that you can gift them over the holiday season to your loved ones and to your coworkers!…
Nov 11, 2025 Poisonous Plants and Their Lore
We all love plants, right? We give them names, talk to them like they’re our friends, and basically treat them like family. However, a lot of plants out there can actually really hurt you. That’s what we’re going to talk about today with my longtime friend and fellow plant podcaster Jane Perrone, host of ‘On the Ledge’ podcast and author of ‘Atlas of Deadly Plants.’ We’ll talk about poisonous plants, their…
Nov 6, 2025 At Home Hydroponic Gardening 101: Best of Growing Joy Replay
If you want to grow fresh herbs, greens, edible flowers, maybe even vegetables, right in your apartment, but you don't want to deal with soil, hydroponics is the answer to your prayer. There has been so many incredible advancements in hydroponic growing that has made this. Former industry that was really reserved for large scale growers, totally available to apartment dwellers. Now, this throwback episode in the…
Nov 4, 2025 Rainwater Harvesting 101: Learn to Garden with Less Water
In a time where it feels like the weather is getting more and more volatile no matter where we live, making sure that you can capture rainwater is so important for so many people around the world. That's what this entire episode is about. And to help me with this topic is my plant friend Martha Retallick, author of Water Harvesting 101, who’s mastered the art of collecting and reusing rainwater after years of…
Oct 30, 2025 Aquatic Gardening Made Simple: Beginner Tips for a Sunken Garden: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Have you ever dreamed of turning a simple fish tank into a lush underwater jungle? Or maybe you're like me, and you have a partner who isn't really into houseplants but is fascinated by those YouTube videos about turning aquariums into these swaying underwater jungles? You or your partner are gonna love this Best of Growing Joy Replay Episode when, a few years ago, I sat down with Karen Randall . She's the author…
Oct 28, 2025 Leave the Leaves: Think Before You Rake
Happy Leave the Leaves Month , plant friends! Did you guys know that was a thing that plant parents celebrate in October? It's actually one of the simplest, most low-maintenance, and laziest things that you could do to increase the diversity in your yard and save the planet! And the perfect person to talk to about that is none other than my plant friend, David Mizejewski, a naturalist from the National Wildlife…
Oct 23, 2025 Hoya Care Guide for Plant Lovers: Growing, Blooming, and Busting Myths with Doug from Vermont Hoya: Best of Growing Joy Replay
What is it that makes hoyas so irresistible that buying your first hoya often leads to having 40 in the few months to follow? In this listener favorite of the Best of Growing Joy series, I am bringing back a conversation with Doug Chamberlain of Vermont Hoya. Doug is one of the most beloved Hoya experts online, and we dive into their dazzling diversity, surprising care quirks, and intoxicating flowers. Doug makes a…
Oct 21, 2025 Indoor Houseplant Trellis 101: How to Train Your Vines
Have you ever wondered why your hoyas or pothos sometimes send out those long and wild tendrils that seem to have a mind of their own? I certainly have a windowsill full of hoyas doing this right now. There really isn’t a super “secret” technique. Most of our houseplants are just natural climbers that grow up trees in search of light and use those tendrils for support. So I invited over my new plant friend, Ara…
Oct 16, 2025 Grow Lights for Plants with Leslie Halleck: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Did you know that brightness has nothing to do with how much energy your plants actually receive from light? In this episode, I’m joined by horticulturist and author Leslie Halleck , who literally wrote the book Gardening Under Lights . Together, we’ll break down the science of indoor grow lights in a simple, approachable way—so you can confidently choose the right setup to keep your plants thriving all winter long…
Oct 14, 2025 The Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Garden from Scratch
Where do you even start if your dream is to turn that blank slate into a gorgeous garden? You’ve just moved into a new house. The keys are in your hands, you’re staring at your front door and also at a lot of lawn and maybe some unappealing landscaping. Good thing, plant friends, that I got to dive into this question with ecologist, writer, and new author Becky Searle ( @sow_much_more ), who just wrote Grow a New…
Oct 9, 2025 Intro to the Art of Bonsai: Best of Growing Joy Replay
What if caring for a tiny tree could teach you patience, presence, and even a new way of looking at life? That, plant lovers, is the magic of the art of Bonsai. It is a very specific practice that requires very specific care that I often get questions about. And so today I've decided to re-release an old episode where I interviewed Bonsai master, Bjorn from Eisei-en Bonsai . You might know him from his incredible…
Oct 7, 2025 Digital Detox: What 3 Days in Nature Taught Me (and How You Can Recreate It at Home)
Interested in joining Maria on a retreat like this? Join the waitlist! http://growingjoywithmaria.com/retreat Three days with no phone, no laptop, no social media notifications buzzing in my ear. It’s just me, the forest, and goats that became some of my best friends! And I achieved all of this when I visited Hemlock Neversink in Castskills last month to commit a full digital detox. I swapped screen time for…
Oct 2, 2025 DIY Plant Decor for Joyful Living: Vertical Gardens, Grow Shelves & More with Erin Harding: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Are you running out of space for your plants? Growing your plant collection can be quite the challenge when all your countertops, tablespace and even floorspace have been populated with your plant babies. Don’t fret any longer, plant friends, as we got the most beautiful and mess-free DIY plant decor projects for you to make the most out of your vertical space at home! In this episode, learn alongside me as Erin…
Sep 30, 2025 Alocasia Propagation Tutorial: How to Propagate an Alocasia Corm
Plant friends, if you’ve hung around the plant community for any amount of time, you know some sub-groups go deep, and one of the most passionate is the Alocasia lovers/enthusiasts . These people are ferocious about their alocasias, and one of their most controversial topics is corm propagation . If you’ve never heard of it, I hadn’t either until Instagram kept showing me those little plant “nuggets.” So I called…
Sep 25, 2025 Monstera Care Guide: Swiss Cheese Plant Propagation Tips & Styling Secrets for Stunning Growth- Best of Growing Joy Replay
The monstera might just be the most iconic houseplant of all time. Those bold, split leaves show up everywhere in logos, restaurant décor, and home goods, making it instantly recognizable. But bringing a monstera home and helping it thrive so it grows big, beautiful, and full of those signature splits takes a little know-how. Today, we’re revisiting one of my very first 20 episodes of Growing Joy in our Best of…
Sep 23, 2025 Groundcovers That Work: Low-Maintenance Plants for Every Garden
What if I told you that the most dominant plant in your garden isn't the rose that you love or the towering sunflower, but the little clover , the little guys creeping along the ground? They're called groundcovers, and they fight weeds, save water, prevent erosion, and can even replace your lawn. I had an amazing conversation with Kathy Jentz , author of “ Groundcover Revolution ,” and we talked about how these…
Sep 18, 2025 Grow Bag Gardening Secrets from Epic Gardening’s Kevin Espiritu: Best of Growing Joy Replay
I'm thrilled to be sharing this planty conversation with my #plantfriendIRL, Kevin Espiritu from Epic Gardening! Kevin and I recently met IRL in San Diego and clicked immediately. He is a wonderfully curious Botanical Bro who has the most incredible Urban Gardening setup in his home in San Diego. Our journeys to plant parenthood are very similar but revolve around different passions: indoor (mine) and outdoor…
Sep 16, 2025 Earthing Explained: The Science of Grounding for Better Sleep, Less Pain, and More Energy
You've probably heard the phrase, “ Go touch grass. ” It's usually thrown around online when someone needs to log off and reconnect with reality. But the act of touching grass, literally putting your bare feet or hands on the earth, is scientifically proven to reset your mood. It's known as earthing (or grounding), and it's been proven to reduce inflammation, boost your energy, improve sleep, and even help your…
Sep 12, 2025 Low Light Plants for Beginners and Advanced Plant Parents with the Houseplant Guru: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Today I welcome Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, otherwise known as the “Houseplant Guru,” to the show for an enlightening conversation about how to care for plants in low-light environments and what the best beginner, advanced, and interesting low-light-tolerant plant choices we can make. We discuss how to truly understand if we have low light and several hacks to capitalize on the light we have, and she suggests some…
Sep 9, 2025 Backyard Transformation: How a First-Time Gardener Nailed It on the First Try
Plant friends, I have to tell you about someone who has completely blown my mind this gardening season! Her name is Lily, and she happens to be my brother's girlfriend, which means I've had a front-row seat to watch her absolutely blossom as a first-time gardener. She nailed it on her first try, and I mean that she has had the most incredible success I think I have ever seen from a beginner. In this episode, you're…
Sep 4, 2025 Never Buy Garlic Again: Garlic Tutorial: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Garlic is a staple in so many savory dishes, but if you've only ever cooked with the sad grocery store bulbs, it's time to see garlic's true potential by growing your own. The depth of flavor and variety that homegrown garlic offers blows store-bought out of the water. Lucky for us, plant friends, growing our own garlic at home is so easy! In this episode, homesteader extraordinaire Jill Winger walks us through an…
Sep 2, 2025 Dogs + Houseplants: How to Keep Your Pup Safe (and Your Plants Intact)
If you love your dog as much as you love your monstera or other houseplants, you’ve probably run into this dilemma: how do you keep your plants alive without putting your pup at risk? This has been a problem for plant parents who are also pet parents. Some plants are toxic, some dogs are curious nibblers, and sometimes it feels like your plants and your pets are destined to clash. To figure this out, I talked with…
Aug 28, 2025 Food Preservation 101: Canning and Fermenting Guide for Plant Parents: Best of Growing Joy Replay
If you’re an edible gardener, chances are you’ve found yourself staring at a heaping bowl of tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, or carrots, wondering how on earth you’re going to eat them all before they go bad.In this Best of Growing Joy replay, I’m revisiting my conversation with Stephanie Thurow, a certified master food preserver and bestselling author of several books on canning and fermenting. Stephanie shares…
Aug 26, 2025 Cultivating Abundance and Gratitude in the Garden
What do a theater kid, a Venus flytrap, and a million TikTok followers have in common? Abundance… and my new plant friend Brian from Redleaf Ranch! Brian is the viral TikTok gardener you've probably come across if you spend any time in plant social media. He's the guy who makes you say "abundance!" out loud, and he’s here to talk about his approach to abundance and gratitude, plus how he used gardening as…
Aug 21, 2025 Terrariums, Vivariums & Paludariums: Plant Lovers Guide to Mindful Gardening Indoors: Best of Growing Joy Replay
What if your next plant project wasn’t just a container of soil and greenery—but a living, breathing world? In this Best of Growing Joy episode, we revisit a wonderful conversation I had a couple years back with terrarium expert Patricia from Doodle Bird Terrariums to explore the captivating art of creating terrariums, paludariums, and vivariums—miniature ecosystems that blend plants, animals, water, and even mist…
Aug 19, 2025 Fungus Gnats, Failing Fiddle Leaf Figs & The Gap of Death: Fix Your Top 3 Plant Problems
If you’ve ever watched your fiddle leaf fig drop all its leaves, battled fungus gnats that fly into your ear, or poured water on your plant only to watch it run straight through the pot without soaking in, this is your wake-up call. I called in the big guns for this one with my plant friend Mandi from Happy Happy Houseplant. Between our two communities, these are the plant problems we get asked about the most, and…
Aug 14, 2025 Garden Pests: Top Ways to Manage Deer, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Moles and Voles for Stress Free Living: Best of Growing Joy Replay
When I polled our listener community about your top requests for outdoor garden-related episodes, the number one request surprised me: it wasn’t managing fertilizer, succession planting, or garden design. It was how to manage pesky animals getting into your gardens! Today, I have the answer to your prayers: Brie from briegrows.com walks us through such a comprehensive list of practices and solutions for managing…
Aug 12, 2025 Plants Are Our Relatives: Exploring Ancestral Wisdom and the 5 Rs of Herbalism
I thought I had a pretty deep connection with plants. I mean, this podcast is literally about talking to them (and about them). But after 300+ episodes, this is the only conversation that impacted my daily interaction with plants. My guest, LoriAnn Bird, an Indigenous Métis herbalist and author of Revered Roots, introduced a concept of “plants as our relatives.” Elders. Teachers. Sovereign beings. And once you…
Aug 7, 2025 Stop Killing Orchids: Orchid Care Guide: Best of Growing Joy Replay
We are joined by Chris today for another installment of our Plant Science Series featuring The Sill! Orchid 101 is near and dear to my heart because I STRUGGLE with orchids, and Chris has been my go-to resource for personal orchid care. So I knew he would be the perfect guest to have come on the show and answer your orchid care questions! If you don’t know already, The Sill is a plant brand with two…
Aug 5, 2025 4 Recipes for Your Abundant Zucchini and Cucumber Harvests
Are you looking at your basket filled with zucchini (and cucumbers) that you’ve harvested this summer? You might also be wondering what you can do with them because there’s only so much roasted zucchini and pickled cucumber one person can take. You’re in the perfect place, because in this episode, I invited one of my favorite plant people, Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide. Kaleb’s a modern homesteader, gardener,…
Jul 31, 2025 How Indoor Plants Affect Your Mental Health: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Today’s episode is about exactly what the title says: our brains… on plants, and what happens in our brains when we become plant people. When I was starting to move from plant killer to crazy plant lady, I noticed there were a few months at the beginning of my plant collection where I felt like the love for plants kind of took over my life. I was constantly buying new plants, going to plant shops, and researching…
Jul 29, 2025 Exploring 14 Types of Pothos: From Marble Queen to Albo to Climbing Giants
Your plant parent story might have started with some humble pothos. It’s forgiving, fast-growing, and honestly, it’s probably the most underrated plant in most of our collections. But there is so much more to the pothos that you might be missing out on. So in this episode, we’re going to talk about pothos way beyond the basics with the help of my plant friend Justin Hancock of Costa Farms.Justin started in…
Jul 24, 2025 21 Indoor Plants that Bloom: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Houseplants are celebrated for their amazing foliage, but I think we overlook another amazing ability, a specific subcategory our favorite indoor plants have — the ability to bloom! Some people say we are intrinsically connected to flowers because, way back when, they signified fruit.Personally, I just think they are joyful as hell with their bright colors, and let's be frank, we all need a little more joy and…
Jul 22, 2025 Houseplant Trends, Tips & Hot Takes: Live from the Southeast Plant Show
This year, I had the joy of hosting a live Growing Joy popup at the Southeast Plant Show. I’ve been fortunate to attend a few plant events lately, but this one felt special in a way that’s hard to describe. The energy was electric! The people were overflowing with joy, and the plants were everything.If you love to connect with plant people, discover trending varieties, and just soak up good vibes, the Southeast…
Jul 17, 2025 Build Your Dream DIY Greenhouse: Best of Growing Joy Replay
I feel like there comes a time in every plant parent's life when we start to get really curious and excited about having a dedicated space for all of our plants. If you are an outdoor gardener, the promise of a greenhouse for seed starts and overwintering plants is even more promising! I’ve had several different moments in life where I’ve Googled greenhouse kits but never crossed the finish line due to the…
Jul 15, 2025 Tree Communication: The Science and Spirit of How Trees Talk
Have you ever felt drawn to a specific tree—and wondered why? You might already be receiving messages without realizing it.In this episode of Growing Joy, I sat down with intuitive nature expert and green witch Rachael Cohen of Our Infinite Nature to explore one of the most fascinating and overlooked topics in the natural world: tree communication. From the underground mycelial networks to intuitive connections and…
Jul 10, 2025 Small Scale Homesteading for Beginners: Best of Growing Joy Replay
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a homesteader? A growing number of people are turning to self-sufficiency and sustainability in their way of living. However, homesteading can seem intimidating, especially when social media portrays it as an exclusive lifestyle requiring acres of land and living off the grid. The good news is that it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing lifestyle! In this episode,…
Jul 8, 2025 Mindblowing Facts About Plants Outside Your Door: 11 Garden Plants with Superpowers
Did you know that some common outdoor plants have superpowers? Some can survive atomic bombing, clean up radiation, and even outsmart insects. This is Part 2 of my conversation with David Domoney, author of Plants with Superpowers, about the superpowers of outdoor plants. These plants can completely change how you walk down the street and look at nature.Listen to Part 1 of our conversation about indoor plant…
Jul 1, 2025 How to Grow Lavender
Did you know that lavender comes in dozens of varieties, each with a different smell, and many with different growing habits? I did learn that from Rebecca at Lavender Connection, who owns a family-run lavender farm in Sequim, Washington, which also happens to be the lavender capital of the United States! After meeting her at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, where her beautiful lavender scents were wafting…
Jun 24, 2025 Stop Killing Succulents and Listen to This Episode Instead
Have you ever killed a succulent and then felt like you were completely doomed as a plant parent? That was totally me about eight years ago. I brought succulents home because everyone said they were the easiest, most foolproof plant. Yet I still managed to kill them. Naturally, I spent a lot of time thinking I was just a plant killer. However, I eventually learned that succulents aren’t fool proof. And if you’ve…
Jun 17, 2025 I Found 22 Ducklings on My Roof: A Nature-Curious Story of Trust and Transformation
A few weeks ago, I found 22 baby ducklings on my roof. Not one. Not ten. But 22 fluffy, peeping, impossibly cute ducklings on the eaves of my Florida home. The videos I made became viral on Instagram and Tiktok, and so many people DM-ed me asking for updates! To be honest, it was one of the happiest and most bizarre times of my life because it made me realize how much my relationship with nature and plants had…
Jun 10, 2025 Gardening for Better Soil
How do you view soil in your garden? A lot of us look at soil as just the brown stuff under our feet. We usually don’t think about all of the different components that make up soil, all of the different organisms living in soil, or how it is this whole environment that our plants depend on. It is a living, breathing ecosystem that could be the answer to improving your entire garden. As gardeners, you know that soil…
Jun 3, 2025 7 Houseplants with Superpowers
Did you know that your houseplants have superpowers? Some can actually seek out darkness to find the light, some can count, and some can actually bring wealth. To help me reveal all these amazing aspects of our houseplants is my new friend, David Domoney. He’s a celebrated British horticulturist, television presenter, and author with over 30 Royal Horticultural Society medals. And his book, Plants with Superpowers,…
May 27, 2025 Sun Protection for Gardeners: Melanoma Awareness Month
It’s Melanoma Awareness Month! Two years ago, I walked into a dermatologist’s office thinking I had a simple skin issue… then I walked out with a melanoma diagnosis at 34. As a lifelong gardener, I never expected my love of plants would overlap with a serious health scare, but here we are. I’m not a beach person nor an outdoor enthusiast. I just tend to my garden every day, really. But that little dot on my face…
May 20, 2025 Smell Your Way to Joy: The Science Behind How Plants and Aromatherapy Enhance Memory and Emotion
Did you know the scent of plants can do more than just make your garden smell good? It can actually improve your mood, your memory, and your overall health. I’ve always thought of plant scents as just a lovely bonus in the garden, but I didn’t know there’s some wild science behind how smell connects to our emotions and even our brains. And to help me with that is Dr. Rachel Herz, a neuroscientist and expert on the…
May 13, 2025 How to Propagate Plants in Fluval Stratum
You've tried water and soil, but have you ever rooted a cutting in a Fluval Stratum? Yes, it’s technically made for fish tanks. Yes, it looks like little black caviar. But it might just be the best thing to happen to your houseplant propagation! So in this episode, let’s break down everything I’ve learned from my conversation with my plant friend, Lindsay Sisti (@alltheplantbabies), who is a propagation…
May 6, 2025 What Is Naturalistic Gardening and Why It Might Change How You Garden Forever
How do you create a natural garden? Is that even possible? I want to bring you to the style of garden that’s not only sustainable but also more resilient, and honestly, more fun. In fact, it might even be the future of gardening. Natural or naturalistic garden is an approach that’s all about working with nature instead of trying to control it. To help explain this topic, I brought on my dear friend, Kelly D Norris,…
Apr 29, 2025 Plant Mythbusters: Debunking 5 Viral Plant Hacks with The Chocolate Botanist
Have you ever seen one of those viral plant hack videos where someone sprinkles banana peels in their soil or ices their orchid? If you’re wondering if they work, I hate to be the bearer of bad news because the answer is no. Sorry, plant friends.In this episode, I will be separating fact from fiction with my dear friend, Derek Haynes aka The Chocolate Botanist. Derek is a plant biologist who’s not afraid to call…
Apr 22, 2025 Why Politicians Should Be Gardeners: An Invitation to Rethink Leadership Through the Wisdom of Nature
A Non-Political Reflection on Empathy, Nature, and the Power of Tending Plants
Apr 15, 2025 Growing Dahlias Made Easy: How to Grow Stunning Blooms from Tuber to Flower
“To know a Dahlia is to love a Dahlia.” And once you grow one, it’s like all your other flowers just kind of fade into the background. There’s just something about them. One of my most favorite flowers I have ever grown is a Dahlia called Kogane Fubuki. It was this magical pink and yellow ombre bloom that literally stopped me in my tracks every time I stepped onto my patio.And I want you to have those magical…
Apr 8, 2025 How Office Gardens Are Boosting Employee Wellness, One Plant at a Time
With the push to get people back into offices, there’s a glaring question floating around the corporate world: how do we make the office a place people actually want to come back to? As someone who believes in the impact of plants not just on spaces but on people, this question has me wishing of a world where every office has its own green vegetable garden out back.Does it sound too good to be true? Well, it’s…
Apr 1, 2025 From Wishlist to Whoops: 2025 Houseplant Trends, Plant Care Tips & Plant Fail Confessions From the Northwest Flower & Garden Show
What plants are flying off the shelves this year? If you’ve been hanging out with me on Instagram or listening to the podcast lately, you know that part of my job is traveling the country to speak at plant shows. I love getting to see what’s new, what’s trending, and honestly… just being surrounded by thousands of plants and planty people. It fills my joy tank like nothing else.So I thought, why not bring the magic…
Mar 25, 2025 Soil & Strategy: The Two Garden Planning Secrets for Bigger, Healthier Harvests
How do you plan your garden? Actually, do you plan your gardens at all? After many years of gardening and speaking with many garden experts, I learned that a successful organic vegetable garden doesn’t just happen when you plant it; it starts on the day you plan it.In this episode, I have the perfect recurring guest, Joe Lamp'l, to discuss planning your garden for the year ahead and making sure 2025 is your…
Mar 18, 2025 How to Live Seasonally and Celebrate the Spring Equinox
What if the secret to a happy life is to live seasonally? Living seasonally isn’t just about eating fresh produce (but, yes, that’s delicious). It’s about noticing nature’s rhythms, then adjusting depending on the season and celebrating those small shifts that define the passage of time.And with the Spring Equinox here, which is a time of renewal and balance, it’s the perfect moment to talk about how we can welcome…
Mar 11, 2025 How to Use Plants to Heal From Grief
Grief is so heavy that it can feel like an impossible weight to carry. But if you think about it, you can use plant care as a method to process grief and loss. Like plants, people can also grow and find resilience. They don’t rush and don’t demand. They just grow… little by little, day by day.In this episode, I want to share the story of my dear plant friend, Wade Lee, also known as Plants by Wade Lee. His story is…
Mar 4, 2025 5 Signs You're Overthinking Plant Care (And How to Relax)
Have you ever found yourself overthinking over a yellow leaf and wondering, “Is this overwatering or underwatering? Does it need water? Is this normal?” You’re just like the rest of us, plant friend! It's something I've done many, many times, and I know it's something that people in our community do all the time. We all want to get it right, but overthinking plant care can suck the joy right out of…
Feb 25, 2025 Houseplants for Kids: Raising the Next Generation of Plant Parents
“Start ‘em young.” That’s my motto. Well, it’s not really mine but I say it all the time when it comes to houseplants. And for this episode, I’m sure plant parents are gonna be happy to learn how to connect the younger generations to plants and nature at a young age. So I want to share this conversation with my plant friend Priscille Joseph, who is a Canadian author, illustrator, and plant lover. She wrote My First…
Feb 18, 2025 The Transformative Power of Flower Essences: What Are Flower Essences and How Can They Help Me?
Have you ever once thought about how flowers could do more than brighten your day? What if they could actually support your emotional well-being, reduce your stress, and even spark creativity? After 270+ episodes, this is my first time ordering a guest product right after the interview. Yes, I am on the flower essence bandwagon HARD after this interview.But who wouldn't be after talking with Katie Hess,…
Feb 11, 2025 Houseplant Confidence: The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
Lately, I’ve been hearing so many people talk about Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory—this idea of letting go of control, shifting your mindset, and ultimately finding peace. And you know what? I realized that I went through a similar shift when it came to my plant care journey, and I want to share it with you in this episode. I'll talk about how we think about our plants, our plant care, and how that shift in mind…
Feb 4, 2025 Water Saving Techniques for Your Garden
How can we conserve water while maintaining healthy, attractive gardens, no matter what climate you're in? Record-breaking heat waves, devastating droughts, wildfires scorching millions of acres, floods turning streets into rivers—we've seen it all this year. As climate extremes test our resilience, our gardens are feeling the impact too. How do we ensure our gardens not only survive but also grow in…
Jan 28, 2025 Plant Inspired Vacations
Did you know you can use your plant passion as inspiration for how and where you go on vacation? I'm sure many of us have already done this on a small scale. Maybe you've been on a trip and kept taking pictures of plants that look just like the ones you have at home. Or perhaps you've insisted on visiting a local plant shop or botanical garden while on vacation (guilty as charged!). But plant…
Jan 21, 2025 Easy Houseplant Care, Houseplant Pest Control, and Motherhood and Plants
If you’re a plant lover, you’ve probably come across Chantel, the brilliant mind behind @channygrayhome on Instagram. Over the past few years, she has built a community of over half a million plant enthusiasts. But there’s so much more to her than her incredible follower count.In this episode, I’ll take you behind the scenes of my chat with Channy—where we talked about her plant history, her love for DIYs, her big…
Jan 14, 2025 Beneficial Insects For Effortless Houseplant Pest Management
When I visited the Seattle Spheres and saw the famous green wall with its 40,000 plants, I was mesmerized. But what really caught my eye were these strange little plastic baggies hanging off some stems. I wondered if they were hurting the plants at first. But then I looked closer, I realized those bags were filled with insects. Beneficial insects, to be exact. And they were there to manage pests naturally.So if…
Jan 7, 2025 I Grew 40 New Plants in 2024: Ranked from Favorites to Flops
I can't believe we're already in 2025, but I am SO excited to spill all the tea about my wild plant experiment from last year. In 2024, I totally went for it and added over 40 new plant species to my collection—and it was quite the adventure! Some of these plants thrived, some flopped, and yes, some didn’t make it. So in this episode, I’m sharing it all—from my favorites to my fails—and what I learned…
Dec 31, 2024 The Role of Nature in Personal Growth
What role do you think nature plays in your life? For me, it has always been a deeper way to improve my mental, physical, and emotional health. In fact, it’s not just me who thinks this way. The minute I hopped into the digital recording studio, I knew that my guest was someone very similar to me! I’ve been following Marcus Bridgewater, better known as Garden Marcus, for years, and I’m so happy to say that he…
Dec 24, 2024 Carnivorous Plants: The Houseplant Pest Control You Never Thought Of
Plant friends, did you know your houseplants can double as pest control? Carnivorous plants don’t just survive—they hunt. Venus flytraps can snap down on unsuspecting flies, while pitcher plants lure bugs into their slippery traps. These carnivorous plants themselves are nature’s own pest management system.So I’ve brought on a guest who knows everything there is to know about them: Kenny Coogan, the head of…
Dec 17, 2024 How to Work with The Winter Equinox
As the winter solstice–or the longest night of the year–approaches, how does it reflect and represent you? This is the season of dormancy, a time when plants, the earth, and even we are drawn to rest, recharge, and prepare for growth. In this final installment of our 2024 seasonal sessions, on the pod once again is my dear friend and our resident green witch, Rachael of Our Infinite Nature. She shared with me how…
Dec 10, 2024 Create a Biophilic Office Space: Boost Your Workday Motivation by Adding These Plants to Your Office
According to a Human Spaces report, “workers in office environments with natural elements, such as greenery and sunlight, are 6% more productive at work and 15% more creative.” Personally, they’ve been my number one most useful tool for increasing joy throughout my workday, and they help me reduce eye strain from staring at my computer all day. So in this episode of Growing Joy with leafjoy® miniseries, we’ll be…
Dec 3, 2024 CaliKim on "10 Time Saving Tactics for a More Efficient Garden"
How do you have a life and a garden? Between busy schedules, family time, and pretty lengthy to-do lists, how can we fit gardening moments into our lives without sacrificing precious time? As we close out our 2024 gardening season, it’s a great time to reflect on what worked, what flopped, and how we can make our gardens even better for 2025. This is exactly where CaliKim shines the most, and her new book, The…
Nov 26, 2024 Winter Houseguest Plants: Outdoor Plants That Can Grow Indoors This Winter (and go right back outside next summer!)
What if there’s a way to enjoy your favorite outdoor plants year-round, save money, and keep them inside as houseplants during the winter? The answer lies in overwintering outdoor plants indoors, which is a brilliant technique I talked about with my friend and gardening expert, Janey Santos from Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat. Janey is a master gardener, YouTuber, and just an all-around plant genius, and she shared five…
Nov 19, 2024 Vacation Proof Your Plants
How do you vacation-proof your plants before going away? The holiday season is fast approaching, which means many of us have already booked out-of-town trips that would require us to be away from home for a longer period of time. So how would you keep the plants back home alive while on vacation? It's not like we could water our plants while away, right? So in this episode, I want to make sure that stress…
Nov 12, 2024 Give the Gift of Growth // Holiday Houseplant Gift Guide
Why are plants the perfect holiday gift? Plants symbolize so many things such as growth, life, and connection, so it only makes sense that we want our giftee to feel this. And unlike typical presents, if you pick just the right plant for whoever you’re gifting it to, trust that this will continue to grow and evolve long after the holiday season is gone—making them think of you every time they look at it. But if…
Nov 5, 2024 Holiday Plant Care: Poinsettia/Christmas Cactus/Norfolk Pine Care
Christmas and the holiday season are coming! Which “festive” plants should you grow and how can you help them stay alive? For many people, nothing makes the holidays lovelier than getting a beautiful poinsettia or holiday cactus during this time. But there’s absolutely nothing worse than seeing the holiday plant that you fell in love with just wither before your very eyes because they need a different care than…
Oct 29, 2024 The Best Low Light Plants for Dim Spaces
What plants are great in low-light homes? That’s one of the most common plant questions that I get asked a lot. It’s popular because a lot of us don’t have those floor-to-ceiling windows that we often see on Pinterest and Instagram. The majority of us just have normal, low-light homes. Even my new house in Florida is actually extremely low-light! But of course, we all want our indoor garden to grow well, no matter…
Oct 22, 2024 This Trick Will Save You 100s at the Garden Center // Plant Parent Personality
Are you struggling to keep your houseplants alive? You might be one of many aspiring plant parents who find themselves in this annoying cycle, and you wonder why you can't seem to keep even the "easiest" plants alive. The problem is not finding the “right beginner plant” but understanding your own plant parent personality. So in this episode, I’ll tell you the five distinct plant parent personalities and how…
Oct 15, 2024 Behind the Scenes with a Garden Center Owner
What makes your local garden center feel so special? Don’t you notice that there’s something magical about them? It’s kinda shocking how little we understand as consumers about all the effort that goes into getting plants to us and onto our windowsills. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes at the Garden Center that we don't know about. That's why I'm committed to having more people on this…
Oct 8, 2024 Budget Friendly Ways to Elevate Your Garden
Plant friends, if you are anything like me, you LOVE a good deal, especially when it comes to your garden. After all, it can be costly to buy every gardening tool out there that just seems to drain your bank account. Luckily for us, I picked the brain of my new plant friend—Robbie from Visit Our Garden. Robbie’s garden is a marvel in itself, but even more exciting is how he has mastered the art of making it look…
Oct 1, 2024 How Plants Teach Us to Adapt to Change
Have you ever felt lost while experiencing change? In fact, I've been thinking a lot about the concept of transplant shock lately, as it has been a beautiful metaphor for what I am personally going through right now after moving 1,500 miles from New York to Florida. It's a plant-life parallel that gave me so much comfort and guidance during this season of discomfort and change, and I have a feeling that…
Sep 24, 2024 What You Need to Know About the Autumnal Equinox // Seasonal Sessions
No matter what season it is, now being summer into fall, the shifting of the seasons provides an opportunity and an external trigger for us to reflect internally. I had my dear friend Rachael from Our Infinite Nature back on the show to help us navigate the upcoming season. If you've been following me, you know how magical she is—she’s my go-to for everything seasonal and spiritual. We’ve been doing these…
Sep 17, 2024 I Moved 80+ Plants Across the Country: Here's What I Learned
I don’t know how I survived moving all 80 of my houseplants across 1500 miles from New York to South Florida with my husband and our parakeet in our rented minivan. It was quite an adventure, and I learned so much along the way. Despite all the chaos, I only lost two and a half plants, which is an achievement! My husband got an amazing job opportunity. I am fully digital with my business. We wanted to move closer…
Sep 10, 2024 Hoya Care for Beginners
There are so many different reasons to love hoyas, plant friends. They are gorgeous, drought-tolerant, and relatively easy to care for once you nail down a few key tips! Hoyas had a moment on social media in 2021 and 2022 due to their incredible diversity—Hoyas can look so different from each other, and if you’re a curious plant collector (see which one are you with my plant personality test), this is the perfect…
Sep 3, 2024 5 Tips for Growing in Hot Climates
Big news, plant friends. I've moved! After four wonderful years living in the Catskills my husband and I have packed up our lives–and my plants–and headed south to Florida. That’s from Zone 6B to Zone 10B! As a lifelong New Yorker, I've only ever known four distinct seasons. But now, I’m literally going to experience a whole new gardening action in a climate that feels almost tropical. And I'm…
Aug 27, 2024 Pet Friendly Plants
You've probably seen that funny meme going around that says "pets are the new children, and plants are the new pets." I couldn't agree more! We're all out here treating our plants like our babies and our pets like our kids. But what happens when these two loves collide—and your toxic plant harms your pet? In this episode, I share the different plants that are safe for our furry babies, how to keep…
Aug 20, 2024 Anthurium Care 101
Anthuriums have everything a plant parent could want. This genus has the most widely distributed, easily grown plants as well as some rare and expensive collectibles. Both its leaves and flowers are also indispensable. I especially love it because of its heart-shaped leaves and its gorgeous long, skinny stems. And I’ll tell you all about it and how to care for it in this episode of Proven Winners Mini Series.In…
Aug 13, 2024 The Business of Horticulture
How do you level up from being a casual plant lover to a true pro in the horticulture industry? What does it take to become one? There are plenty of things we don't get as hobbyists about the horticulture industry—so much more happening behind the scenes than we can imagine. Fortunately, Leslie Halleck, a favorite guest on the podcast and one of my best plant friends, is here to tell us about how the…
Aug 6, 2024 How to Use Nature as a Spiritual and Wellness Tool with Jessica Zweig
How many times have you heard someone say "My garden is my therapy" or "Plant care is self-care”? These phrases have become so popular lately, and they're absolutely true! As someone who's written a whole book on this topic, I can tell you that being connected to nature gives us so many gifts: perspective, gratitude, love, and as we'll explore today, reverence and reciprocity. I have a deep-rooted…
Jul 30, 2024 Garden to Table Recipes
Are you running out of ideas on how to use the tomato and cucumber harvest from your garden? As summer goes on, many gardeners end up with a ton of produce they don't know what to do with. Those eight tomato plants that seemed like a good idea in spring are now producing more than you can eat! But my guest this episode has got you covered with some of her delicious and creative ways to use up your garden…
Jul 23, 2024 Growing Joy "After Dark": Spilling the Planty Tea
Here’s a special late-night edition of Growing Joy with Plants: After Dark where I spill the planty tea and share a cocktail with my two incredible plant friends, Agatha Isabel and Kamili Bell Hill. You might know Kamili as @plantblerd on Instagram and Agatha as @agathatisabel on Instagram. They've been my real-life plant friends for years, and we recently had a blast at the New York Botanical Garden Orchid…
Jul 16, 2024 What is Regenerative Gardening and Permaculture?
Have you ever come across the terms "regenerative gardening," "permaculture," or even "chaos gardening"? These are all over social media lately, but what do they actually mean? And more importantly, how can we use these practices to grow happier, healthier plants while also helping Mother Nature? Today's episode is a deep dive into all of this with my new plant friend, Stephanie Rose, founder of Garden Therapy…
Jul 9, 2024 Understanding Natural Light Levels for Thriving Houseplants // Do You Have Bright Light, Bright Indirect Light or Low Light for Houseplants?
You are likely overestimating how much light you have in your home for your houseplants, plant friends! Yes, it's a tough truth to swallow. In fact, the largest cause of houseplant death is a misunderstanding of light. That’s because our houseplants perceive light differently from us. Don’t worry, because I have your back. I've spent seven years learning about light and distilling everything I've…
Jul 2, 2024 Interior Design for Beginners // Interior Design Principles for Houseplant Lovers
Plants just help liven up any space, that’s a fact. And I don't know if you know this, but I suck at interior design. It does not come naturally to me. I often overlook details—and interior design in general is about the details. I came to houseplants for the aesthetic because plants seem to be the common thread of all the design magazines, articles, and inspirations that I was reading as I was curating my…
Jun 25, 2024 Stop Killing Ferns! How to Care for Ferns
I have always been a fan of ferns, but for some reason, I could never manage to keep them alive. But those days are over, and I have done a complete 180 on ferns! If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you've probably heard me say how I don't like ferns and how they're just not my recommended houseplant. However, for the past year or so, I've been successfully caring for…
Jun 18, 2024 Why You Should Care About the Summer Solstice
Can you feel that summer energy in the air? The summer solstice is upon us—the longest day of the year and the official start of the summer season. For us plant parents, this transition is everything. All our patient tending in the spring is paying off as our gardens burst into full bloom.The summer solstice is a powerful energetic pivot point that I always like to honor and celebrate. And I am so delighted to have…
Jun 11, 2024 Small Space Cut Flower Gardening for Beginners
Some of my happiest childhood memories are of my mom's garden bursting with homegrown flower bouquets. Whenever we had visitors, she'd snip whatever was in bloom, bundle it up with herbs from her kitchen garden, wrap it in a wet paper towel and tinfoil, and gift it to our guests. I just thought it was the simplest, kindest way to grow joy for herself and for her friends—and that's the beauty of…
Jun 4, 2024 How to Move with Houseplants
Moving is such a pain in the neck. Packing boxes, saying goodbye to familiar surroundings, and navigating new neighborhoods—it's enough to make anyone break a sweat. But you know what can be worse than that, plant friends? Moving with houseplants!If you know, you know, and if you haven't moved with your houseplant collection yet, consider yourself lucky. Our guest today just moved across countries and…
May 28, 2024 Bird-Friendly Gardening
While we are stewards of the land, we are also stewards of the native animals that call it home. And birds, with their declining population, need our help to keep them flying high in our shared environment. Our responsibility is to protect their home, provide them with food, and minimize the threats they face.When I realized there was someone else who shares my deep passion for birds AND gardens, and that she wrote…
May 21, 2024 Hydrangea Care
Hydrangeas are beautiful flowers, and they represent a wide range of emotions in different cultures. Yes, they can be tricky to grow, but they are relatively low-maintenance with the right care! In this episode, you will learn everything you need to know about hydrangeas from Ryan McEnaney aka @ryanplantsplants, your new best plant friend. I bumped into him in Seattle during the Northwestern Flower Show a few weeks…
May 14, 2024 How to Water Your Houseplants: Everything You Need to Know About Watering
Did you know that watering is one of the most common causes of houseplant death? You saw a gorgeous new plant baby from a store, and then you brought it home full of excitement and good intentions. In fact, you wanted to do your best, so you read the watering instructions in the packet and tried to follow them as closely as possible… And then tragedy happens. The once vibrant leaves start to wilt, turn yellow, or…
May 7, 2024 How to Use Nature to Improve Your Mindset
How can you use plants to promote more mindful thinking? In this episode, I had the most amazing chat with my longtime plant friend Brittany Gowan (@brittanygowan). Brittany and I go way back to our NYC plant mom days when we used to have plant swaps and brunches together. It is pretty wild how plants can bring people together like that.Brittany is one of a kind—she blends her skills in psychology and coaching with…
Apr 30, 2024 How to Care for A Lot of Plants (AKA Have a Large Plant Collection)
If you have 250 plants in your home, what would you do? That seems like WAY too many plants to care for, right? But for Samantha Hermann, better known as @houseplusplant on Instagram, this is her second nature. She’s my newest plant friend, and I’m so excited to have a casual conversation with her on this episode (let me know if you want more episodes like this). Samantha has been successfully keeping that many…
Apr 23, 2024 Eco Anxiety
Have you ever felt a sense of worry, fear, or anger when you think about climate change and the state of our planet? If so, you may be experiencing what's called "eco-anxiety." As plant lovers who are so connected to nature through our gardens and houseplants, it makes total sense that eco-anxiety could affect us. We care deeply about the Earth because we are part of it. So, let us spend some time with my…
Apr 16, 2024 Composting Basics
You may have heard that compost is the key to a healthy garden, and feeding the soil is more important than feeding your plants . And if you don't garden, you've probably heard about composting as an eco-friendly way to live more sustainably and support the planet. That is why I dedicate an entire episode explaining what composting is and how it works. My guest, Michelle Balz, is a true composting guru who has…

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

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

Episodes

A plant gift for every budget and every plant parent: 2026 Gift Guide for Plant Lovers

She Lost Her Flower Field, Then Found a 20-Acre Farm: Resilience and Cut Flowers with Jennifer Gulizia

The Fall Kitchen Garden as a Wellness Revolution: Why Growing Your Own Food Is the Ultimate Wellness Practice

More Than Just a Plant: Finding Joy Again After Loss with Krystal Duran

The Surprising Wellness Benefits of Gardening With Perla Sofía Curbelo: Best of Growing Joy Replay

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