Flower Power Garden Hour

Latest Episodes:

Flower Power Garden Hour 50: Listener Q&A…potpourri Oct 19, 2019

Show notes

Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week -- grab bag of questions.

Fall planting – what can still be planted for Fall in the San Joaquin Valley
Rose bushes – yellow spots on leaves….what to do to prevent
Ficus – losing leaves on only a certain portion of the plant
Comfrey – can it be planted in raised beds for winter?
How to break through hard pan in order to plant
Superblue Lavendar – for indoor growing in the Northeast US, should a ceramic or plastic pot be used
Bromeliad – help with growing a very dry, no natural light office

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Flower Power Garden Hour 49: Terrariums Oct 02, 2019

Show notes

Terrariums are a great way to grow a landscape on a miniature scale. I sit down with expert terrarium builders Kyle Shankle and Eric Cendejas to discuss building a terrarium from container up. Learn what soil is best, water-proofing techniques, drainage, how to build features, which lighting system to choose and of course all the plants that will reward you with your own mini-jungle.

Eric can be found @aroiddaddy on Instagram

Flower Power Garden Hour 48: Listener Q&A...flower focus Sep 22, 2019

Show notes

Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. The focus is on flowers this week, with a smattering of vegetables thrown in.

Black tulip magnolia – not blooming, unhealthy looking
Mums – growing tall, but not flowering
Bougainvillea – growing out of control, how to train
Christmas cactus – half growing well, half not
Butterfly bushes – how to prep for winter
Japanese maples – browning as summer gets hot
"Rusty" leaves – what is causing, how to mitigate
Tomatoes – second harvest is green and hard
Avocados – tree not producing

Flower Power Garden Hour 47: Ethnobotany, with Nathan Gonzales Sep 11, 2019

Show notes

Marlene sits down with Nathan Gonzales, instructional assistant of biology at American River College and talks about his favorite plants to use medicinally and while on the trail. Learn what California native can be used as an antimicrobial band-aid in a pinch, what plants make the best fire starting material and what uncommon plant can be snacked on to get you a bit giddy! This ethnobotany centric episode covers many of the plants people see every day when hiking and dwells into the many uses Native Americans have for them.

Flower Power Garden Hour 46: Oaks, with Emily Griswold Aug 25, 2019

Show notes

Mighty, majestic… these are words often used to describe Oaks. For Emily Griswold, Oaks are so much more.. they are her passion. She has turned this passion into collecting and disseminating different Oak species to various collections across the world, as well as curating the 300-species-strong Shields Oak Grove on the UC Davis campus. I sit down with Emily and tap into her knowledge on all things Oaks… how to grow, diseases, species suitable for backyards, the smallest and the oldest (which will blow your mind).

Click here for article on the oldest know oak talked about during episode.

Flower Power Garden Hour 45: Listener Q&A Aug 11, 2019

Show notes

Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. It's a grab bag of topics this time, including:

Hibiscus leaves dropping – causation?
Orchids – root location
Watermelons with a black spot on bottom – fungus or?
Passion Fruit viability – Central Valley CA
Dwarf lemon not producing
Watermelons – white inside….why?
Roses – tiny holes in flowers

Flower Power Garden Hour 44: Cacao, with Cru Chocolate Jul 28, 2019

Show notes

How did two engineers become chocolate makers? As we discuss the process of making chocolate with Karla McNeil and Eddie Houston, owners of Cru Chocolate, it becomes clear that chocolate making is not only an art but part chemistry and engineering. This episode covers the history of cacao, its importance in many South American cultures and the steps to make beans to bar. Additionally, we dive into the challenges of being a company with a culture focused on sustainability and ensuring the success of their South American partners.

Cru Chocolate can be found at:

www.cruchocolate.com. Locations to purchase and partners can be found here.

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To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Flower Power Garden Hour 43: Dr. Matt Amicucci – not all carbs are created equal Jul 10, 2019

Show notes

Growing a cover crop is a great way to incorporate nitrogen into the soil, but what exactly does this mean? What are the best plants for it and what are the steps to getting the most out of the cover crop. I sit down with Dr. Matt Amicucci, owner of Calyxo Biosystems, and discuss nitrogen fixation. We then veer into his involvement in the research and discovery of a native Oaxacan corn that makes enough nitrogen that the local farmers have never fertilized their soil! We then go into more detail into Matt's PhD work…. how not all carbs are created equal. Matt's research took over 1,000 fruit and vegetables and broke down every carb and sugar to map out what exactly we eat and how it affects our health. A fascinating discussion about our preconceived notions regarding certain foods, gut biome and potential applications of the research.

Matt can be found at @farmforageferment on Instagram

Flower Power Garden Hour 42: Pollinators for fruits and vegetables Jun 25, 2019

Show notes

Bees, butterflies, beetles, oh my. These are just some of the important pollinators needed to achieve great fruit and vegetable set in your garden. Find out which plants are best at attracting pollinators, as well as tips and tricks on hand pollinating when pollinators go MIA. Learn why your strawberries and squash are malformed, as well as how to plant corn to achieve high quality. This episode covers all things pollination!

Flower Power Garden Hour 41: Listener Q&A…Summer Vegetable Gardening Jun 16, 2019

Show notes

An episode dedicated to answering questions submitted by listeners. Topics this week include:

Peppers – poor growth and production
Tomatoes and squash – what are the best fertilizers/amendments
Leaf curling on tomatoes
Epsom salt – good for plants (specifically tomatoes)?
Technique for disinfecting gardening shears
Marigolds as companion plants
Is peat moss effective to retain moisture in soil

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