Flower Power Garden Hour

Latest Episodes:

FPGH 228: Seed Starting Feb 15, 2026

Show notes

There are many benefits for starting plants from seeds. But what are the best techniques for success. Bruce and Marlene go into detail on the basics and discuss more advanced seed starting requirements.

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Facebook
Instagram
email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

FPGH 227: February To Do List Feb 08, 2026

Show notes

Believe it or not, spring is around the corner. It has been very dry in NorCal so far – sometimes we get Spring rain, so still TBD. LOTS of prep to do for the upcoming season.

It is time to plant:

Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Collards, swiss chard
Kale
Leeks
Loose leaf lettuce
Peas
Potatoes….late in the month

Chores include:

Sow tomatoes inside
Start flowers (sunflowers, strawflower, zinnias, etc)
Direct sow sweet peas
Plant bare-root (roses, fruit trees, asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, berries)
Spray fruit trees
Fertilize
Compost
Clean up, cut back
Prune roses, fruit trees

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Facebook
Instagram
email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

FPGH 226: Top 10 Easiest Houseplants To Grow Jan 31, 2026

Show notes

Kill every houseplant you try to grow? Not anymore. Bruce and I share our top 10 easiest houseplants that are guaranteed to thrive in your home… even if you are convinced you have a brown thumb.

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Facebook
Instagram
email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

FPGH 225: Welwitschia, with Gianluca Bacci of rareplantcatalog.com Jan 25, 2026

Show notes

Welwitschia mirabilis is one of the most unique plant species and on this episode we dive into everything about it. Succulent extraordinaire, Gianluca Bacci of rareplantcatalog.com, joins me in discussing its care, morphology, propagation and more.

Gianluca can be found at:

Retail website: rareplantcatalog.com
Retail Nursery: Boojums, 1505 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles
Instagram: @rareplantcatalog, @boojumstudygroup

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Facebook
Instagram
email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

FPGH 224: January To Do List & Listener Q&A Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

It is the January To Do List – lots of fog in the California Central Valley recently, so a good amount of moisture even without significant rain. Temperatures have been on the lower side, but no major freezes. Even though it's the heart of winter, there are things that need to be done during the dry periods.

It is time to plant:

Asparagus plants
Bareroot trees, roses, shrubs
Radishes
Lettuce
Kohlrabi
Peas
Onions
Bok choy
Fava beans

Chores include:

Protect from frost. Watch weather report for potential frost days
Don't work wet soils --- very important
Spray for peach leaf curl and other fungal diseases
Can prune fruit trees – but listen to the caveats in the episode

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Facebook
Instagram
email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

FPGH 224: January To Do List & Listener Q&A Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

It is time to plant:

Asparagus plants
Bareroot trees, roses, shrubs
Radishes
Lettuce
Kohlrabi
Peas
Onions
Bok choy
Fava beans

Chores include:

Protect from frost. Watch weather report for potential frost days
Don't work wet soils --- very important
Spray for peach leaf curl and other fungal diseases
Can prune fruit trees – but listen to the caveats in the episode

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Facebook
Instagram
email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

FPGH.223: Holiday Plants Dec 21, 2025

Show notes

Tired of getting a holiday plant just to have it die on you. Don't worry, Bruce and Marlene, share tips on how to prevent your plants from ending up in the compost bin after the New Year. Topics covered: getting Christmas cactus to bloom, the truth about paperwhites coming back, soil suggestions and more.

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Facebook
Instagram
email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

FPGH 222: December To Do & Listener Q&A Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

It is the December To Do List, and we are in the middle of winter garden season. Weather is moderately cold, foggy, and so far it has been pretty dry. We finish up with a Listener Q&A.

It is time to plant:

Asparagus
Fava beans
Bok choy
Broccoli rabe
Garlic
Kale
Loose leaf lettuce
Mustard
Onion sets
Radish

Do not plant yet:

Bareroot trees
Roses
Berries

Chores include:

Protect succulents from water
Frost protection
Clean up – but leave some debris remaining
Spray dormant trees (peach leaf curl)
Plant bulbs

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Facebook
Instagram
email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

FPGH 220: Brendan Wilce, of the California Native Plant Society Dec 06, 2025

Show notes

Fall is a great time to plant California natives. Brendan Wilce of the California Native Plant Society joins me to give his 10 top favorite natives.

This episode is sponsored by BeWaterSmart.

The Brendan and the California Native Plant Society can be found at:

Website: calscape.org
Instagram: @theplanimal

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Facebook
Instagram
email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

FPGH 219: Between Two Shrubs, with Shelley & Christy Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

Want to take over that neglected school garden but need some inspiration? Listen to Shelley and Christy of @betweentwoshrubs discuss their story of creating a successful school garden program. Plus -- we talk about their new YouTube channel, which is exploring local gardens, talking to the gardeners, and all things garden-adjacent. Very fun and informative, with frequent new content.

This episode is sponsored by BeWaterSmart.

Between Two Shrubs can be found at:

YouTube: @BetweenTwoShrubs
Instagram: @betweentwoshrubs

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