Growing Joy with Plants &#8211; Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care

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Soil & Strategy: The Two Garden Planning Secrets for Bigger, Healthier Harvests Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

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 best gardening season yet. Joe is the founder of Joe Gardener and creator of many digital gardening courses I've taken, including Organic Vegetable Gardening Course (discount applied at checkout through clicking the link!).

In this episode, we learn:

[01:14] What is strategic garden planning?
[04:11] How can we make 2025 the greatest gardening season yet?
[08:02] Timing for starting seeds/seedlings & plant selection
[15:01] Whitney Johnson’s book “Go Forth and Forage"
[16:09] What are the most important aspects of garden planning?
[19:54] Why soil health is important
[22:33] How to improve soil health
[25:58] What are some useful garden planning tools?
[17:17] How to choose the right plants
[29:48] What is biodiverse gardening?
[31:37] Helpful local botanical centers
[34:48] What is companion planting?
[41:32] Joe’s Organic Vegetable Gardening Course

Mentioned in our conversation:

Organic Vegetable Gardening Course (Discount applied at checkout through clicking the link!)
Master Seed Starting Course
Northwest Flower & Garden Show
Xerces Society
Missouri Botanical Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Giverny Gardens
Chattahoochee Nature Center
Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden by Jessica Walliser
GJ Episode 20: Talking Tomatoes with Craig LeHoullier and My MOM

For Joe's proven and tested gardening strategies,

Follow Joe:

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Quarto: Go Forth and Forage by Whitney Johnson

Grab yourself a copy of Go Forth and Forage: A Guide to Foraging Over 50 of the Most Common Edible & Medicinal North American Mushrooms by Whitney Johnson at your local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble, quarto.com, or amazon.com.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

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How to Live Seasonally and Celebrate the Spring Equinox Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

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 the season with intention. I’m joined by a dear friend Bailey Van Tassel—a mom, gardener, author of Kitchen Garden Living, and someone who’s really committed to living a more seasonal lifestyle.

In this episode, we learn:

[00:00] What is the secret to living seasonally?
[03:15] What is Bailey’s journey into seasonal living?
[07:00] How Bailey reconnected with nature
[09:08] What really matters in gardening
[12:26] The science behind gardening
[13:50] How does biophilia explain our connection to plants?
[15:00] Find a moment of calm and soothe your spirit with Wind River Chimes!
[16:41] Nourish your plants and your soul this spring with Espoma Organic’s all-natural products!
[18:43] Why permaculture is useful in living seasonally
[20:09] How did Bailey’s garden evolve?
[25:55] Personal growth through gardening
[27:50] How gardening helps with anxiety and depression
[28:52] What does it mean to truly live seasonally?
[31:06] Winter vs spring in terms of energy and rhythm
[33:48] What practices can you do to honor the Spring Equinox?
[36:59] Why is it important to involve children in gardening?
[42:19] Where can you find Bailey and her book ‘Kitchen Garden Living’ on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

Brie the Plant Lady
Kitchen Garden Living by Bailey Van Tassel

For Bailey's simple yet special recommendations on how to live seasonally,

Follow Bailey:

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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How to Use Plants to Heal From Grief Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

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 so much more than houseplant care. It’s about loss, grief, healing, and finding joy again, one leaf, one root, one seed at a time.

In this episode, we learn:

[00:00] How plants can help you heal from grief
[04:22] Wade’s story with grief and plants
[10:10] Finding solace in plants
[15:14] Find tranquility in every breeze this 2025 with Wind River Chimes!
[16:55] Learn how to grow more food with less space and effort with the 4th edition of ‘Square Foot Gardening’!
[18:08] Honoring Steven and new beginnings!
[22:32] How we connect with the spiritual realm
[25:39] How Wade secured a gardener position
[29:38] How to use plants as a therapeutic tool for grief
[33:43] Finding grace in dead plants
[36:28] At what point did Wade begin using social media?
[39:53] What are some methods for using plants to heal from grief?
[42:44] What is nature in different forms?
[45:49] Where can you find Wade on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

For Wade's recommendations on how to use plants as a therapeutic tool,

Follow Wade:

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Quarto: All New! Square Foot Gardening, 4th Edition

Get your copy of All New! Square Foot Gardening, 4th Edition today at your local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble, quarto.com, or amazon.com.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Check out the full show notes and blog here!

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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5 Signs You're Overthinking Plant Care (And How to Relax) Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

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 it. But in 2025, we need as much joy and as little stress as possible. So here are 5 signs you might be overthinking your plant care and how to fix it!

In this episode, we learn:

[02:57] Common overthinking traps in plant care
[03:54] Five tips to stop overthinking plant care
[04:33] Sign #1: You Google every little thing
[09:34] Sign #2: You’re watering on a rigid schedule (and believing plant care cards)
[12:55] Alternative to a finger test
[14:10] Sign #3: You panic over every yellow leaf
[15:37] Grow healthier plants, indoors and out, with Espoma Organic’s premium products!
[18:06] Sign #4: You throw the ‘kitchen sink approach’ at small issues
[19:40] Sign #5: You think you need to be a 'perfect' plant parent
[23:34] How to relax & enjoy your plants more

Mentioned in our conversation:

Want to lessen your stress over plant care?

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Espoma Organic

Lessen you're overthinking, make sure you're using nontoxic products on your houseplants! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Check out the full show notes and blog here!

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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

Houseplants for Kids: Raising the Next Generation of Plant Parents Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

“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 ABC Book of Houseplants and she’s all about helping kids connect with nature.

In this episode, we learn:

[03:07] How did Priscrille become a plant lady?
[06:04] How ‘My First ABC Book of Houseplants’ was created
[10:46] Launching workshops with sustainable brands
[13:12] What are the ways to engage kids with houseplants?
15:22] Nurture your plant babies safely from toxic chemicals with Espoma Organic’s premium gardening products!
[16:57] Let kids enjoy a sensory experience
[17:27] Connect plants with stories
[21:39] Involve kids in hands-on activities
[22:34] Make it interactive
[24:18] Get creative with plants
[26:52] Bonus tip: give kids responsibility
[28:46] Where can you get Priscille’s book?

Mentioned in our conversation:

Download Priscille’s books:
My First ABC Book of Houseplants: Exclusive Edition
My First Abc Book Of House Plants | Indigo
My First ABC Book of Houseplants | Amazon
Free Greenhouse Scavenger Hunt Printable
Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health (JESEH)
The Bug Girl: A True Story by Sophia Spencer

Want to engage your kids more with easy plant tasks?

Follow Priscille:

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Check out the full show notes and blog here!

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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

The Transformative Power of Flower Essences: What Are Flower Essences and How Can They Help Me? Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

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, founder and flower alchemist of Lotuswei, a company dedicated to harnessing the essence of flowers to help us live more joyful lives? She’s an amazing educator and I learned so much in this conversation.

In this episode, we learn:

[04:41] How Katie started getting into the energetics of flowers
[06:10] The ripple effect of 3%
[08:12] What is a flower essence?
[09:46] Why are bees attracted to flowers?
[10:18] The concept of botanical wi-fi/flower wi-fi
[14:01] Our disconnection from nature
[15:48] Wind River Chimes
[17:30] Plants with Superpowers
[18:31] What is the human-flower connection?
[21:45] Validating flower essence information
[23:48] How do you study flower essence?
[27:31] How is a flower’s energetic code captured and distilled?
[30:32] The dilution process and its similarity with homeopathy
[33:02] Essential oil vs flower essence
[37:32] Most popular remedies and flowers that match
[41:25] How can you experiment with and experience flower essences?
[43:36] Take the flower essence test!
[45:27] Synergistic flower essence blends
[50:30] Flower essence that fits my lack of self-belief
[51:29] Where can you order your flower essence?

Mentioned in our conversation:

Want to find out which flower essence you can get started with?

Follow Lotuswei:

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Quarto: Plants with Superpowers by David Domoney

Pick up Plants with Superpowers at your local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble, quarto.com, or amazon.com.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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

Houseplant Confidence: The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

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 can bring so much joy, not just to our plant parenthood but also to our lives.

In this episode, we learn:

[00:00] Concept of 'Let Them Theory'
[01:27] My most popular episode!
[02:54] I just launched my Growing Joy with Plants Masterclass!
[04:29] What’s the root cause of your doubt?
[07:35] Overwhelm and misinformation
[08:58] How to reframe your “plant killer” identity mindset
[09:50] How does social media affect your plant care mindset?
[12:28] How to celebrate plant care
[15:30] Add moments of serenity throughout your day with Wind River Wind Chimes!
[18:12] Pick a positive thought about
[19:01] Treat every plant misstep as a learning experience
[20:18] Take on a growth mindset
[22:21] Evolving plant parent personalities
[25:00] How to be a confident plant parent
[27:09] Develop a relationship with your plants
[31:43] Celebrate plant wins!

Mentioned in our conversation:

Growing Joy with Plants Masterclass
Growing Joy Episode 43: Your Brain on Plants
Growing Joy Episode 200: Common Houseplant Pest Identification and How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies and Mealybugs
What's Your Plant Parent Personality?
Understanding Natural Light
Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE)

For mindset shifts and practices to help build your houseplant confidence,

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Wind River Chimes

Bring the gift of peace, serenity, and magic with chimes! Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for an amazing gift that can help you or your loved ones grow joy and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect option. Plus, you can engrave the wind sail on the wind chime with meaningful dates, names, or phrases!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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

Water Saving Techniques for Your Garden Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

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 these unpredictable conditions? Let’s talk about water-saving techniques and strategies to keep your garden lush and sustainable with Noelle Johnson, aka the “Arizona plant lady.” She’s a horticulturist, landscape consultant, and the author of the new book, ‘The Water-Smart Garden.’

In this episode, we learn:

[02:53] How Noelle became a plant expert
[04:36] Why water conservation is important
[07:27] What does water conservation look like?
[08:27] Identifying drought conditions
[09:56] Water-saving tips for renters
[10:49] What are the plants great for different plant zones?
[13:43] Drought-tolerant plants
[15:28] Espoma Organics’ premium gardening products
[16:58] AHS Essential Guide to Perennial Gardening
[18:52] Why you should go to a local nursery
[20:34] Making soil more efficient at water retention
[23:32] How mulch and ground cover help with water retention
[26:36] What are ollas for water saving?
[30:46] What are different ways of saving rainwater? (rain barrel, swale, creek beds, etc)
[36:32] What is xeriscaping?
[40:33] How can you reduce the water your lawn needs?
[44:14] Smart irrigation controllers
[45:30] Beginner tips for water conservation
[47:20] Advanced water conservation strategies
[49:14] ’The Water Smart Garden’

Mentioned in our conversation:

For Noelle's complete list of water-saving tips,

Follow Noelle:

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Quarto: American Horticultural Society Essential Guide to Perennial Gardening

Grab a copy of Essential Guide to Perennial Gardening at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Quarto.com, or Amazon.com.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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

Plant Inspired Vacations Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

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 friends, that can be just the beginning of how you travel and botanize for your plant passion.

And we're going to dive into everything you need to know about it today with my horticulturist bestie Leslie Halleck, who has been on the show many times, and Marcia Castro Rosenberg, listener-turned-plant-shop owner and also a dear friend of mine.

Leslie and Marcia have actually teamed up to create a once-in-a-lifetime trip called Botany & Betterment in The Amazon! It's a seven-day riverboat and jungle adventure on the Rio Negro River in Brazil this August 2025.

In this episode, we learn:

[03:40] Get to know Marcia
[07:51] Leslie’s botanizing trips
[11:32] What is botanizing?
[15:17] Support sustainable gardening with Espoma Organic’s premium gardening products!
[16:52] Bring nature back to your garden with Kelly Norris's Your Natural Garden
[18:55] What are their most memorable botanizing experiences?
[25:37] What are the botanizing basics?
[30:14] Where can you find plant keys & field guides
[34:57] On creating the ultimate Amazon trip: ‘Botany & Betterment’
[39:23] Hiring local guides for your trip
[43:50] Building community and personal growth
[49:45] Where can you find more info about Leslie and Marcia

Mentioned in our conversation:

To know more about Leslie and Marcia's botanizing adventures,

Follow Leslie:

Follow Marcia:

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Quarto: Your Natural Garden by Kelly D. Norris

Grab a copy of Your Natural Garden by Kelly Norris at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, quarto.com or amazon.com to get inspired and take action on your garden.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria