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

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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.

Gardener's Supply

Discover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.

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.

Pet Friendly Plants Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

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 pets away from toxic plants, and other things to keep in mind when caring for both plants and pets.

In this episode, we learn:

[01:44] Things you need to know if you have pets and plants
[04:10] Which plants are the most toxic for pets?
[05:34] How do you keep your pets away from your plants?
[09:07] Make summer unforgettable with a personalized Wind Chime!
[10:42] Protect your pets and the planet with high-quality, organic plant products
[13:10] Which plants are pet-friendly?
[15:25] What other resources can help you?

Mentioned in our conversation:

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

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

Anthurium Care 101 Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

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 this episode, we learn:

[02:17] Why I love Anthuriums!
[02:55] Anthurium mental wellness note
[03:56] High-level overview of the Anthurium genus!
[06:56] Care #1: Watering your anthurium
[07:21] Care #2: Light requirements for anthurium
[08:07] Care #3: Humidity needs for anthurium
[09:18] How to troubleshoot your anthurium problems
[12:27] Take my Plant Parent Personality test!
[12;46] Thank you, Proven Winners Leafjoy!
[14:04] What are the different Anthurium varieties?
[20:49] Which Anthurium variety suits your plant personality?

Mentioned in our conversation:

Dome Glass Cloche
Glass Terrarium
Grow Light
Mini Watering Globe Set
Arching Amour™ Alexandrite is Right™ (Crystallinum)
Arching Amour™ Heart's Desire™
Arching Amour™ Tall Tale™ (Bird's Nest Anthurium)
Arching Amour™ Follow Your Heart™ (Brownii)
Growing Joy Episode 92: Begonias with Marc from NYBG

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners

If you want an indoor anthurium jungle, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

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.

The Business of Horticulture Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

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 horticulture industry works and how you might become part of it!

In this episode, we learn:

[03:45] How to turn plant passion into a horticultural career
[06:54] What is Leslie's background in horticulture?
[14:46] Don't let shorter days dim your plant's shine with Soltech grow lights!
[17:01] Nourish your plants with Espoma’s premium organic products!
[18:42] Leslie’s career transitions
[23:04] What other jobs are in the horticulture field?
[24:52] How do plants get from farm to store?
[29:23] What affects plant prices and availability?
[34:58] What are the common mistakes aspiring plantrepreneurs make?
[40:53] What are the educational pathways in horticulture?
[48:49] Why is horticulture mostly family businesses?
[51:48] Women's positions in a male-dominated horticultural sector
[53:27] Leslie’s new horticulture business courses + coaching programs
[01:00:37] Where can you find out more about Leslie?

Mentioned in our conversation:

For a deeper look into the processes behind the plant industry,

Follow Leslie:

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".

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

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

How to Use Nature as a Spiritual and Wellness Tool with Jessica Zweig Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

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 connection with Gaia (or Mother Earth) that I’m gonna share with my equally deeply spiritual friend, Jessica Zweig, business coach and author of ‘The Light Work’. We both have spookily similar experiences moving out of congested cities into nature and seeing the shifts in our systems and lives that have happened. I hope you take something good from this ep!

In this episode, we learn:

[06:38] Jessica’s evolution of connecting with nature
[10:41] Moving to the countryside
[14:40] Unwind and relax with Wind River Chimes
[16:15] Begin your homesteading life with Simple Country Living by Annette Thurman
[17:22] How does nature help alleviate our worries?
[20:36] What is the practice of reciprocity?
[23:14] What is the frequency of Gaia?
[26:28] What are the codes of Gaia?
[30:21] Successfully grow anything with Gardener Supply Company
[32:17] Meeting the Kichwa Anangu tribe
[36:45] Where can you find Jessica’s book?
[38:25] Where can you find Jessica on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

Birds of Tennessee Field Guide (Bird Identification Guides) by Stan Tekiela
Merlin Bird ID
Simply Be by Jessica Zweig
The Light Work by Jessica Zweig
Comunidad Kichwa Añangu
Lion’s Gate Activation Summit

For Jessica's nature-based wellness practices,

Follow Jessica:

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: Simple Country Living by Annette Thurmon

Grab Simple Country Living: Techniques, Recipes, and Wisdom for the Garden, Kitchen, and Beyond by Annette Thurmon at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble or amazon.com.

Gardener's Supply

Discover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.

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.

Garden to Table Recipes Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

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 bounty. I had an amazing conversation with Julia from Lemon Stripes about her new cookbook "Garden Grown," and I'm excited to share some fantastic recipes and preservation techniques that will help you make the most of your tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs.

In this episode, we learn:

[05:51] Who is Julia and how did she start her gardening journey?
[08:06] Julia’s small-scale homesteading project
[11:15] What are her tomato recipes (tomato confit!)
[15:24] Actionable garden solutions in any weather with Kim Stoddart's "The Climate Change Resilient Vegetable Garden"
[16:52] How to preserve your harvest
[19:12] How to make a tomato tart
[21:58] What is cowboy caviar?
[24:51] Fish with tomato recipe
[28:17] Simple pickling recipes!
[30:30] Cucumber Basil Margarita Recipe!
[32:40] What is a hot and cold cucumber salad?
[34:46] Marinated cucumbers (a snack homage)
[39:03] Vegetarian rainbow rolls (with peanut sauce)
[43:00] Herb salt and homemade teas!
[47:08] Exploring shrubs and simple syrups
[50:55] Where can you find Julia and her book, Garden Grown?

Mentioned in our conversation:

Growing Joy Episode 195: Homesteading for Beginners with Michelle Bruhn and Stephanie Thurow
RITUAL ZERO PROOF Tequila Alternative
Garden Grown by Julia Dzafic
Anel Dzafic (@botanicalbosnian)

For Julia's easy and delicious tomato and cucumber recipes,

Follow Julia:

Website

Recipes

Instagram

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Quarto: The Climate Change-Resilient Vegetable Garden by Kim Stoddart

Grab the book at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble 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.

Growing Joy "After Dark": Spilling the Planty Tea Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

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 Show—and had a sleepover at Kamili's house the night before, which resulted in this episode! This is a candid chat as we dish the dirt on everything from embarrassing plant parent moments to the real talk about representation in the plant community.

In this episode, we learn:

[00:53] Growing Joy After Dark: Real conversations about plant parenthood
[02:18] Plant connections and friendships!
[05:36] What has their collection looked like over time?
[11:18] What is the dark side of plant collecting?
[13:37] Get a personalized wind chime!
[15:11] Safe, high-quality potting mixes and fertilizers
[20:29] What are their favorite plant species?
[23:33] Plant care tips and humidity hacks
[26:24] Grow houseplants even in low-light spaces
[27:57] What is the balance between the joy and stress of plant care?
[30:56] Taking care of plants when traveling
[32:42] Resilient plants and hoyas
[33:25] Some plant disaster stories
[37:16] What's the craziest plant experiment they’ve done?
[39:34] What are the signs of being a true "plant parent"
[51:21] Where to find Agatha and Kamili on social media

Mentioned in our conversation:

The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion | New York Botanical Garden
Summer Rayne Oakes
Bad Seeds on Apple Podcasts
Bad Seeds on Spotify
Happy Plants, Happy You by Kamili Bell Hill
Houseplant Hookups by Agatha Isabel

For our truest, deepest thoughts on plant parenthood,

Follow Agatha:

Follow Kamili:

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.

Soltech Solutions

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".

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.

What is Regenerative Gardening and Permaculture? Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

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 and author of 12 books, who is so committed to helping you garden for at least five minutes a day to receive the benefits gardening can give us. Let's break it down!

In this episode, we learn:

[04:15] How Stephanie got into regenerative gardening and built Garden Therapy
[07:15] What is permaculture?
[09:46] What is the origin of Stephanie’s ‘charity garden’?
[14:55] Grow your dream garden with Gardener's Supply Company
[16:39] Sustainable gardening with high-quality products from Espoma Organic
[21:18] What is chaos gardening?
[24:32] Regenerative gardening vs permaculture
[26:36] What is the ‘no-till’ method?
[29:34] Try Crescent Garden's self-watering planters
[32:15] What is hügelkultur?
[35:00] What is the relationship between lasagna garden and hügelkultur?
[36:51] The difference between a regenerative approach to soil and a basic gardener's approach to soil?
[38:44] Different water conservation methods for regenerative gardening
[42:11] How does intensive planting benefit gardeners?
[48:09] Why do regenerative gardens tend to have fewer pests?
[51:26] Regenerative projects that Stephanie has planned for her new house?
[58:47] Where can you find Stephanie online?

Mentioned in our conversation:

Northwest Flower and Garden Show
Books by Stephanie Rose:
Garden Alchemy
Regenerative Garden
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

For Stephanie's regenerative gardening tips,

Follow Stephanie:

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Gardener's Supply

Discover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.

Espoma Organic

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

Crescent Garden

Head to growingjoywithmaria.com/crescentgarden and use code GROWJOY15 to curate your dream garden today.

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.

Understanding Natural Light Levels for Thriving Houseplants // Do You Have Bright Light, Bright Indirect Light or Low Light for Houseplants? Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

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 learned into this one short episode to break down how you can confidently assess the natural light in your home and buy the correct plant that will do well in that environment.

This episode is part of the Growing Joy with leafjoy mini series. Thanks to Proven Winners leafjoy for partnering on this episode.

In this episode, we learn:

[04:50] Why it’s important to know your light level before you go plant shopping!
[06:06] How plants use light for photosynthesis to produce their food
[07:22] Why chlorophyll is important
[14:58] Why low light plants = low light tolerant
[16:43] #1 Understanding your window orientation + light exposure
[18:12] Look for obstructions outside your window
[20:57] #2 Defining direct, indirect, and low light situations!
[24:27] Supplement with grow lights
[25:34] Troubleshooting common light issues

Mentioned in our conversation:

For a complete guide on indoor light levels,

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners leafjoy

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

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