Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care – Details, episodes & analysis

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 easy how to grow garlic tutorial, select varieties, grow, harvest, and store your own garlic for a steady supply of flavorful garlic all year long.

• [03:09] Garden Society shoutout
• [05:17] What led Jill to embrace homesteading?
• [07:01] Check out Jill’s blog and podcast!
• [09:29] How Jill's garden has evolved over the years
• [11:23] Jill’s early years of homesteading and its long-term evolution
• [13:18] Why homesteading involves continuous trial and error
• [13:54] How long has Jill been growing garlic?
• [14:59] Homegrown vs. store-bought garlic
• [15:57] How to select the right garlic to grow
• [16:08] Choosing a reputable garlic seed source
• [17:24] Softneck vs. hardneck garlic
• [24:05] What else is needed to grow garlic besides cloves?
• [25:37] When is the best time to plant garlic?
• [26:41] Why garlic is low maintenance
• [27:28] What steps should be taken to prepare garlic for planting?
• [28:32] How deep should you plant the clove under the soil?
• [29:21] Why garlic doesn't rot or freeze despite delayed stalk growth in winter
• [30:32] What’s the next step after planting garlic?
• [32:39] How does the harvest timing affect the taste and texture of garlic scapes and bulbs?
• [33:52] How do you know the garlic is ready to harvest?
• [35:03] How do you “cure” fresh garlic?
• [37:01] Tips for storing garlic for a long time
• [38:35] Common garlic growing issues and how to address them
• [39:36] Jill’s favorite garlic recipes
• [41:35] How did Jill’s homestead slowly evolve?
• [43:48] How reconnecting with nature and sustainable living creates a natural ecosystem

• Garlic Scape Pesto Recipe
• How to Braid Garlic
• How to Plant Garlic
• How to Braid Onions
• Lomi Tabletop Composter
• Territorial Seed Garden Garlic Catalogue
• Upcoming Book by Jill Old-Fashioned on Purpose
• Growing Joy Episode 123 How To Manage Deer, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Moles, Voles And Other Animals In Your Garden With Brie The Plant Lady

Check out the full show notes and blog for garlic growing tips from an expert!

Follow Jill:

Website
Podcast
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube

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

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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

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 Dudley, the plant lover behind Pablo’s Plants on Instagram and TikTok. His brand centers on his golden retriever, Pablo, and he’s here to share with us how to keep both plants and pets safe at home.

• [00:00] Can dogs and houseplants really live in harmony?
• [02:06] What does Dudley’s plant setup look like
• [02:53] Who is Dudley (aka Pablo’s Plants) and his golden retriever (Pablo)?
• [06:45] Who handles the plants better: the cats or Pablo?
• [08:18] How do you actually train a dog to “leave it”?
• [09:38] Which common houseplants are secretly toxic to pets? (Lilies, pothos, philodendrons)
• [12:10] Living with toxic plants: know your pet's personality
• [13:20] Bitter apple spray and other deterrent tricks
• [14:53] Wind River Chimes
• [16:39] Non-toxic plants for pet parents
• [18:07] Dudley’s gardening journey
• [19:15] Pablo's one toxic plant incident!
• [23:06] How did Dudley’s plant business evolve?
• [25:59] The hoya love-hate relationship
• [28:24] Fragrant orchids (coconut-scented orchids)
• [29:31] What does Pablo’s Plants look like today?
• [31:55] Craziest deals buyers have taken during auctions on Whatnot & Palmstreet
• [33:05] How plant shows turned into a global friend network
• [34:57] Plant show strategy: shopping vs. selling vs. networking
• [36:16] Where to find him next: PlantCon NYC & IAS Miami
• [39”02] Where to shop Pablo’s Plants and join his “coffee & swiping” lives
• [40:13] Visit growingjoywithmaria.com/palmstreet and save on your first purchase!

• Growing Joy 9: Double Joy: Plants and Cats and Poisonous Plants to Avoid with @Plant_Lady_is_the_New_Cat_Lady
• Barrina led
• ASPCA
• Grannick's Care Dogs Bitter Apple No Chew Spray 8oz
• Whatnot
• Palmstreet

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Dudley:

Website

Instagram

Store

TikTok

Whatnot

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

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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

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 plants on the internet. I was having so much fun with this new hobby, but for a moment, it felt like I couldn’t stop. Billy had to have a little intervention with me to slow me down and make sure we had the space and knowledge of the plants we already had. With his help (or maybe insistence), I put myself on a plant pause, which helped snap me out of that obsessive moment. But I’ve always thought about that particular phase in my life when I couldn’t stop.

Enter Dr. Caitlin Vander Weele, the answer to my “plant-iest” and “expert-iest” of dreams. Caitlin is not only an awesome listener of Growing Joy but also a neuroscientist and author with over 10 years of expertise in understanding how emotions and brain chemistry influence decision-making. She is also the founder of Interstellate, a movement that blends science and art with visual imagery to promote science education. Caitlin is really, really smart. And she is also a crazy plant lady, and this conversation blew my mind.
 

• How Caitlin became a crazy plant lady
• Maria gets real with Caitlin and explains the addictive behaviors she experienced early into plant parenthood.
• Caitlin breaks down what exactly was happening in Maria’s brain in those first few months of buying as many plants as possible
• What causes our brain to release dopamine and what it is
• What compulsive behavior is
• What our brain on dopamine does
• What neurotransmitters, synapses and receptors are
• The difference between endorphins and dopamine
• Why we feel bonded to our plants: enter oxytocin
• How these things are measured in our brains
• 4 phases of compulsive behaviors to look out for
• How to cope with compulsive urges when growing your urban jungle

Check out the full show notes and blog to learn how your brain responds to plant care!

Follow Caitlin:

Instagram

Twitter

Follow Stellate:

Website

Twitter

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

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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

Have you ever wondered, “Could working with plants really be my full-time job?” Well, dear plant friend, the answer is a resounding yes! There is a whole world of opportunities waiting for you in the horticulture industry should you decide to turn your plant passion into a career. In this episode, we’ll dig into 9 jobs in horticulture with my dear friend, Daniel Fuller. Daniel is a national council member for the Australian Institute of Horticulture, host of the “Plants Grow Here” podcast, and a writer for publications like the Hort Journal Australia. 

With over a decade of experience as a maintenance gardener, he offers a valuable perspective on helping people find meaningful careers in horticulture.

• [04:06] How Daniel built his career in horticulture
• [09:32] What's the easiest way to quickly enter the horticulture industry and gain experience?
• [09:49] #1 Maintenance gardening
• [10:11] #2 Retail nurseries
• [13:14] What's the best way to learn maintenance skills when you're just getting started?
• [15:28] Where can you find sleek, minimalist grow lights that complement your home decor?
• [17:22] Looking for unique and soothing chimes as a holiday gift?
• [18:50] #3 Production nurseries
• [20:47] Why Cert 3 is important in Australia
• [21:33] #4 Plant breeding
• [24:06] What’s the difference between breeding and production?
• [28:37] What’s the difference between garden designers and landscape designers?
• [30:18] Where can you find quality products for your indoor and outdoor planting needs?
• [36:26] #5 Landscape construction
• [38:34] #6 Leadership and management
• [43:50] #7 Sales
• [46:02] #8 Education
• [47:26] #9 Media and content creation
• [55:41] Where can you follow Daniel Fuller?

• TAFE NSW
• Australian Institute of Horticulture
• New York Botanical Garden
• Hort Journal Australia
• Hort People
• Growing Joy Ep. 208: DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit With Leslie Halleck
• Growing Joy Ep. 80: Plant Laws And Plant Patents
• Crimes Against Horticulture on Facebook
• Book by Simon Sinek, Leaders Eat Last
• Plants Grow Here Episode 160 with Bruce Durant
• Plants Grow Here Episode 178 with Scott Smith
• Hort People Blogs

check out the full show notes and blog here!

With winter just around the corner, ensure your plants are getting enough light indoors! Soltech Solutions makes the grow lights you’ve heard me talk about for years: whether you are looking for a pendant light, track lighting, or a simple bulb to screw into any standard light fixture, Soltech has got you covered. They offer quality products with great customer service, free shipping, and a 5-year warranty. Keep the sun shining and the plants green inside your home with Soltech Solutions.

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

This holiday season, bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home 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 a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition to your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones this holiday season!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

Make sure your plants are all set for the new season! 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 Daniel:

Website/Podcast

Instagram

X/Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Job Board

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

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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

Do you ever look around your home and wonder if your houseplants are getting enough light to thrive? Without the right amount and type of light, even the most pampered plant will struggle to survive. Yet many of us wing it when it comes to taking care of our houseplants. We stick that new fiddle leaf fig in a corner and wonder why its leaves droop. Or we assume a windowsill equals “bright indirect light” without really knowing what that means.

I know it’s time to bring attention to this overlooked aspect of being a plant parent! That’s why I invited my OG plant friend, Darryl Cheng of House Plant Journal, to explore an engineer's approach to understanding light for houseplants.

• [05:50] Check out Darryl’s previous and upcoming books!
• [08:51] Why is light so important for houseplants?
• [12:18] What does it mean to have an “engineering mindset on a plant”?
• [14:00] What are the different types of lights?
• [16:41] Why it’s hard to measure light with your eyes
• [18:43] Find easy-care and quality plants perfect for any room from Proven Winners Leaf Joy
• [23:15] How can beginners assess their light situation without using a meter?
• [25:00] How to differentiate between direct light and indirect light?
• [27:12] How does understanding and measuring light exposure affect the care of houseplants?
• [30:38] Difference between foot candles, lux, and lumens
• [34:26] How do houseplants adjust to indoor light from natural light, and what are the challenges?
• [36:56] What is the first step that you should take in measuring light?
• [43:16] What was Darryl's motivation for creating his LTH meter?
• [44:22] How has Darryl’s light meter been inspired by more complex light meters?
• [50:26] How to gather the best data using your light meter
• [55:27] Darryl's light meter development process
• [01:02:46] Where can you find Darryl on social media?

• How to Make a Living Succulent Wreath - Succulents and Sunshine
• Michaels Greenery Terrarium
• 17" Living Wreath Sphagnum Moss Form
• Greening Pins
• Growing Joy Ep 168 Grow Your Own Tea: Intro to Herbalism With Juliet of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
• Growing Joy Ep 178 The Mushroom Miniseries: Mushrooms 101
• Growing Joy Ep 183 The Mushroom Miniseries: How To Grow Functional Mushrooms In Your Garden
• Growing Joy Ep 191 The Mushroom Miniseries: How To Grow Mushrooms Indoors

Check out the full show notes and blog here!

It's never too early to start thinking about your 2024 garden! Skip the lines at the garden center and let Territorial Seed Company deliver top-of-the-line, healthy and hardy plants right to your door. They have a great line of pre-grown plants, an expansive seed catalog, and over 40 years of experience delivering the best seeds and plants for everyone's garden. Whether you are looking for leafy veggies, flowers or edible plants in either seed or seedling form, Territorial Seed Company has your back.

Get 10% off by visiting territorialseed.com/growingjoy - discount applied at checkout.

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 Darryl

Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Pinterest

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

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

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 holiday season is officially here! As much as I love this festive time of year, gift-giving can be stressful for me. I always struggle to find meaningful, budget-friendly presents that make my loved ones happy. But this year, I'm spreading holiday cheer by gifting my friends and family homemade plant-inspired presents. Not only is this a budget-friendly idea—it also allows me to share my plant passion with the special people in my life. Plus, don’t you agree that plants make wonderful gifts, plant friends?

In this episode, I'm sharing 5 DIY planty holiday gift ideas from simple to more advanced. Of course, I’m going to make sure there’s something for every skill level and budget. Let's get crafting!

• [00:00] What are some affordable DIY plant-themed holiday gift ideas?
• [04:58] #1 Thrifted propagation station
• [08:10] #2 Windowsill herb garden
• [10:30] #3 Stylish Kokedama
• [15:07] Looking for unique and soothing chimes as a holiday gift?
• [16:35] Looking for the best plant genetics and tailored care for your garden?
• [18:52] #4 Succulent Wreath
• [25:06] #5 Personalized Terrarium
• [31:20] Accompany your DIY crafts with my book!

• How to Make a Living Succulent Wreath - Succulents and Sunshine
• Michaels Greenery Terrarium
• 17" Living Wreath Sphagnum Moss Form
• Greening Pins
• Growing Joy Ep 168 Grow Your Own Tea: Intro to Herbalism With Juliet of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
• Growing Joy Ep 178 The Mushroom Miniseries: Mushrooms 101
• Growing Joy Ep 183 The Mushroom Miniseries: How To Grow Functional Mushrooms In Your Garden
• Growing Joy Ep 191 The Mushroom Miniseries: How To Grow Mushrooms Indoors

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home 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 a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition to your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones this holiday season!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

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

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

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 peak gardening season may be over, but there are still important tasks to do in the garden before winter arrives. As we enter fall and approach winter, it's time to start prepping our garden beds to go dormant. Properly putting your beds to rest sets your garden up for success when it awakens refreshed in spring. In this episode, gardening expert Resh Gala (@reshgala) tells us everything you need to know to properly put your garden to bed for the winter! This episode is a bit of a plant geek fest, so prepare yourselves, plant friends!

• [05:19] Resh's gardening journey and how understanding soil quality led to her success
• [07:53] How does Resh balance gardening, extending the growing season, and self-care in her small backyard garden?
• [09:37] Creating a greenhouse effect in snowy conditions with bent metal or PVC pipes
• [11:24] Why preparing and "putting to bed" gardens for winter is important
• [13:20] What are the sustainable gardening practices for winter that you should know about?
• [16:57] Importance of adding compost to garden beds before winter to improve soil health
• [19:13] What should be done in spring to prepare the soil for planting?
• [20:18] Nourish your garden with Espoma Organic's diverse range of organic composts
• [22:19] Gift a touch of harmony this holiday with Wind River Wind Chimes
• [25:10] Why cover crops are a valuable addition to regenerative gardening and soil enrichment
• [28:54] Why it’s easy to grow garlic during winter (keeps pests away, resilient, and is a gardener’s favorite!)
• [32:09] Why is it important to reflect on the gardening season as part of self-care in plant care?
• [34:09] Resh’s favorite list of what to grow in preparation for the next garden season (tomatoes and cucumber varieties)
• [39:59] What kinds of flowers does Resh like to grow in her garden to attract pollinators?
• [48:19] Pre-order Resh's upcoming book Vegetable Gardening Made Easy later this year
• [50:52] Where can you find Resh on social media?

• Building and Installing a Low Tunnel Hoop House — Resh Gala
• Growing Joy Ep 168 Grow Your Own Tea: Intro To Herbalism With Juliet Of Chestnut School Of Herbal Medicine
• Growing Joy Ep 199 How To Grow Garlic With Jill Winger
• Growing Joy Ep 200 Common Houseplant Pest Identification And How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies And Mealybugs
• Sundried Cherry Tomatoes — Instagram Reel
• Tomato crops
• Cucumber crops
• Pre-order Resh Gala’s book, Vegetable Gardening Made Easy

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Make sure your plants are all set for the new season! 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.

Bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home 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 a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition to your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

Follow Resh:

Website

Instagram

YouTube

Hundred Tomatoes

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

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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

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 opportunity to engage all five senses! In this episode, I invited my long-lost dear friend Danny Trejo from Via Citrus to share with you everything you need to know to cultivate your own indoor citrus plant, from choosing the right variety to proper care for growth and fruiting.

• [00:00] What citrus varieties has Maria grown over the years? 
• [11:59] What is Danny's background with citrus?
• [15:01] Try Soltech's high-quality grow lights and get 15% off with code BLOOM15
• [17:23] Where can you get the best citrus soil mix and citrus tone fertilizer?
• [19:39] What citrus varieties does Danny recommend for beginners?
• [21:20] Other citrus varieties Via Citrus are growing
• [24:13] What conditions do citrus plants need to thrive indoors?
• [28:01] Grow light specifications for citrus (a crash course)
• [31:28] Why you should have a proper watering schedule
• [34:09] Soil care and drainage hole for your citrus
• [35:52] How often should you fertilize citrus?
• [37:11] How to prepare your citrus in the winter
• [38:37] When is the best time to prune your citrus plants?
• [41:40] How to increase humidity for citrus in the winter
• [42:53] What are some common citrus troubleshooting tips?
• [44:08] Can you grow citrus from seeds?
• [45:28] What is grafting?
• [49:53] How to ensure that your plant's buds develop into fruit
• [51:52] What exciting new sustainable pot line is Danny creating?
• [55:06] Where can you find Danny on social media? (use code ‘GROWINGJOY' for 10% discount!)

• Growing Joy Ep 206 The History Of Italian Gardens And Italian Citrus With Helena Attlee
• Growing Joy Ep 203 How To Bring Your Plants Indoors For The Winter
• YouTube video Limey’s Grand Adventure // Flying My Lime Tree To Florida
• Helena Attlee’s book, The Land Where Lemons Grow: The Story of Italy and Its Citrus Fruit
• We The Wild
• Soltech Aspect Lights Collection
• Espoma Organic Citrus Tone
• Espoma Organic Citrus Food

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Ensure your plants are getting enough light indoors! Soltech Solutions makes the grow lights you’ve heard me talk about for years: whether you are looking for a pendant light, track lighting, or a simple bulb to screw into any standard light fixture, Soltech has got you covered. They offer quality products with great customer service, free shipping, and a 5-year warranty. Keep the sun shining and the plants green inside your home with Soltech Solutions.

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

Make sure your plants are all set for the new season! 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 Danny:

Website

Instagram

Repots

Facebook

Email

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

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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Do you ever wish you could invite a little more magic into your life? As fall approaches and the spooky season of Halloween is upon us, many of us long to connect with something… mystical. But magic doesn’t have to be complicated or even supernatural, plant friends. The energy of nature that surrounds us every day provides plenty of opportunity for wonder, spiritual connection, and manifestation!

To guide us, I’ve invited my dear friend Rachael Cohen, who is a wonderful example of a modern green witch. While terms like "witch" can carry a stigma, Rachael shows how nature offers a portal to our intuition, healing, and inner wisdom.

• [07:25] Rachael’s journey to becoming the “Green Witch”
• [12:54] How did making art with succulents help Rachael find peace?
• [15:18] Get a free engraving with code 'growingjoy' at Wind River Chimes
• [19:29] Complex history behind the term “witch”
• [21:54] How does Rachael define a witch?
• [27:24] What is magic?
• [29:21] What does it look like to be a “Green Witch”?
• [30:30] Where can you find top-tier houseplants grown in the state-of-the-art European greenhouse?
• [33:09] Connection between seasons, menstrual cycles, elements, and spirituality
• [36:48] How do green witches use the cycles of the moon?
• [39:06] New moon vs full moon and the different energies they release
• [42:00] Try to read The Farmer’s Almanac to learn more about the moon
• [47:37] How does Rachael work with plants as a green witch? (active plant magic vs passive plant magic)
• [48:31] Different energies and creation of herbal teas
• [52:41] How to identify the uses of herbs
• [55:57] What makes people choose tinctures over teas?
• [57:41] Spells can include rhymes, but intention matters more than words
• [01:01:27] How do you create a spell bag for financial abundance?
• [01:04:18] Should planting intention spells align with the new or full moon?
• [01:05:50] Strategic plant placement impacts energy flow based on Feng Shui and yin/yang qualities (aka passive plant magic)
• [01:11:58] Working with seasons and elements
• [01:16:26] Where can you find Rachael on social media?

• Growing Joy Episode 60: Live Taping! DIY Succulent Crowns With Infinite Succulent
• Growing Joy Episode 165: Everyday Plant Magic With Rachael Of Infinite Succulent
• Rachael’s book Everyday Plant Magic: Change Your Life Through the Magical Energy of Nature
• Rachael’s book Infinite Succulent: Miniature Living Art to Keep or Share
• Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way
• Arin Murphy-Hiscock’s book The Green Witch
• Juliet Diaz's books
• The Farmers’ Almanac

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Bring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home 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 a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition to your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

Are you ready for the fall gardening season? Skip the lines at the garden center and let Territorial Seed Company deliver top-of-the-line, healthy and hardy plants right to your door. They have a great line of pre-grown plants, an expansive seed catalog, and over 40 years of experience delivering the best seeds and plants for everyone's garden. Whether you are looking for leafy veggies, flowers or edible plants in either seed or seedling form, Territorial Seed Company has your back.

Get 10% off by visiting territorialseed.com/growingjoy - discount applied at checkout.

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 Rachael:

Website

Instagram

TikTok

Facebook

Sessions

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

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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

Caring for houseplants often means dealing with pests, diseases, or cultural issues at some point. Having a houseplant first aid kit prepared allows you to quickly treat problems and nurse your plants back to health. In this episode, our favorite horticulturist Leslie Halleck shares must-have items to include in your DIY houseplant first aid kit so you can effectively treat plant problems as soon as they pop up!

• [00:17] What is a Houseplant First Aid Kit?
• [09:46] What is horticultural oil, when is it used, and how does it differ from neem oil?
• [12:57] Neem vs neem oil
• [15:03] How to brighten up your home and keep your houseplants happy all year with high-quality grow lights
• [17:28] DIY houseplant first aid kit essentials: Fungus Gnats Death Drop and neem oil!
• [19:44] Is neem oil safe as a leaf shine for plants, or does it potentially harm them by clogging stomata or pores?
• [22:58] Why should you include fungicide/bio-insecticide in your first aid kit for houseplants?
• [25:52] Does fungicide reverse leaf damage?
• [27:46] Sanitizing vs sterilizing (plus products you should use while pruning)
• [28:48] What is insecticidal soap?
• [30:18] What are systemics, why do they work, and when should they be used? (heavier chemical)
• [32:18] Where can you find the best houseplants with scientific care guides and color-coded collections?
• [34:15] Where can you find high-quality organic fertilizers and potting mixes?
• [40:50] How do hydrogen peroxide and BT work in dealing with houseplant pests?
• [41:43] What is a "drench" in systemic pesticide application?
• [44:16] Why should you have rooting hormone in your first aid kit?
• [45:19] Best tools/gears for your first aid kid!
• [45:20] What are sticky traps? (monitoring tool)
• [47:07] Rubber gloves Leslie recommends!
• [50:15] Why should you use separate snippers/tweezers/pruners for gardening tasks?
• [51:57] Folding potting mat!
• [53:58] Hygrometers/glass domes
• [57:31] Grow lights
• [01:00:19] PAR Meter (for professionals)
• [01:03:36] Maria’s favorite—magnifying glass!
• [01:16:17] Moisture meter
• [01:08:49] Check out Leslie’s books!

• Amazon storefront for all products mentioned
• Physan
• Leslie Halleck’s Books
• Episode 204 How to Identify Houseplant Disease
• Episode 200 Common Houseplant Pest Identification and How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies and Mealybugs
• Episode 196 Overwatered Vs Underwatered Plants, How Much Light Do Indoor Plants Need and More Common Houseplant Problems
• Episode 46: Understanding Natural Light: General Rules
• Episode 47: Understanding Natural Light: Measuring Tools
• YouTube How to Save and Revive a Dying Houseplant: Saving My Prayer Plant from the Brink of Death!
• Vita Grow Light

Check out the amazon storefront with links to many of the products discussed today

Grab the Fungus Gnat Death Drops and/or neem oil at happyhappyhouseplant.com and get 10% off with code GROWINGJOY at checkout!

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Ensure your plants are getting enough light indoors! Soltech Solutions makes the grow lights you’ve heard me talk about for years: whether you are looking for a pendant light, track lighting, or a simple bulb to screw into any standard light fixture, Soltech has got you covered. They offer quality products with great customer service, free shipping, and a 5-year warranty. Keep the sun shining and the plants green inside your home with Soltech Solutions.

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

Can't seem to get rid of fungus gnats? Happy Happy Houseplant knows how annoying it is to see fungus gnats take over your plants, so they created Fungus Gnat Death Drops! Backed by science, tested by their founder Mandi, and loved by their customers. Keep fungus gnats at bay with this microbial insecticide with the active ingredient BTI or Bacillus thuringiensis which kills fungus gnat larvae. Another product to love is Happy Happy Houseplant's Neem Oil kit which comes with a stylish glass bottle, and pre-emulsified Neem concentrate, so you don’t have to mess around with mixing it yourself. No separating or added ingredients!

Grab the Fungus Gnat Death Drops and/or neem oil at happyhappyhouseplant.com and get 10% off with code GROWINGJOY at checkout!

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!

Make sure your plants are all set for the new season! 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 Leslie:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

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

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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