Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care

What if the most relaxing time for you in your garden isn't during the day, but after dark? In those cool summer nights when garden chores aren't practical because you can't see very well, we have a unique opportunity to ease burnout, support mental health, and deepen your connection to plants and nature. So I'm joined by a friend, Perla Sofia Curbelo-Santiago, a repeat guest and the author of Verdura, to talk about her new take on garden breaks after dark. And we discuss how to create simple, mindful rituals that help plant parents unwind, reset, and find joy in the garden in the evening, in even just 10 minutes. Let's get started!   In this episode, we learn: [01:39] Catching up with Perla Sofia Curbelo-Santiago and the Northwest Flower and Garden Show! [03:43] What Perla has been up to since publishing her book, Verdura [05:13] How do garden breaks improve employee well-being? [09:15] Perla’s personal wake-up call with burnout and [10:22] Why we need to stop feeling guilty about taking breaks [14:05] Why shifting your garden break to the evening is an overlooked opportunity [14:58] Experience single-origin honey with 3x more antioxidants with Manukora! [16:43] How experiencing complete darkness after Hurricane Maria inspired Perla’s night sky gardening [18:36] How our artificial outdoor lighting negatively affects pollinators and migrating birds [19:01] Why it’s actually easier to relax in your garden at night than during the day [21:12] Simple ways to light your outdoor spaces without disturbing local wildlife [25:14] How to safely plan your paths and prepare for your first garden break after dark [28:48] What should you actually do during a 5 to 15-minute nighttime garden break? [33:25] How to take a meaningful nature break when winter weather keeps you indoors [36:43] How one client uses her garden's evening soundscape to decompress after a long workday [41:21] Where to find Perla, AgroChic, and her resources online!   Mentioned in our conversation: Growing Joy Episode 225: Indoor Plant Projects for Stress Relief with Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago ¡Verdura! – Living a Garden Life: 30 Projects to Nurture Your Passion for Plants and Find Your Bliss by Perla Curbelo-Santiago   For Perla's mindful gardening insights, check out the full show notes and blog here!   Follow Perla: Website – SpanishWebsite – EnglishInstagramFacebookTwitter/X   Thank you to our episode sponsor: Manukora Go to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts!   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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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.

What if herbs go beyond the small, contained, and kitchen-window plants we use them for? Herbs could do so, so much more! In this episode, I sit down with Sue Goetz, a garden designer, author, and herb obsessive, to explore the many different ways we can use our favorite herbs in our garden landscape. She has a five-foot rosemary hedge in her backyard and uses chamomile between her stepping stones. She also grows lavender, sage, and catmint as full-on landscape plants that feed her, scent her garden, attract pollinators, and keep deer out. So not only do herbs have flavor, fragrance, and medicinal properties, they’re also low-maintenance once established. Let's dive in!   In this episode, we learn: [01:38] Meet garden designer and author Sue Goetz! [02:09] How Sue developed a passion for plants [05:07] Why herbs are the most "generous" plants [06:28] Why scent is the most underutilized sense in our gardens [08:57] How to start treating herbs as large landscape shrubs, trees, and hedges [10:45] Which herbs are best for replacing large plants/hedges? [12:23] How to get large creeping and upright rosemary hedges [15:09] Invest in quality soil and compost to build your garden’s foundation with Espoma Organic! [16:33] What are some deer-resistant herbs that we can use as protectors? [19:02] Which smaller herbs work best for edging borders and invisible fences [20:24] Is Alyssum an herb? [20:48] Landscape herb sun needs and chamomile ground cover [24:37] How chives double as a sturdy pollinator magnet and an easy DIY gift [26:25] How can we use herbs as landscape plants to attract more pollinators? [29:04] Why you might be killing your lavender and how it actually wants to be treated [32:10] How to pair landscape herbs together (and which aggressive spreaders belong in pots) [34:34] Why you should grow what you love and then try one "crazy" experiment [38:55] How to use colored basil for landscape pop and cut flower arrangements [41:21] Simple ratio for mixing your own herbal bath salts from the garden [44:26] Where to find Sue, her blog, and her themed container herb gardening book!   Mentioned in our conversation: Complete Container Herb Gardening by Sue Goetz Crescent Garden Self-Watering Elevated Planter   For Sue's recommended herbs for garden landscaping, check out the full show notes and blog here!   Follow Sue: WebsiteThe Herb Lover's GardenInstagramFacebook   Thank you to our episode sponsors: Espoma Organic Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront. ZenAI Visit zen.ai to start your first vibecast for free.   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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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.

Ferns are some of the most gorgeous houseplants you can grow... and one of the oldest plants on the planet. They're basically living dinosaurs. But if you've ever watched a maidenhair fern grow in a sidewalk crack, only to crumble the second you bring it indoors, you know exactly why ferns have a reputation for being impossible to keep alive. Most people aren't failing at ferns. They're just growing the wrong fern for their home. In this episode, I'm bringing back one of my favorite interviews from the archives with my friend Lisa from The Houseplant Guru. Lisa is a lifelong plant expert who has successfully grown ferns for years, even in a Midwest home that's about as far from a tropical rainforest as you can get. We're talking about how to keep your ferns healthy, how to actually get them to grow, why you keep finding crispy fronds all over your floor, and how to choose the right fern for your lifestyle and your home conditions. Spoiler: it's almost never going to be the maidenhair fern... unless you're growing it under glass. In this episode, we learn: [02:03] Meet houseplant expert Lisa! [03:27] Lisa’s 60-year-old heirloom Boston fern and why ferns get a bad rap [06:05] Where do ferns grow naturally? [08:53] Is there something about ferns' root systems that makes them more finicky? [10:51] How to choose the right window and light placement for ferns [12:28] How to fertilize ferns without burning their roots? [14:40] How to water ferns correctly? [20:53] How to safely treat pests and scale on sensitive leaves [23:55] What are spores, stolons, and how do ferns actually reproduce? [29:05] Maidenhair ferns [29:56] What are the best ferns for your home? [30:54] What does Lisa recommend with brown fronds? [34:20] Unique collector ferns to add to your collection! [38:20] How to care for staghorn ferns [41:36] How to properly water a bird’s nest fern without rotting the center [44:23] Tips for raising tree ferns and baby mother ferns using closed glass terrariums [46:53] Where to find Lisa, her resources, and her books!   Mentioned in our conversation: Growing Joy Episode 84: African Violets 101 with Lisa from Houseplant Guru Growing Joy Episode 261: The Best Low Light Plants for Dim Spaces Grow in the Dark: How to Choose and Care for Low-Light Houseplants by Lisa Creative Houseplant Projects (Former Houseplant Party) by Lisa How to Care for An Heirloom Fern Over 40 Years Old (Blog) The Austral Gem Fern is THE Fern for the Fern Challenged (Blog) The Antlers on My Walls (Blog) Do You Use Lemon Juice to Clean Your Plant Leaves? I Do! (Blog) Systemic Houseplant Insect Control Espoma Organic Indoor! Jack's Classic 20-20-20 All Purpose Water-Soluble Fertilizer   Which fern are you most excited to try in your home? Check out the full show notes and blog for Lisa's easy-care fern guide!   Follow Lisa: Website Books Instagram Facebook     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.

What if we don't design or control our gardens, but instead collaborate with them? I moved from the lush woods of Zone 5B to a front yard full of sand in Zone 10B Florida and felt like I had no control over my garden design. It was frustrating! So I sat down with Evan Meyer of Bloedel Reserve, a 140-acre garden and wild lands complex on Bainbridge Island just outside of Seattle, to help me feel more grounded in my new garden. Evan has spent his career working across the states studying restoration ecology, native plants, and conservation horticulture. We talked about co-designing with nature, as he believes we should move away from the "God complex" of traditional garden design and let Mother Nature be our co-designer. Listen in!   In this episode, we learn: [01:57] Meet Evan Meyer, Executive Director of Bloedel Reserve! [05:15] What Evan learned about ecological horticulture across different climates [10:15] Why individual home gardens have a larger ecological footprint than public parks [12:19] How the plant supply chain keeps most landscapes generic [15:43] Experience single-origin honey with 3x more antioxidants with Manukora! [17:28] Prep your kitchen for garden harvest season with Caraway Cookware! [18:53] Why are more gardeners actively seeking out native plants? [21:45] How to co-design your home garden with nature [22:06] If a tree falls, leave it! [24:42] Why you should read your local ecology [25:46] Let’s reframe garden "problems" as opportunities [29:10] More examples from Bloedel that home gardeners can actually steal [30:06] How does Bloedel's moss gardener curate rather than plant? [31:44] Retrain your eyes to find dormant plants and deadwood beautiful! [34:35] Practical steps for learning your local wild ecology [37:58] How an ecologically minded front yard builds neighborhood community [39:07] The rise of whimsy in garden design and why we're craving that feeling right now [40:13] What to expect when you visit Bloedel Reserve!   Mentioned in our conversation: iNaturalist Understanding Natural Light What's Your Plant Parent Personality?   Interested in doing a collab with your garden? Check out the full show notes and blog here for Evan's advice!   Follow Evan & Bloedel Reserve:Evan's LinkedInWebsiteFacebookInstagram   Thank you to our episode sponsors: Manukora Go to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts! Caraway Visit carawayhome.com and use promo code BLOOM at checkout for an additional 10% off your order.   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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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.

We’ve likely all had some run-in with a carnivorous plant. I brought one of those little Venus flytraps home from the hardware store, even though I had no idea how to care for it. Maybe you have marveled at the wide array of these plants at your local botanical garden. Or maybe you just know the man-eating Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors! However you found them, you have probably figured out that these plants are in a league of their own. Proper carnivorous plant care is incredibly specific. They are a whole subsect of plants, and they might just get you if you do not care for them correctly. So I invited Damon from California Carnivores to help. He is a carnivorous plant expert (learned from Peter D'Amato) and is going to teach us everything we need to know to grow them indoors! Let's jump in!   In this episode, we learn: [02:35] Damon’s history with carnivorous plants [07:28] What are carnivorous plants? What makes up a carnivorous plant? [13:25] Where to find carnivorous plants in the wild [16:33] Why conservation of carnivorous plants is a must [19:01] How long have carnivorous plants been around? [20:09] Damon shares what he thinks of Little Shop of Horrors musical [22:07] General care rules for growing carnivorous plants indoors [23:00] The right kind of water for carnivorous plants (and how to identify them in a store!) [25:23] How the “tray method” replicates a bog environment at home [27:39] The best carnivorous plants to grow indoors (Venus flytrap, pitcher plants, butterworts) [31:06] What is the best growing media for carnivorous plants? [33:43] Why you shouldn’t use terracotta pots for your carnivorous plants [35:00] What’s the ideal sunlight for carnivorous plants (+ grow lights!) [37:04] Should you fertilize carnivorous plants? [39:31] How to feed your Venus flytrap and Cape sundews [41:54] Fertilizing your pitcher plants! [44:14 How much humidity do carnivorous plants need? [45:22] How to make your Venus flytrap go dormant [46:39] Can you fertilize your carnivorous plants even if they’re catching bugs? [47:15] Can you overwater sundews and butterworts? [48:11] Taking care of your Mexican butterworts [49:36] Damon’s recommended beginner carnivorous plants [51:03] Should you still buy Venus flytraps even when they’re not sustainably sourced? [53:46] Where to find Damon, his book ‘The Savage Garden,’ and nursery resources!   Mentioned in our conversation: The Savage Garden Wetlands Reclamation Act Osmocote Maxsea All-Purpose Nutrient Fertilizer California Carnivores YouTube video: Winter Dormancy for Temperate Plants in Cold Climates   For Damon's detailed carnivorous plants care guide, check out the full show notes and blog here!     Follow Damon:WebsiteInstagramYouTubeTikTok   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 Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria 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.