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

As we move into the winter season and you notice the days are getting shorter, you might also notice that your plants start looking a little sleepy. Maybe they start growing a little slower. Maybe they have some leaves die back, and this episode is created to help you not panic and learn that the plants are moving into a cozy season just like we are.

So this is an old episode that we're bringing back in the Best of Growing Joy series, a solo episode where I give you the ins and outs of why our plants kind of experience this quiescence this cozy season and give you some of my tried and true tips to make sure that your houseplants are happy all winter long, from adjusting your light and humidity to finding peace in your own personal dormancy.

I hope this episode gives you all of the cozy vibes and sets you up for success as we enter the dormant season for our plants and hopefully ourselves.

In this episode, we learn:

• [05:28] The effect of light on the growth of plants
• [06:52] How winter impacts your plants
• [07:34] Why leaf drop isn’t necessarily bad
• [07:55] Do some people experience more light in winter?
• [09:15] What is quiescence and how does it affect plants?
• [10:09] Are all plants dormant during the winter season?
• [10:50] Is preemptive pruning really necessary?
• [11:30] Supplementing high-light plants with grow lights during the winter
• [13:14] How should you water your plants during winter?
• [14:29] Which is better? Watering routine or plant care routine?
• [15:47] Beware of the one-size fits all suggestions on plant care
• [16:41] Why you shouldn’t assume your plant is dead
• [18:19] Things to keep in mind with plant shopping during winter
• [21:30] Where to get seeds for your spring garden
• [22:52] The best gardening products that are safe for you, for your pets, and for thea planet
• [24:21] How important humidity for plants is in the winter
• [26:03] Using a humidifier in your household
• [29:03] How to protect your plants from drafty windows during winter
• [30:40] How to clean your humidifiers
• [31:46] When can you stop watering your plants?
• [32:42] How to deal with pest outbreaks during winter
• [34:21] How can you apply this concept of quiescence to yourself?
• [37:08] The rule of 10% less in adapting acquiesce in your life

Mentioned in our conversation:

Have you ever wondered how a simple vegetable garden can transform into a thriving source of joy, health, and sustainability? Join host Maria Failla in this inspiring episode of Growing Joy with Plants as she welcomes Jeremy and Staci, a passionate husband-and-wife duo who have dedicated over 21 years to the art of gardening and food preservation. Discover their incredible journey from planting seeds in their backyard to becoming experts in preserving the bounty of their harvest, all while nurturing their six children and creating a legacy of wellness rooted in nature.

In this enlightening conversation, Jeremy and Staci share their motivations for growing and preserving food, highlighting the dual goals of providing high-quality produce and reducing grocery bills. They dive deep into practical methods of preservation, including canning, freezing, and freeze-drying, while emphasizing the importance of planning and understanding the yield of different plants. Their insights not only address the challenges of plant care but also touch on the broader benefits of food security and cost savings.

Listeners will be inspired by the couple's agritourism farm in Missouri, where they cultivate not only food for their family but also a welcoming space for others to learn about gardening and preservation. Jeremy and Staci encourage aspiring plant parents and gardening enthusiasts to start small and experiment with preservation techniques, offering practical tips that can lead to joyful living and holistic plant care.

As you tune in, you'll gain valuable knowledge about the intersection of gardening and mental health, the joy of sharing your harvest, and the importance of nature mindfulness in our lives. Whether you're a seasoned plant lover or just beginning your journey into plant parenthood, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable advice to help you grow joy with plants.

In this episode, we learn:

Did you know that you can have a living Christmas tree in your home that can be planted and live long after the ornaments come down? I didn't know this until seven years ago when I interviewed Joe Lamp’l, otherwise known as Joe Gardener, all about how to have a living Christmas tree indoors that you plant in later years.

It was a fascinating episode, and it is Part 2 of our Christmas Tree Series that we've brought back from way deep in the archives. Please remember this was like the fourth or fifth episode of the podcast, so sound quality might look a little different, but it's such great content, and you might be curious about adding a temporary houseplant Christmas tree to your collection that then can live on in perpetuity, that you can visit in years to come. I hope you love this episode and it gets you into the holiday spirit!

In this episode, we learn:

• What a Living Christmas Tree actually is
• What the options are for using your tree after the holiday season
• The entire process from selection to replanting of a Living Christmas Tree
• Average length of time for a Living Christmas Tree to be indoors
• The secret to preserving moisture in your Living Christmas Tree
• The experiment that might cause me to get two trees this year…
• The importance of mulch
• Proper technique for replanting your tree
• Using your tree as an heirloom

Curious about living Christmas trees?

Plant friends, today let’s talk about the Sonoran Desert, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. As a former New Yorker turned Florida plant parent, I will never forget the first time I visited Arizona and that surreal feeling of standing in a place so unlike anywhere I’d ever been. And lucky for us, I have invited a new plant friend and someone who knows the Sonoran Desert ecosystem like the back of her hand. She’s called Sonoran Rosie, and she’s a herbalist, maker, and desert explorer who has dedicated her life to studying, honoring, and creating with the plants of the Sonoran Desert. Let's get started!

In this episode, we learn:

I am so tickled to bring you this episode, a very special episode in the Best of Growing Joy series. This is the fifth episode I ever published in my over 300 episodes on this podcast, but I figured the timing is perfect for me to bring back this oldie but goodie that even if you've been a real devout listener of the podcast, you might have missed because it's so far down the feed. It's perfect for the Best of Growing Joy season—all about Christmas trees and why you should get real cut Christmas trees instead of a fake Christmas tree.

This was an interview I did back in 2017 with Mary Jeanne Packer. Back then, she was with the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York, and she busted a lot of myths about real versus artificial trees, sustainable practices, and how, if you choose to get a real tree, you could keep it fresh all season long. It was a delightful little conversation and gets you in the spirit for having that beautiful, fresh Christmas tree and that scent in your home.

In this episode, we learn:

• Why cut Christmas Trees are actually better for the environment than an artificial tree
• The various ways to recycle your cut tree after the holidays
• Best practices for having Cut Christmas Trees, from selecting it, to taking it home, how to position and properly care for it and how to properly recycle it after the season.
• Myth Busters! Are chemicals and Sprite needed to feed your Christmas Tree? Listen to find out!
• Shopping local to celebrate the holiday spirit.

Next time you smell a rose, basil, or the forest after rain… which VOC fact will you think about first?