More Than Just a Plant: Finding Joy Again After Loss with Krystal Duran

Is a plant ever really just a plant? I don't think so. I went from former plant killer to a house full of green in about three months. And somewhere along the way, my plants stopped being decor and started being company. For many of us, plants are also routine and a reason to get up in the morning. And for Krystal Duran of Plants With Krystal, they were a big part of healing after losing her husband. In this episode, we talked about grief, growth, and why you don’t have to be at your peak all the time. Come join our conversation. In this episode, we learn: [02:08] Join my free Substack newsletter! [03:04] Meet Krystal Duran from @_plantswithkrystal_ [03:42] What it’s like to write a book after years of short-form plant content [04:46] Short-form videos vs. long-form writing [06:26] What was Krystal’s relationship with nature like as a kid? (+ the first houseplant she killed!) [09:46] Why some popular houseplants just don’t work for every home [11:33] How a move to Indiana and a career in social work led her to plants [14:01] Why she started with cacti and succulents for her plant collection [15:32] Learn 35+ ways to make new plants with The Essential Guide to Plant Propagation from the American Horticultural Society! [17:05] Keep your houseplants cared for this fall with Espoma Organic’s premium gardening products! [19:00] Is your succulent growing, or is it stretching for light? [20:22] Krystal’s love story with her husband, Tony [22:49] What happens when a plant lover marries a minimalist? [26:11] Plant life parallels [27:27] How plant care helped her decompress after hard workdays [30:09] Why plants offer "companionship without expectation" [32:11] Losing her husband and dealing with grief on social media [35:24] How the plant community showed up for her (even inside Animal Crossing) [37:10] What happened to her 300-plant collection while she was grieving? [40:00] What grief taught her about patience and finding joy in small things [43:11] Why we're not supposed to be at our peak all the time [44:34] The indoor lotus pond she built that didn't last [47:22] Why she shifted toward low-maintenance plants [51:16] Inside More Than Just a Plant (her book about grief, plant care, and community) [53:11] What are some creative ways to gift plants to new plant parents? [55:48] Where to find Krystal and her book! Mentioned in our conversation: More Than Just A Plant by Krystal Duran Growing Joy 330: 2026 Garden and Houseplant Trends: My Main Takeaways from Northwest Flower and Garden Festival Growing Joy 247: Growing Joy "After Dark": Spilling the Planty Tea with Kamili Bell Hill and Agatha Isabel Needing more lift from your plants? Check out the full show notes and blog. Follow Krystal: Website Instagram Facebook TikTok YouTube Thank you to our episode sponsors: Quarto: The Essential Guide to Plant Propagation by the American Horticultural Society Grab your copy of The Essential Guide to Plant Propagation at quarto.com, wherever books are sold, or through your local bookstore. 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 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.