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

Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness

1 Creator

Looking for free, natural ways to decrease stress and increase joy and calm in your life? The answer might be simpler than you think: houseplants, gardening and nature.

On Growing Joy with Plants, learn alongside Happy Plant Lady, Maria Failla to care for plants, engage with nature, and use them to manage your overwhelm, anxiety and experience happiness and calm you thought was only available on vacation.

Plant care is self care. Come grow some joy with us. Follow along on socials @growingjoywithmaria

#5 in the Top 100 home & garden All time chart

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Top 10 Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

What to Do When a Plant Dies with Cassidy from Succulents and Sunshine

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

01/10/23 • 56 min

Are you a plant killer? It's a question that plagues many of us who have tried our hand at gardening, only to have our beloved plants wilt and die despite our best efforts. But fear not! In this episode, Cassidy Tuttle of Succulents and Sunshine explains that it's all a matter of understanding your plants and their specific needs. Come join us as we take a deeper look at how to deal with plant death.

In this episode, we learn:

[00:00] Does being a plant parent mean you’re also a plant killer?
[05:24] Who is Cassidy and how she became the plant parent she is today
[06:00] What is Succulents and Sunshine about?
[10:55] Cassidy's take on how plant parents handle plant death
[12:45] Trying to keep an echeveria succulent alive
[14:36] When to toss vs. treat your plants [it's simple!]
[16:24] The importance of a plant care routine
[18:34] Why it’s important to know your plant number
[19:27] Emotional attachment to our plants [feat. Maria's lime tree story]
[22:20] Maria's experience with generational plant gifts
[25:45] What Cassidy learned from every plant failure
[25:52] Tip #1 Be more attentive to your plants
[26:18] Tip #2 Different plants require different care
[27:41] Tip #3 Don't be too hard on yourself; plants die in the wild too
[28:43] Where to get plant seeds that are guaranteed to last longer
[30:40] Get quality grow lights that will last and look stunning next to your plants
[32:31] Why most of the plants we have aren’t designed to live in our homes.
[34:39] Why Haworthia is most suitable as your indoor succulent
[36:37] Should you try to grow the same plant again or let it go completely?
[41:20] What are some ways to reduce your plant collection?
[44:13] Learning to let go of dying plants
[48:32] The mental cost of holding onto something that no longer serves you
[51:23] What are the two options when you kill a plant?

Mentioned in our conversation:

For an in-depth look into plant deaths and generational plant gifts,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Territorial Seed Company

It's time to start planning for growing season 2023! If you’re looking for plants for your garden, skip the lines at the garden center and let Territorial Seed Company deliver top-of-the-line, healthy and hardy vegetable 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.

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

Soltech

Soltech 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.

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

Follow Cassidy:

Website

Instagram

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

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5 Listeners

The Power of a Therapeutic Garden to Help Us Feel Better

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

07/25/23 • 42 min

Gardening has long been known for its therapeutic advantages and as a place of calm and peace in the middle of a hectic schedule. Garden therapy can relieve stress and enhance our mental and emotional health. In this episode, we'll look at 9 gardening practices that can help you develop a deeper connection with nature—and yourself.

In this episode, we learn:

[05:11] Therapeutic benefits of gardening during tough times
[09:40] How gardening can help you with focus and monotasking
[10:55] The connection between gardening and mindfulness
[12:55] 9 therapeutic garden activities for a more joyful gardening experience
[13:01] #1 Turn your garden visits into a self-care reflection moment
[17:08] Where can you find the best tone fertilizers for your indoor and outdoor plants?
[21:09] Engage your 5 senses!
[21:18] #2 Sight (being fully present in the beauty of nature)
[22:53] #3 Smell (enjoy aromas and incorporate them into daily routines)
[24:56] #4 Sound (especially bird songs!)
[26:54] #5 Touch (trace leaf outlines and feel their textures)
[28:38] #6 Taste (try your homegrown produce!)
[29:56] #7 Affirmations (to your plants and yourself)
[33:24] #8 Grow flowers
[35:39] #9 Look for plant/life parallels

Mentioned in our conversation:

Merlin Bird ID
GJWM Episode 186 The History Of Houseplants With Jane Perrone
GJWM 188 The Art Of Aromatic Gardening With Amy Of NYC Aromatica

For a closer look into these therapeutic gardening practices,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Espoma Organic

Ensure a thriving garden with the right products! 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 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

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out HelloFresh: https://hellofresh.com/bloom10fm
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM
* Check out Ollie: https://ollie.com/MARIA
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

2 Listeners

I Grew 40 New Plants in 2024: Ranked from Favorites to Flops

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

01/07/25 • 47 min

I can't believe we're already in 2025, but I am SO excited to spill all the tea about my wild plant experiment from last year. In 2024, I totally went for it and added over 40 new plant species to my collection—and it was quite the adventure! Some of these plants thrived, some flopped, and yes, some didn’t make it. So in this episode, I’m sharing it all—from my favorites to my fails—and what I learned along the way.

In this episode, we learn:

[01:51] Reflecting on 2024
[04:31] What’s your plant parent personality?
[06:38] Why I now consider myself a low maintenance plant parent
[09:08] How I fell in love with Ficus (and fell out of love with Calathea)
[11:52] My success with Anthuriums and Alocasia
[13:37] Why my most repurchased plants are philodendrons (+ pothos)
[15:19] Start 2025 with soothing premium chimes with Wind River!
[17:00] Grow your best garden yet with the AHS Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening!
[19:39] Why there is less light in your house than you believe
[20:50] My top favorite plants in 2024
[33:44] My least favorite plants in 2024
[37:56] Plants that didn’t make it in 2024 :(
[42:53] What's in store for my 2025 houseplant collection?

Mentioned in our conversation:

For a complete list of my 2024 plant collection ranked,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

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: American Horticultural Society Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening

Grab a copy of the Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, quarto.com or amazon.com to start growing organically.

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! /growingjoywit...

1 Listener

How to Overcome Burnout Through The Healing Power of Nature

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

06/20/23 • 43 min

How do you handle burnout? We have all asked that question at some point because modern society has a lot of demands, and it's become too easy to feel overwhelmed. But what if there was a free and accessible tool that could help you turn towards yourself again, away from overstimulation and crazy schedules? In this episode, I will share with you my own experience with deep depression and severe burnout, and how I found healing through making major life shifts centered around spending more time in and with nature.

In this episode, we learn:

[00:24] Maria shares her experience with depression and severe burnout over the past three years
[01:54] Plants are a great way to reconnect with a part of ourselves that modern society ignores
[10:24] How is burnout defined?
[12:27] How do you recover from burnout?
[13:25] What is Attention Restoration Theory?
[14:23] First type of attention: Directed Attention
[14:37] Second type of attention: Involuntary Attention (aka fascination)
[16:10] Involuntary attention practices to help you find balance in life
[16:14] Look at a plant before you look at your screen
[18:00] Thank the trees
[18:36] Pair it with gratitude
[19:25] Ritualize engaging with nature
[22:54] Go outside
[23:02] Forest bathing and its benefits
[25:51] Mental health walks
[26:44] Get your bare feet on the earth (aka grounding/earthing)
[28:36] Practice mindfulness through plant care
[30:53] Lean into scent
[33:24] Two different types of plants for healing purposes
[33:38] Slow burn plants
[35:57] Quick win plants
[38:23] Pruning back to inspire growth

Mentioned in our conversation:

For a detailed list of Maria's recommended practices,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

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

1 Listener

CaliKim on "10 Time Saving Tactics for a More Efficient Garden"

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

12/03/24 • 56 min

How do you have a life and a garden? Between busy schedules, family time, and pretty lengthy to-do lists, how can we fit gardening moments into our lives without sacrificing precious time? As we close out our 2024 gardening season, it’s a great time to reflect on what worked, what flopped, and how we can make our gardens even better for 2025. This is exactly where CaliKim shines the most, and her new book, The 10-Minute Gardener, helps us become more efficient gardeners who can, as she says, “have a garden and a life.”

In this episode, we learn:

[03:48] What is Kim’s gardening background?
[06:30] What does her garden & garden zone look like?
[09:16] Why raised bed gardening is the best option in Florida
[13:04] Why efficiency is important in gardening
[14:33] Gift yourself or a loved one the gift of peace and joy with a personalized Wind River Wind Chime!
[16:03] Bring simplicity into your garden with Kelly Norris's new book, Your Natural Garden.
[17:34] 3-minute gardening tasks
[27:21] 5-minute gardening tasks
[30:51] Simplify your gardening experience with Espoma Organic’s high-quality products!
[38:03] How to plan your garden for dormant season
[40:15] How to break down your garden tasks
[43:13] 8-minute & 10-minute gardening tasks
[49:06] 30-minute gardening tasks
[51:00] Where can you find Kim on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

Pre-order 10 Minute Gardener by CaliKim
The First Time Gardener: Raised Bed Gardening by CaliKim
CaliKim's Smart Pots Fabric Planters
CaliKim's Seed Collections
CaliKim's Garden Kits
Crescent Gardens TrueDrop planters
Organic Gardening for Everyone: Homegrown Vegetables Made Easy by CaliKim
CaliKim Backyard at night

For CaliKim's time-saving gardening tasks,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

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: Your Natural Garden by Kelly D. Norris

Grab a copy of Your Natural Garden by Kelly Norris at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, quarto.com or amazon.com to get inspired and take action on your garden.

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 YOU...

1 Listener

The Role of Nature in Personal Growth

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

12/31/24 • 57 min

What role do you think nature plays in your life? For me, it has always been a deeper way to improve my mental, physical, and emotional health. In fact, it’s not just me who thinks this way. The minute I hopped into the digital recording studio, I knew that my guest was someone very similar to me! I’ve been following Marcus Bridgewater, better known as Garden Marcus, for years, and I’m so happy to say that he surpassed my dreams of what this conversation on plants and wellness could have been.

In this episode, we learn:

[02:12] Who is Marcus from Garden Marcus?
[04:49] Something we have in common!
[09:03] How did Garden Marcus get started?
[12:50] How did Marcus first start gardening?
[17:01] Our crazy plant parent stories
[18:56] Community and isolation
[20:37] Why we need more green spaces
[27:41] How to be a more “grounding” person
[30:08] How disconnected is the world from nature?
[33:08] Exploring plant life parallels
[36:37] How to understand “feelings”
[39:35] How to awaken to nature’s presence
[43:27] How Marcus’s book came to be
[46:11] Mind, body, and spirit
[47:32] What it means to be “community loyal”
[48:23] Garden Marcus vs. Marcus Bridgewater
[51:04] Check out Seasons of Growth: The New Journal
[53:30] Where to follow/find Garden Marcus

Mentioned in this conversation:

How to Grow: Nurture Your Garden, Nurture Yourself by Marcus Bridgewater
Seasons of Growth: A Journal for Well-Being Inspired by Marcus Bridgewater
Choice Forward
Redwood National and State Parks (U.S. National Park Service)

For more plant-life parallels,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

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

1 Listener

5 Tips for Growing in Hot Climates

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

09/03/24 • 47 min

Big news, plant friends. I've moved! After four wonderful years living in the Catskills my husband and I have packed up our lives–and my plants–and headed south to Florida. That’s from Zone 6B to Zone 10B! As a lifelong New Yorker, I've only ever known four distinct seasons. But now, I’m literally going to experience a whole new gardening action in a climate that feels almost tropical. And I'm feeling like a total beginner again. So, I called in the big guns—my friend Janey from Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat. She's a hot climate gardening expert, and she's got some amazing tips for us hot climate gardeners!

In this episode, we learn:

[00:00] I’ve moved to Florida!
[04:36] What should you do when changing garden zones?
[05:04] Who is Janey Santos?
[12:16] What are temperennials?
[13:47] What is “true annual”?
[15:49] Wind River Chimes
[17:24] Espoma Organic
[18:50] What are other examples of temperennials?
[22:03] What are some gardening tips for hot climates?
[24:39] Why drip irrigation could be useful
[29:09] Why should you use mulch?
[31:09] The best kind of mulch
[32:02] Garden Supply Company
[37:56] Why should you know your season?
[40:20] What does Janey’s garden look like?
[43:42] Connect with Janey

Mentioned in our conversation:

Best for the West - Janey Santos of Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat
Growing Joy Ep 176: Landscaping in the Southwest
Growing Joy Ep 241: Small Space Cut Flower Gardening for Beginners
Growing Joy Ep 06: Enjoy a Living, Potted Christmas Tree for the Holiday Season!
Supertunia Vista® Bubblegum®
Lantana
Caladium
Monrovia
Youtube video: 🌱 Surprising My Pregnant Sister with a Dream Raised Bed Garden!
Cool Flowers: How to Grow and Enjoy Long-Blooming Hardy Annual Flowers Using Cool Weather Techniques

For Janey's reliable hot climate gardening tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Janey:

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

1 Listener

Finding Joy through Plants in a Season of Transition: Reflecting on 2021

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

12/28/21 • 32 min

When I think back on this last year, transition is the word that comes to mind. We are literally transitioning into a new year, but I'm sure everyone went through some form of transition this year: a new home, family additions and losses, job changes, and more. And as we grow through those transitions, our plant collection evolves too. I personally went through a tremendous transition this year and my plant collection and plant parent personality completely shifted. These transitions in my plant parenthood brought up a lot for me: feelings of shame, failure, or almost a rigidity to stick with what I used to do. In moving through this transition, I found some really helpful practices and concepts that helped me ebb, flow, and grow that I wanted to share with you today. So, this episode is rather different than our other episodes: it’s highly personal and I get into the nitty-gritty of some behind-the-scenes of this growing business and my life. No ads, no interviews, no guests—just checking in!

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!

The Bloom and Grow Garden Society is your one-stop shop for plant parenthood growth. When you join, you'll gain full access to the Garden Party Community Platform and App PLUS monthly plant care lectures with Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck, monthly office hours with Leslie to troubleshoot your personal plant care issues and monthly Growing Joy Calls with Maria to develop our community of Society Members and explore the plant/person connection.

Click here to join us!

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,

so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!

In this episode we learn:

[00:56] Why transition is an important conversation today
[02:26] How Maria’s plant parent personality and plant collection have changed this year
[03:37] What to expect from this year-end episode
[05:45] Maria’s questions to YOU, the listener
[08:03] How the Bloom and Grow listener community inspires Maria and the podcast
[11:00] Why plants improve our lives
[11:30] Updates on the Bloom and Grow Radio podcast
[13:40] The different transitions Maria went through this year
[15:05] Planty practices to find more joy and stillness in your life
[15:16] Why you should have your morning coffee with your plants
[18:13] The benefits of engaging with plants during the day
[20:23] Shifting how you see plant care and your plant number
[22:09] Explore your plant curiosity
[23:02] Use planty affirmations and some of Maria’s personal examples
[25:44] Maria’s big announcement!
[30:27] A very special (and secret) snippet

Mentioned in the conversation:

Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) pre-order links: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!

Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio

Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio

Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio

Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com

Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

War Gardens, Victory Gardens or Pandemic Gardens: The History Behind Why People Grow Plants in Hard Times

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

06/27/23 • 59 min

Gardening is already a popular hobby, but the pandemic has revived an interest in growing plants. Many of us plant parents turned to gardening to keep busy, improve our mental health, and even grow food as we were forced to spend more time at home. Similar to this occurrence is the Victory Gardens of the past. In this episode, Maggie Stuckey joins us to review the history of Victory Gardens and their surprising role in society throughout the last hundred years. We also explore why people are so drawn to plants in tough times!

In this episode, we learn:

[00:00] War Gardens, Victory Gardens, or Pandemic Gardens
[05:30] Maggie shares an excerpt from her book about gardening as a manifestation of hope
[08:07] Growing up in rural South Carolina where farming and vegetable gardens were prominent
[10:46] How Maggie’s book on container gardening became a go-to gardening resource, challenging the belief that vegetables couldn't be grown in containers
[13:46] Drawing parallels between the current gardening movement and past Victory Gardens
[14:13] Where can you find trusted products for gardening, such as potting mix, garden soil, and fertilizer?
[16:18] Where can you listen to enchanting wind chimes and choose from various colors, sizes, and sounds?
[20:47] What is the history of Victory gardens?
[26:45] Community gardens during World War II in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis
[27:50] The concept and history behind community gardens
[29:40] What motivates people to start gardens during challenging times like war, pandemics, or personal struggles?
[33:22] The therapeutic nature of gardening and how it simplifies life and reconnects people with nature
[36:36] The importance of in-person human interactions and actions
[37:18] What are common mistakes made by new gardeners and why do they occur?
[44:16] Why did Maggie include edible flowers in her book?
[47:40] What should beginner gardeners grow in three containers for a successful first garden experience?
[50:26] Heartwarming stories in Maggie's book and the one that warmed her heart the most
[53:55] Where can you find Maggie’s book, The Container Victory Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Your Own Groceries?

Mentioned in our conversation:

For Maggie's recommendations on best container gardening plants,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Espoma Organic

Set your garden up for success with the right products! 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.

Wind River Chimes

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 for 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 Maggie:

Website

Facebook

Book

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant...

92: Begonias: Care, History and more!

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

05/12/20 • 38 min

Today we welcome back Marc Hachadourian from the New York Botanical Garden to the show! You might remember Marc from Episode 50: Maranta, Calathea and Stromanthe 101 where he gave so many amazing tips and tricks for caring for this finicky but beautiful group of plants. Now he is back for an in depth review of the world of Begonias! He gives us the history of these plants and tips and guidelines to keep these gorgeous creatures thriving in our homes. As you’ll learn in the episode, I’ve always been a bit scared of Begonias, but after this episode, I’ve found myself cruising online plant shops for an Angel Wing Begonia... I found a Red Ruby Begonia which I’ve ordered off of amazon and will do an unboxing of when it arrives, but if you have the inside scoop on where I can get an Angel Wing Begonia... let me know on the post for the podcast episode on IG!

Marc Hachadourian is the Director of Glasshouse Horticulture and Senior Curator of Orchids at the New York Botanical Garden. His amazing plant brain, friendly personality and passion for plants is kind of legendary in the plant space and I’m so excited to bring him back for another show. I could seriously talk to Marc all day. And I’m so thankful to the New York Botanical Garden for lending him to us for this episode.

Speaking of the NYBG, they have created an incredible virtual resource for you in this moment of social distancing: the NYBG At Home center. Since the Garden’s gates are temporarily closed, they’ve opened their virtual gates to you! They’ve compiled videos, plant guides, virtual events- like you can take a virtual tour of the Orchid Show or the Magnolias in Bloom and my favorite aspect of the NYBG at Home is their online courses! I just finished Soil Science 101 with them and I’m currently taking Intro to Plant Science with them. Plant Friends... these courses aren’t free, but they are so worth it. I got so much out of my soil science class, I will never pot a plant the same again, and this intro to plant science class is transforming the way I look at my balcony garden and plants. I’m like trying to lecture Billy about monocots vs dicots and plant adaptions and he is looking at me like a crazy person. But if you aren’t interested in getting science-y they also have Botanical Watercolor, Botanical Embroidery and currently have a series called “All About Containers” if you are interested in growing edibles in containers this season. Check everything they have to offer at https://www.nybg.org/nybg-at-home/

In this episode we learn:

Marc's love of Begonias

The Begonia's (and other plant) that was featured in American Gothic

The wide variety of Begonias available to plant parents

Marc's famous Houseplant Hospital and Humidity Hacks

General care guidelines for light, soil and watering of Begonias

Where Begonias grow in the natural world

Mentioned in today's episode:

Maria's favorite soil company, Espoma Organics

Leslie Hallecks book on Propagation: Plant Parenting

Thank you to this week's episode sponsors:

Modern Sprout: for more information on Modern Sprout's amazing *NEW* line of indoor grow lights and adorable and innovative hydroponic grow kits, seed starter kits, seed pops, planty accessories and more visit www.modernsprout.com and use code "15BLOOM" at checkout for 15% off. Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here.

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How many episodes does Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care have?

Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care currently has 299 episodes available.

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The podcast is about Leisure, Home & Garden, How To, Podcasts and Education.

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The episode title 'What to Do When a Plant Dies with Cassidy from Succulents and Sunshine' is the most popular.

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The average episode length on Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care is 51 minutes.

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Episodes of Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care?

The first episode of Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care was released on Nov 13, 2017.

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

Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness

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Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!

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In this episode we learn:

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FAQ

How many episodes does Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care have?

What topics does Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care cover?

What is the most popular episode on Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care?

What is the average episode length on Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care?

How often are episodes of Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care released?

When was the first episode of Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care?

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