*tap tap* ...Is this thing still on? Our hiatus has lasted slightly longer than we expected, but Maria from Growing Joy is on the very short list of people who can coax us out of podcast retirement. We hope you enjoy this conversation about caudex plants– a flavor we both love! From Growing Joy Podcast: "Are you ready to add some unique, eye-catching beauty to your plant collection? Meet the caudex plant—also known as the foot, Stephania erecta, or even the Potato Plant. While these plants may b...
Jan 22, 2023•1 hr 22 min
Our Season 3 finale is here, and we’re wrapping up with a Q&A show covering succulent substrates, flowering plants for beginners, opinions on “rare” and “status plants,” favorite moments from this season, and more! Remember Lightning Rounds? To Stephen’s delight, Matthew throws one in. Have we forgiven our Mandarin Plants yet? And have we forgiven ourselves for the Paperwhite episode? Let’s just say we’re ready for a vacation! Then on the After Show, we chat more about our summer plans – bot...
Jul 04, 2022•52 min
Now that Summer weather has finally reached us here in Seattle, we sit down to share our plant-oriented reading and listening lists. Then we welcome Maria Failla back on the show to tell us about her new book, Growing Joy: The Plant Lover’s Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants), one we both loved! Remember almanacs? Which Plant Daddy gives Ortho some credit? And how are the Chinquapins doing? Happy Summer, y’all! Don't forget to pick up your copy of Growing Joy! https://bloomandgrowradio.c...
Jun 28, 2022•46 min
It’s truth time. Since we *so bravely* shared our plant goals earlier this year, have we made any progress? Stephen started using windows, and he finally has some results to report. And Matthew is doing a certain thing a lot more consistently. But do we still have those Mandarin Plants? Let’s just say you can tell we’re getting close to the end of our season! Also, what’s 2+3? Asking for a friend. And a special thank you to our new Patrons for the month of June! Head over to Patreon to become an...
Jun 22, 2022•1 hr 1 min
At long last, The Plant Daddies will break their silence… and talk about Air Plants. We've discussed other Bromeliads in the past, so how has it taken this long to cover perhaps the most popular genus?! Perhaps it's because we don't consider ourselves great Air Plant growers, so we brought Tillandsia expert, Emily Allsop from Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle, to help! There’s a lot of varying care advice for these, so what does she recommend? What have our experiences and/or struggles been...
Jun 14, 2022•42 min
If you do everything right, the plant we’re discussing this week will look kind of dead! Did that get your attention? If that sounds appealing to you - and it does to us - then you really should give the Bundle of Sticks Plant, Cynanchum marnierianum, a try. What are our experiences with this surprisingly easy plant? How can you even tell if it's thriving? And why are we not surprised Stephen already owned it? This is one we both love! Then on the After Show, we discuss what we found when we loo...
Jun 07, 2022•34 min
This month, we revisit a perennial Plant Parent passion – propagation! See what I did there? Thank you. Anyway, are there any new trends lately? What propagation are we doing in our own collections? And what the heck do we plan to do with these new plants? We “get into it” discussing sphagnum, perlite, and other preferred propagation mediums. But both Plant Daddies agree that this part of the hobby is so fun! And a special thank you to our new Patrons for the month of May! Head over to Patreon t...
May 31, 2022•45 min
If you haven't seen the striking, bright orange growth of the Mandarin Plant, Chlorophytum orchidastrum, then you’re in for a treat. We were so intrigued that we both tried growing them! After 6 months, what have we learned? Which Plant Daddy had a better experience? How are their flowers? And could this be the Spider Plant’s prettier, moodier cousin? Then on the After Show, we discuss the plant pots we never have success with. Are they cursed? To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons ...
May 24, 2022•38 min
Looking for a Hoya you can thoroughly enjoy… even without flowers? This week, the Plant Daddies check in on Hoya polyneura, one they both consider a favorite “foliage Hoya”. How did we cut through the varying care information found online? How did our plants fare in our different conditions? And why does Matthew prefer mermaids to fish? Then on the After Show, what are our next Hoya goals… if we have any left? To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusiv...
May 10, 2022•35 min
We know it’s an unlikely choice for most plant parents, but the strategies and fun involved in cultivating unusual houseplants like Welwitschia mirabilis is an experience we’re excited to share! And even if he has never touched one, Matthew loves the botanical and evolutionary mystery this living fossil presents. What can we do when there’s no clear care info for a plant? Does Stephen even know what he’s doing yet? Say hello to Aunt Ephedra for us. Then on the After Show, what is Stephen’s long ...
May 03, 2022•52 min
We have plenty of plant thoughts and goals on our minds as we sit down for our Spring-themed Chill 'n Chat! Should you put our houseplants outdoors during the warm months? As seasonal selections improve at plant stores, what are our current strategies to avoid plant burnout or over-collecting? Do you have to get a former goal plant if it’s cheaper now? And the real bombshell – is Stephen finally ready for a Pothos? Brace yourselves! And a special thank you to our new Patrons for the month of Apr...
Apr 26, 2022•44 min
Looking for a low-stress succulent with beautiful, unusual flowers? Then Huernia zebrina should be on your list. We’ve both kept this plant for years, so we’ll share plenty of mistakes for you to learn from! What is soil compaction? What is the easiest way to propagate? And what about the other amazing plants in the Stapeliad group? This is one we’re both excited about! Then we did another After Show - head over to Patreon to hear it! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast We’ve teamed up wit...
Apr 19, 2022•34 min
We found articles calling Ficus Audrey and Ficus umbellata “the next Fiddle Leaf Figs.” So we decided to put this bold claim to the test. Do they live up to the hype? How similar is their care to the FLF? And years later, how are Matthew’s "It Plants" doing? Stephen does a wellness check, and one of these shows promise! Then we tried something we’re calling the After Show! Head over to Patreon to hear it! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% ...
Apr 12, 2022•46 min
We’re back with another classic that may straddle the world of houseplants and…indoor herbs? Beyond impressively easy care, we'll explore our own experiences with this ubiquitous plant over the years. Does it have uses beyond soothing burnt skin? Has its efficacy as a home remedy been studied? Will we find any good aloe recipes? And is this the first time we consume a plant as we talk about it? Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast Want to listen...
Apr 05, 2022•54 min
We can talk about techniques one by one, but sometimes a scenario – like adopting an old plant – is the best way to discuss how we think of them *all working together*. Today we’ll talk through fertilizing, potting substrate, pruning, and dividing, and when we’d consider each. Will we agree? Expect a few propagation and pruning tips in this one, and of course some teasing between us. Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast We’ve teamed up with Solt...
Mar 29, 2022•54 min
Have you ever listened to a friend’s vacation recap, but wished they would ONLY talk about the plants they saw? If you answered “Yes!,” “Maybe,” or “...What?”, then this episode is for you! What did Stephen see that surprised him? And which plant-centric spots does he recommend? Most of all, will this finally coax him to get a Monstera? We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Use code PLANTDADDYPODCAST at checkout to save 15% Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/...
Mar 25, 2022•23 min
It’s Chill 'n Chat time again! This month, we decided to go way back and revisit the first 5 plants we covered in the show. How are they doing in our collections? And how have our opinions changed? Let’s just say some things have changed since 2019, and some things haven't. We discuss: Jungle Cacti (00:06:00) | Staghorn ferns (00:17:45) | Pilea peperomioides (00:23:40) | Begonia maculata (00:28:17) | Pothos (00:33:02) We’re excited to team up with Soltech Solutions! Use code PLANTDADDYPODCAST at...
Mar 16, 2022•47 min
Is there a perfect Hoya substrate recipe? Our answer may surprise you. We’ll walk through our preferred ingredients, why we use them, some ideas for both new and experienced Hoya parents, and even the “potting equation” as a whole! You know us – we couldn’t help getting into the details! What is a “coarse” mix? How do we both feel about coconut husk chunks? And which one of us hasn’t repotted one of their Hoyas in 5 years? Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/pla...
Mar 08, 2022•38 min
So… what is an asparagus fern anyway? We’ll share cultivation “experiments” that may help you avoid some common frustrations with these resilient classics, and we’ll cover the common species that share this moniker at plant stores. How much water do these really need? Does Stephen *actually enjoy* these? And can Matthew resist talking about edible asparagus? These “ferns” deserve a second look! Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast...
Feb 22, 2022•35 min
Over the holidays, the Plant Daddies both tried some boxed bulbs from the clearance rack (...it turns out!), and our “results may have varied.” Now that indoor bulbs are gone from store shelves, this post-Paperwhite wrap-up is more about the experience, less about the care advice, and even leaves us questioning …what IS a houseplant to us? We get on our soapboxes. Did adding alcohol work? And what does Thalassa Cruso have to say? Buckle up for an interesting ride this week! Want to listen ad-fre...
Feb 16, 2022•50 min
We sit down with Toine Overgaag of Westerlay Orchids, a major grower of Phalaenopsis on the West Coast of the US, to hear about their sustainability efforts, and the state of large-scale houseplant production more broadly. Are grocery store orchids considered “disposable?” Are there ways to tell if you're buying sustainably-produced plants? And what’s the best thing we can do once a plant comes home with us? Stay tuned for our tips (and our impassioned appeal) for plant lovers of all experience ...
Feb 08, 2022•31 min
How well is the “traditional” plant industry serving the interests of the newest wave of plant parents? And for those who started in the hobby during the pandemic, how are they faring? We found two interesting articles about the state of the houseplant community that felt perfect for the first Chill 'n Chat of 2022. What is a “brutalist candlestick?” And is losing 10 or more plants a lot? We attempt to answer! Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcas...
Feb 01, 2022•44 min
You may know about Sundews, but the Plant Daddies believe these particularly tiny, beautiful members of the Drosera genus deserve their own special mention. And we’re happy to report that their care and propagation is easier than you may have read! Will they thrive in terrariums? What does it sound like when Stephen tries to sell Matthew on a plant? And how many ways can we pronounce the word gemmae? Don’t underestimate us! Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/pl...
Jan 25, 2022•51 min
The Lipstick Plant is the very first Gesneriad we discuss on the show, and we both feel that this robust, reliably flowering plant is a great introduction to this amazing family of plants. Does Stephen admit to liking a flowering indoor tropical? And is Matthew getting too worked up about cultivar confusion? Have you ever thought you didn’t have much to say about a plant, but then you had a LOT of thoughts about them? Well it happened to us this week! And we had a blast.
Jan 18, 2022•55 min
Is there more to our relationship with houseplants than collecting and cultivating? Maria Failla of Bloom and Grow Radio is back to make her case in a revealing interview that we both love. What does a mindfulness practice actually mean? And how can you begin your own? It's easier and more powerful than you might think. And it may surprise you which Plant Daddy this speaks to most! Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcast...
Jan 11, 2022•59 min
If the Plant Daddies could surprise each other with a plant to grow together, what would happen? You’ll find out in our last episode of 2021! Then we revisit (and judge) our plant predictions for the year, pick our favorite episodes, and chat about the plant highlights in our own collections. Can a rehab project be a “gift?” How well do we actually know each other? Cozy up for one of our favorite episodes of the year! Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdad...
Dec 22, 2021•51 min
How much do you know about fertilizing your houseplants? …and how much do we know? After a radically honest discussion of our own routines, Miles from The Plant Store is back to answer our questions, dispel some myths, AND participate in our fertilizer lightening round. Are liquids better than slow-release pellets? Is "organic" mostly about marketing? What about DIY fertilizers? Some of his answers may surprise you! Want to listen ad-free? Head over to Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddy...
Dec 15, 2021•50 min
Need a foliage plant for a low light spot that will actually survive? Even thrive? This week we talk about Aglaonema, which we both believe is one of your best options for this situation. How long can these actually survive in less-than-ideal light? And how much moisture (or lack of it) can they tolerate? Our answers may surprise you. Also, what’s an “Aglaonema stepfather,” and how's that custom textile print coming? Like we say, this is about respect.
Dec 07, 2021•39 min
What should go in that less-sunny window? The Plant Daddies tackle a timely listener question in this month’s Chill 'n Chat, and after so long without plant updates, let each other know how their respective urban jungles/bogs/deserts are faring. Is success in a north-facing window about plant selection, or managing expectations? What does Stephen do when he thinks he has overwatered? And was Matthew aware that we did an episode about having too many plants? No new episode next week, but we’ll be...
Nov 23, 2021•40 min
Many of us have owned a Croton plant, Codiaeum variegatum, but how many of us can reliably get them to thrive indoors? The Plant Daddies have had mixed results themselves, so Mark Peters of Peters Crotons and Cordylines joins the show to help. Should these plants be allowed to dry thoroughly? Of the surprisingly diverse Croton cultivars, which is the best for indoor growing? We get these answers, fascinating history, and some surprising tips for plant parents from this expert grower! Want to lis...
Nov 16, 2021•45 min
