I have always been a fan of ferns, but for some reason, I could never manage to keep them alive . But those days are over, and I have done a complete 180 on ferns! If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you've probably heard me say how I don't like ferns and how they're just not my recommended houseplant. However, for the past year or so, I've been successfully caring for ferns, and I'm obsessed. I've learned so much, and I can't wait to share my to...
Jun 25, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Can you feel that summer energy in the air? The summer solstice is upon us—the longest day of the year and the official start of the summer season. For us plant parents, this transition is everything. All our patient tending in the spring is paying off as our gardens burst into full bloom. The summer solstice is a powerful energetic pivot point that I always like to honor and celebrate. And I am so delighted to have my dear friend Rachael of Our Infinite Nature join us again in this episode! Rac...
Jun 18, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Some of my happiest childhood memories are of my mom's garden bursting with homegrown flower bouquets. Whenever we had visitors, she'd snip whatever was in bloom, bundle it up with herbs from her kitchen garden, wrap it in a wet paper towel and tinfoil, and gift it to our guests. I just thought it was the simplest, kindest way to grow joy for herself and for her friends—and that's the beauty of growing cut flowers. Speaking of beauty, I couldn’t get enough of this episode’s guest and...
Jun 11, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Moving is such a pain in the neck. Packing boxes, saying goodbye to familiar surroundings, and navigating new neighborhoods—it's enough to make anyone break a sweat. But you know what can be worse than that, plant friends? Moving with houseplants! If you know, you know, and if you haven't moved with your houseplant collection yet, consider yourself lucky. Our guest today just moved across countries and into a different garden zone. We've both moved multiple times in the last few year...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast While we are stewards of the land, we are also stewards of the native animals that call it home. And birds, with their declining population, need our help to keep them flying high in our shared environment. Our responsibility is to protect their home, provide them with food, and minimize the threats they face. When I realized there was someone else who shares my deep passion for birds AND gardens, and that she wrote a whole book on making bird-friendly gardens , I knew I needed to meet and befri...
May 28, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hydrangeas are beautiful flowers, and they represent a wide range of emotions in different cultures. Yes, they can be tricky to grow, but they are relatively low-maintenance with the right care! In this episode, you will learn everything you need to know about hydrangeas from Ryan McEnaney aka @ryanplantsplants, your new best plant friend. I bumped into him in Seattle during the Northwestern Flower Show a few weeks back. We grabbed dinner and it was crazy how much we clicked! Ryan is a fifth-gen...
May 21, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Did you know that watering is one of the most common causes of houseplant death? You saw a gorgeous new plant baby from a store, and then you brought it home full of excitement and good intentions. In fact, you wanted to do your best, so you read the watering instructions in the packet and tried to follow them as closely as possible… And then tragedy happens. The once vibrant leaves start to wilt, turn yellow, or fall off entirely. It’s a rookie mistake! But I’m here to share my hard-earned wate...
May 14, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast How can you use plants to promote more mindful thinking? In this episode, I had the most amazing chat with my longtime plant friend Brittany Gowan ( @brittanygowan ). Brittany and I go way back to our NYC plant mom days when we used to have plant swaps and brunches together. It is pretty wild how plants can bring people together like that. Brittany is one of a kind—she blends her skills in psychology and coaching with her deep love of nature. On the show, we discussed how plants can reduce stres...
May 07, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you have 250 plants in your home, what would you do? That seems like WAY too many plants to care for, right? But for Samantha Hermann, better known as @houseplusplant on Instagram, this is her second nature. She’s my newest plant friend, and I’m so excited to have a casual conversation with her on this episode (let me know if you want more episodes like this). Samantha has been successfully keeping that many plants alive and happy for years, and I’m sure it’s a lot of work. But she’s here to ...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever felt a sense of worry, fear, or anger when you think about climate change and the state of our planet? If so, you may be experiencing what's called "eco-anxiety." As plant lovers who are so connected to nature through our gardens and houseplants, it makes total sense that eco-anxiety could affect us. We care deeply about the Earth because we are part of it. So, let us spend some time with my dearest friend and resident green witch, Rachael Cohen, to better understand th...
Apr 23, 2024•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast You may have heard that compost is the key to a healthy garden, and feeding the soil is more important than feeding your plants . And if you don't garden, you've probably heard about composting as an eco-friendly way to live more sustainably and support the planet. That is why I dedicate an entire episode explaining what composting is and how it works. My guest, Michelle Balz, is a true composting guru who has written, not one, but two incredible books solely focused on this amazing soil...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you're a houseplant lover like me, chances are you already have a philodendron or two in your collection. These awesome tropical plants are some of the most popular and beloved houseplants for good reason—they come in tons of different shapes, colors and sizes, and they're relatively easy to care for too! In this episode, I'm going to give you the full rundown of everything you need to know about growing these amazing plants at home. We'll cover the basics of their natural hab...
Apr 09, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you interact with the houseplant community online at all, you've definitely felt the impact of The Sill on our plant niche. I honestly can't believe that it took me a whopping 230 episodes to finally have Eliza Blank, founder of The Sill, grace the Growing Joy with Plants podcast! Her female founder story of recognizing a need for a houseplant brand and building it into a million-dollar company would make you feel empowered, as it did me. In case you didn’t know, The Sill was one of t...
Apr 02, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Climate change is real, plant friends—and it’s impacting our world too fast! Because of that, it’s becoming extremely important for us plant parents/gardeners to adapt our practices to ensure our gardens can withstand the challenges that lie ahead. In fact, it’s already impacting our gardens in SO many ways—from unpredictable weather to increased pest infestations. So in this episode, I invited a new plant friend, Kim Stoddart, who is a passionate gardener, climate advocate, and author of " ...
Mar 26, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast What are your plans this Spring Equinox? Spring equinox is like a special day when light and dark are balanced just right. As it draws closer, it comes with a reminder that nature has its own patterns that repeat over and over, and this particular event shows us that winter is ending and spring is starting… bringing new life and growth. Tuning into the Earth's frequencies during this season can help us grow and feel refreshed too. In this episode, I’m so happy to welcome back our residential...
Mar 19, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Calatheas have a bit of a reputation among plant parents for being dramatic "divas." And I'm not going to lie—they can be particular about their care. But don't let that scare you off! If you try to understand their preferences, you can totally grow lush, vibrant prayer plants at home. That’s what we’re going to talk about in this episode! In this episode, we learn: [01:44] Understanding calathea (now also called Goeppertia) [02:21] Why calathea isn’t for everyone (so set your ex...
Mar 12, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Is homesteading your ultimate dream? Because mine too, plant friends! Like most gardeners, I've always dreamed of someday creating a homestead and being more self-sufficient. I very much enjoy growing my own fruits, veggies, and herbs, but starting homesteading seemed a little scary. That’s why I was so excited to speak with gardening influencer Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening, who has spent the last few years turning his suburban property into an enviable homestead. Kevin shared his advice...
Mar 05, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Do you know that repotting and potting up mean different things? As our houseplants grow happily under our care, eventually they will outgrow their current pots. Determining whether your plant needs to simply have its soil refreshed (repotting) or be shifted to a larger container (potting up) can be challenging for new plant parents. In this episode, I will walk you through when to pot up versus repot, proper techniques for both, tips to avoid issues, and how to turn repotting into an uplifting ...
Feb 27, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Do you feel a little sad or bored being stuck inside this winter (at least those in the northern hemisphere)? I hope the winter months haven’t got you down too much because I know we’re all feeling a bit cooped up lately. That’s why I brought on a new plant friend, Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago, a gardening expert and horticultural therapist, to share some of her favorite simple DIY indoor plant projects to spark joy during these months. Note that these are all featured in her new book ¡Verdura! ...
Feb 20, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast I am completely obsessed with ficus! Over the last few months, I've been slowly collecting different ficus varieties and learning how to help them thrive. There's just something about the colorful leaves, sculptural shapes, and tree-like growth that makes me love this plant genus. I love my ficus collection and feel like this genus has been overlooked, with the fiddle leaf fig ( Ficus lyrata ) getting most of the hype. But there are so many gorgeous, easy-to-grow ficus species that make ...
Feb 13, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast How can we use plants to connect with intuitive energy? If you're anything like me, simply being around plants makes you feel happier, calmer, and more like your true self. I've always felt plants have some extra special magic that goes beyond their pretty leaves. That's why I was so excited to welcome back our resident “green witch" Rachael from Our Infinite Nature (formerly Infinite Succulent—yes, she just rebranded!) on the podcast this week to talk about how plant care can op...
Feb 06, 2024•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast Do I really need a humidifier? Why do my plants get crispy leaves when I crank the heat? When it comes to houseplant care, humidity is right up there with water and light as one of the most important factors. I’ve spent years stressing about humidity levels. Fortunately, I invited my dear plant friend and humidity expert, Leslie Halleck, for another session of Grow Better. Understanding the science behind humidity has helped me stop freaking out and keep my plant collection happy. In this episod...
Jan 30, 2024•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s almost that glorious time of year again...seed starting season! I don’t know about you, but this is hands-down one of my favorite times in the garden. There’s just something touching about growing those tiny pieces of potential life into healthy plants and vegetables. However, I’d be lying if I said I’ve had perfect success right off the bat. Seed starting has a bit of a learning curve, but making mistakes is all part of the fun and learning in the garden! As long as you don’t lose an entir...
Jan 23, 2024•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast When I think of the word “meadow,” I imagine a glorious landscape filled with grasses and wildflowers swaying in the breeze. While beautiful, these meadows also seem completely out of reach for most home gardeners. But in this episode, meadow expert Graham Laird Gardner, author of ‘Tiny and Wild: Build a Small Scale Meadow Anywhere,’ is here to show us that we can recreate tiny meadows, even on the smallest scale. In this episode, we learn: [03:40] How Graham became the “meadow man” [06:27] Livi...
Jan 16, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast If there is one genus of plants that has captured my imagination for years but repeatedly evaded me, it’s Alocasia. These tropical plants with their large, alien-esque leaves and jewel-toned undersides have long obsessed me. I’d often pick them up from the garden center, only to watch them rapidly decline in my dry, temperate home. But after lots of trial and error, I’ve finally cracked the code to make them thrive! In this episode, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about growing Alocasia hous...
Jan 09, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Happy New Year, plant friends! And you know what that means—time for some serious reflection about the previous year and thinking about how we want to step into 2024! I'm all about assessing what worked and what didn't across all areas of life. But today, let's talk about plants and how you and I can use them to cultivate as much happiness as possible in the coming year. When we show up consistently for our plant hobby, I firmly believe it can help us feel better, more peaceful, and ...
Jan 02, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Happy almost New Year, plant friends! For my last episode of 2023, I wanted to get a little reflective about the joy and growing parts of “Growing Joy.” This year, I bravely held a funeral for many of my houseplants that were no longer bringing me joy. Yes—I lost a LOT of houseplants this year. Some of the plants I said goodbye to weren’t even fully dead yet. They just weren’t happy in my home anymore, and I took it upon myself to consciously let them go in a ritualized way that released me from...
Dec 26, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast I still clearly remember the first time I used an Espoma product—their liquid indoor plant food to be exact. I had struggled so much with trying to find the right fertilizer for my houseplant collection, leading to a huge mess all over my kitchen from failed mixing attempts. But when I tried their simple liquid formula, I finally had the answer to my search, and healthy, thriving plants with gorgeous growth. And I became a lifelong Espoma convert! Little did I know then about the impressive 95-y...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The winter can be challenging for indoor tropical houseplants that thrive in hot, humid environments. While our houseplants do not experience the true dormancy of outdoor deciduous plants (plants that drop all their leaves at some point in the year), they can enter a period of slowed growth known as “ quiescence .” During this time, they require adjusted care to stay happy and healthy. After keeping houseplants for many winters and making my share of mistakes, I want to share the knowledge I’ve ...
Dec 12, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever wondered, “Could working with plants really be my full-time job?” Well, dear plant friend, the answer is a resounding yes! There is a whole world of opportunities waiting for you in the horticulture industry should you decide to turn your plant passion into a career. In this episode, we’ll dig into 9 jobs in horticulture with my dear friend, Daniel Fuller. Daniel is a national council member for the Australian Institute of Horticulture, host of the “Plants Grow Here” podcast, and a...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
