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

Here’s a special late-night edition of Growing Joy with Plants: After Dark where I spill the planty tea and share a cocktail with my two incredible plant friends, Agatha Isabel and Kamili Bell Hill. You might know Kamili as @plantblerd on Instagram and Agatha as @agathatisabel on Instagram. They've been my real-life plant friends for years, and we recently had a blast at the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show—and had a sleepover at Kamili's house the night before, which resulted in this episode! This is a candid chat as we dish the dirt on everything from embarrassing plant parent moments to the real talk about representation in the plant community.

In this episode, we learn:[00:53] Growing Joy After Dark: Real conversations about plant parenthood[02:18] Plant connections and friendships![05:36] What has their collection looked like over time?[11:18] What is the dark side of plant collecting?[13:37] Get a personalized wind chime![15:11] Safe, high-quality potting mixes and fertilizers[20:29] What are their favorite plant species?[23:33] Plant care tips and humidity hacks[26:24] Grow houseplants even in low-light spaces[27:57] What is the balance between the joy and stress of plant care?[30:56] Taking care of plants when traveling[32:42] Resilient plants and hoyas[33:25] Some plant disaster stories[37:16] What's the craziest plant experiment they’ve done?[39:34] What are the signs of being a true "plant parent"[51:21] Where to find Agatha and Kamili on social media
Mentioned in our conversation:The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion | New York Botanical GardenSummer Rayne OakesBad Seeds on Apple PodcastsBad Seeds on SpotifyHappy Plants, Happy You by Kamili Bell HillHouseplant Hookups by Agatha Isabel
For our truest, deepest thoughts on plant parenthood,check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Agatha:
Website
Plant Ma Shop
Instagram
Events

Follow Kamili:
Linktree
Instagram
TikTok
Pinterest
Thank you to our episode sponsors:Wind River ChimesVisit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.
Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.
Soltech SolutionsCheck them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".

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 Equilibria and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: www.myeq.com
* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: www.rosettastone.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Have you ever come across the terms "regenerative gardening," "permaculture," or even "chaos gardening"? These are all over social media lately, but what do they actually mean? And more importantly, how can we use these practices to grow happier, healthier plants while also helping Mother Nature? Today's episode is a deep dive into all of this with my new plant friend, Stephanie Rose, founder of Garden Therapy and author of 12 books, who is so committed to helping you garden for at least five minutes a day to receive the benefits gardening can give us. Let's break it down!

In this episode, we learn:[04:15] How Stephanie got into regenerative gardening and built Garden Therapy[07:15] What is permaculture?[09:46] What is the origin of Stephanie’s ‘charity garden’?[14:55] Grow your dream garden with Gardener's Supply Company[16:39] Sustainable gardening with high-quality products from Espoma Organic[21:18] What is chaos gardening?[24:32] Regenerative gardening vs permaculture[26:36] What is the ‘no-till’ method?[29:34] Try Crescent Garden's self-watering planters[32:15] What is hügelkultur?[35:00] What is the relationship between lasagna garden and hügelkultur?[36:51] The difference between a regenerative approach to soil and a basic gardener's approach to soil?[38:44] Different water conservation methods for regenerative gardening[42:11] How does intensive planting benefit gardeners?[48:09] Why do regenerative gardens tend to have fewer pests?[51:26] Regenerative projects that Stephanie has planned for her new house?[58:47] Where can you find Stephanie online?
Mentioned in our conversation:Northwest Flower and Garden ShowBooks by Stephanie Rose:Garden AlchemyRegenerative GardenBraiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
For Stephanie's regenerative gardening tips,check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Stephanie:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
Twitter
YouTube
TikTok

Thank you to our episode sponsors:Gardener's SupplyDiscover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.
Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.
Crescent GardenHead to growingjoywithmaria.com/crescentgarden and use code GROWJOY15 to curate your dream garden today.

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 Equilibria and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: www.myeq.com
* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: www.rosettastone.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

You are likely overestimating how much light you have in your home for your houseplants, plant friends! Yes, it's a tough truth to swallow. In fact, the largest cause of houseplant death is a misunderstanding of light. That’s because our houseplants perceive light differently from us. Don’t worry, because I have your back. I've spent seven years learning about light and distilling everything I've learned into this one short episode to break down how you can confidently assess the natural light in your home and buy the correct plant that will do well in that environment.

This episode is part of the Growing Joy with leafjoy mini series. Thanks to Proven Winners leafjoy for partnering on this episode.

In this episode, we learn:[04:50] Why it’s important to know your light level before you go plant shopping![06:06] How plants use light for photosynthesis to produce their food[07:22] Why chlorophyll is important[14:58] Why low light plants = low light tolerant[16:43] #1 Understanding your window orientation + light exposure[18:12] Look for obstructions outside your window[20:57] #2 Defining direct, indirect, and low light situations![24:27] Supplement with grow lights[25:34] Troubleshooting common light issues
Mentioned in our conversation:Gardening Under Lights by Leslie HalleckSoltech Aspect™ LED GrowlightAfrican Mask Plant - Alocasia longiloba | Proven WinnersMonstera Deliciosa/Thai Constellation | Proven WinnersFREE DOWNLOAD - Understanding Natural LightPlant Parent Personality QuizGrowing Joy Ep 182: Spring Houseplant CareFor a complete guide on indoor light levels,check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:Proven Winners leafjoyIf you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!
Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

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 Equilibria and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: www.myeq.com
* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: www.rosettastone.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Plants just help liven up any space, that’s a fact. And I don't know if you know this, but I suck at interior design. It does not come naturally to me. I often overlook details—and interior design in general is about the details. I came to houseplants for the aesthetic because plants seem to be the common thread of all the design magazines, articles, and inspirations that I was reading as I was curating my apartment in New York City.
And when you have a lot of houseplants, that can create a chaotic, cluttered interior. That's why I'm sitting down with interior design expert and my friend, Betsy Helmuth, the founder of Uploft Interior Design and the host of the Affordable Interior Design podcast to discuss some basic interior design principles that we can tailor specifically for houseplant lovers.

In this episode, we learn:[04:21] What exactly is the focus of Betsy's Uploft Interior Design?[06:45] How to find your interior style[10:26] What are the most popular interior design styles?[14:01] Nature-based aesthetics you should keep our eyes out for[15:25] Give the gift of peace and beauty this summer with a personalized Wind River Chime![17:00] Grow happier houseplants with Espoma Organic's high quality gardening products![20:37] How do you blend two different interior design styles using a 'two-word phrase' approach?[27:54] Why choosing an inspiration piece is important[29:02] How to choose the right color palettes[33:18] Styling with plants and pots[34:59] What is the 60-30-10 rule?[39:32] Other rules and guidelines for starting interior design projects[43:03] How plant placement affects interior design choices[46:19] What are the common mistakes people make with art/wall decor?[48:45] Tips for people who are scared to get art[50:54] Innovative planter solutions[53:06] What can you do in the bedroom to make it cozy?[58:43] Where can you find Betsy on social media?
Mentioned in our conversation:Affordable Interior Design: High-End Tips for Any Budget by Betsy HelmuthApartment TherapyHouzzWest ElmPottery BarnWorld MarketAptDecoJustina Blakeney (@justinablakeney)The New Bohemians by Justina BlakeneyEco Wall Planters by WallyGrow
For Betsy's expert tips on easy and affordable home decor,check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Betsy:
Website
Podcast
Course
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram

Thank you to our episode sponsors:Wind River ChimesVisit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.
Espoma OrganicVisit 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 Equilibria and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: www.myeq.com
* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: www.rosettastone.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 top tips with you!

In this episode, we learn:[00:10] Ferns 101[04:03] How resilient are ferns?[05:00] What are the brown spots you see on ferns?[05:34] Are ferns a good choice for a home with limited natural light?[06:32] How should you water your ferns?[07:33] The right kind of pots to use[09:13] How sphagnum moss helps keep ferns healthy[09:51] How important is the humidity for ferns?[11:40] What are the benefits of grouping plants together?[12:09] How to fertilize your fern[12:39] How to prune ferns[14:04] Troubleshooting tips for ferns[16:43] Proven Winners Leafjoy Fern species[17:49] What ferns are not recommended for beginners?[19:27] Ferns to bring home: Bird's nest fern[20:35] Ferns to bring home: Rabbit's foot fern[21:43] Ferns to bring home: Boston fern/Lemon button fern[22:15] Ferns to bring home: Staghorn fern
Mentioned in our conversation:Self-watering plantersCeramic potSphagnum mossGlass clocheGrow lightsEspoma Organic Indoor! Plant FoodBird’s Nest Ferns: Living Lace® Victoria, Living Lace® HurricaneLiving Lace® Davana - Blue Star Fern/Rabbit's FootEmerald Vase - Boston FernLiving Lace® Cute as a Button™ - Button FernLiving Lace® Sword Dance™ - Staghorn Fern
For all of my foolproof tips on fern care,check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:Proven WinnersIf you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!
Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

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 Equilibria and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: www.myeq.com
* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: www.rosettastone.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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! Rachael is our resident modern green witch—she has such a beautiful way of connecting plants, nature, and spirituality. In our conversation, we explored what the solstice means from an energetic and astrological perspective, and how we can align ourselves with these potent seasonal energies.

In this episode, we learn:[05:00] What does summer mean to Rachael?[05:27] What is the energy of summer?[06:30] Why fire is vital for growth in plants and humans[10:24] What is the difference between spring's action-taking energy and summer's action-maintaining energy?[15:03] Make any summer gift unforgettable with a personalized Wind River Chime![16:38] Take the stress out of summer gardening with Crescent Garden TrueDrop Self Watering Planters![19:19] What's going on astrologically these days?[23:13] Is fire energy out of balance in our world, leading to burnout?[24:13] How can we use the elements (earth, water, fire, air) to address burnout, especially during the summer solstice? (and a little bit of meditation!)[29:57] Feed your plants with Espoma Organic for beautiful summer blooms and delicious harvests![31:42] What are some ways to work with the element of air?[32:27] Connecting with the elements: water, earth, air[38:03] How do you ritualize the summer solstice?[41:25] Where can you find Rachael on social media?[41:52] Summer solstice meditation
Mentioned in our conversation:DIY Spring Flower Crown | Easy Craft Tutorial!Growing Joy Ep 234: Eco Anxiety with RachaelGrowing Joy Ep 223: Cultivating Intuition with Nature with RachaelGrowing Joy Ep 223: Plant Magic: How to Be a Green Witch with Rachael
For Rachael's recommendations on balancing the different elements this solstice,check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Rachael:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
YouTube
Thank you to our episode sponsors:Wind River ChimesVisit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.
Crescent GardenFor a limited time only, head to growingjoywithmaria.com/crescentgarden and use code GROWJOY15 to curate your dream garden today.
Espoma OrganicVisit 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 Equilibria and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: www.myeq.com
* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: www.rosettastone.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands