“Start ‘em young.” That’s my motto. Well, it’s not really mine but I say it all the time when it comes to houseplants. And for this episode, I’m sure plant parents are gonna be happy to learn how to connect the younger generations to plants and nature at a young age.

So I want to share this conversation with my plant friend Priscille Joseph, who is a Canadian author, illustrator, and plant lover. She wrote My First ABC Book of Houseplants and she’s all about helping kids connect with nature.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:07] How did Priscrille become a plant lady?
• [06:04] How ‘My First ABC Book of Houseplants’ was created
• [10:46] Launching workshops with sustainable brands
• [13:12] What are the ways to engage kids with houseplants?
• 15:22] Nurture your plant babies safely from toxic chemicals with Espoma Organic’s premium gardening products!
• [16:57] Let kids enjoy a sensory experience
• [17:27] Connect plants with stories
• [21:39] Involve kids in hands-on activities
• [22:34] Make it interactive
• [24:18] Get creative with plants
• [26:52] Bonus tip: give kids responsibility
• [28:46] Where can you get Priscille’s book?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Download Priscille’s books:
• My First ABC Book of Houseplants: Exclusive Edition
• My First Abc Book Of House Plants | Indigo
• My First ABC Book of Houseplants | Amazon
• Free Greenhouse Scavenger Hunt Printable
• Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health (JESEH)
• The Bug Girl: A True Story by Sophia Spencer

Want to engage your kids more with easy plant tasks?

Check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Priscille:

Website

Events

Freebies

Instagram

YouTube

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

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 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 Armoire and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM


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

Have you ever once thought about how flowers could do more than brighten your day? What if they could actually support your emotional well-being, reduce your stress, and even spark creativity? After 270+ episodes, this is my first time ordering a guest product right after the interview. Yes, I am on the flower essence bandwagon HARD after this interview.

But who wouldn't be after talking with Katie Hess, founder and flower alchemist of Lotuswei, a company dedicated to harnessing the essence of flowers to help us live more joyful lives? She’s an amazing educator and I learned so much in this conversation.

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:41] How Katie started getting into the energetics of flowers
• [06:10] The ripple effect of 3%
• [08:12] What is a flower essence?
• [09:46] Why are bees attracted to flowers?
• [10:18] The concept of botanical wi-fi/flower wi-fi
• [14:01] Our disconnection from nature
• [15:48] Wind River Chimes
• [17:30] Plants with Superpowers
• [18:31] What is the human-flower connection?
• [21:45] Validating flower essence information
• [23:48] How do you study flower essence?
• [27:31] How is a flower’s energetic code captured and distilled?
• [30:32] The dilution process and its similarity with homeopathy
• [33:02] Essential oil vs flower essence
• [37:32] Most popular remedies and flowers that match
• [41:25] How can you experiment with and experience flower essences?
• [43:36] Take the flower essence test!
• [45:27] Synergistic flower essence blends
• [50:30] Flower essence that fits my lack of self-belief
• [51:29] Where can you order your flower essence?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Fierce Compassion Collection
• Quiet Mind Collection
• Gain Insights with Our Flower Reading Quiz
• Divine Truth
• Divine Within

Want to find out which flower essence you can get started with?

Check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Lotuswei:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Youtube

Pinterest

X

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: Plants with Superpowers by David Domoney

Pick up Plants with Superpowers at your local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble, quarto.com, or amazon.com. 

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 Armoire and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM


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

Lately, I’ve been hearing so many people talk about Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory—this idea of letting go of control, shifting your mindset, and ultimately finding peace. And you know what? I realized that I went through a similar shift when it came to my plant care journey, and I want to share it with you in this episode. I'll talk about how we think about our plants, our plant care, and how that shift in mind can bring so much joy, not just to our plant parenthood but also to our lives.

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] Concept of 'Let Them Theory'
• [01:27] My most popular episode!
• [02:54] I just launched my Growing Joy with Plants Masterclass!
• [04:29] What’s the root cause of your doubt?
• [07:35] Overwhelm and misinformation
• [08:58] How to reframe your “plant killer” identity mindset
• [09:50] How does social media affect your plant care mindset?
• [12:28] How to celebrate plant care
• [15:30] Add moments of serenity throughout your day with Wind River Wind Chimes!
• [18:12] Pick a positive thought about 
• [19:01] Treat every plant misstep as a learning experience
• [20:18] Take on a growth mindset
• [22:21] Evolving plant parent personalities
• [25:00] How to be a confident plant parent
• [27:09] Develop a relationship with your plants
• [31:43] Celebrate plant wins!

Mentioned in our conversation:

•  Growing Joy with Plants Masterclass
• Growing Joy Episode 43: Your Brain on Plants
• Growing Joy Episode 200: Common Houseplant Pest Identification and How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies and Mealybugs
• What's Your Plant Parent Personality?
• Understanding Natural Light
• Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE)

For mindset shifts and practices to help build your houseplant confidence,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Wind River Chimes

Bring the gift of peace, serenity, and magic 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 an amazing gift that can help you or your loved ones grow joy and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect option. Plus, you can engrave the wind sail on the wind chime with meaningful dates, names, or phrases!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

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 Armoire and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM


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

How can we conserve water while maintaining healthy, attractive gardens, no matter what climate you're in? Record-breaking heat waves, devastating droughts, wildfires scorching millions of acres, floods turning streets into rivers—we've seen it all this year. As climate extremes test our resilience, our gardens are feeling the impact too. How do we ensure our gardens not only survive but also grow in these unpredictable conditions? Let’s talk about water-saving techniques and strategies to keep your garden lush and sustainable with Noelle Johnson, aka the “Arizona plant lady.” She’s a horticulturist, landscape consultant, and the author of the new book, ‘The Water-Smart Garden.’

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:53] How Noelle became a plant expert
• [04:36] Why water conservation is important
• [07:27] What does water conservation look like?
• [08:27] Identifying drought conditions
• [09:56] Water-saving tips for renters
• [10:49] What are the plants great for different plant zones?
• [13:43] Drought-tolerant plants
• [15:28] Espoma Organics’ premium gardening products
• [16:58] AHS Essential Guide to Perennial Gardening
• [18:52] Why you should go to a local nursery
• [20:34] Making soil more efficient at water retention
• [23:32] How mulch and ground cover help with water retention
• [26:36] What are ollas for water saving?
• [30:46] What are different ways of saving rainwater? (rain barrel, swale, creek beds, etc)
• [36:32] What is xeriscaping?
• [40:33] How can you reduce the water your lawn needs?
• [44:14] Smart irrigation controllers
• [45:30] Beginner tips for water conservation
• [47:20] Advanced water conservation strategies
• [49:14] ’The Water Smart Garden’

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Gardening Books by Noelle Johnson
• Drought.gov
• Growing Joy 253: 5 Tips for Growing in Hot Climates
• TruDrop self-watering planters - Crescent Garden

For Noelle's complete list of water-saving tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Noelle:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

TikTok

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 Perennial Gardening

Grab a copy of Essential Guide to Perennial Gardening at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Quarto.com, or Amazon.com.

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 Armoire and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM


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

Did you know you can use your plant passion as inspiration for how and where you go on vacation? I'm sure many of us have already done this on a small scale. Maybe you've been on a trip and kept taking pictures of plants that look just like the ones you have at home. Or perhaps you've insisted on visiting a local plant shop or botanical garden while on vacation (guilty as charged!). But plant friends, that can be just the beginning of how you travel and botanize for your plant passion.

And we're going to dive into everything you need to know about it today with my horticulturist bestie Leslie Halleck, who has been on the show many times, and Marcia Castro Rosenberg, listener-turned-plant-shop owner and also a dear friend of mine.

Leslie and Marcia have actually teamed up to create a once-in-a-lifetime trip called Botany & Betterment in The Amazon! It's a seven-day riverboat and jungle adventure on the Rio Negro River in Brazil this August 2025.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:40] Get to know Marcia
• [07:51] Leslie’s botanizing trips
• [11:32] What is botanizing?
• [15:17] Support sustainable gardening with Espoma Organic’s premium gardening products!
• [16:52] Bring nature back to your garden with Kelly Norris's Your Natural Garden
• [18:55] What are their most memorable botanizing experiences?
• [25:37] What are the botanizing basics?
• [30:14] Where can you find plant keys & field guides
• [34:57] On creating the ultimate Amazon trip: ‘Botany & Betterment’
• [39:23] Hiring local guides for your trip
• [43:50] Building community and personal growth
• [49:45] Where can you find more info about Leslie and Marcia

Mentioned in our conversation:

• AllTrails
• Botany & Betterment in The Amazon!
• Tiny Plants, by Leslie Halleck
• Rooting For You Store

To know more about Leslie and Marcia's botanizing adventures,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Leslie:

Website

Shop

Facebook

X

Pinterest

YouTube

Instagram

Follow Marcia:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

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.

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 Armoire and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM


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

If you’re a plant lover, you’ve probably come across Chantel, the brilliant mind behind @channygrayhome on Instagram. Over the past few years, she has built a community of over half a million plant enthusiasts. But there’s so much more to her than her incredible follower count.

In this episode, I’ll take you behind the scenes of my chat with Channy—where we talked about her plant history, her love for DIYs, her big move from the Arizona desert to lush Iowa, and how she juggles being a plant mom and a mom to three kids.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:15] How Channy and I met at a Botanical Garden
• [07:28] What has Channy’s plant journey been like?
• [15:14] Add serenity to your life in 2025 and beat the winter blues with Wind River Chimes!
• [16:56] Start your kitchen garden today by grabbing a copy of Kitchen Garden Living by Bailey Van Tassel
• [19:10] What does pest prevention mean for Channy?
• [21:12] Channy’s new plant soap for pest control!
• [23:57] What does a bubble bath for plants look like?
• [25:07] How to balance motherhood and plant care
• [28:17] Top tips to make plant care easy and fun!
• [30:06] Decorating with plant cuttings
• [32:03] Lechuza pon vs LECA
• [33:54] How did Channy get into DIY projects?
• [35:30] Moving to Iowa and preparing for changes
• [38:02] What does Channy’s family think of her plant collection?
• [40:38] What it feels like to have 500k+ followers
• [43:00] What are her future plans for Channy Gray Home?
• [44:30] Where can you find Channy on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Ep 240: How to Move with Houseplants with Becca De La Plants
• Growing Joy Ep 226: How to Repot Houseplants
• Growing Joy Ep 109: Passive Hydroponics 2.0 and the LECA VS PON Debate
• Plant Soap by Channy Gray Home
• LECHUZA-PON Plant Substrate
• LECA

Learn more about Channy's top houseplant care tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Channy Gray Home:

Website

Shop

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Quarto: The Water-Smart Garden by Noelle Johnson

Grab a copy of Kitchen Garden Living at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Quarto.com, or Amazon.com to get inspired and grow 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! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Armoire and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM


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

When I visited the Seattle Spheres and saw the famous green wall with its 40,000 plants, I was mesmerized. But what really caught my eye were these strange little plastic baggies hanging off some stems. I wondered if they were hurting the plants at first. But then I looked closer, I realized those bags were filled with insects. Beneficial insects, to be exact. And they were there to manage pests naturally.

So if you’re like me and have struggled with pests like spider mites, thrips, or mealybugs on your plants, this episode with Jamie Stanton from DMV Beneficials should show you how beneficial insects work in deterring pests naturally.

GET THE FREE HOUSEPLANT PEST CONTROL DOWNLOAD HERE

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:34] Download my new houseplant pest guide for free!
• [03:37] Meet Jamie from DMV Beneficials
• [06:59] What is a “beneficial insect” and what makes it beneficial?
• [09:59] Why not just use pesticides?
• [12:01] How do these beneficial predators work with your houseplants?
• [13:42] What are the risks of releasing beneficial insects in your home?
• [14:38] Can beneficial insects sting us?
• [15:19] Never worry about water restriction ever again by picking up a copy of "The Water Smart Garden" by Noelle Johnson
• [16:32] Discover high-quality organic gardening products with Espoma Organic
• [18:22] Stay away from these beneficial insects!
• [20:42] How to get started
• [28:10] Can we see the mites we release?
• [29:35] Beneficial insect against scales
• [29:46] Effective thrips management
• [33:44] Can you use beneficials in tandem with pesticides?
• [34:51] Top houseplant pests that give the most headaches
• [41:31] How does sustainability play into beneficials?
• [48:19] Where to find DMV Beneficials near you

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Monterey Horticultural Oil
• What's Your Plant Parent Personality?

GET THE FREE HOUSEPLANT PEST CONTROL DOWNLOAD HERE

Learn how to use beneficial insects to protect your houseplants,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Jamie

Instagram

Facebook

Follow DMV Beneficials

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter/X

Youtube

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Quarto: The Water-Smart Garden by Noelle Johnson

Grab a copy of The Water-Smart Garden by Noelle Johnson at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, quarto.com, or amazon.com to get inspired and take action on your garden.

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 Armoire and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM


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

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:

• What's Your Plant Parent Personality?
• Growing Joy Ep 147: How to Care For Carnivorous Plants Indoors with Damon of California Carnivores
• Growing Joy Ep 269: Carnivorous Plants: The Houseplant Pest Control You Never Thought Of with Kenny Coogan
• Growing Joy Ep 247: Growing Joy "After Dark": Spilling the Planty Tea with Kamili Bell Hill and Agatha Isabel
• How Carnivorous Plants Can Be Used for Pest Control // Indoor Carnivorous Plants
• Full Soltech Highland Light and Wallygrow Eco Wall Planter Greenwall Set Up and Review
• ÅKERBÄR greenhouse, in/outdoor/white, 45 cm - IKEA

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! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Armoire and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM


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

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

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Armoire and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM


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

Plant friends, did you know your houseplants can double as pest control? Carnivorous plants don’t just survive—they hunt. Venus flytraps can snap down on unsuspecting flies, while pitcher plants lure bugs into their slippery traps. These carnivorous plants themselves are nature’s own pest management system.

So I’ve brought on a guest who knows everything there is to know about them: Kenny Coogan, the head of education at the International Carnivorous Plant Society.

Kenny has been growing carnivorous plants for about 20 years, and about five years ago, he joined the ICPS as the education director. He quit his day job and turned his passion into his profession, running a carnivorous plant nursery in Florida. As he puts it, "Carnivorous plants are my life."

In this episode, we learn:

• [01:47] What’s not to love about carnivorous plants?
• [04:52] Who is Kenny?
• [08:01] Some facts about Venus flytraps
• [09:57] What is a carnivorous plant?
• [12:54] Where do we find carnivorous plants outdoors?
• [15:36] Don’t let your houseplants wither this winter with Soltech Growlights!
• [16:57] Nourish your houseplants with Espoma Organic’s gentle and premium fertilizers!
• [18:57] What triggers carnivorous plants’ dormancy?
• [19:57] What carnivorous plants do to their prey
• [24:17] Specific care for temperate carnivorous plants
• [27:31] Specific care for tropical carnivorous plants
• [32:43] Can you feed carnivorous plants hamburger? (how to hand-feed them)
• [36:41] Trigger mechanism of Venus flytraps
• [38:48] How much light do Venus flytraps love?
• [42:58] What are the best houseplant-friendly carnivorous plants?
• [48:26] Watering and potting tips for carnivorous plants
• [50:30] Common mistakes and troubleshooting

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

• International Carnivorous Plant Society
• ICPS Classroom Grants
• Verdant Lyfe
• Venus Fly Traps & More Carnivorous Plants
• Florida's Carnivorous Plants: Understanding, Identifying, and Cultivating the State's Native Species by Kenny Coogan
• Little Shop of Horrors (1986) - IMDb
• Carnivorous Plants Animated Series by ICPS
• Carnivorex 3D printer model programs | ICPS

For carnivorous plants' care basics and feeding tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

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

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 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 Armoire and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM


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

As the winter solstice–or the longest night of the year–approaches, how does it reflect and represent you? This is the season of dormancy, a time when plants, the earth, and even we are drawn to rest, recharge, and prepare for growth. In this final installment of our 2024 seasonal sessions, on the pod once again is my dear friend and our resident green witch, Rachael of Our Infinite Nature. She shared with me how the winter solstice can help us honor cycles of rest and renewal. It was a lovely way to end a year of seasonal explorations, covering everything from the practical ways we can live in harmony with the season to what the quiet time of winter can teach us.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:55] What is the cyclical nature of life?
• [05:38] How to rebrand winter inside ourselves
• [10:38] How does the earth respond to winter?
• [13:48] How to prepare your winter garden
• [15:25] Give your plants the sunlight, even on the coldest days, with Soltech Grow Lights!
• [16:47] Find peace in the chaos with personalized Wind River Chimes!
• [19:26] Why focus on your inner growth
• [23:06] Astrological guide to winter solstice (Capricorn season)
• [29:39] Shop exclusive garden gifts and essentials at Gardener's Supply Company!
• [30:45] How to honor the winter solstice
• [37:08] What is the role of our nervous system?
• [39:19] Rest and digest
• [42:02] Winter solstice visualization/meditation
• [55:53] Where can you follow Rachael?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Episode 229: Why You Should Care About the Spring Equinox
• Growing Joy Episode 242: Why You Should Care About the Summer Solstice
• Growing Joy Episode 256: What You Need to Know About the Autumnal Equinox
• Get Rachael’s book, Self-Care for Eco-Anxiety
• Join the 2025 Intuitive Magic Group Coaching

For Rachael's insightful recommendations on navigating the new season,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Rachael:

Website

Instagram

TikTok

Facebook

YouTube

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

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

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

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 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

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Armoire and use my code BLOOM for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style
* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA
* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM


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