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

According to a Human Spaces report, “workers in office environments with natural elements, such as greenery and sunlight, are 6% more productive at work and 15% more creative.” Personally, they’ve been my number one most useful tool for increasing joy throughout my workday, and they help me reduce eye strain from staring at my computer all day. So in this episode of Growing Joy with leafjoy® miniseries, we’ll be talking about biophilia, common problems of office plant care, and some practical tips to make your workplace more “green.”

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:03] Why plants are helpful in office spaces
• [04:16] What is biophilia?
• [05:37] What is biophilic design?
• [06:51] How does biophilic design affect productivity?
• [08:58] What’s our relationship with sounds?
• [10:11] Impact of natural materials (eg. wooden contact paper)
• [11:19] What’s the right type of plant for your office?
• [12:50] Lowest entry: Proven Winners leafjoy® H2O Line
• [14:46] How to arrange plants in your office (to reduce eye strain)
• [17:06] Vertical plant solutions
• [18:57] What are some office plant care tips?
• [20:18] What to do when your office doesn’t allow plants

Mentioned in this conversation:

• Human Spaces: The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace
• leafjoy H2O® Collection | Proven Winners
• Growing Joy Episode 261: The Best Low Light Plants for Dim Spaces
• My $10 Biophilic Art

For my complete suggestions on how to add nature to your office,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners

If 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 carefree houseplants in cute containers that you only have to refill once the water level is low!

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

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 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

What if there’s a way to enjoy your favorite outdoor plants year-round, save money, and keep them inside as houseplants during the winter? The answer lies in overwintering outdoor plants indoors, which is a brilliant technique I talked about with my friend and gardening expert, Janey Santos from Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat. Janey is a master gardener, YouTuber, and just an all-around plant genius, and she shared five incredible plants that can grow successfully indoors over winter and head right back outside next summer.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:27] Gardening in different climates
• [06:13] Plant swap announcement!
• [08:25] Why atrium is an ideal plant
• [10:31] Why coleus is the easiest plant to propagate
• [11:35] What are geraniums?
• [15:07] Why you should invest in grow lights
• [16:12] How to get personalized Wind River Chimes
• [17:42] Gardening solutions for your indoor and outdoor plants
• [21:05] Geranium vs. pelargonium
• [21:57] How versatile are begonias?
• [25:25] Caladiums—the up-and-coming plant
• [31:50] Why Alyssum is a special plant!
• [34:01] Find the perfect holiday gifts for gardeners and plant parents
• [35:06] Hypoestes (the Polka Dot plant)
• [38:15] Is gardening a budget hobby or not?
• [40:04] Watch our plant swap next week!
• [40:34] Where can you follow Janey on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy 253: 5 Tips for Growing in Hot Climates with Janey of Dig Plant Water Repeat
• The Florida Gardener Podcast
• Soltech Aspect™ LED Growlight
• Begonia Ferox
• Heart to Heart® 'Snow Flurry' - Shade Caladium
• Heart to Heart® 'Hot 2 Trot' - Sun and Shade Caladium
• Hippo® Rose - Polka Dot Plant
• Hippo® White - Polka Dot Plant
• Proven Winners
• 🌱 Surprising My Pregnant Sister with a Dream Raised Bed Garden! | Emotional Baby Shower Gift Reveal!

For Janey's recommended houseguest plants and their proper winter care,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Janey:

Website

Podcast

YouTube

Instagram

Facebook

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.

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 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

How do you vacation-proof your plants before going away? The holiday season is fast approaching, which means many of us have already booked out-of-town trips that would require us to be away from home for a longer period of time. So how would you keep the plants back home alive while on vacation? It's not like we could water our plants while away, right? So in this episode, I want to make sure that stress never happens to you. I'm going to set you up with all that you'll need to know so you know your plants are content while you enjoy your holiday.

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:01] Join my Patreon for amazing goodies
• [02:38] How to holiday proof your plants
• [03:34] What’s your magic number? (the number of days you’re gonna be gone)
• [05:57] Plant care tips for short trips (7 to 10 days)
• [10:30] Why self-watering planters would be perfect for you
• [11:30] Some DIY water-wicking system
• [12:11] Try watering globes/stakes
• [13:11] Plant care tips for longer trips (over 10 days)
• [15:25] Give your plants the light they deserve this winter with Soltech!
• [16:59] Gift peace and joy this season with personalized Wind River Chimes!
• [19:32] How to prep your plant sitter

Mentioned in our conversation:

• What's Your Plant Parent Personality?
• TruDrop self-watering planters - Crescent Garden
• Watering Globes

For all of my proven and tested vacation plant care 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".

Wind River Chimes

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

Why are plants the perfect holiday gift? Plants symbolize so many things such as growth, life, and connection, so it only makes sense that we want our giftee to feel this. And unlike typical presents, if you pick just the right plant for whoever you’re gifting it to, trust that this will continue to grow and evolve long after the holiday season is gone—making them think of you every time they look at it. But if you’re not careful (and well-informed), that gift could turn into a time bomb of wilting leaves and shattered dreams. And before you know it, your giftee is calling themselves a plant killer. So this episode is all about a holiday houseplant gift guide that avoids the classic plant gifting pitfalls.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:45] Why do plants make the best gift?
• [04:52] What’s the biggest issue about gifting plants?
• [06:37] Why choose low-light plants as gifts?
• [07:21] How can you make plant gifting fun?
• [07:35] #1 Personalized terrariums
• [10:28] #2 Kokedama
• [12:33] Perfect plants to gift to your loved ones!
• [12:44] Perfect plant gift for mindful plant parents
• [13:38] Perfect plant gift for curious collector plant parents
• [14:36] Perfect plant gift for design-based plant parents
• [15:16] Perfect plant gift for urban farmer plant parents
• [16:09] Perfect plant gift for low-maintenance plant parents

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Proven Winners leafjoy™ H20 Collection
• What's Your Plant Parent Personality? - Growing Joy with Maria
• Growing Joy Ep 261: The Best Low Light Plants for Dim Spaces
• Youtube video: HOW TO MAKE A TERRARIUM - Step-by-Step DIY Terrarium Tutorial!
• Proven Winners Fittonia
• Youtube video: How to Make a Kokedama // Perfect Plant Gift for All Occasions!
• Living Lace® Hurricane - Bird's Nest Fern
• Living Lace® Victoria - Bird's Nest Fern
• Living Lace® Twirly Whirly™ - Boston Fern
• Prismacolor™ Splash Dash™ - Red-leaf Philodendron
• Prismacolor™ White Wizard - Philodendron hybrid
• Prismacolor™ Pink Princess - Philodendron hybrid
• Arching Amour™ Follow Your Heart™

For my complete houseplant gift guide,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners

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

Christmas and the holiday season are coming! Which “festive” plants should you grow and how can you help them stay alive? For many people, nothing makes the holidays lovelier than getting a beautiful poinsettia or holiday cactus during this time. But there’s absolutely nothing worse than seeing the holiday plant that you fell in love with just wither before your very eyes because they need a different care than you’re used to. So today we’ll talk about how to care for classic holiday plants with horticultural expert Farid Khalil from Mahoney's Garden Center.

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:32] Who is Farid Khalil from Mahoney’s Garden Center?
• [08:04] What do the holidays look like at Mahoney's?
• [10:20] What is a poinsettia and how do you care for it?
• [14:48] Give your plants the light they deserve this winter with Soltech Grow Lights!
• [16:12] Pre-order Square Foot Gardening, 4th Edition now and get new plans, tips, and updates!
• [19:21] How to care for poinsettias successfully?
• [25:52] Are poinsettias toxic to pets and children?
• [27:24] What are some poinsettia alternatives?
• [30:04] Repot your holiday plants with Espoma Organic’s premium quality products!
• [31:20] Why Cyclamen is a nice holiday plant
• [32:51] How Cyclamen become associated with Christmas
• [34:39] How should you care for Cyclamen?
• [38:35] Christmas cactus vs easter cactus
• [40:20] How to care for a Christmas cactus
• [44:19] How to care for a Norfolk Island Pine
• [49:30] Why Lemon cypress is a good holiday plant
• [51:46] Get to know about Mahoney's Garden Center!

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Mahoney's Garden Center
• The history of the Morel company, creator of cyclamen
• Schoneveld Breeding

For Farid's garden center-tested holiday plant care tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Mahoney’s Garden Center:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

X

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

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

Quarto: Square Foot Gardening, 4th Edition

Grab the 4th edition of Square Foot Gardening at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble, quarto.com or amazon.com.

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

What plants are great in low-light homes? That’s one of the most common plant questions that I get asked a lot. It’s popular because a lot of us don’t have those floor-to-ceiling windows that we often see on Pinterest and Instagram. The majority of us just have normal, low-light homes. Even my new house in Florida is actually extremely low-light! But of course, we all want our indoor garden to grow well, no matter what our lighting circumstances are. So here’s another Proven Winners episode to teach you how to choose the right low-light plants for your space and all the tips you need to know to make sure you’re taking good care of them.

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:34] What is a low light (tolerant) plant?
• [03:30] Why low-light plants are popular
• [04:07] Why you should check out snake & ZZ plants!
• [05:25] How we overestimate the amount of light in our homes
• [08:13] Take my Plant Parent Personality™ test
• [08:35] Importance of rotating pots for low-light plants
• [10:01] Keep your plant's leaves clean
• [11:02] #1 Ferns
• [14:54] #2 Prayer plants
• [17:00] #3 Monstera
• [17:33] #4 Photos
• [19:13] #5 Dracaena
• [19:52] #6 Philodendron
• [21:20] Check out Proven Winner’s H2O Line!
• [22:41] Tips for “no light” situations

Mentioned in our conversation:

• What's Your Plant Parent Personality?
• Understanding Natural Light
• 9 Tips for Greening Up Your Work From Home Office Set UP
• Living Lace® Davana Blue Star Fern
• Living Lace® Victoria Bird's Nest Fern
• Living Lace® Hurricane - Bird's Nest Fern
• Twirly Whirly™ Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
• Sweet Dreams® NeverLand™ - Ctenanthe lubbersiana
• Beautifall® Off to Oz Pothos
• Beautifall® Summer Nights™ Pothos
• Crescent Garden TruDrop self-watering planters
• Proven Winners leafjoy® H2O® Collection
• Soltech Aspect™ LED Growlight

For more low-light plant tips,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Proven Winners

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

Are you struggling to keep your houseplants alive? You might be one of many aspiring plant parents who find themselves in this annoying cycle, and you wonder why you can't seem to keep even the "easiest" plants alive. The problem is not finding the “right beginner plant” but understanding your own plant parent personality. So in this episode, I’ll tell you the five distinct plant parent personalities and how they can help you choose the right plants for your lifestyle.

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:53] What's a Plant Parent Personality?
• [05:02] Is there a “starter plant”?
• [08:06] Are you a Mindful Plant Parent?
• [14:54] Find the perfect grow light that suits your plant parenting style with Soltech Grow Lights!
• [17:13] Find the right Espoma Organic products to nourish every type of plant in your home!
• [19:23] Are you a Low Maintenance Plant Parent?
• [24:45] Are you a Curious Collector Plant Parent?
• [31:45] Are you a Design-Based Plant Parent?
• [39:32] Are you an Urban Farmer Plant Parent?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• What's Your Plant Parent Personality?
• Understanding Natural Light Worksheet
• TruDrop Self Watering Planters | Crescent Garden
• WallyGrow Planters
• Soltech Aspect™ LED Growlight
• leafjoy H2O® Collection | Proven Winners
• Lettuce Grow
• Click & Grow
• I Made A DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit for Your Worst Case Plant Problems
• Come Tour Homestead Gardens with Me!
• Lettuce Grow Farmstand Review: Set Up, 30 Day Recap and First Harvest for my Easy Green Smoothie!
• Lettuce Grow 3 Month Update: What I like and don't like so far and fertilizing tips
• DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit with Leslie Halleck
• The Art of the Plant Pause and Managing Plant Parent Overwhelm
• The Mushroom Miniseries: Mushrooms 101 Plus the Answer to "What is the Mushroom Growing in My Houseplant!"
• The Mushroom Miniseries: How to Grow Functional Mushrooms in Your Garden
• The Mushroom Miniseries: How to Grow Mushrooms Indoors
• How to Grow Citrus Indoors with Danny of Via Citrus

For personalized plant care tips and more insights into your plant parent personality,

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

What makes your local garden center feel so special? Don’t you notice that there’s something magical about them? It’s kinda shocking how little we understand as consumers about all the effort that goes into getting plants to us and onto our windowsills. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes at the Garden Center that we don't know about. That's why I'm committed to having more people on this podcast to peel back the curtain of the horticulture industry and help us better understand how our plants get to us.

I'm excited to share my conversation with Jessie Jacobson of Tonkadale Greenhouse in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Jessie is an example of what a passionate multi-generational family business can look like.

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:38] What is the story behind Tonkadale Greenhouse?
• [08:37] Growing vs selling plants
• [12:03] How does the business keep up with modern times?
• [14:01] What are the mission, vision, and core values of Tonkadale?
• [15:27] Gift peace and joy this season with Wind River Chimes!
• [17:05] Give your houseplants the organic love they deserve with Espoma!
• [20:34] What does Jessie’s day look like as a garden center owner?
• [23:33] Ordering and planning in gardening
• [25:08] Why you should always visit an independent garden center
• [26:26] Seasonal revenue + challenges
• [30:25] Be a better low-maintenance plant parent with Crescent Garden TrueDrop Self-Watering Planters!
• [32:37] What keeps Jessie motivated? (aka the joy of gardening)
• [36:26] What advice can Jessie give to aspiring garden center owners?
• [41:20] What’s next for Tonkadale Greenhouse?
• [44:05] Where can you find Tonkadale on social media and onsite?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• What's Your Plant Parent Personality?
• Tonkadale Greenhouse

For a deeper dive into the industry of garden centers,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Jessie:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

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.

Crescent Garden

For a limited time only, head 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

Plant friends, if you are anything like me, you LOVE a good deal, especially when it comes to your garden. After all, it can be costly to buy every gardening tool out there that just seems to drain your bank account. Luckily for us, I picked the brain of my new plant friend—Robbie from Visit Our Garden. Robbie’s garden is a marvel in itself, but even more exciting is how he has mastered the art of making it look luxe on a budget. So in this episode, I’m sharing some of his budget hacks that you can apply to your own garden.

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:30] Who is Robbie from Visit Our Garden?
• [07:41] What does Robbie’s garden look like?
• [11:14] Tip 1: Espalier + buying trees bare root
• [15:48] Create a successful garden with Gardener's Supply Company’s high-quality products!
• [17:11] Gift yourself or a loved one a moment of peace and joy with Wind River Chimes!
• [21:22] Tip 2: DIY cement garden art
• [28:00] Tip 3: Painting your fence
• [30:44] Shop nutrient-rich mixes from Espoma Organic for easier, more sustainable gardening!
• [33:58] Tip 4: Shopping smart
• [40:34] Tip 5: Find inspiration in a lot of places (eg. Pinterest)
• [44:57] Where can you find Robbie on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Episode 253: 5 Tips for Growing in Hot Climates with Janey of Dig Plant Water Repeat
• Cultivate'24
• Is Espalier Worth It? Maintenance || Visit Our Garden
• Installing Espalier Honeysuckle On My Fence With Janey 🪴 || Visit Our Garden
• Fixing my espalier apple tree and planting and clematis 🌸🍎 || visit our garden
• Frog pot feet
• HomeRight
• Solid Color House & Fence Wood Stain | Behr

For more of Robbie's best budget-friendly garden secrets,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Robbie:

Website

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Gardener's Supply

Discover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.

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.

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