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

Looking for free, natural ways to decrease stress and increase joy and calm in your life? The answer might be simpler than you think: houseplants, gardening and nature. On Growing Joy with Plants, learn alongside Happy Plant Lady, Maria Failla to care for plants, engage with nature, and use them to manage your overwhelm, anxiety and experience happiness and calm you thought was only available on vacation.Plant care is self care. Come grow some joy with us. Follow along on socials @growingjoywithmaria

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429 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes429

Newest first

Aug 22, 2023 · 1 hr 8 min
How to Forage for Healing Plants in Your Backyard
For most of us, the plants growing in our backyards and neighborhoods go overlooked. We mow them down or walk right over them without a second glance. But did you know many of these plants have been used medicinally for centuries? In this episode, we'll share fundamental tips from an expert forager, herbalist, and hiker, Heather Houskeeper. You'll learn basic plant identification skills, foraging best practices, and uses for several common medicinal "weeds."In this episode, we learn:[07:14] How
Aug 15, 2023 · 1 hr 17 min
Common Houseplant Pest Identification and How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies and Mealybugs: Grow Better with Leslie
As houseplant parents, most of us will inevitably encounter some type of pest infestation at some point. Seemingly overnight, our beautiful, thriving plants can become under attack by bugs we didn't even know existed! Pests can quickly damage and even kill our treasured plants if left unchecked. In Episode 2 of the Grow Better Series, my dear friend Leslie Halleck is back to teach us how to identify the most common houseplant pests and take action to get rid of them fast.In this episode, we lear
Aug 10, 2023 · 2 min
Check Out the Old Fashioned On Purpose Podcast
I hope you LOVED this weeks episode on How to Grow Garlic with Jill Winger!Jill was an amazing and has an incredible podcast of her own all about homesteading and slow living called Old Fashioned On PurposeI wanted to introduce you to in, incase you dream of a homestead or slower way of living.Type in "Old Fashioned On Purpose" into the podcast player search bar and go subscribe or click this link!https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/old-fashioned-on-purpose-podcast
Aug 8, 2023 · 53 min
How to Grow Garlic
Garlic is a staple in so many savory dishes, but if you've only ever cooked with the sad grocery store bulbs, it's time to see garlic's true potential by growing your own. The depth of flavor and variety that homegrown garlic offers blows store-bought out of the water. Lucky for us, plant friends, growing our own garlic at home is so easy! In this episode, homesteader extraordinaire Jill Winger walks us through how to grow garlic step-by-step, select varieties, grow, harvest, and store your own
Aug 1, 2023 · 1 hr 21 min
How They Built a Million Dollar Company: Plantrepreneur Profile with Soltech
Soltech has achieved remarkable success in recent years, growing from a small startup to a million-dollar business. For long-time listeners, you probably bought their grow lights already using my coupon code Bloom15, and I’m sure you love them as much as I do! And for those who haven’t, join me in this episode as we talk in-depth with Soltech’s founders and my dear plant friends—Chris, Mike, and Paul—about their remarkable journey, the challenges they overcame, and the strategies that propelled
Jul 25, 2023 · 42 min
The Power of a Therapeutic Garden to Help Us Feel Better
Gardening has long been known for its therapeutic advantages and as a place of calm and peace in the middle of a hectic schedule. Garden therapy can relieve stress and enhance our mental and emotional health. In this episode, we'll look at 9 gardening practices that can help you develop a deeper connection with nature—and yourself.In this episode, we learn:[05:11] Therapeutic benefits of gardening during tough times[09:40] How gardening can help you with focus and monotasking[10:55] The connecti
Jul 18, 2023 · 1 hr 15 min
Overwatered vs Underwatered Plants, How Much Light Do Indoor Plants Need and More Common Houseplant Problems: Grow Better with Leslie
Do your plants get enough water and light? These questions are typically asked, and the answer is often "It depends." But this answer is more meaningful than you might think, which will be explained in today's episode of our new series, "Grow Better," featuring Leslie Halleck. As a certified horticulturist with extensive experience in plant care, Leslie is here to share her insights on the subject of overwatering and underwatering, offer valuable insights into the optimal light requirements for
Jul 11, 2023 · 1 hr 9 min
Homesteading for Beginners with Michelle Bruhn and Stephanie Thurow: Best of Growing Joy
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a homesteader? A growing number of people are turning to self-sufficiency and sustainability in their way of living. However, homesteading can seem intimidating, especially when social media portrays it as an exclusive lifestyle requiring acres of land and living off the grid. The good news is that it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing lifestyle! In this episode, learn how Stephanie Thurow and Michelle Bruhn, co-authors of the book Small Scale Homest
Jul 4, 2023 · 46 min
The History of Flowers with Noel Kingsbury
Flowers have totally mesmerized people for ages with their awesome colors, shapes, and smells. We're totally obsessed with them, and they've been a huge part of our cultures, traditions, and personal bonds for as long as we can remember. In this episode, we're going to talk about the history of flowers with a celebrated garden writer, Noel Kingsbury. We'll explore the history and meanings behind flowers, how they've evolved alongside pollinators, and the special relationships we have with these
Jun 27, 2023 · 59 min
War Gardens, Victory Gardens or Pandemic Gardens: The History Behind Why People Grow Plants in Hard Times
Gardening is already a popular hobby, but the pandemic has revived an interest in growing plants. Many of us plant parents turned to gardening to keep busy, improve our mental health, and even grow food as we were forced to spend more time at home. Similar to this occurrence is the Victory Gardens of the past. In this episode, Maggie Stuckey joins us to review the history of Victory Gardens and their surprising role in society throughout the last hundred years. We also explore why people are so
Jun 20, 2023 · 43 min
How to Overcome Burnout Through The Healing Power of Nature
How do you handle burnout? We have all asked that question at some point because modern society has a lot of demands, and it's become too easy to feel overwhelmed. But what if there was a free and accessible tool that could help you turn towards yourself again, away from overstimulation and crazy schedules? In this episode, I will share with you my own experience with deep depression and severe burnout, and how I found healing through making major life shifts centered around spending more time i
Jun 13, 2023 · 59 min
The Mushroom Miniseries: How to Grow Mushrooms Indoors
Do you want to learn how to grow mushrooms at home? In the third episode of our Mushroom Mini-series, Billy and I share how you can enjoy the process of growing mushrooms indoors. Our relationship as co-hosts, and more importantly, as life partners, has made this journey more delightful. We enjoy our time together as self-proclaimed “mushroom farmers,” learning and growing together. In this episode, we are grateful to welcome back Louis from North Spore who shares his mushroom expertise and begi
Jun 8, 2023 · 4 min
Check out the Bad Seeds Podcast!
Introducing the Bad Seeds Podcast, by our dear friend, Summer Rayne Oakes!Bad Seeds is a new podcast from School of Humans and iHeart Podcasts that investigates a growing area of crime that you might have never heard of: plant crime. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, plant crime has been on the rise. From timber poaching in Zambia to cactus smuggling in the US' national parks, Bad Seeds explores a variety of cases where people have stolen plants - having huge repercussions on our environment and
Jun 6, 2023 · 55 min
How to Stop Killing Succulents: Succulent Care and Propagation Guide
Succulents are beautiful, low-maintenance plants that are perfect for us busy plant parents. They're also total badasses. However, they can be quite tricky to care for if you don't know what you're doing. In this episode, I have invited my “succy” friend Andrea from Justsuccit.com to shed some light on the facts and fiction surrounding succulent care!In this episode, we learn:[00:17] Why succulents can mislead and frustrate people[07:34] How did Andrea become the expert succulent plant lady she
May 30, 2023 · 1 hr 19 min
The Power of Therapeutic Horticulture
Have you ever thought about the healing power of plants beyond just their aesthetic appeal? As plant parents, we know how much fun it is to take care of our plants, but did you know that therapeutic horticulture is a practice being used in hospitals, retirement homes, and even correctional facilities? Today, we're exploring the concept of therapeutic horticulture with the guidance of expert teacher Hilda Krus, who has been a horticultural therapist for over two decades, working with inmates at R
May 23, 2023 · 1 hr 4 min
Companion Planting Basics with the Garden Managers of The Lodge at Woodloch
Did you know that plants can also be friends? If you’ve followed me on Instagram this year, you will know about the love affair I am having at The Lodge at Woodloch, a luxury resort and spa, about an hour from where I live. A very interesting aspect of the Lodge at Woodloch is the Blackmore Farm, their regenerative organic farm that grew 9500 lbs of produce for the Lodge’s Restaurant last year! And it is run by only two guys, Sam and Derrick, whom I’ve invited to share their passion for soil bio
May 19, 2023 · 13 min
Mini Episode: 5 Ways to Use Scented Plants to Reduce Stress and Increase Joy
Plant friends, we are changing things up. We're taking a detour from our typical long-form content to introduce a new format — mini-episodes — taken from our rich conversations. These episodes are meant to be your bite-sized lessons about how to use nature to bring joy into your life. And in this first episode, inspired by our recent interview on aromatic gardening, we’re going to talk about 5 practical steps to incorporate scent into our daily routines.In this episode, we learn:[00:26] What the
May 16, 2023 · 58 min
The Art of Aromatic Gardening with Amy of NYC Aromatica
Do you love the smell of fresh flowers or the aroma that wafts through your home as you cook with herbs? Smell might not be the first thing we think of when it comes to gardening, but it's actually a super powerful way to bring joy to our gardens! In fact, our sense of smell has strong associations with our long-term memories and emotions. Today, we're chatting with my friend Amy Anthony, a certified clinical aromatherapist and aromatic gardener, who will share her expertise on how aromatic gard
May 11, 2023 · 3 min
Check out the Decorating Tips and Tricks Podcast!
Did you love this weeks episode with Kelly from Decorating Tips and Tricks on Interior Design Trends for your Garden? If so, listen to her trailer, and go check out the Decorating Tips and Tricks Podcast and subscribe!
May 9, 2023 · 1 hr 4 min
9 Interior Design Tips to Apply to Your Garden
Interior design principles are not limited to our indoor spaces! For us plant parents, interior design and gardening may initially appear as separate domains, but there are numerous similarities between the two—so much so that the principles of one can be applied to the other. In this episode, we'll learn from Kelly Wilkniss of Decorating Tips and Tricks podcast as she shares nine valuable interior design tips that can be applied to transform your garden into a stunning, cohesive, and joyful spa

Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care

How to Forage for Healing Plants in Your Backyard

Common Houseplant Pest Identification and How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies and Mealybugs: Grow Better with Leslie

Check Out the Old Fashioned On Purpose Podcast

How to Grow Garlic

How They Built a Million Dollar Company: Plantrepreneur Profile with Soltech

The Power of a Therapeutic Garden to Help Us Feel Better

Overwatered vs Underwatered Plants, How Much Light Do Indoor Plants Need and More Common Houseplant Problems: Grow Better with Leslie

Homesteading for Beginners with Michelle Bruhn and Stephanie Thurow: Best of Growing Joy

The History of Flowers with Noel Kingsbury

War Gardens, Victory Gardens or Pandemic Gardens: The History Behind Why People Grow Plants in Hard Times

How to Overcome Burnout Through The Healing Power of Nature

The Mushroom Miniseries: How to Grow Mushrooms Indoors

Check out the Bad Seeds Podcast!

How to Stop Killing Succulents: Succulent Care and Propagation Guide

The Power of Therapeutic Horticulture

Companion Planting Basics with the Garden Managers of The Lodge at Woodloch

Mini Episode: 5 Ways to Use Scented Plants to Reduce Stress and Increase Joy

The Art of Aromatic Gardening with Amy of NYC Aromatica

Check out the Decorating Tips and Tricks Podcast!

9 Interior Design Tips to Apply to Your Garden