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

Jul 22, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
Houseplant Trends, Tips & Hot Takes: Live from the Southeast Plant Show
This year, I had the joy of hosting a live Growing Joy popup at the Southeast Plant Show. I’ve been fortunate to attend a few plant events lately, but this one felt special in a way that’s hard to describe. The energy was electric! The people were overflowing with joy, and the plants were everything.If you love to connect with plant people, discover trending varieties, and just soak up good vibes, the Southeast Plant Show is a must. It’s a plant parent’s dream, with over 120 vendors representing
Jul 17, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Build Your Dream DIY Greenhouse: Best of Growing Joy Replay
I feel like there comes a time in every plant parent's life when we start to get really curious and excited about having a dedicated space for all of our plants. If you are an outdoor gardener, the promise of a greenhouse for seed starts and overwintering plants is even more promising! I’ve had several different moments in life where I’ve Googled greenhouse kits but never crossed the finish line due to the overwhelming and somewhat intimidating aspect of installing them properly (and the price t
Jul 15, 2025 · 50 min
Tree Communication: The Science and Spirit of How Trees Talk
Have you ever felt drawn to a specific tree—and wondered why? You might already be receiving messages without realizing it.In this episode of Growing Joy, I sat down with intuitive nature expert and green witch Rachael Cohen of Our Infinite Nature to explore one of the most fascinating and overlooked topics in the natural world: tree communication. From the underground mycelial networks to intuitive connections and bioelectrical signals, this conversation will change the way you see the trees ar
Jul 10, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Small Scale Homesteading for Beginners: Best of Growing Joy Replay
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 8, 2025 · 30 min
Mindblowing Facts About Plants Outside Your Door: 11 Garden Plants with Superpowers
Did you know that some common outdoor plants have superpowers? Some can survive atomic bombing, clean up radiation, and even outsmart insects. This is Part 2 of my conversation with David Domoney, author of Plants with Superpowers, about the superpowers of outdoor plants. These plants can completely change how you walk down the street and look at nature.Listen to Part 1 of our conversation about indoor plant superpowers here.In this episode, we learn:[02:19] Welcome to part 2 with David Domoney[
Jul 1, 2025 · 34 min
How to Grow Lavender
Did you know that lavender comes in dozens of varieties, each with a different smell, and many with different growing habits? I did learn that from Rebecca at Lavender Connection, who owns a family-run lavender farm in Sequim, Washington, which also happens to be the lavender capital of the United States! After meeting her at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, where her beautiful lavender scents were wafting over to my booth all day, I knew I had to have her on the podcast to share her incred
Jun 24, 2025 · 46 min
Stop Killing Succulents and Listen to This Episode Instead
Have you ever killed a succulent and then felt like you were completely doomed as a plant parent? That was totally me about eight years ago. I brought succulents home because everyone said they were the easiest, most foolproof plant. Yet I still managed to kill them. Naturally, I spent a lot of time thinking I was just a plant killer. However, I eventually learned that succulents aren’t fool proof. And if you’ve had your heart broken by one (or five), it might not have totally been your fault. M
Jun 17, 2025 · 32 min
I Found 22 Ducklings on My Roof: A Nature-Curious Story of Trust and Transformation
A few weeks ago, I found 22 baby ducklings on my roof. Not one. Not ten. But 22 fluffy, peeping, impossibly cute ducklings on the eaves of my Florida home. The videos I made became viral on Instagram and Tiktok, and so many people DM-ed me asking for updates! To be honest, it was one of the happiest and most bizarre times of my life because it made me realize how much my relationship with nature and plants had evolved to another level. Becoming nature-curious opened my eyes to the beauty of not
Jun 10, 2025 · 41 min
Gardening for Better Soil
How do you view soil in your garden? A lot of us look at soil as just the brown stuff under our feet. We usually don’t think about all of the different components that make up soil, all of the different organisms living in soil, or how it is this whole environment that our plants depend on. It is a living, breathing ecosystem that could be the answer to improving your entire garden. As gardeners, you know that soil is important so you should be feeding it, not just feeding your plants. And there
Jun 3, 2025 · 44 min
7 Houseplants with Superpowers
Did you know that your houseplants have superpowers? Some can actually seek out darkness to find the light, some can count, and some can actually bring wealth. To help me reveal all these amazing aspects of our houseplants is my new friend, David Domoney. He’s a celebrated British horticulturist, television presenter, and author with over 30 Royal Horticultural Society medals. And his book, Plants with Superpowers, is what actually inspired me to do this episode. This is the first of a two-part
May 27, 2025 · 33 min
Sun Protection for Gardeners: Melanoma Awareness Month
It’s Melanoma Awareness Month! Two years ago, I walked into a dermatologist’s office thinking I had a simple skin issue… then I walked out with a melanoma diagnosis at 34. As a lifelong gardener, I never expected my love of plants would overlap with a serious health scare, but here we are. I’m not a beach person nor an outdoor enthusiast. I just tend to my garden every day, really. But that little dot on my face changed everything about my relationship with the sun. I learned to love sunscreens,
May 20, 2025 · 39 min
Smell Your Way to Joy: The Science Behind How Plants and Aromatherapy Enhance Memory and Emotion
Did you know the scent of plants can do more than just make your garden smell good? It can actually improve your mood, your memory, and your overall health. I’ve always thought of plant scents as just a lovely bonus in the garden, but I didn’t know there’s some wild science behind how smell connects to our emotions and even our brains. And to help me with that is Dr. Rachel Herz, a neuroscientist and expert on the psychology of scent. She explains how the smells from our plants can shape how we
May 13, 2025 · 43 min
How to Propagate Plants in Fluval Stratum
You've tried water and soil, but have you ever rooted a cutting in a Fluval Stratum? Yes, it’s technically made for fish tanks. Yes, it looks like little black caviar. But it might just be the best thing to happen to your houseplant propagation! So in this episode, let’s break down everything I’ve learned from my conversation with my plant friend, Lindsay Sisti (@alltheplantbabies), who is a propagation extraordinaire and the author of The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation. Thanks to her,
May 6, 2025 · 55 min
What Is Naturalistic Gardening and Why It Might Change How You Garden Forever
How do you create a natural garden? Is that even possible? I want to bring you to the style of garden that’s not only sustainable but also more resilient, and honestly, more fun. In fact, it might even be the future of gardening. Natural or naturalistic garden is an approach that’s all about working with nature instead of trying to control it. To help explain this topic, I brought on my dear friend, Kelly D Norris, a renowned horticulturalist, award-winning plantsman, and the author of Your Nat
Apr 29, 2025 · 35 min
Plant Mythbusters: Debunking 5 Viral Plant Hacks with The Chocolate Botanist
Have you ever seen one of those viral plant hack videos where someone sprinkles banana peels in their soil or ices their orchid? If you’re wondering if they work, I hate to be the bearer of bad news because the answer is no. Sorry, plant friends.In this episode, I will be separating fact from fiction with my dear friend, Derek Haynes aka The Chocolate Botanist. Derek is a plant biologist who’s not afraid to call out the myths, explain the real science behind plant care, and help us simplify thin
Apr 22, 2025 · 21 min
Why Politicians Should Be Gardeners: An Invitation to Rethink Leadership Through the Wisdom of Nature
A Non-Political Reflection on Empathy, Nature, and the Power of Tending Plants
Apr 15, 2025 · 45 min
Growing Dahlias Made Easy: How to Grow Stunning Blooms from Tuber to Flower
“To know a Dahlia is to love a Dahlia.” And once you grow one, it’s like all your other flowers just kind of fade into the background. There’s just something about them. One of my most favorite flowers I have ever grown is a Dahlia called Kogane Fubuki. It was this magical pink and yellow ombre bloom that literally stopped me in my tracks every time I stepped onto my patio.And I want you to have those magical Dahlia moments too! So I brought on Anne from The Dahlia House to walk us through every
Apr 8, 2025 · 40 min
How Office Gardens Are Boosting Employee Wellness, One Plant at a Time
With the push to get people back into offices, there’s a glaring question floating around the corporate world: how do we make the office a place people actually want to come back to? As someone who believes in the impact of plants not just on spaces but on people, this question has me wishing of a world where every office has its own green vegetable garden out back.Does it sound too good to be true? Well, it’s already happening. In this episode, I sat down with Josh and Troy, the founders of Sta
Apr 1, 2025 · 54 min
From Wishlist to Whoops: 2025 Houseplant Trends, Plant Care Tips & Plant Fail Confessions From the Northwest Flower & Garden Show
What plants are flying off the shelves this year? If you’ve been hanging out with me on Instagram or listening to the podcast lately, you know that part of my job is traveling the country to speak at plant shows. I love getting to see what’s new, what’s trending, and honestly… just being surrounded by thousands of plants and planty people. It fills my joy tank like nothing else.So I thought, why not bring the magic of one of these events to YOU? This episode is your virtual behind-the-scenes pas
Mar 25, 2025 · 51 min
Soil & Strategy: The Two Garden Planning Secrets for Bigger, Healthier Harvests
How do you plan your garden? Actually, do you plan your gardens at all? After many years of gardening and speaking with many garden experts, I learned that a successful organic vegetable garden doesn’t just happen when you plant it; it starts on the day you plan it.In this episode, I have the perfect recurring guest, Joe Lamp'l, to discuss planning your garden for the year ahead and making sure 2025 is your best gardening season yet. Joe is the founder of Joe Gardener and creator of many digital

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

Houseplant Trends, Tips & Hot Takes: Live from the Southeast Plant Show

Build Your Dream DIY Greenhouse: Best of Growing Joy Replay

Tree Communication: The Science and Spirit of How Trees Talk

Small Scale Homesteading for Beginners: Best of Growing Joy Replay

Mindblowing Facts About Plants Outside Your Door: 11 Garden Plants with Superpowers

How to Grow Lavender

Stop Killing Succulents and Listen to This Episode Instead

I Found 22 Ducklings on My Roof: A Nature-Curious Story of Trust and Transformation

Gardening for Better Soil

7 Houseplants with Superpowers

Sun Protection for Gardeners: Melanoma Awareness Month

Smell Your Way to Joy: The Science Behind How Plants and Aromatherapy Enhance Memory and Emotion

How to Propagate Plants in Fluval Stratum

What Is Naturalistic Gardening and Why It Might Change How You Garden Forever

Plant Mythbusters: Debunking 5 Viral Plant Hacks with The Chocolate Botanist

Why Politicians Should Be Gardeners: An Invitation to Rethink Leadership Through the Wisdom of Nature

Growing Dahlias Made Easy: How to Grow Stunning Blooms from Tuber to Flower

How Office Gardens Are Boosting Employee Wellness, One Plant at a Time

From Wishlist to Whoops: 2025 Houseplant Trends, Plant Care Tips & Plant Fail Confessions From the Northwest Flower & Garden Show

Soil & Strategy: The Two Garden Planning Secrets for Bigger, Healthier Harvests