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

• 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 things.Let’s bust 5 of the biggest houseplant myths floating around online. In this episode, we learn:[01:03] Meet Derek, the Chocolate Botanist[08:03] Fighting misinformation online[10:37] Does banana water work?[15:15] Simplify your plant care with Espoma Organic’s high quality products![18:05] Which fertilizer is perfect for you?[20:53] Do coffee grounds work?[25:09] Do eggshells work?[28:36] Is it effective to water plants with ice cubes?Mentioned in our conversation:Growing Joy Ep. 283: From Wishlist to Whoops: 2025 Houseplant Trends, Plant Care Tips & Plant Fail Confessions From the Northwest Flower & Garden ShowGrowing Joy Ep. 116: Houseplant Identification Basics from Derek from The Crazy BotanistGet all the myth-busting goodness in one place...Check out the full show notes and blog here!Follow Derek The Chocolate Botanist:InstagramYouTubeFacebookXThank you to our episode sponsor:Espoma OrganicAs we welcome the season of growing and gardening, make sure you're using nontoxic products in the garden! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.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 LeungTake 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: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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

  Why should politicians become gardeners? No, this is not a political post. No, I didn’t lose it! We will not be talking about sides. This is about healing, connection, and what we can learn from our gardens and our plants in a time where it feels like everything is falling apart.Lately, I’ve been feeling this weight from watching the world spin in chaos and there’s disconnection, judgment, overwhelm, and division everywhere. We have a connection deficiency. And I’m starting to believe, with every fiber of my being, that if our leaders gardened, if all of use gardened, the world would be a kinder/greener place! In this episode, we learn:[02:06] Gardening as a healing tool[04:21] What does reciprocity teach us?[05:08] What are some leadership lessons from gardening?[06:11] #1 Listening on a deeper level[08:01] #2 Patience and long-term thinking[10:17] #3 Cycles, perspectives, and resilience[11:05] #4 Nurturing vs. controlling[12:18] #5 Companion planting and community[14:23] Lessons from mycorrhizal networks and pollinators[16:45] Compost, death, and growth from failure[18:24] What if we all lived like gardeners?Want to rethink leadership through gardening?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 LeungTake 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: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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• 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 step of Dahlia care. Her story is as gorgeous as her blooms, and she generously spilled all her tips to help us get the most out of our Dahlias this year.In this episode, we learn:[02:36] Meet Anne from the Dahlia House[03:07] How did Anne become the Dahlia lady?[06:05] Anne’s current dahlia collection and other plants[08:44] Why are dahlias popular?[11:43] What are some tips for growing dahlias successfully?[15:05] Show your parents you care this Mother's Day or Father's Day with a soothing Wind River Chime![16:53] What are ways to start dahlias indoors?[20:16] How should dahlias be planted with regard to their "eyes"?[21:50] How can you get your dahlias to bloom a lot?[26:32] Tips for cutting off dahlias and extending vase life[28:23] What are the light and water requirements for dahlias?[30:26] Container growing and spacing[32:17] How to choose the right dahlia variety for you[36:02] What are some common mistakes that new Dahlia growers make?[36:55] How to fertilize your dahlia[38:32] Anne’s favorite Dahlia varieties and trends[39:57] Where can you find Anne and The Dahlia House?[40:56] Recommended flowers to grow in Jupiter, FloridaMentioned in our conversation:Monterey Sluggo® PlusKristine Albrecht - Dahlias (@santacruzdahlias)CalMag Pro Hydroponic and Soil Nutrient Fertilizer for Plants Calcium and Magnesium BoosterThe Dahlia House’s collectionsWhat part of the Dahlia growing process has you the most excited?Check out the full show notes and blog here!Thank you to our episode sponsor:Wind River ChimesVisit 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 LeungJoin 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: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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• 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 StartOrganic, a company that helps employers give that opportunity to their employees. They’ve created office gardens for companies like PayPal, eBay, Intuit, and Apple, and what they’re doing is so much more than planting tomatoes.In this episode, we learn:[03:35] How StartOrganic started[06:54] How did they end up designing gardens for PayPal?[10:31] Scaling up with corporate programs[12:05] What are the first steps in consulting with businesses on garden installation projects?[14:00] What's the most unique place they’ve installed a garden?[14:50] Make gardening fun with Espoma Organic’s all-natural products![16:26] What is the primary focus of StartOrganic?[19:44] How they tailor their corporate garden programs to client needs[22:11] PayPal’s evolving garden program[24:56] How does StartOrganic help employees care for their corporate garden?[26:54] Measuring the success of corporate gardens[29:17] Heartwarming employee stories[32:10] Can small offices start corporate gardens?[34:42] What are the popular crops and seasonal offerings[36:33] Where can you find StartOrganic?Mentioned in our conversation:Human Spaces Report on The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the WorkplaceStartOrganic Free Starter CourseHow have office gardens impacted employees' well-being?Check out the full show notes and blog here!Thank you to our episode sponsor:Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Follow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin 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: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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• 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 pass to the recent Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle. I spent three days running around with my little mic, interviewing vendors, influencers, and anyone who would talk plants with me. I came home with so much planty intel, sore feet, and a heart full of joy.In this episode, we learn:[00:26] What I did at Northwest Flower and Garden Show![04:06] Andy from Andy’s Orchids[05:30] Molly from Rancho Cacto Nursery[07:16] Cheyenne from Chey D Plant Lady[10:21] Gardenia Gardens and Design[12:43] Justin from Costa Farms[15:19] Wind River Chimes[17:01] Gabrielle from The Lily Pad Bulbs[18:50] Mark from Little Prince Plants[20:15] Anne from The Dahlia House[23:50] Cameron from Urban Jungle Plant Shop[27:47] The Plant Farm[29:09] Kevin from Epic Gardening[34:27] Kamili from Plantblerd[38:20] Jaques in the Garden[42:54] Davida from Condo Plant Mama[46:05] Krystal from Plants with Krystal[48:08] Derek from Chocolate Botanist[49:42] Tim from Greenlife TPG[51:07] Robbie from Visit Our GardenVendors: Andy’s OrchidsRancho Cacto NurseryChey D Plant LadyGardenia Gardens and DesignCosta FarmsThe Lily Pad BulbsLittle Prince PlantsThe Dahlia HouseUrban Jungle Plant Shop SeattleThe Plant FarmInfluencers: Kevin from Epic GardeningKamili from PlantblerdJaques in the GardenDavida from Condo Plant MamaKrystal from plantswithkrystalDerek from ChocolatebotanistTim from Greenlife TPGRobbie from Visit Our GardenPlants featured:Neofinetia-falcata Furan OrchidTylecodon schaeferianusCrassula deceptorAnthurium doc bloc x luxuriansConophytum “monkey’s face”The Purple TomatoRanunculus SfumatoOrchid cactus-epiphyllum beavertailMystery lipstick cactus from The Plant FarmThank you to our episode sponsor:Wind River ChimesVisit 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 LeungJoin 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: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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