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

Rubber plants don't get enough credit in the tropical plant world. These humble plants are always available at the garden center but tend to get overlooked for some of our sexier Instagram-worthy plants. In this episode, we will dive into the many reasons why rubber plants are fantastic plants with Raffaele of Ohio Tropics. The first part is going to be an overview of general rubber plant care and different types of rubber plants, and then the second half is actually frequently asked questions that Raffaele answers and troubleshoots. Welcome, plant friend!Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!The Bloom and Grow Garden Society is your one-stop shop for plant parenthood growth. When you join, you'll gain full access to the Garden Party Community Platform and App PLUS monthly plant care lectures with Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck, monthly office hours with Leslie to troubleshoot your personal plant care issues and monthly Growing Joy Calls with Maria to develop our community of Society Members and explore the plant/person connection.Click here to join us!Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!In this episode we learn:[00:43] Maria’s plant and personal updates[02:12] Introducing Raffaele from Ohio Tropics[03:14] Your invitation to a free 10-day virtual garden festival![03:58] What to expect from this rubber plant episode[06:40] How Raffael became the plant parent he is today[10:06] What is a rubber plant?[11:26] Do rubber trees produce latex?[12:53] Where can you find rubber plants in nature?[14:33] What are the different types and varieties of rubber plants?[18:54] How to water rubber plants[21:27] Raffaele’s watering tip using a turkey baster[23:21] How much sunlight does a rubber plant need?[27:35] Are rubber plants low-light plants?[28:35] What kind of soil mix is good for rubber plants?[30:52] Where to get pre-grown plants and seeds for your spring garden[32:09] The best indoor and outdoor gardening products[34:49] How to fertilize rubber plants[37:11] Rubber Plant FAQ #1: Why is my rubber plant not growing?[39:03] Rubber Plant FAQ #2: How do I get my rubber plant to branch and be bushier instead of taller?[39:51] What is the air layering propagation method?[44:15] Rubber Plant FAQ #3: Why are my new leaves smaller than the older ones?[45:32] Rubber Plant FAQ #4: Why are my rubber plant leaves dropping?[48:20] Why overwatering can cause issues to your plant (in ways you might not expect)[49:12] Rubber Plant FAQ #5: My plant looks healthy, but the branches are all over the place; why is this happening?[50:26] Rubber Plant FAQ #6: What are the tiny white spots on my rubber plant?[51:26] Rubber Plant FAQ#7: Why are the edges of my variegated rubber plant browning?[54:09] Rubber Plant FAQ #8: My rubber plant has aerial roots, but do they grow better in slightly cooler conditions?[55:18] Raffaele’s recommendations of the best rubber plant varieties for beginners[57:35] What Raffaele’s book Houseplant Warrior is about![59:41] Where to connect with Raffaele[01:01:52] Upgrade your plant education with these two events!Mentioned in our conversation:Houseplant Warrior: 7 Keys to Unlocking the Mysteries of Houseplant Care, book by Raffaele Di LalloThe Great Grow Along Virtual Garden FestivalThank you to our episode sponsors:Territorial Seed CompanyExcited for this year's growing season? If you’re looking for plants for your garden, skip the lines at the garden center and let Territorial Seed Company deliver top-of-the-line, healthy and hardy vegetable plants right to your door! They have a great line of pre-grown plants, an expansive seed catalog, and over 40 years of experience delivering the best seeds and plants for everyone's garden. They are offering an exclusive discount just for listeners of Bloom & Grow Radio, use code GROW10 to get 10% off your first order. Order now at territorialseed.comEspoma OrganicEspoma 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 learn more about their pet safe indoor and outdoor gardening products, visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Follow Raffaele: BlogInstagramYouTubeBookFollow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadioTiktok: @bloomandgrowradioSubscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /BloomandgrowradioWebsite: www.bloomandgrowradio.comJoin the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Has the concept of “bright indirect light” ever confused you? Or how to measure your light in your home in general? Or how to figure out when you need to supplement with grow lights, and if you get grow lights, how to set your plants up for success under them? Light is probably the most confusing topic when it comes to our plants. It was definitely my biggest pain point when I was starting out as I had so many plants in what I thought was indirect light… but it was actually extremely low light. Lucky for us, Leslie Halleck, my plant friend and Bloom and Grow Garden Society's resident horticulturist, breaks down brightness and PAR for us in this Knowledge Nugget. Let's dive in!Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!The Bloom and Grow Garden Society is your one-stop shop for plant parenthood growth. When you join, you'll gain full access to the Garden Party Community Platform and App PLUS monthly plant care lectures with Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck, monthly office hours with Leslie to troubleshoot your personal plant care issues and monthly Growing Joy Calls with Maria to develop our community of Society Members and explore the plant/person connection.Click here to join us!Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up! In this episode we learn:[00:19] Is light your biggest pain point in your plant care?[00:54] What to expect from this mini-series episode[01:25] What are Knowledge Nuggets?[03:26] Why brightness is not important[04:06] What is PAR and why is it important to your plants?[05:13] Which spectrums of light are optimal for photosynthesis?[06:22] Why do plants grow best in red light?[07:11] Where to get the best horticulturist-led plant education[08:34] What the next Node of Knowledge lecture is about Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadioTiktok: @bloomandgrowradioSubscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /BloomandgrowradioWebsite: www.bloomandgrowradio.comJoin the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We’ve likely all had some sort of run-in with a carnivorous plant: maybe bringing one of those little venus flytraps at the hardware store home to realize you had no idea how to care for it, maybe marveling at the wide array of carnivorous plants at your local botanical garden, and maybe even getting to see a fly land on one, or maybe it’s just knowing the man-eating plant Audrey II in the musical Little Shop of Horrors. However you’ve engaged with carnivorous plants, you’ve likely figured out that they are really a whole subsect of plants of their own, require very specific care, and might get you if you don't care for them correctly. Lucky for us, we are joined by carnivorous plant expert Damon from California Carnivores for an incredibly informative episode about everything we need to know about these mysterious, hungry plants!Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!The Bloom and Grow Garden Society is your one-stop shop for plant parenthood growth. When you join, you'll gain full access to the Garden Party Community Platform and App PLUS monthly plant care lectures with Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck, monthly office hours with Leslie to troubleshoot your personal plant care issues and monthly Growing Joy Calls with Maria to develop our community of Society Members and explore the plant/person connection.Click here to join us!Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!In this episode we learn:[01:02] Introducing Damon[03:22] Damon’s history with carnivorous plants[08:24] What are carnivorous plants? What characteristics make up a carnivorous plant?[14:25] Where to find carnivorous plants in the wild[16:14] Why conservation of carnivorous plants is a must[18:50] How long have carnivorous plants been around?[20:09] Damon shares what he thinks of Little Shop of Horrors musical[22:19] The right kind of water for carnivorous plants (and how to identify them in a store!)[28:08] The best carnivorous plants to grow indoors (Venus flytrap, pitcher plants, butterworts)[31:36] Are you planning your garden already?[33:32] Level up your plant education with a horticulturist![35:43] What is the best growing media for carnivorous plants?[38:22] Why you shouldn’t use terracotta pots for your carnivorous plants[40:16] How to use grow lights on carnivorous plants[42:13] Should you fertilize carnivorous plants?[43:06] How to feed your Venus flytrap and Cape sundews[46:53] Fertilizing your pitcher plants[49:35] How much humidity do carnivorous plants need?[50:48] How to make your Venus flytrap go dormant[52:11] Can you fertilize your carnivorous plants even if they’re catching bugs?[52:58] Troubleshooting carnivorous plants soil mix[53:39] Taking care of your Mexican butterworts[55:29] Damon’s recommended beginner carnivorous plants[57:26] Should you still buy Venus flytraps even when they’re not sustainably sourced?[59:53] Where to buy carnivorous plants and access educational resources[01:02:00] Just a note about peat moss[01:02:42] Maria’s winter updatesMentioned in our conversation:The Savage GardenWetlands Reclamation ActMaxsea All-Purpose Nutrient FertilizerCalifornia Carnivores YouTube video: Winter Dormancy for Temperate Plants in Cold ClimatesThank you to our episode sponsors:Territorial Seed CompanyExcited for this year's growing season? Territorial Seed Co recently launched their Kitchen Counter collection, a selection of vegetables specifically bred to grow and produce in small spaces and lower light—perfect for indoor cultivation. From Artichoke through Zucchini, they have everything you need to grow your best garden ever! And with over 40 years of experience, you know they have seeds and plants you can trust. They are offering an exclusive discount just for listeners of Bloom & Grow Radio, use code GROW10 to get 10% off your first order. Order now at territorialseed.comBloom and Grow Garden SocietyThe Bloom and Grown Garden Society is the premium tier of the Garden Party Platform, rooted in high-quality education and community. I’ve partnered with our Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck to bring monthly “Node of Knowledge” plant science lectures, monthly “Ask our Horticulturist Anything” office hours, and Growing Joy Community Calls with me. Treat yourself to an annual membership for the holidays or gift to your crazy plant friends! Learn more at jointhegardensociety.com.Follow Damon: WebsiteInstagramYouTubeTikTokFollow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadioTiktok: @bloomandgrowradioSubscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /BloomandgrowradioWebsite: www.bloomandgrowradio.comJoin the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to a new mini-series for Bloom & Grow Radio: Knowledge Nuggets. They will be 5-10 minute episodes that show up once a month, in addition to our regular episodes, and will highlight one "nugget" of plant nerd education taken from the Node of Knowledge Plant Science lectures Leslie Halleck gives in the Garden Society. These lectures are so good, I couldn't help sharing a teeny bit with you!Episode one is a snippet from our AHAs (Ask Our Horticulturist Anything) where members can hop on a zoom call with Leslie and troubleshoot their plant collections with her. Do you remember the first time one of your peperomia grew an inflorescence or flower? Have you ever seen one before? I remember the first time when my watermelon peperomia threw off a ton of inflorescence, these weird spikey things popped out of the plant and I had no idea what they were. In the first episode of Knowledge Nuggets, Leslie Halleck is giving you insight into what these spikey things are and more importantly, what we need to know about them when they show up in our collections. Let's get learnin'!Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!Stop struggling with your plant collection and start THRIVING with he Bloom and Grow Garden Society. Expert led houseplant & gardening education with a community of plant friends… at your fingertips.When you join, you'll gain full access to the Garden Party Community Platform and App PLUS monthly plant care lectures with Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck, monthly office hours with Leslie to troubleshoot your personal plant care issues and monthly Growing Joy Calls with Maria to develop our community of Society Members and explore the plant/person connection.Click here to join us!Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!In this episode we learn:[00:40] What to expect from this episode[03:54] Troubleshooting your plant problems[04:57] What is an inflorescence and why do peperomias have them?[05:27] How to prune peperomia inflorescence[06:06] How to keep variegation in plants / how to grow a fuller, bushier plant[08:05] Where to get personalized plant coaching from a horticulturistFollow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadioTiktok: @bloomandgrowradioSubscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /BloomandgrowradioWebsite: www.bloomandgrowradio.comJoin the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's been such a joy having fellow podcasters join me in the pod as they never disappoint and have such wonderful insights about plant parenthood and plantrepreneurship. I met this episode's guest in 2020 and figured it was time to have her back on to catch up and explore a concept she’ll be tackling on the next season of her show: the past, present, and future of black people in horticulture. Colah has created an amazing brand called Black in the Garden that has blown up in the last couple of years, and created a space for so many people to feel seen within the plant community. Tune in as we share an important conversation about historic black plant people and their rich yet less discovered contributions to plant society.Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!The Bloom and Grow Garden Society is your one-stop shop for plant parenthood growth. When you join, you'll gain full access to the Garden Party Community Platform and App PLUS monthly plant care lectures with Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck, monthly office hours with Leslie to troubleshoot your personal plant care issues and monthly Growing Joy Calls with Maria to develop our community of Society Members and explore the plant/person connection.Click here to join us!Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!In this episode we learn:[00:57] Maria’s plant updates[05:30] Who is Colah and why she started her podcast, Black in the Garden[09:16] How has Colah’s plant collection changed through her personal transitions?[15:07] What it’s like to have a plant-sitter[16:52] Reevaluating the lesson of resiliency as a Black woman[19:16] Moving forward and seeking opportunities presented to you[22:04] Letting go of things that don’t bring you joy[23:11] Why Wangari Mathai is Colah’s most inspirational historic Black figure[25:26] Making the diaspora of Black people known and accessible[29:09] Where to get the best seeds for this growing season[30:45] Indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet[32:30] Jerome the Gnome and Colah’s update on inclusivity in garden products[34:26] Black representation in media and podcasting[38:59] Colah shares recent recognitions for Black people in horticulture[41:51] Horticulturist Abra Lee and her mission to uncover the history of Black garden clubs and societies [46:08] Ideating and self-publishing the Black in the Garden Coloring Book[49:58] Acknowledging white privilege in horticulture[52:52] Why Colah is exploring the past, present, and future in Black in the Garden podcast[55:41] What’s next for Colah and Black in the Garden in 2022[01:00:50] How to level up your plant parent skills this year!Mentioned in our conversation:Bloom and Grow Radio YouTube video Flower Preservation UnboxingYou Grow, Gurl!: A Lush Guide to Plant Parenthood by Christopher GriffinBloom and Grow Radio podcast episode Lessons from Plants from 2021 with Beronda MontgomeryMashable’s article on Juliet Sargeant, “First female black designer in 103 years of Chelsea Flower Show wins gold”Website: Abra Lee / Conquer the SoilColah's tree planting initiative: Underground ArboristThank you to our episode sponsors:Territorial Seed CompanyExcited for this year's growing season? Territorial Seed Co's got you covered with high-quality seeds and plants (over 2,000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75-acre farm! From Artichoke through Zucchini, they have everything you need to grow your best garden ever! And with over 40 years of experience, you know they have seeds and plants you can trust. They are offering an exclusive discount just for listeners of Bloom & Grow Radio, use code GROW10 to get 10% off your first order. Order now at territorialseed.comEspoma OrganicEspoma 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 learn more about their pet safe indoor and outdoor gardening products, visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Follow Colah: WebsiteInstagramTwitterYouTubeFollow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadioTiktok: @bloomandgrowradioSubscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /BloomandgrowradioWebsite: www.bloomandgrowradio.comJoin the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Houseplants and interior design: you’d think these two passions would go together like two peas in a pod, but they can sometimes be at war with each other. We can find ourselves desperately wanting to style plants in rooms with no light, or getting overwhelmed with figuring out how to make our homes look planty and not cluttered. Many plant people don't know the first thing about interior design trends, and many interior designers don't know the first thing about plant care (even if they want to have plants in their designs). Luckily for us, I recently met Betsy, of the Affordable Interior Design podcast, and we decided to huddle up and see how we can match our compatible but different skill sets together and came up with this collaborative episode! Betsy breaks down various design styles, and I match plants that would suit those aesthetics. It’s a super fun chat that I hope will leave you ready to elevate your home and grow more joy in your lives!Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!The Bloom and Grow Garden Society is your one-stop shop for plant parenthood growth. When you join, you'll gain full access to the Garden Party Community Platform and App PLUS monthly plant care lectures with Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck, monthly office hours with Leslie to troubleshoot your personal plant care issues and monthly Growing Joy Calls with Maria to develop our community of Society Members and explore the plant/person connection.Click here to join us!Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!In this episode we learn:[01:11] What to expect from this episode[04:40] A little info on Maria’s design style[05:41] The importance of deliberate plant corners[07:32] How Betsy became the interior designer she is today[09:59] Why people feel intimidated by interior design[12:22] How interior design and plant care can be similar[14:42] Tip #1: Don’t be afraid to go big![16:43] Tip #2: The rule of thirds // the rule of odd numbers[18:47] Tip #3: How to design a bookshelf[22:35] Is color-blocking your books still in?[25:33] How to prevent plants from overgrowing in spaces on your shelf[26:56] What is bohemian style and how to execute it?[31:40] How many colors can you have in a room?[34:14] How do you mix and match different textures effectively?[35:09] The best indoor and outdoor gardening products[36:13] Where to get quality seeds for this year’s garden[37:55] Incorporating plants into your boho home[39:09] Modern vs contemporary design styles[41:17] What is minimalism?[42:44] How to achieve clean lines in your home[44:18] Adding color to your contemporary home[46:37] The best plants for your clean lines home[48:54] What is glam style and its common components?[53:13] How to achieve a sophisticated beach coastal style[56:57] Adding plants to your beach coastal home[59:49] The principles of rustic design // farmhouse interior[01:02:45] What plants are fit for your farmhouse style?[01:05:51] Is Scandinavian design considered contemporary?[01:08:06] Why plants are popular interior design assets today[01:10:44] Maria’s closing remarksMentioned in our conversation:Find Your Interior Design Style personality quizThank you to our episode sponsors:Espoma OrganicEspoma 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 learn more about their pet safe indoor and outdoor gardening products, visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Territorial Seed CompanyExcited for this year's growing season? Territorial Seed Co's got you covered with high-quality seeds and plants (over 2,000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75-acre farm! From Artichoke through Zucchini, they have everything you need to grow your best garden ever! And with over 40 years of experience, you know they have seeds and plants you can trust. They are offering an exclusive discount just for listeners of Bloom & Grow Radio, use code GROW10 to get 10% off your first order. Order now at territorialseed.comFollow Betsy: WebsitePodcastBookFollow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadioTiktok: @bloomandgrowradioSubscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /BloomandgrowradioWebsite: www.bloomandgrowradio.comJoin the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Happy New Year, plant friends! I hope you had great holidays and like me, are looking forward to a fresh start in 2022. In the first episode of Season 7, I invited some of my favorite planty podcasters back: Stephen and Matthew of the Plant Daddy Podcast, for a really fun conversation inspired by streamlining and simplifying our houseplant care routines. This convo is really rooted in reflecting on 2021 and learning from the transitions we all went through and these guys are just so lovely, so insightful, and thoughtful about their approach to plant care. They share plant care efficiency tips that I think we can all adapt to our own plant care routines!Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!The Bloom and Grow Garden Society is your one-stop shop for plant parenthood growth. When you join, you'll gain full access to the Garden Party Community Platform and App PLUS monthly plant care lectures with Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck, monthly office hours with Leslie to troubleshoot your personal plant care issues and monthly Growing Joy Calls with Maria to develop our community of Society Members and explore the plant/person connection.Click here to join us!Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!In this episode we learn:[00:35] Happy new year, plant friends![03:36] Stephen shares the transitions he and his collection went through in 2021[07:28] Matthew’s life and plant collection updates[14:48] How plant rack systems work // Tray Method[17:13] How to group plants in your plant rack[17:40] Different ways of watering plants efficiently[23:42] Stephen shares his plant rack setup[25:00] The biggest change Matthew applied to his plant care[27:25] 3 tips to maintaining your urban jungle with thriving plants[29:34] Plant care efficiency tip: hang plants by the window![30:56] How much light do your bookcase plants need?[33:02] Where to get the best seeds for this growing season[34:07] What you’ll get when you join the Garden Society![36:01] Maria’s experience maintaining her plants through four different home environments[37:38] Acclimating your plants to varying growth conditions[38:30] Why grow lights are great investments[39:54] What Matthew’s plant care routine looks like today[40:59] How Stephen engages with his plants[43:24] How your plant parent personality changes with your plant collection[47:58] What’s your favorite aspect of your plant care routine? [50:22] What are you not liking about your plant care routine recently?[52:53] Matthew and Stephen share their plant intentions for 2022[54:27] Maria’s 2022 plant intentions[56:57] Where to find the Plant Daddy PodThank you to our episode sponsors:Territorial Seed CompanyExcited for this year's growing season? Territorial Seed Co's got you covered with high-quality seeds and plants (over 2,000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75-acre farm! From Artichoke through Zucchini, they have everything you need to grow your best garden ever! And with over 40 years of experience, you know they have seeds and plants you can trust. They are offering an exclusive discount just for listeners of Bloom & Grow Radio, use code GROW10 to get 10% off your first order. Order now at territorialseed.comBloom and Grow Garden SocietyThe Bloom and Grown Garden Society is the premium tier of the Garden Party Platform, rooted in high-quality education and community. I’ve partnered with our Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck to bring monthly “Node of Knowledge” plant science lectures, monthly “Ask our Horticulturist Anything” office hours, and Growing Joy Community Calls with me. Treat yourself to an annual membership for the holidays or gift to your crazy plant friends! Learn more at jointhegardensociety.com.Follow the Plant Daddy Podcast: WebsiteInstagramFacebookPinterestFollow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadioTiktok: @bloomandgrowradioSubscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /BloomandgrowradioWebsite: www.bloomandgrowradio.comJoin the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi Plant Friends, our official first episode of Season 7 of BAGR starts next week with the return of the guys from the Plant Daddy Podcast for a great talk about streamlining houseplant care in 2022, but since it’s the first week of 2022, I wanted to share a sweet moment with you that we recently had on a Growing Joy Call in the Bloom & Grow Garden Society: a 3 minute meditation, on the turn of the year, through the eyes of our plants. It’s just a little something I’m sharing in hopes you can carve out 5 minutes of time this week to get cozy, sit with your plants, listen, reflect and get excited for 2022. If meditation, visualization or general planty cheesiness isn’t your thing… skip this episode and meet us back here on Tuesday Jan 11th for a highly informative episode to celebrate the launch of the new season! If you are interested in joining us in Bloom & Grow Virtual Garden Society, visit community.bloomandgrowradio.com to sign up! Next live lecture is this Wednesday January 12th and it’s a Seed Starting Intensive for Vegetables, Flowers AND Indoor Plants! The next Growing Joy Lecture will be about Sowing Seeds of Intention for the 2022 on Jan 18th. All calls get recorded and live in the platform for your binging delights :) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When I think back on this last year, transition is the word that comes to mind. We are literally transitioning into a new year, but I'm sure everyone went through some form of transition this year: a new home, family additions and losses, job changes, and more. And as we grow through those transitions, our plant collection evolves too. I personally went through a tremendous transition this year and my plant collection and plant parent personality completely shifted. These transitions in my plant parenthood brought up a lot for me: feelings of shame, failure, or almost a rigidity to stick with what I used to do. In moving through this transition, I found some really helpful practices and concepts that helped me ebb, flow, and grow that I wanted to share with you today. So, this episode is rather different than our other episodes: it’s highly personal and I get into the nitty-gritty of some behind-the-scenes of this growing business and my life. No ads, no interviews, no guests—just checking in!Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!The Bloom and Grow Garden Society is your one-stop shop for plant parenthood growth. When you join, you'll gain full access to the Garden Party Community Platform and App PLUS monthly plant care lectures with Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck, monthly office hours with Leslie to troubleshoot your personal plant care issues and monthly Growing Joy Calls with Maria to develop our community of Society Members and explore the plant/person connection.Click here to join us!Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!In this episode we learn:[00:56] Why transition is an important conversation today[02:26] How Maria’s plant parent personality and plant collection have changed this year[03:37] What to expect from this year-end episode[05:45] Maria’s questions to YOU, the listener[08:03] How the Bloom and Grow listener community inspires Maria and the podcast[11:00] Why plants improve our lives[11:30] Updates on the Bloom and Grow Radio podcast[13:40] The different transitions Maria went through this year[15:05] Planty practices to find more joy and stillness in your life[15:16] Why you should have your morning coffee with your plants[18:13] The benefits of engaging with plants during the day[20:23] Shifting how you see plant care and your plant number[22:09] Explore your plant curiosity[23:02] Use planty affirmations and some of Maria’s personal examples[25:44] Maria’s big announcement![30:27] A very special (and secret) snippetMentioned in the conversation:Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) pre-order links: Amazon | Bookshop.orgFollow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadioTiktok: @bloomandgrowradioSubscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /BloomandgrowradioWebsite: www.bloomandgrowradio.comJoin the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There is so much power in flowers, plant friends. A flower is so much more than a bloom, but an expression, a connection to something deeper. Whatever our known or unknown bias for blooms is, flowers are little joy bombs just waiting to be cut or grown. It’s undeniable that flowers also can play a huge part in a wedding day: from the ceremonial bouquet and corsage to the ceremony and reception flowers can be used to enliven a wedding day, and also express a part of yourself through your choices. But as a tropical foliage lover, I was actually tremendously out of my depth when it came to understanding what went into wedding florals, or flowers in general when I was planning our wedding. As wedding florals are also a huge investment, I found myself going through a little wedding floral crash course of my own and with my florist, Corina of The Botaniste. In this episode, Corina and I share all things wedding flowers so that you know where to start come your wedding planning! Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!The Bloom and Grow Garden Society is your one-stop-shop for plant parenthood growth. When you join you'll gain full access to the Garden Party Community Platform and App PLUS monthly plant care lectures with Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck, monthly office hours with Leslie to troubleshoot your personal plant care issues and monthly Growing Joy Calls with Maria to develop our community of Society Members and explore the plant/person connection.Click here to join us!Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up! In this episode we learn:[02:22] Introducing Corina[04:16] What to expect of the last episode of My Botanically Inspired Wedding Series[09:29] Corina shares her experiences planning wedding florals with couples[10:33] Why Pinterest is every bride’s best friend AND worst enemy[11:52] How Corina became a plant lady and how she started The Botaniste[17:29] Corina’s biggest influences in floral styling[18:18] What are current and upcoming trends for wedding flowers?[19:46] What elements are there in a tablescape?[22:28] Is there a difference between wedding flowers and event flowers?[26:14] Maria shares her decision-making process with her wedding florals[28:02] How flowers elevate any event[29:26] How to preserve your wedding flowers[31:00] What are the best and the worst flowers to have at your wedding?[34:01] Which flower is an alternative to peonies?[35:54] New rose varieties to try in your wedding flowers[39:27] How to condition cut flowers[41:23] How to keep cut hydrangeas from wilting[42:58] Where to get the best organic indoor and outdoor gardening products[44:12] Planning to grow from seeds this coming garden season?[48:15] How to work with florists and where to start with your wedding flower planning[52:33] Building a trusting relationship with your wedding florist[55:08] Corina’s advice for couples planning to DIY their wedding[58:51] Maria’s garland and greenery vision[01:00:40] How to style a wedding with greenery[01:03:38] Incorporating bud vases in your wedding[01:07:55] Adding statement greenery to your wedding venue and reception[01:12:49] What you should know about greenery[01:14:38] Corina’s ultimate tip for wedding planners and contractors[01:15:15] Corina’s current favorite flowers and combinations[01:17:00] What Maria loved about blushing bride protea[01:18:08] Where you can hire Corina as your florist[01:20:25] Maria’s Wedding Series reflectionsMentioned in the conversation:Check out Corina's video on how to arrange a big bridal bouquet!Lush Magnolia Flower Preservation artistDIY Wedding Copper Arbor blogBAGR Episode: 3 Plant Inspired DIY Wedding Ideas that Live on After the Big DayBAGR Episode: 26 Ways to Incorporate Plants Into Your WeddingBAGR Blog: 26 Ways to Incorporate Plants Into Your WeddingThank you to our episode sponsors:Territorial Seed CompanyIt’s time to start planning your garden and placing your seed orders! Territorial Seed Company has an unbelievable selection of seeds and plants to choose from to build the garden of your dreams all year, with sustainably-grown seeds for the best-tasting, best-producing, highest-quality vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Check out their amazing variety of seeds, plants, garden planners, and more at territorialseed.com and use code BLOOM10 to get 10% off your first order.Espoma OrganicEspoma 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 learn more about their pet safe indoor and outdoor gardening products, visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront. Follow Corina:The Botaniste Florida: Website | InstagramThe Botaniste East Hampton: Website | Instagram Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadioTiktok: @bloomandgrowradioSubscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /BloomandgrowradioWebsite: www.bloomandgrowradio.comJoin the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.