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

Today I’m just intro’ing you to Season 4 and giving you my off the cuff update on what I’ve learned from being away from my plants for 6th months! Sharing recent life lessons, what’s bringing me joy lately and how I’ve been bringing my passion for plants on the road with me. Season 4 will officially launch Tuesday August 13th. Make sure you are subscribed to the podcast so you don’t miss one episode!   Check out the Bloom and Grow YOUTUBE show: http://bit.ly/BAGRyoutube   Become a Plant Friend of Bloom and Grow Radio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bloomandgrowradio     Join the Bloom and Grow Mailing List: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club   Buy some Bloom and Grow Radio Merch! http://bit.ly/BAGRPFA   Instructions for being on the Indoor Plant Appreciation Episode! 1) Call (267) 478-2521 2) Please spell your name and email at the beginning of the message so I can contact you! 3) Share your story in the voicemail! Share your favorite story regarding an indoor plant: whether its a fail, a win, a humble brag, or a story of #plantfriendsIRL- your choice! **Tip: The google voice only allows for a 3 minute message, so you might want to write out your story, or jot some thoughts down on paper to allow for you to effectively tell your story without getting cut off. If your story requires more than 3 minutes, you can call back and leave back to back messages. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chicago Plant Friends! We are having a FREE BAGR listener meet up THIS Saturday August 3rd from 10 am - Noon at Sprout Home Chicago!     RSVP Here! https://app.getoccasion.com/p/n/M8FrfGb2   Season 4 of Bloom and Grow Radio Podcast is hitting the airwaves later THIS August, Plant Friends! Get excited! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I’m thrilled to finally connect with Christopher Griffin who you might know at the the @plantkween on Instagram. Christopher’s feed is filled with his “green gurls” and himself- radiating joy and positivity. If you tune into his Instagram stories, you’ll also see that he orchestrates days filled with planty adventures, hopping from plant shop to plant shop with friends or on his own as part of his self care routine. Today Christopher joins me to discuss his those epic planty days and how he goes about structuring and planning them, and how he uses plants as self care. This conversation is all about plants, and nothing about plants, as we step into a discussion on inclusivity and representation in the plant world. I’m a changed person from this conversation and am so thankful to Chris for being open to sharing his journey and mission for more inclusivity with us. In this episode we learn How Chris because the "Plant Kween" that he is today Why he chooses to include photos of himself in all of his photos The importance of representation in the plant community 5 steps to planning your perfect plant shopping day Christopher’s approach to self care The importance of representation and inclusivity in the plant space Christopher’s resources mentioned in the episode:   ÉduQue|e|r Trainings (My diversity consulting company) http://www.eduqueer.com/about GLSEN https://www.glsen.org/ The NY LGBTQ Center https://www.glsen.org/ GLAAD LGBTQ resource list https://www.glaad.org/resourcelist   Support Bloom and Grow Radio on Patreon! Thank you Bloem Living for Sponsoring today's episode! Bloem Living makes flower pots and garden accessories in the USA that are clever, efficient and fun! They have a garden accessory or container for every garden! Discover their products at www.bloemliving.com - there you can find your local Bloem Living dealer, or see the many websites you can order their products from! You can also check out my amazon storefront for a selection of my favorite Bloem products!   Follow Christopher Instagram: @plantkween   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join 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 are so lucky to be joined by Mickey from Mickey Hargitay Plants- THE go to plant institution in Los Angeles for Plant People. Mickey has been in the business of selling plants for 39 years: long before the recent trend has taken over Instagram and millennials. He had his shop in the 70s during the last houseplant craze, and gives us insight into his experience selling plants through several decades. We chat today not only about his long career, but what it takes as a plant shop owner to get a plant from a grower and into their customer’s hands: sourcing, transportation, pricing, inventory and more. Mickey is such a special human and gives us such wonderful insight into his career and his shop.   In this episode we learn: Mickey’s journey into plants and his 39 year career owning a plant shop How houseplant trends have changed over the last 30 years Mickey walks us through his process for running his shop: from sourcing plants, to storing and selling them and ensuring their happiness in your home Best practices for helping your plant adjust to your home   Watch the youtube tour of Mickey Hargitay Plants with Mickey!  Join us in Philly for a live taping extravaganza at Urban Jungle Philly on June 24!   Thank you Bloem Living for Sponsoring today's episode! Bloem Living makes flower pots and garden accessories in the USA that are clever, efficient and fun! They have a garden accessory or container for every garden! Discover their products at www.bloemliving.com - there you can find your local Bloem Living dealer, or see the many websites you can order their products from! You can also check out my amazon storefront for a selection of my favorite Bloem products! Visit and Follow Mickey! 1255 North Sycamore Avenue Los Angeles CA 90038 www.mickeysplants.com Instagram: @mickeysplants   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join 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.

So thrilled to be joined again by Leslie Halleck after the wildly successful two part episode on Understanding Natural Light (Episodes 46 and 47) last season. After the success of her recent book, Gardening Under Lights, Leslie published a new book this month on propagation called Plant Parenting. Today Leslie joins me to discuss not the techniques for propagation, by how plants actually multiply. Today’s episode is meant to help us zoom out and understand the overarching reasons for why the propagation projects we know and love are so successful. It is the perfect conversation to enrich our understanding of our plants and how intelligently designed they are. Leslie Halleck is a Horticulturalist by education and profession with a passion for plants and gardening. She has worked in many sectors of the gardening industry, from nurseries, to being the Director of Horticulture Research at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden to founding Halleck Horticultural, a consulting service for Green Industry businesses. Her book, Gardening under Lights; The Complete Guide for Indoor Growers, is the ultimate guide to understanding artificial lighting for indoor growers of any experience level. Her new book Plant Parenthood In this episode we learn: what is Totipotency the different types of cuttings for propagation roots vs shoots How to properly propagate a Fiddle Leaf Fig tree- and what not to do the most common way to propagate the science behind how plant cuttings instigate root growth (and dos and don'ts you need to know) best practices for taking great cuttings best cuttings to start with for beginners Mentioned in the episode: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Come to our Bloom and Grow Radio Happy Hour/Plant Swap and Live Taping in Philly! Details Here Leslie's books: Gardening Under Lights and Plant Parenting: Easy Ways to Make New Houseplants (Bloom and Grow Affiliate Links) GIVEAWAY! To participate in the giveaway of one signed copy of Leslie's new book, visit the @bloomandgrowradio instagram account and check out the post about today's episode. Instructions for the giveaway are there! Giveaway ends June 18th, 2019.   Thank you Bloem Living for Sponsoring today's episode! Bloem Living makes flower pots and garden accessories in the USA that are clever, efficient and fun! They have a garden accessory or container for every garden! Discover their products at www.bloemliving.com - there you can find your local Bloem Living dealer, or see the many websites you can order their products from! You can also check out my amazon storefront for a selection of my favorite Bloem products! Follow Leslie Halleck: Book: Plant Parenting and Gardening Under Lights Instagram Twitter Pinterest Facebook Website: https://lesliehalleck.com/   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join 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.

Thrilled to be sharing this planty conversation with my #plantfriendIRL, Kevin Espiritu from Epic Gardening! Kevin and I recently met IRL in San Diego and clicked immediately. He is a wonderfully curious Botanical Bro who has the most incredible Urban Gardening set up in his home in San Diego. Our journeys to plant parenthood are very similar, but revolve around different passions: indoor (mine) and outdoor (his).  Today we talk our different interests, the similarities and differences between indoor and outdoor gardening and container gardening for those of us who might want to try gardening outdoors! I hope you find it inspiring to grow your own food in your outdoor space! Kevin's book, Field Guide to Urban Gardening, was just released and would be the perfect companion for anyone curious to learn more about urban gardening and growing your own food! In this episode we learn: Kevin's somewhat unsuccessful intro to growing food, and how he became the amazing gardener he is now Differences in our experiences growing indoor and outdoor plants Outdoor container gardening 101- it's the growing season Plant Friends! Let's learn this together! Best pots, soil and fertilizer to use as a newbie Best plants to start with How to take your first step towards container gardening   Mentioned in the Episode Buy Kevin's new book: Field Guide to Urban Gardening! (Bloom and Grow Amazon Affiliate Link):  https://amzn.to/2HOdufi Visit my Amazon Storefront for the items mentioned in today's episode! https://www.amazon.com/shop/bloomandgrowradio Check out Maria's favorite Bloem Living pots and gardening accessories! http://bit.ly/bloemBAGR   Thank you Bloem Living for Sponsoring today's episode! Bloem Living makes flower pots and garden accessories in the USA that are clever, efficient and fun! They have a garden accessory or container for every garden! Discover their products at www.bloemliving.com - there you can find your local Bloem Living dealer, or see the many websites you can order their products from! You can also check out my amazon storefront for a selection of my favorite Bloem products!    Follow Kevin and Epic Gardening Website Podcast YouTube Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join 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.

Thrilled to be bringing you the live taping of Bloom and Grow Radio in Tucson on “Living with Plants in the Desert”. I am joined by Brendan the owner of Eco Grow, a local aquaponics and rare plant shop and grower and also Prococo Products, premium coco coir supplier, Akiko from Tucson based flower and plant shop Bloom Maven and Becca, a Tucson native and the Plant Lady behind the De La Plants Youtube channel. We have a wonderful discussion on the desert climate, the Saguaro Cactus, and how to have a thriving plant collection while living in the desert, and how to incorporate desert style into your home and plant collection.   In this episode we learn: What a desert biome is The history of the Saguaro Cacti Houseplant Care in the Desert 101 with Brendan from Eco Gro and Prococo Desert plant styling tips with Akiko from Bloom Maven Hot tips on living with Plants in the Desert from Becca of Becca De La Plants   Thank you to our Wine and Gift Bag Sponsors (all female owned and run companies)! Sand Reckoner Vineyards is a local vineyard growing their own grapes in the desert and making delicious wines including the Vermentino we drank a ton of at the live taping! If you are in the area, their Tucson tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday! Check them out at https://sand-reckoner.com/  Solace Macrame for the GORGEOUS mini macrame plant hangers- for any and all of your macrame dreams visit: https://solacemacrame.com/ and Instagram: @solacemacrame Annotated Audrey for the fabulous Plant Pins and Stickers from her shop which is all about desert inspired art, gifts and accessories! Check out her prints and more at http://shop.annotatedaudrey.com/ and Instagram @annotatedaudrey   Check out some Cacti IRL on Maria's Youtube Video tour of her hike in Sabino Canyon in the Sonoran Desert!   Follow Akiko and Bloom Maven: www.bloommaven.com Facebook: /bloommaven Instagram: @bloommaven   Follow Brendan and Eco Grow and ProCoco: www.ecogro.com www.prococo.com   Follow Becca and De La Plants: Instagram: @delaplants Youtube: Becca De La Plants      Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join 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.

Today Maria shares a mini episode on why Bloom and Grow Radio is now on Patreon. Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/bloomandgrowradio     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Maria and members of the Bloom and Grow Radio Community give tips on how to move homes with houseplants!  In this episode we learn: - the various ways to pack plants for moving - practical tips from listeners who have moved successfully with their houseplants - suggestions from Maria for moving in a car, truck, plane or countries!   For a blog with all of the tips provided in this episode visit: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/moving   For a youtube video where Maria shows you how she packs her plants to take on the plane visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/bloomandgrowradio   Support Bloom and Grow Radio on PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/bloomandgrowradio Follow Bloom and Grow Radio: Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow YOUTUBE show! https://www.youtube.com/c/bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club Support Bloom and Grow Radio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bloomandgrowradio  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rachael is the plant lady behind Infinite Succulent and the author of the succulent crafting book Infinite Succulent: Miniature Living Art to Keep or Share. The book is filled with incredible and easy succulent crafts for any skill level. I have been obsessed with succulent crowns ever since I found them on Instagram over a year ago and got one for myself on my last trip to San Diego. I’ve wanted to do an episode on DIY Succulent Crowns for a year and I’m so excited to have had the opportunity to finally be bringing an episode to you because I just always feel so special and giddy whenever I’ve worn one in the past. They are such a fun craft to do with friends or your kids. I hope you enjoy our wonderful conversation! At this live taping, Rachael walks Maria (and guests) through making their own succulent crowns from start to finish and teaches us how to replant our crowns to have them live on forever. A few heads up about this episode 1)   the nursery and space for this event was so perfect, we were surround by every dream plant you couldn't imagine in this little green house on the property, but you can hear some shoppers milling about in the background at times, and might hear some cars or sirens passing on the local roads. Don’t let it deter you- they will pass. 2)   Rachael and I do our very best to explain what we are doing while we were doing it- but real talk, this was the first time trying to do a live taping/DIY event like this. Our amazing photographer Gabaccia, took some amazing companion photos, and made an adorable video as a companion to this episode, so head to the show notes at bloomandgrowradio.com/succulentcrowns to see the photos of what we were talking about. I also do a general overview of all of the instructions at the end of the episode. 3)   Incase it isn’t clear in the start of the episode- Rachael has two different types of succulent crown crafts that she offers in her book- I did the tie back version, which is basically the succulents attached to the lace on leather string that ties around my head (because my head is huge and normal crowns don't fit it) and then she does the actual headband versions. There are photos of both, but when you hear us talking about the differences, that’s what we are talking about. In this episode we learn: How Rachael began crafting with plants and why she feels they are important activities for children and adults What materials you need for a succulent crown How to take a proper clipping for a succulent craft Step by step process for crafting you very own succulent crown How to care for the crowns once they are completed How and when to separate and root your cuttings Best practices for rooting your cuttings once they are done Everything about the creation of Rachael’s new book Infinite Succulent: Miniature Living Art to Keep or Share Thank you so much to Rachael again for making my dreams come true by helping me bring a succulent crown tutorial to life. Plant friends… they are so fun to wear. I feel like I will be doing this craft at every bachelorette party I ever go to again. Also Rachael's book Infinite Succulent: Miniature Living Art to Keep or Share is absolutely amazing! You should check it out if you want more support on this craft, or are curious about all the amazing other succulent crafts in there. It's the perfect gift for the crafty person or planty person in your life! Thank you to Barrel and Branches Nursery for hosting, make sure to visit next time you are in San Diego. Thank you to C&L Catering and Decor for providing such yummy snacks! *Link to this book is the Bloom and Grow Amazon Affiliate link, meaning BAGR makes a small portion of the sale, at no cost to you! So thanks! I know our conversation flowed a lot, so: Overview of the craft: Start with several cuttings of succulents, cut right up to the leaves or what I call “booty” of the succulent, and let the cut callous. The materials you need are three pieces of sturdy lace, some form of headband whether its an actual metal or plastic one, or string for the tieback version, reindeer moss, craft glue or a hot glue gun, and any other articles you might want to fasten to the crown Glue two pieces of lace together, then take that sturdy piece, and place the headband in between the third piece of lace and glue those pieces together. That will be the working surface for your crown. Glue reindeer moss onto the crown, and trim it very short to the lace. This will be what you fasten your succulents to. Get an idea of the general design of the crown, and then start gluing. Start with your largest succulent. It looks nice to do a large succulent with one or two small ones around it, to kind of mimic what a pup would look like in nature. Also if you are interested in making your own crowns, the materials are available in my Amazon Storefront under DIY Succulent Crowns (I also have lots of other recommendations for products I like and inspo from other episodes) and Rachael has craft kits with everything you need to make the crafts from her book on her website. Thank you to Mountain Crest Gardens for sponsoring this episode. If you are looking for high quality succulents shipped to your door, check out mountaincrestgardens.com/bloom to get your discount code for 15% your first purchase. They sell high quality cuttings specifically for crafting on their site, so this would be a perfect fit! Go give them a look at mountaincrestgardens.com/bloom for 15% off.   Follow Rachael and Infinite Succulent: IG @infinitesucculent Facebook /infinitesucculent Pinterest: /infinitesucculent Website: www.infinitesucculent.com/diy-kits Book: Infinite Succulent: Miniature Living Art to Keep or Share   Follow Bloom and Grow Radio: Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join 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.