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

Christmas and the holiday season are coming! Which “festive” plants should you grow and how can you help them stay alive? For many people, nothing makes the holidays lovelier than getting a beautiful poinsettia or holiday cactus during this time. But there’s absolutely nothing worse than seeing the holiday plant that you fell in love with just wither before your very eyes because they need a different care than you’re used to. So today we’ll talk about how to care for classic holiday plants with horticultural expert Farid Khalil from Mahoney's Garden Center.In this episode, we learn:[04:32] Who is Farid Khalil from Mahoney’s Garden Center?[08:04] What do the holidays look like at Mahoney's?[10:20] What is a poinsettia and how do you care for it?[14:48] Give your plants the light they deserve this winter with Soltech Grow Lights![16:12] Pre-order Square Foot Gardening, 4th Edition now and get new plans, tips, and updates![19:21] How to care for poinsettias successfully?[25:52] Are poinsettias toxic to pets and children?[27:24] What are some poinsettia alternatives?[30:04] Repot your holiday plants with Espoma Organic’s premium quality products![31:20] Why Cyclamen is a nice holiday plant[32:51] How Cyclamen become associated with Christmas[34:39] How should you care for Cyclamen?[38:35] Christmas cactus vs easter cactus[40:20] How to care for a Christmas cactus[44:19] How to care for a Norfolk Island Pine[49:30] Why Lemon cypress is a good holiday plant[51:46] Get to know about Mahoney's Garden Center!Mentioned in our conversation:Mahoney's Garden CenterThe history of the Morel company, creator of cyclamenSchoneveld BreedingFor Farid's garden center-tested holiday plant care tips,check out the full show notes and blog here!Follow Mahoney’s Garden Center:WebsiteInstagramFacebookPinterestXThank you to our episode sponsors:Soltech SolutionsCheck them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".Quarto: Square Foot Gardening, 4th EditionGrab the 4th edition of Square Foot Gardening at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble, quarto.com or amazon.com.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: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/BLOOMAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What plants are great in low-light homes? That’s one of the most common plant questions that I get asked a lot. It’s popular because a lot of us don’t have those floor-to-ceiling windows that we often see on Pinterest and Instagram. The majority of us just have normal, low-light homes. Even my new house in Florida is actually extremely low-light! But of course, we all want our indoor garden to grow well, no matter what our lighting circumstances are. So here’s another Proven Winners episode to teach you how to choose the right low-light plants for your space and all the tips you need to know to make sure you’re taking good care of them.In this episode, we learn:[02:34] What is a low light (tolerant) plant?[03:30] Why low-light plants are popular[04:07] Why you should check out snake & ZZ plants![05:25] How we overestimate the amount of light in our homes[08:13] Take my Plant Parent Personality™ test[08:35] Importance of rotating pots for low-light plants[10:01] Keep your plant's leaves clean[11:02] #1 Ferns[14:54] #2 Prayer plants[17:00] #3 Monstera[17:33] #4 Photos[19:13] #5 Dracaena[19:52] #6 Philodendron[21:20] Check out Proven Winner’s H2O Line![22:41] Tips for “no light” situationsMentioned in our conversation:What's Your Plant Parent Personality?Understanding Natural Light9 Tips for Greening Up Your Work From Home Office Set UPLiving Lace® Davana Blue Star FernLiving Lace® Victoria Bird's Nest FernLiving Lace® Hurricane - Bird's Nest FernTwirly Whirly™ Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)Sweet Dreams® NeverLand™ - Ctenanthe lubbersianaBeautifall® Off to Oz PothosBeautifall® Summer Nights™ PothosCrescent Garden TruDrop self-watering plantersProven Winners leafjoy® H2O® CollectionSoltech Aspect™ LED GrowlightFor more low-light plant tips,check out the full show notes and blog here!Thank you to our episode sponsor:Proven WinnersFind plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!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: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/BLOOMAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Are you struggling to keep your houseplants alive? You might be one of many aspiring plant parents who find themselves in this annoying cycle, and you wonder why you can't seem to keep even the "easiest" plants alive. The problem is not finding the “right beginner plant” but understanding your own plant parent personality. So in this episode, I’ll tell you the five distinct plant parent personalities and how they can help you choose the right plants for your lifestyle.In this episode, we learn:[02:53] What's a Plant Parent Personality?[05:02] Is there a “starter plant”?[08:06] Are you a Mindful Plant Parent?[14:54] Find the perfect grow light that suits your plant parenting style with Soltech Grow Lights![17:13] Find the right Espoma Organic products to nourish every type of plant in your home![19:23] Are you a Low Maintenance Plant Parent?[24:45] Are you a Curious Collector Plant Parent?[31:45] Are you a Design-Based Plant Parent?[39:32] Are you an Urban Farmer Plant Parent?Mentioned in our conversation:What's Your Plant Parent Personality?Understanding Natural Light WorksheetTruDrop Self Watering Planters | Crescent GardenWallyGrow PlantersSoltech Aspect™ LED Growlightleafjoy H2O® Collection | Proven WinnersLettuce GrowClick & GrowI Made A DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit for Your Worst Case Plant ProblemsCome Tour Homestead Gardens with Me!Lettuce Grow Farmstand Review: Set Up, 30 Day Recap and First Harvest for my Easy Green Smoothie!Lettuce Grow 3 Month Update: What I like and don't like so far and fertilizing tipsDIY Houseplant First Aid Kit with Leslie HalleckThe Art of the Plant Pause and Managing Plant Parent OverwhelmThe Mushroom Miniseries: Mushrooms 101 Plus the Answer to "What is the Mushroom Growing in My Houseplant!"The Mushroom Miniseries: How to Grow Functional Mushrooms in Your GardenThe Mushroom Miniseries: How to Grow Mushrooms IndoorsHow to Grow Citrus Indoors with Danny of Via CitrusFor personalized plant care tips and more insights into your plant parent personality,check out the full show notes and blog here!Thank you to our episode sponsors:Soltech SolutionsCheck them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".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: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/BLOOMAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What makes your local garden center feel so special? Don’t you notice that there’s something magical about them? It’s kinda shocking how little we understand as consumers about all the effort that goes into getting plants to us and onto our windowsills. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes at the Garden Center that we don't know about. That's why I'm committed to having more people on this podcast to peel back the curtain of the horticulture industry and help us better understand how our plants get to us.I'm excited to share my conversation with Jessie Jacobson of Tonkadale Greenhouse in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Jessie is an example of what a passionate multi-generational family business can look like.In this episode, we learn:[04:38] What is the story behind Tonkadale Greenhouse?[08:37] Growing vs selling plants[12:03] How does the business keep up with modern times?[14:01] What are the mission, vision, and core values of Tonkadale?[15:27] Gift peace and joy this season with Wind River Chimes![17:05] Give your houseplants the organic love they deserve with Espoma![20:34] What does Jessie’s day look like as a garden center owner?[23:33] Ordering and planning in gardening[25:08] Why you should always visit an independent garden center[26:26] Seasonal revenue + challenges[30:25] Be a better low-maintenance plant parent with Crescent Garden TrueDrop Self-Watering Planters![32:37] What keeps Jessie motivated? (aka the joy of gardening)[36:26] What advice can Jessie give to aspiring garden center owners?[41:20] What’s next for Tonkadale Greenhouse?[44:05] Where can you find Tonkadale on social media and onsite?Mentioned in our conversation:What's Your Plant Parent Personality?Tonkadale GreenhouseFor a deeper dive into the industry of garden centers,check out the full show notes and blog here!Follow Jessie:WebsiteInstagramFacebookPinterestYouTubeThank you to our episode sponsors:Wind River ChimesVisit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Crescent GardenFor a limited time only, head to growingjoywithmaria.com/crescentgarden and use code GROWJOY15 to curate your dream garden today. 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: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/BLOOMAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands