Bloom And Grow Radio

In a time where it feels like the weather is getting more and more volatile no matter where we live, making sure that you can capture rainwater is so important for so many people around the world. That's what this entire episode is about. And to help me with this topic is my plant friend Martha Retallick, author of Water Harvesting 101, who’s mastered the art of collecting and reusing rainwater after years of living through droughts in Tucson, Arizona. In our conversation, she shared how to redirect, collect, and reuse water for free! Let's start collecting, plant friends! In this episode, we learn:[04:21] Who is Martha Retallick?[06:37] What is gardening in Tucson like?[07:02] Why rainwater beats tap for plants[09:01] What is water harvesting and its 3 pillars?[11:00] The benefits of water harvesting[13:06] What are some drought-tolerant natives (mesquite, palo verde, ironwood)[14:17] Redirecting rainwater 101[14:29] Basins vs bowls[15:43] Wind River Chimes[17:22] American Horticultural Society Weekly Planne

 Have you ever dreamed of turning a simple fish tank into a lush underwater jungle? Or maybe you're like me, and you have a partner who isn't really into houseplants but is fascinated by those YouTube videos about turning aquariums into these swaying underwater jungles?You or your partner are gonna love this Best of Growing Joy Replay Episode when, a few years ago, I sat down with Karen Randall. She's the author of Sunken Gardens and an aquatic gardening expert, and we break down everything you need to know to start your first planted aquarium. You'll gain the confidence to create a thriving mini ecosystem underwater right on your countertop! In this episode, we learn:[01:06] Introducing Karen[03:33] What to expect from this conversation[05:20] How Karen became the plant lady she is today[07:40] The importance of knowing your plants’ natural habitat[08:42] Why are planted aquariums becoming popular again?[10:33] Basic houseplants vs. aquatic plants[12:04] How do you trade aquatic plants?[13:33] What are aquat

Happy Leave the Leaves Month, plant friends! Did you guys know that was a thing that plant parents celebrate in October? It's actually one of the simplest, most low-maintenance, and laziest things that you could do to increase the diversity in your yard and save the planet!And the perfect person to talk to about that is none other than my plant friend, David Mizejewski, a naturalist from the National Wildlife Federation, and a total plant nerd. He made a compelling argument for why we should all leave our leaves with intention. Let's dive in! In this episode, we learn:[03:03] How David became the ultimate “nature geek” and advocate for wildlife-friendly gardening[04:17] Why October is officially “Leave the Leaves Month”[05:19] How did David land his dream job working with wildlife?[06:45] The connection between native plants, birds, and pollinators[07:44] Why conventional lawns are one of the worst habitats for wildlife[09:02] Sustainability goes mainstream: rewilding and native plant buzz[11:09] What is the

 What is it that makes hoyas so irresistible that buying your first hoya often leads to having 40 in the few months to follow? In this listener favorite of the Best of Growing Joy series, I am bringing back a conversation with Doug Chamberlain of Vermont Hoya. Doug is one of the most beloved Hoya experts online, and we dive into their dazzling diversity, surprising care quirks, and intoxicating flowers.Doug makes a very strong argument that every person in the world should care for Hoyas and know all the specifics that you need to know in order to get your Hoyas thriving and ideally blooming. So whether you're new to Hoya or you're already knee-deep in gorgeous leaves and peduncles, this conversation is going to leave you inspired to grow joyfully and with confidence. In this episode, we learn:[00:00] Doug's Plant Parent History and introduction to Hoya and his Ideal Hoya Setup[11:11] Where hoyas live in nature[14:00] Why are hoyas called “the wax plant”[15:20] Where Hoya got its name[15:40] General Care Guid

Have you ever wondered why your hoyas or pothos sometimes send out those long and wild tendrils that seem to have a mind of their own? I certainly have a windowsill full of hoyas doing this right now. There really isn’t a super “secret” technique. Most of our houseplants are just natural climbers that grow up trees in search of light and use those tendrils for support. So I invited over my new plant friend, Ara from Propagation Diaries, to share her best tips about everything you need to know about indoor houseplant trellises, whether it be choosing the right style and material or getting it secure in your pot and training those vines without breaking a leaf! Let's tidy up! In this episode, we learn:[02:45] Ara’s plant care journey[03:35] How Ara fell in love with Hoyas![06:59] What trellising really does for your houseplants[08:22] What are the benefits of trellising a houseplant?[09:44] Spotting tendrils: your sign it’s time to add a trellis[10:34] Getting even light exposure by growing vertically[11:30] Ho

Did you know that brightness has nothing to do with how much energy your plants actually receive from light? In this episode, I’m joined by horticulturist and author Leslie Halleck, who literally wrote the book Gardening Under Lights. Together, we’ll break down the science of indoor grow lights in a simple, approachable way—so you can confidently choose the right setup to keep your plants thriving all winter long (and beyond). In this episode, we learn:What Leslie’s personal grow light set up isWhat photosynthesis isWhy light is important for plantsWhat the different colors of light do for plants and why “full spectrum” grow lights are so importantLumens vs PAR vs Kelvin = how to measure lightWhat the best choice of grow lights for indoor houseplants areDefining “bright indirect” for a grow lightPatreon Plant Friend and listener Questions! Mentioned in our conversation:Leslie's books: Gardening Under Lights and Plant Parenting: Easy Ways to Make New HouseplantsSoltech Solutions: soltechsolutions.com Modern Sp

Where do you even start if your dream is to turn that blank slate into a gorgeous garden? You’ve just moved into a new house. The keys are in your hands, you’re staring at your front door and also at a lot of lawn and maybe some unappealing landscaping. Good thing, plant friends, that I got to dive into this question with ecologist, writer, and new author Becky Searle (@sow_much_more), who just wrote Grow a New Garden! The book is all about how garden design can work with instead of against nature, so you can create the most low-maintenance, balanced garden possible. Let's get started! In this episode, we learn:[02:49] How Becky’s background in ecology shaped her gardening style[03:45] Writing Grow a New Garden during lockdown[06:03] Becky's different homes and the changes to her garden[07:37] What’s the one rose that follows Becky to every home?[09:16] Propagating roses: soil vs. water cuttings[11:23] Native vs. diverse plantings: what really helps pollinators prosper?[12:47] Why is biodiversity important?[1

 What if caring for a tiny tree could teach you patience, presence, and even a new way of looking at life? That, my friends, is the magic of the art of Bonsai. It is a very specific practice that requires very specific care that I often get questions about. And so today I've decided to re-release an old episode where I interviewed Bonsai master, Bjorn from Eisei-en Bonsai.You might know him from his incredible YouTube videos all about Bonsai basics: what makes Bonsai different, their growing media, how you care for them, the fascinating history, and the philosophy behind Bonsai. I am so excited to re-release this episode because I just gifted my husband his first Bonsai, so I can't wait to send him this episode so he can support his bonsai that he's keeping in his office.  In this episode, we learn:[00:04:44] How Bjorn became the bonsai expert he is today[00:05:35] How long does a bonsai apprenticeship take? What are typical duties for a bonsai apprentice?[00:07:31] Bjorn shares his experience in Japan and be

Interested in joining Maria on a retreat like this? Join the waitlist! http://growingjoywithmaria.com/retreatThree days with no phone, no laptop, no social media notifications buzzing in my ear. It’s just me, the forest, and goats that became some of my best friends! And I achieved all of this when I visited Hemlock Neversink in Castskills last month to commit a full digital detox. I swapped screen time for barefoot hikes, yoga, forest bathing, goat cuddles, painting under the trees, and even a little moss-gazing. And my nervous system hit reset in a way I didn’t even realize I needed.So I really encourage you to try it, but you don't have to run away to the woods for three days to feel these benefits. I'm going to share what I learned during my retreat and how you can create your own digital detox at home, even if you've only got 15 minutes. Let's plunge in!Interested in joining Maria on a retreat like this? Join the waitlist! http://growingjoywithmaria.com/retreat Here is a referral link for the Opal app (n

Are you running out of space for your plants? Growing your plant collection can be quite the challenge when all your countertops, tablespace and even floorspace have been populated with your plant babies. Don’t fret any longer, plant friends, as we got the most beautiful and mess-free DIY projects for you to make the most out of your vertical space at home! In this episode, learn alongside me as Erin Harding of @houseplantclub and @cleverbloom gives us step-by-step tutorials on three amazing yet easy DIYs for your vertical garden. In this episode, we learn:[00:25] Maria’s eureka moment for this episode![01:53] Updates on country living and hummingbirds[05:06] Welcome, new Garden Party members![06:57] The easiest way to compost your food scraps[11:06] Who is Erin and how did Clever Bloom and Houseplant Club get started?[15:14] On the importance of evolving with your plant collection[18:26] Erin and Morgan’s brilliant first and second books[22:12] How Erin curated her personal aesthetic and developed her passio

Plant friends, if you’ve hung around the plant community for any amount of time, you know some sub-groups go deep, and one of the most passionate is the Alocasia lovers/enthusiasts. These people are ferocious about their alocasias, and one of their most controversial topics is corm propagation.If you’ve never heard of it, I hadn’t either until Instagram kept showing me those little plant “nuggets.” So I called in backup: my friend Lindsay Sisti, aka the Alocasia Queen behind All The Plant Babies and the author of the book The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation. She’s been here before in our Fluval Stratum episode. She breeds both Alocasias and Anthuriums and has made it her life's work to create new species and perfect propagation techniques. Let's dive in! In this episode, we learn:[02:30] Meet Lindsay Sisti, aka the “Alocasia Queen”![04:15] What are some facts about Alocasia?[06:02] Why is Alocasia popular?[08:41] Plant anatomy 101: leaves, stems, rhizomes, roots, stolons, and corms![15:18] Manukora's

The monstera might just be the most iconic houseplant of all time. Those bold, split leaves show up everywhere in logos, restaurant décor, and home goods, making it instantly recognizable. But bringing a monstera home and helping it thrive so it grows big, beautiful, and full of those signature splits takes a little know-how. Today, we’re revisiting one of my very first 20 episodes of Growing Joy in our Best of series with my plant friend Scott Cain, an Australian plant enthusiast with over 200 plants, including an incredible monstera collection. He’s the creator behind Boys With Plants on Instagram and Tropical Loco, and in this episode, we dive into care tips, design ideas, and strategies to help your monstera flourish. If you’ve got a monstera, listen in because your plant is about to get a whole lot happier. In this episode, we learn:How family traditions inspired his current collectionScott breaks down the 200 plants that fill his apartment that are featured on his Instagram account, @tropicalocoHow Scot

What if I told you that the most dominant plant in your garden isn't the rose that you love or the towering sunflower, but the little clover, the little guys creeping along the ground? They're called groundcovers, and they fight weeds, save water, prevent erosion, and can even replace your lawn. I had an amazing conversation with Kathy Jentz, author of “Groundcover Revolution,” and we talked about how these humble plants can change your space and make it much more eco-friendly and beautiful. In this episode, we learn:[01:52] How Kathy became the plant lady she is today[02:44] Kathy’s background before she became a full-time plant lady[04:47] Why Kathy ditched turf for groundcovers[06:41] Why else should you think about groundcovers?[08:11] Clovers and pollinators[09:26] Bee lawns and flowering yards for pollinators[10:01] Is there a trap crop groundcover for birds?[12:04] Why artificial turf is bad for soil and trees[13:54] Can kids and dogs play on groundcovers?[15:15] Give your groundcover the best start wi

I'm 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 setup 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 about 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:[04:40] Kevin's somewhat unsuccessful intro to growing food, and how he became the amazing gardener he is now[13:09] Differen

You've probably heard the phrase, “Go touch grass.” It's usually thrown around online when someone needs to log off and reconnect with reality. But the act of touching grass, literally putting your bare feet or hands on the earth, is scientifically proven to reset your mood. It's known as earthing (or grounding), and it's been proven to reduce inflammation, boost your energy, improve sleep, and even help your body heal. So I specifically sent Dr. Gaétan Chevalier an email to have him on the show to explain everything we need to know about earthing. With 15 years of experience, he’s one of the leading experts in this field, and he’ll explain how our bodies literally need that natural connection to the Earth’s energy. In this episode, we learn:[01:49] Meet Dr. Gaétan Chevalier![03:23] How Clint Ober introduced earthing in 2003[07:46] What is earthing?[09:09] The Earth as a living battery[12:20] Why is inflammation the root of disease, and how does grounding help?[19:01] The natural cure for jet lag: 30 minutes

Today I welcome Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, otherwise known as the “Houseplant Guru,” to the show for an enlightening conversation about how to care for plants in low-light environments and what the best beginner, advanced, and interesting low-light-tolerant plant choices we can make. We discuss how to truly understand if we have low light and several hacks to capitalize on the light we have, and she suggests some really interesting plants besides your normal pothos, dracaena, and snake plants we know so well. Lisa is the author of Grow in the Dark: How to Choose and Care for Low Light Houseplants and Houseplants: The Complete Guide. I love her books, and I love her! In this episode, we learn:How Lisa became “The Houseplant Guru”How to measure low light with no fancy toolsHow to “hack” your way to capitalizing on all the hacks you haveHow low light affects your plant care routingWatering for a low light plantPhototropismHow Variegated plants are affected by low lightStandard low light plantsLisa’s 5 more rare and

Plant friends, I have to tell you about someone who has completely blown my mind this gardening season! Her name is Lily, and she happens to be my brother's girlfriend, which means I've had a front-row seat to watch her absolutely blossom as a first-time gardener. She nailed it on her first try, and I mean that she has had the most incredible success I think I have ever seen from a beginner. In this episode, you're going to hear about how she and my brother were pretty much harvesting and eating from her garden every single day for the entire summer! In this episode, we learn:[02:40] Meet Lily and her garden obsession![04:15] What childhood memories inspired Lily’s love for gardening?[06:16] When did Lily decide to start her first backyard garden?[06:53] Why did Lily start almost everything from seed?[09:54] Lily's creative dining room seed-starting setup[15:00] Refresh your fall garden with ease using Espoma Organic[16:25] Bring your farmhouse garden dreams to life with The Vintage Farmhouse Garden[18:46] Ho

Garlic is a staple in so many savory dishes, but if you've only ever cooked with the sad grocery store bulbs, it's time to see garlic's true potential by growing your own. The depth of flavor and variety that homegrown garlic offers blows store-bought out of the water. Lucky for us, plant friends, growing our own garlic at home is so easy! In this episode, homesteader extraordinaire Jill Winger walks us through how to grow garlic step-by-step, select varieties, grow, harvest, and store your own garlic for a steady supply of flavorful garlic all year long. In this episode, we learn:[03:09] Garden Society shoutout[05:17] What led Jill to embrace homesteading?[07:01] Check out Jill’s blog and podcast![09:29] How Jill's garden has evolved over the years[11:23] Jill’s early years of homesteading and its long-term evolution[13:18] Why homesteading involves continuous trial and error[13:54] How long has Jill been growing garlic?[14:59] Homegrown vs. store-bought garlic[15:57] How to select the right garlic to grow[1

If you love your dog as much as you love your monstera or other houseplants, you’ve probably run into this dilemma: how do you keep your plants alive without putting your pup at risk? This has been a problem for plant parents who are also pet parents. Some plants are toxic, some dogs are curious nibblers, and sometimes it feels like your plants and your pets are destined to clash. To figure this out, I talked with Dudley, the plant lover behind Pablo’s Plants on Instagram and TikTok. His brand centers on his golden retriever, Pablo, and he’s here to share with us how to keep both plants and pets safe at home.In this episode, we learn:[00:00] Can dogs and houseplants really live in harmony?[02:06] What does Dudley’s plant setup look like[02:53] Who is Dudley (aka Pablo’s Plants) and his golden retriever (Pablo)?[06:45] Who handles the plants better: the cats or Pablo?[08:18] How do you actually train a dog to “leave it”?[09:38] Which common houseplants are secretly toxic to pets? (Lilies, pothos, philodendrons

If you’re an edible gardener, chances are you’ve found yourself staring at a heaping bowl of tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, or carrots, wondering how on earth you’re going to eat them all before they go bad.In this Best of Growing Joy replay, I’m revisiting my conversation with Stephanie Thurow, a certified master food preserver and bestselling author of several books on canning and fermenting. Stephanie shares everything you need to know to get started with home canning while making the whole process feel safe, approachable, and fun.In this episode, we learn:[06:06] How Stephanie got into canning and fermenting[07:42] What's the strategy behind the timing of canning? [09:53] Difference between canning and fermenting[11:53] Is fermentation a shelf-stable process like canning, or does it require refrigeration?[13:37] Why is it advised to consume a spoonful of fermented food each day, such as sauerkraut?[14:31] What is the storage setup for Stephanie's canned and fermented goods?[15:22] Materials you need for w