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

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

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

Auteur(s): Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness
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 Looking for free, natural ways to decrease stress and increase joy and calm in your life? The answer might be simpler than you think: houseplants, gardening and nature. On Growing Joy with Plants, learn alongside Happy Plant Lady, Maria Failla to care for plants, engage with nature, and use them to manage your overwhelm, anxiety and experience happiness and calm you thought was only available on vacation.Plant care is self care. Come grow some joy with us. Follow along on socials @growingjoywithmaria© 2017 Bloom and Grow, LLC Hygiène et mode de vie sain Psychologie Psychologie et santé mentale
Épisodes
  • Natural Light for Indoor Plants: What Plant Parents Get Wrong: Best of Growing Joy Replay

    Natural Light for Indoor Plants: What Plant Parents Get Wrong: Best of Growing Joy Replay
    Mar 5 2026
    Natural light for indoor plants is one of the most misunderstood parts of plant care. Most plant parents think their homes are bright enough for houseplants… but the truth is, we often overestimate how much light our plants are actually getting. So we all know that the concept of bright indirect light is kind of a disaster. It’s one of the most confusing things in indoor plant care, and most plant parents wildly overestimate how much light they have in their homes. That’s exactly why I’m so excited to bring back this two-part series on natural light for indoor plants from the Best of Growing Joy collection. In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend, horticulturist and lighting expert Leslie Halleck, author of Gardening Under Lights, one of the best resources for understanding grow lights and indoor plant lighting. But before we even talk about grow lights, we need to understand something even more fundamental: how light actually works for plants. In this conversation, Leslie and I get into the nitty-gritty of what light really means for houseplants, why the phrase “bright indirect light” causes so much confusion for plant parents, and how to actually measure light for your plants at home. There’s also a free download in the show notes that walks you through three days of measuring the natural light in your home, so you can finally understand what your plants are really getting. In this episode, we learn: How Leslie came to be the lighting expert she is nowMeasuring and understanding NATURAL light 101The difference between the volume of light vs the brightness of lightWhat PAR is and why it is important for understand our natural light in our apartmentsThe most brilliant metaphor for light that will make even the science inept person understand light, photons and photosynthesisHow the direction your window faces affects the amount of light in your apartment, and a good rule of thumb to live byWhat the heck “bright indirect light’ actually is!Practical steps to understanding “bright indirect light” for your specific surroundingHow many feet away from your windowsill does “bright light” turn to “medium light” and then turn to “low light”Why we overwater our plants (spoiler alert… it’s often because of your lighting conditions)If sunbeams that move throughout your apartments make a different for your plantsWhy experimenting with plant placement and light is crucial Mentioned in our conversation: Soltech (Use code bloom15 for 15% off!)Gardening Under Lights; The Complete Guide for Indoor Growers Are you sure your plants are actually getting enough light? Check out the full show notes and blog to learn how to measure the natural light in your home! Follow Leslie Website Instagram Twitter Pinterest Facebook 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 Leung Join 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: @growingjoywithmaria Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    49 min
  • Low Maintenance Gardening with Continuous Vegetable Gardening

    Low Maintenance Gardening with Continuous Vegetable Gardening
    Mar 3 2026
    Are you tired of the boom-and-bust cycle of traditional gardening? Imagine a world where your garden is a source of joy and sustenance all year round! Join me, in this enlightening episode of Growing Joy with Plants, where I chat with the incredibly knowledgeable gardening expert, Charlie Nardozzi. Together, we dive deep into the realm of low maintenance gardening and explore innovative techniques that not only simplify your gardening experience but also promote sustainable practices. Charlie takes us on a journey through his childhood, sharing his cherished memories of gardening with his Italian grandparents. His passion for plants blossomed into a successful career as a horticulturist and author, and today, he’s here to help us shift our gardening mindset. Forget the traditional methods that often lead to plants dying or battling plant pests; it's time to embrace low maintenance gardening strategies that yield continuous harvests! In this episode, we discuss the concept of a continuous vegetable garden that allows you to enjoy fresh produce throughout the growing season. Charlie introduces us to the wonders of perennial vegetables and self-sowing plants, which can transform your garden into a thriving ecosystem with minimal effort. We also touch on the ecological benefits of diverse planting, ensuring that your garden not only flourishes but also contributes positively to the environment. Throughout our conversation, Charlie shares invaluable tips on mindful gardening, including how to effectively manage scale insects, rid of gnats, and tackle common plant diseases. Whether you're a seasoned plant parent or just starting your journey into home-based wellness, this episode is packed with practical advice on watering tips, humidity for plants, and propagation tips that will elevate your gardening game. So, if you're ready to cultivate a joyful living space filled with abundant blooms and delicious harvests, tune in to this episode of Growing Joy with Plants! Let’s dig into the world of low maintenance gardening together! In this episode, we learn:low [01:27] How Charlie Nardozzi became a continuous vegetable garden expert[04:56] What “continuous gardening” really solves[05:50] What are self-sowing vegetables?[07:51] How I used basil for succession planting![08:28] Manually scattering seeds vs true self-sowing[09:40] What perennial edibles are most gardeners overlooking?[13:00] Growing wine cap mushrooms as a perennial![14:08] What mulch and organic matter do wine caps need to fruit?[14:49] Manukora[16:32] Other ways to grow mushrooms at home![17:02] How your hardiness zone changes what counts as a perennial[18:28] What are some of the best self-sowing edibles to start with?[19:34] When to let volunteer tomatoes grow and when to pull them[20:26] Where seed saving and self-sowing overlap[22:10] What Charlie’s garden actually looks like now[23:19] No-dig raised beds and mimicking nature for less work[24:08] What are Charlie’s favorite plant combinations for a bed?[26:14] Can you grow a mostly perennial food garden?[27:22] Why Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes) are an underrated perennial staple[29:05] Making garlic and potatoes “perennial” through selective saving[30:36] Practical tips for saving seeds, curing garlic, and overwintering tubers[32:16] Why labeling matters and how to use mystery seeds[32:39] Creating a polyculture bed[33:43] Where to find Charlie, his book, and what he's got coming up! Mentioned in our conversation: Charlie’s gardening books mentioned: The Continuous Vegetable GardenThe Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening For Charlie's low-maintenance gardening guide, check out the full show notes and blog here! Follow Charlie: WebsiteInstagramYouTubeFacebookPinterestOther booksWebinars Thank you to our episode sponsor: Manukora Go to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts! 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 Leung Join 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: @growingjoywithmaria Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    37 min
  • Biophilic Design for Plant Parents: Indoor Plants for Wellness at Work: Best of Growing Joy Replay

    Biophilic Design for Plant Parents: Indoor Plants for Wellness at Work: Best of Growing Joy Replay
    Feb 26 2026
    Hands down, without a doubt, incorporating indoor plants into my office has been the single best thing I’ve done for my mental health during the workday. And at this point, plant friends, if you or someone you love is working without plants in the workplace, we need to talk.Because this is not just about aesthetics.This is about biophilic design and workplace wellness. It is about the science that proves how plants and productivity are connected. Study after study shows that having office plants can reduce stress, increase focus, support creativity, and help regulate mood. Bringing nature indoors is not a trend. It is a practical, research-backed way to support your well-being while you work.We are more screen addicted than ever. Most of us spend the majority of our day indoors, in offices or at home, staring at computers. That constant directed attention leads to fatigue.So I’m bringing back an episode from the archives of Growing Joy Best Of series, recorded during the pandemic when many of us were redesigning our work-from-home spaces. And it feels even more relevant now. Creating a workspace filled with indoor plants for office wellness is one of the simplest ways to practice home-based wellness and bring small moments of calm into your day.Most of the world spends the majority of their life at work. So in today’s episode, I’m sharing the science behind biophilic design, the connection between plants and productivity, and simple strategies to help plant parents and plant lovers transform their workspace into something that feels energizing, restorative, and joy-filled. In this episode, we learn:[02:07] Why Bloom and Grow Radio is doing an episode on #plantywfh spaces[04:39] Check out Maria’s Planty WFH space tour[05:03] What to expect from this episode on work from home setups and biophilic design[06:50] The AMAZING and unbelievable benefits of engaging with plants and biophilic design, according to 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design[07:27] What is biophilia, the idea behind it, and the important figures behind this wonderful hypothesis[09:24] The psychological role of plants in our creativity[10:09] How being around nature and scenery affects patient recovery, as studied by Dr. Ulrich in 1972 to 1981[11:13] A review of direct versus involuntary attention based on studies by Stephen R. Kellert and Rachel Kaplan[13:41] Biophilic Pattern #1: Visual Connection with Nature[13:54] Planty WFH Tip #1: Put your desk near a window[14:15] Planty WFH Tip #2: Put plants within the eyeline of your desk[14:33] Planty WFH Tip #3: Have a green wall in your office[14:56] Planty WFH Tip #4: If you can’t have real plants, pictures of plants will do![15:09] Biophilic Pattern #2: Non-Visual Connection with Nature[15:26] Planty WFH Tip #5: Play nature sounds like the one-square inch forest silence in the Olympic National Park, bird songs, or waves[16:36] Planty WFH Tip #6: Have different plant scents nearby, or you can use a diffuser like Maria!)[16:53] Biophilic Pattern #3: Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli[17:09] Planty WFH Tip #7: Set up bird feeders or pollinator-attracting plants, or take care of rare-blooming plants for a nice surprise[17:39] Biophilic Pattern #4: Thermal and Air Flow Variability[17:59] Biophilic Pattern #5: Presence of Water[18:07] Planty WFH Tip #8: It’s your humidifier’s time to shine! Maybe a tiny fancy plug-in fountain?[18:40] Biophilic Pattern #6: Dynamic and Diffuse Light[18:52] Planty WFH Tip #9: Install a grow light with a timer, and have a more sustainable work hours setup![19:12] Planty WFH Tip #10: Reduce your blue light intake and light candles after a long day of work[19:33] Biophilic Pattern #7: Connection with Natural Systems[19:47] Biophilic Pattern #8: Biomorphic Forms and Patterns[19:56] Did you know there are interesting and precise angles in nature?[20:35] Biophilic Pattern #9: Material Connection with Nature[21:07] Planty WFH Tip #11: Add accents in your home office like wood grains, fossil textures, and bamboo rattans[21:30] Planty WFH Tip #12: Try a natural color palette of greens and browns[21:50] How Maria and Billy managed their storage during their move[24:52] Biophilic Pattern #10: Prospect[25:04] Why it’s important to change the focus of your eyes every once in a while[25:18] Biophilic Pattern #11: Refuge[25:19] Why Maria recommends a planty screen-free space[26:10] Biophilic Patterns #12: Mystery and #13: Risk and Peril[26:20] The biggest rule of thumb of biophilic designs for Maria[27:06] If you can’t have real plants, download the Bloom and Grow Radio’s free and gorgeous watercolor of prickly pear cactus in various states of bloom![28:03] Planty WFH Tip #13: Envelop your space in plants (if you can!)[28:32] Maria’s planty WFH tips and ideas based on her own WFH setup[30:04] The best plants for low-light home offices[31:13] Are you blessed with a high-light office situation? Maria recommends these plants that love abundant light[31:36] Planty WFH ...
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    35 min
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