Orchids have a reputation for being fussy, fragile divas – but what if they're actually some of the toughest, most forgiving houseplants you can grow? In this episode Joff Elphick chats with writer and garden media specialist Julianne Robertson about her new book, ORCHIDS: a no fuss guide to keeping your houseplant happy.

Julianne explains what orchids really need to thrive indoors: the right light, temperature, feeding, and watering – without the myths, gimmicks or ice cubes. From the ever-popular Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) to other Cambria, Cattleya, Cymbidium, and Dendrobium, Julianne shares practical tips, surprising orchid history, and reassuring advice for anyone who's killed an orchid (or three) before.

Whether you're an anxious beginner or an orchid addict looking to learn more, this episode will help you keep these elegant plants blooming for years, not weeks.

In episode 36 Joff Elphick visits the Garden Press Event at London's Business Design Center.

Sue Morgan from Songbird Survival discusses the charity's work addressing the alarming 50% decline in UK songbirds over the past 50 years. She attributes this to complex factors including climate change, land use changes, pesticides, and habitat loss. Sue offers three key tips for bird-friendly gardens: provide shelter (places to perch and feel safe), food (through plants with berries and seeds), and year-round water sources. She also mentions their upcoming Chelsea Flower Show garden designed by Nicola Okey.

Alexander Hall from Everedge talks us through their range of powder-coated and corten steel raised-bed and edging products. Founded 30 years ago their products have been used in gardens such as Wisley as well as 100's of other gardens around the UK.

Mark Meadows from Buzzbox explains their beekeeping starter kit, which includes everything except the bees themselves. He describes how honey production works with the queen in the brood box and honey storage in the supers, separated by a queen excluder.

Andy Rollings reveals David Austin Roses' meticulous 12-year development process, starting with 40,000 hand pollinations generating nearly 400,000 seeds. Only roses tough enough to thrive without special care make it to market, budded onto Rosa laxer rootstock.

Paul Duffy from Onduline discusses their lightweight, recyclable corrugated roofing sheets, which are quieter than metal alternatives and last for 15+ years.

Anthony from Garden on a Roll offers pre-designed garden layouts on biodegradable paper with lettered plants to match, making gardening accessible for beginners.

Jane from Dale Foot Compost creates eco-friendly growing media from bracken (high in potassium) and sheep wool (providing nitrogen and water retention), while also working on peatland restoration.

Andrew Tolly from King Seeds highlights their heritage since 1888, specializing in sweet peas (100+ varieties) and vegetable seeds for allotments nationwide.

Lastly, Florian introduces Fryd, a gardening app that helps plan gardens with automatic to-do lists for planting and maintenance.

In this episode sponsored by Genus Garden Wear, Joff talks to Kate Bradbury about her new book ONE GARDEN AGAINST THE WORLD - in search of hope in a changing climate from Bloomsbury wildlife

Kate is an award-winning writer specialising in wildlife gardening and the author of The Bumblebee Flies Anyway, Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything, How to Create a Wildlife Pond and The Tree in Your Garden. She's the Wildlife Editor of BBC Gardeners' World Magazine and has a regular Country Diary column in The Guardian. She writes regularly for the RHS The Garden magazine, The Wildlife Trusts members' magazine and BBC Wildlife. Her garden was featured as part of the BBC Springwatch Garden Watch campaign, and she and her garden have also appeared on Autumnwatch and Gardener's World.

She is a patron for two charities: amphibian and reptile charity Froglife and bumblebee charity Bumblebee Conservation Trust. She is also an Ambassador for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and conservation charity Butterfly Conservation. She lives in Brighton.

We go a bit off-piste and discuss wildlife in general and Kate recommends plants and methods of attracting more insects, birds, and mammals into our gardens.

Hoverflies, butterflies, moths, hedgehogs, birds, frogs, toads, slowworms, etc etc. All get a mention in the book.

Theres an interesting Q and A section where Joff asks questions from friends of the podcast.