Best Maria Failla Happy Plant Lady Podcasts (2025)

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Monstera 101: Propagation, Care & Styling Secrets for Stunning Growth: Best of Growing Joy Replay 1:04:19

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26m ago1:04:19

1:04:19

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 revisitin…

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Groundcovers That Work: Low-Maintenance Plants for Every Garden 41:03

2d ago41:03

41:03

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, autho…

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Container Gardening Secrets from Epic Gardening’s Kevin Espiritu: Best of Growing Joy Replay 47:52

7d ago47:52

47:52

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 bu…

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Earthing Explained: The Science of Grounding for Better Sleep, Less Pain, and More Energy 51:37

9d ago51:37

51:37

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 infl…

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Low Light Plants for Beginners and Advanced Plant Parents with the Houseplant Guru: Best of Growing Joy Replay 58:00

13d ago58:00

58:00

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 h…

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Backyard Transformation: How a First-Time Gardener Nailed It on the First Try 47:52

16d ago47:52

47:52

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 succe…

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How to Grow Garlic: Best of Growing Joy Replay 45:53

21d ago45:53

45:53

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 …

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Dogs + Houseplants: How to Keep Your Pup Safe (and Your Plants Intact) 42:28

23d ago42:28

42:28

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…

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The Beginner’s Guide to Canning and Fermenting Your Garden Bounty: Best of Growing Joy Replay 44:44

28d ago44:44

44:44

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 au…

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Cultivating Abundance and Gratitude in the Garden 49:21

1M ago49:21

49:21

What do a theater kid, a Venus flytrap, and a million TikTok followers have in common? Abundance… and my new plant friend Brian from Redleaf Ranch! Brian is the viral TikTok gardener you've probably come across if you spend any time in plant social media. He's the guy who makes you say "abundance!" out loud, and he’s here to talk about his approach…

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Terrariums, Vivariums & Paludariums: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started: Best of Growing Joy Replay 50:59

1M ago50:59

50:59

What if your next plant project wasn’t just a container of soil and greenery—but a living, breathing world? In this Best of Growing Joy episode, we revisit a wonderful conversation I had a couple years back with terrarium expert Patricia from Doodle Bird Terrariums to explore the captivating art of creating terrariums, paludariums, and vivariums—mi…

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Fungus Gnats, Failing Fiddle Leaf Figs & The Gap of Death: Fix Your Top 3 Plant Problems 1:03:27

1M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

If you’ve ever watched your fiddle leaf fig drop all its leaves, battled fungus gnats that fly into your ear, or poured water on your plant only to watch it run straight through the pot without soaking in, this is your wake-up call. I called in the big guns for this one with my plant friend Mandi from Happy Happy Houseplant. Between our two communi…

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How to Manage Deer, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Moles, Voles and Other Animals in Your Garden with Brie The Plant Lady: Best of Growing Joy Replay 1:00:04

1M ago1:00:04

1:00:04

When I polled our listener community about your top requests for outdoor garden-related episodes, the number one request surprised me: it wasn’t managing fertilizer, succession planting, or garden design. It was how to manage pesky animals getting into your gardens! Today, I have the answer to your prayers: Brie from briegrows.com walks us through …

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Plants Are Our Relatives: Exploring Ancestral Wisdom and the 5 Rs of Herbalism 51:00

1M ago51:00

51:00

I thought I had a pretty deep connection with plants. I mean, this podcast is literally about talking to them (and about them). But after 300+ episodes, this is the only conversation that impacted my daily interaction with plants. My guest, LoriAnn Bird, an Indigenous Métis herbalist and author of Revered Roots, introduced a concept of “plants as o…

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Orchid Care for Beginners: Your Top Orchid Questions, Answered: Best of Growing Joy Replay 54:34

2M ago54:34

54:34

We are joined by Chris today for another installment of our Plant Science Series featuring The Sill! Orchid 101 is near and dear to my heart because I STRUGGLE with orchids, and Chris has been my go-to resource for personal orchid care. So I knew he would be the perfect guest to have come on the show and answer your orchid questions! If you don’t k…

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4 Recipes for Your Abundant Zucchini and Cucumber Harvests 47:24

2M ago47:24

47:24

Are you looking at your basket filled with zucchini (and cucumbers) that you’ve harvested this summer? You might also be wondering what you can do with them because there’s only so much roasted zucchini and pickled cucumber one person can take. You’re in the perfect place, because in this episode, I invited one of my favorite plant people, Kaleb Wy…

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How Plants Hijack Your Brain's Reward System (In a Good Way): A Neuroscientist's Take on Houseplant Addiction: Best of Growing Joy Replay 56:35

2M ago56:35

56:35

Today’s episode is about exactly what the title says: our brains… on plants, and what happens in our brains when we become plant people. When I was starting to move from plant killer to crazy plant lady, I noticed there were a few months at the beginning of my plant collection where I felt like the love for plants kind of took over my life. I was c…

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Exploring 14 Types of Pothos: From Marble Queen to Albo to Climbing Giants 35:24

2M ago35:24

35:24

Your plant parent story might have started with some humble pothos. It’s forgiving, fast-growing, and honestly, it’s probably the most underrated plant in most of our collections. But there is so much more to the pothos that you might be missing out on. So in this episode, we’re going to talk about pothos way beyond the basics with the help of my p…

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21 Houseplants that Bloom Indoors: Best of Growing Joy Replay 37:06

2M ago37:06

37:06

Houseplants are celebrated for their amazing foliage, but I think we overlook another amazing ability, a specific subcategory our favorite indoor plants have — the ability to bloom! Some people say we are intrinsically connected to flowers because, way back when, they signified fruit. Personally, I just think they are joyful as hell with their brig…

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Houseplant Trends, Tips & Hot Takes: Live from the Southeast Plant Show 1:08:44

2M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

This year, I had the joy of hosting a live Growing Joy popup at the Southeast Plant Show. I’ve been fortunate to attend a few plant events lately, but this one felt special in a way that’s hard to describe. The energy was electric! The people were overflowing with joy, and the plants were everything. If you love to connect with plant people, discov…

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Beginner's Guide to Greenhouses: Best of Growing Joy Replay 1:03:58

2M ago1:03:58

1:03:58

I feel like there comes a time in every plant parent's life when we start to get really curious and excited about having a dedicated space for all of our plants. If you are an outdoor gardener, the promise of a greenhouse for seed starts and overwintering plants is even more promising! I’ve had several different moments in life where I’ve Googled g…

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Tree Communication: The Science and Spirit of How Trees Talk 50:22

2M ago50:22

50:22

Have you ever felt drawn to a specific tree—and wondered why? You might already be receiving messages without realizing it. In this episode of Growing Joy, I sat down with intuitive nature expert and green witch Rachael Cohen of Our Infinite Nature to explore one of the most fascinating and overlooked topics in the natural world: tree communication…

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Small Scale Homesteading for Beginners: Best of Growing Joy Replay 1:02:53

3M ago1:02:53

1:02:53

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a homesteader? A growing number of people are turning to self-sufficiency and sustainability in their way of living. However, homesteading can seem intimidating, especially when social media portrays it as an exclusive lifestyle requiring acres of land and living off the grid. The good news is that it doe…

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Mindblowing Facts About Plants Outside Your Door: 11 Garden Plants with Superpowers 30:41

3M ago30:41

30:41

Did you know that some common outdoor plants have superpowers? Some can survive atomic bombing, clean up radiation, and even outsmart insects. This is Part 2 of my conversation with David Domoney, author of Plants with Superpowers, about the superpowers of outdoor plants. These plants can completely change how you walk down the street and look at n…

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How to Grow Lavender 34:18

3M ago34:18

34:18

Did you know that lavender comes in dozens of varieties, each with a different smell, and many with different growing habits? I did learn that from Rebecca at Lavender Connection, who owns a family-run lavender farm in Sequim, Washington, which also happens to be the lavender capital of the United States! After meeting her at the Northwest Flower a…

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Stop Killing Succulents and Listen to This Episode Instead 46:10

3M ago46:10

46:10

Have you ever killed a succulent and then felt like you were completely doomed as a plant parent? That was totally me about eight years ago. I brought succulents home because everyone said they were the easiest, most foolproof plant. Yet I still managed to kill them. Naturally, I spent a lot of time thinking I was just a plant killer. However, I ev…

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I Found 22 Ducklings on My Roof: A Nature-Curious Story of Trust and Transformation 32:45

3M ago32:45

32:45

A few weeks ago, I found 22 baby ducklings on my roof. Not one. Not ten. But 22 fluffy, peeping, impossibly cute ducklings on the eaves of my Florida home. The videos I made became viral on Instagram and Tiktok, and so many people DM-ed me asking for updates! To be honest, it was one of the happiest and most bizarre times of my life because it made…

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Gardening for Better Soil 41:09

4M ago41:09

41:09

How do you view soil in your garden? A lot of us look at soil as just the brown stuff under our feet. We usually don’t think about all of the different components that make up soil, all of the different organisms living in soil, or how it is this whole environment that our plants depend on. It is a living, breathing ecosystem that could be the answ…

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7 Houseplants with Superpowers 44:15

4M ago44:15

44:15

Did you know that your houseplants have superpowers? Some can actually seek out darkness to find the light, some can count, and some can actually bring wealth. To help me reveal all these amazing aspects of our houseplants is my new friend, David Domoney. He’s a celebrated British horticulturist, television presenter, and author with over 30 Royal …

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Sun Protection for Gardeners: Melanoma Awareness Month 33:57

4M ago33:57

33:57

It’s Melanoma Awareness Month! Two years ago, I walked into a dermatologist’s office thinking I had a simple skin issue… then I walked out with a melanoma diagnosis at 34. As a lifelong gardener, I never expected my love of plants would overlap with a serious health scare, but here we are. I’m not a beach person nor an outdoor enthusiast. I just te…

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Smell Your Way to Joy: The Science Behind How Plants and Aromatherapy Enhance Memory and Emotion 39:51

4M ago39:51

39:51

Did you know the scent of plants can do more than just make your garden smell good? It can actually improve your mood, your memory, and your overall health. I’ve always thought of plant scents as just a lovely bonus in the garden, but I didn’t know there’s some wild science behind how smell connects to our emotions and even our brains. And to help …

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How to Propagate Plants in Fluval Stratum 43:21

5M ago43:21

43:21

You've tried water and soil, but have you ever rooted a cutting in a Fluval Stratum? Yes, it’s technically made for fish tanks. Yes, it looks like little black caviar. But it might just be the best thing to happen to your houseplant propagation! So in this episode, let’s break down everything I’ve learned from my conversation with my plant friend, …

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What Is Naturalistic Gardening and Why It Might Change How You Garden Forever 55:14

5M ago55:14

55:14

How do you create a natural garden? Is that even possible? I want to bring you to the style of garden that’s not only sustainable but also more resilient, and honestly, more fun. In fact, it might even be the future of gardening. Natural or naturalistic garden is an approach that’s all about working with nature instead of trying to control it. To h…

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Plant Mythbusters: Debunking 5 Viral Plant Hacks with The Chocolate Botanist 35:42

5M ago35:42

35:42

Have you ever seen one of those viral plant hack videos where someone sprinkles banana peels in their soil or ices their orchid? If you’re wondering if they work, I hate to be the bearer of bad news because the answer is no. Sorry, plant friends. In this episode, I will be separating fact from fiction with my dear friend, Derek Haynes aka The Choco…

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Why Politicians Should Be Gardeners: An Invitation to Rethink Leadership Through the Wisdom of Nature 21:30

5M ago21:30

21:30

Why should politicians become gardeners? No, this is not a political post. No, I didn’t lose it! We will not be talking about sides. This is about healing, connection, and what we can learn from our gardens and our plants in a time where it feels like everything is falling apart. Lately, I’ve been feeling this weight from watching the world spin in…

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Growing Dahlias Made Easy: How to Grow Stunning Blooms from Tuber to Flower 45:25

5M ago45:25

45:25

“To know a Dahlia is to love a Dahlia.” And once you grow one, it’s like all your other flowers just kind of fade into the background. There’s just something about them. One of my most favorite flowers I have ever grown is a Dahlia called Kogane Fubuki. It was this magical pink and yellow ombre bloom that literally stopped me in my tracks every tim…

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How Office Gardens Are Boosting Employee Wellness, One Plant at a Time 40:08

6M ago40:08

40:08

With the push to get people back into offices, there’s a glaring question floating around the corporate world: how do we make the office a place people actually want to come back to? As someone who believes in the impact of plants not just on spaces but on people, this question has me wishing of a world where every office has its own green vegetabl…

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From Wishlist to Whoops: 2025 Houseplant Trends, Plant Care Tips & Plant Fail Confessions From the Northwest Flower & Garden Show 54:45

6M ago54:45

54:45

What plants are flying off the shelves this year? If you’ve been hanging out with me on Instagram or listening to the podcast lately, you know that part of my job is traveling the country to speak at plant shows. I love getting to see what’s new, what’s trending, and honestly… just being surrounded by thousands of plants and planty people. It fills…

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Soil & Strategy: The Two Garden Planning Secrets for Bigger, Healthier Harvests 51:29

6M ago51:29

51:29

How do you plan your garden? Actually, do you plan your gardens at all? After many years of gardening and speaking with many garden experts, I learned that a successful organic vegetable garden doesn’t just happen when you plant it; it starts on the day you plan it. In this episode, I have the perfect recurring guest, Joe Lamp'l, to discuss plannin…

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How to Live Seasonally and Celebrate the Spring Equinox 45:23

6M ago45:23

45:23

What if the secret to a happy life is to live seasonally? Living seasonally isn’t just about eating fresh produce (but, yes, that’s delicious). It’s about noticing nature’s rhythms, then adjusting depending on the season and celebrating those small shifts that define the passage of time. And with the Spring Equinox here, which is a time of renewal …

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How to Use Plants to Heal From Grief 50:34

7M ago50:34

50:34

Grief is so heavy that it can feel like an impossible weight to carry. But if you think about it, you can use plant care as a method to process grief and loss. Like plants, people can also grow and find resilience. They don’t rush and don’t demand. They just grow… little by little, day by day. In this episode, I want to share the story of my dear p…

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5 Signs You're Overthinking Plant Care (And How to Relax) 29:33

7M ago29:33

29:33

Have you ever found yourself overthinking over a yellow leaf and wondering, “Is this overwatering or underwatering? Does it need water? Is this normal?” You’re just like the rest of us, plant friend! It's something I've done many, many times, and I know it's something that people in our community do all the time. We all want to get it right, but ov…

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Houseplants for Kids: Raising the Next Generation of Plant Parents 32:48

7M ago32:48

32:48

“Start ‘em young.” That’s my motto. Well, it’s not really mine but I say it all the time when it comes to houseplants. And for this episode, I’m sure plant parents are gonna be happy to learn how to connect the younger generations to plants and nature at a young age. So I want to share this conversation with my plant friend Priscille Joseph, who is…

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The Transformative Power of Flower Essences: What Are Flower Essences and How Can They Help Me? 56:22

7M ago56:22

56:22

Have you ever once thought about how flowers could do more than brighten your day? What if they could actually support your emotional well-being, reduce your stress, and even spark creativity? After 270+ episodes, this is my first time ordering a guest product right after the interview. Yes, I am on the flower essence bandwagon HARD after this inte…

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Houseplant Confidence: The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything 36:35

8M ago36:35

36:35

Lately, I’ve been hearing so many people talk about Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory—this idea of letting go of control, shifting your mindset, and ultimately finding peace. And you know what? I realized that I went through a similar shift when it came to my plant care journey, and I want to share it with you in this episode. I'll talk about how we thi…

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Water Saving Techniques for Your Garden 52:52

8M ago52:52

52:52

How can we conserve water while maintaining healthy, attractive gardens, no matter what climate you're in? Record-breaking heat waves, devastating droughts, wildfires scorching millions of acres, floods turning streets into rivers—we've seen it all this year. As climate extremes test our resilience, our gardens are feeling the impact too. How do we…

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Plant Inspired Vacations 55:30

8M ago55:30

55:30

Did you know you can use your plant passion as inspiration for how and where you go on vacation? I'm sure many of us have already done this on a small scale. Maybe you've been on a trip and kept taking pictures of plants that look just like the ones you have at home. Or perhaps you've insisted on visiting a local plant shop or botanical garden whil…

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Easy Houseplant Care, Houseplant Pest Control, and Motherhood and Plants 51:09

8M ago51:09

51:09

If you’re a plant lover, you’ve probably come across Chantel, the brilliant mind behind @channygrayhome on Instagram. Over the past few years, she has built a community of over half a million plant enthusiasts. But there’s so much more to her than her incredible follower count. In this episode, I’ll take you behind the scenes of my chat with Channy…

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Beneficial Insects For Effortless Houseplant Pest Management 52:20

8M ago52:20

52:20

When I visited the Seattle Spheres and saw the famous green wall with its 40,000 plants, I was mesmerized. But what really caught my eye were these strange little plastic baggies hanging off some stems. I wondered if they were hurting the plants at first. But then I looked closer, I realized those bags were filled with insects. Beneficial insects, …

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I Grew 40 New Plants in 2024: Ranked from Favorites to Flops 47:40

9M ago47:40

47:40

I can't believe we're already in 2025, but I am SO excited to spill all the tea about my wild plant experiment from last year. In 2024, I totally went for it and added over 40 new plant species to my collection—and it was quite the adventure! Some of these plants thrived, some flopped, and yes, some didn’t make it. So in this episode, I’m sharing i…