Bloom and Grow Radio

New Trend Alert! Tiny Plants are the curious collector's dream, and an awesome option for plant parents who are working with limited space OR are obsessed with teensy tiny adorable things like me. Leslie Halleck, one of the favorite recurring guests for Bloom and Grow Radio, joins us again to talk about her obsession with Tiny Plants, tips for caring for them, and a matchmaking session where she pairs the perfect tiny plant for each plant parent personality. Get ready to learn about teensy, tiny adorableness! Pre-Order Leslie's new book: Tiny Plants Get on the waitlist for the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Launch Be the first to gain access and founding member discounts  through joining our waitlist Snag your spot on the waitlist here   Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up! In this episode we learn: [05:29] Leslie shares how she spots plant trends and what the trend of small plants has changed in people’s lives [08:25] How Leslie got into the tiny plants hobby, her internship in the Puerto Rican rainforest, and her history with ferns [14:37] Do micro species have different DNA from regular plants? Why do they stay tiny forever? [18:22] The different tiny plant species featured in Leslie’s book and why you should get into the world of tiny plants [19:11] Why lithops are not beginner-friendly tiny plants and Leslie’s advice for taking care of them [20:47] Caring for tiny plants vs caring for regular plants, is there a difference? [23:18] How taking care of tiny plants serves as a wellness ritual for Leslie [25:25] Hunting for rare species is fun, according to Leslie [26:26] Tiny Plants bonus: know about the best plant vendors for your next tiny plants! [28:10] Where to get the best planty gifts for mother’s day [30:14] Maria’s favorite companion at the end of the day (aside from Billy) [32:11] Maria and Leslie’s current tiny plant favorites [34:51] How to style with tiny plants and why you have more options with them! [38:32] Why Maria is excited to take a deeper dive into the tiny plants world [39:50] How tiny plants make it easier to incorporate nature into your home [41:08] Maria shares one of the reasons she loves and appreciates plant parenthood [42:56] The best tiny plants for mindful plant parents [44:30] Are you a low-key plant parent? Here are the perfect tiny plants for you [45:26] Aesthetic and urban jungle tiny plants for the design-based plant parent [47:25] Edible tiny plants for the urban farmer plant parent [50:15] The tiny plants genus to check out if you’re a curious collector type of plant parent [56:55] Maria sends positivity and love to the Bloom and Grow community Mentioned in our conversation: Tiny Plants by Leslie Halleck Plant Parenting by Leslie Halleck Gardening Under Lights by Leslie Halleck Leslie’s previous Bloom and Grow episodes Grow Lights 101 Propagation 101 Root-ology Thank you to our episode sponsors: Modern Sprout Modern Sprout is connecting people and plants with their fabulous lines of grow lights, seed starter kits, and all sorts of planty products that empower people to cultivate their own indoor oasis, whether you live in a studio apartment or a sprawling farmhouse, with simple, stylish and sustainable green-thumb solutions for every home. They just launched new products like their seed starter kits and gift sets so head to modernsprout.com to check all their products out and use code 15bloom at checkout. Allagash Brewing Company Allagash Brewing Company is an amazing brewery and b corporation out of Portland, Maine that has just come out with Fine Acre: an organic beer that’s the perfect accompaniment to your indoor and outdoor gardening practices this spring and summer! Fine Acre’s launch supports organic gardening and farming, so we are celebrating with the Beer Gardening with Allagash Sweepstakes! The prize is insanely planty with over $3000 of gardening goodies. Head over to allagash.com for mechanics on how to join the giveaway! Fine Acre and other Allagash beers are for drinkers 21+. Please drink responsibly. Follow Leslie: Website Instagram Books Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

I think we all know that there are a lot of lessons to be learned in the garden and that's twofold: literally how to garden and how to grow food, reconnect with our food chain, and deepen our relationship with nature. I am so excited to deepen my gardening knowledge this summer with My First Garden Series, where I troubleshoot and try my first shot at outdoor gardening outside of the tiny balcony garden that I have had since I've launched the show. In this episode, I invite Nicole from Gardenary for an in-depth garden coaching, sprinkled with wonderful insights about self-love, reconnecting with nature, and just life in general. Let’s dive in! Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up! In this episode we learn: [00:04:40] The exciting news for the Bloom and Grow community! [00:08:23] Who is Nicole Burke of Gardenary, how she turned into a gardener, and how gardening has helped her regain her sense of self [00:11:37] How the idea behind Gardenary came to be and Nicole’s ultimate dream for the company [00:15:10] Maria shares her first garden experience, her gardening education, and what she hopes to accomplish this gardening season [00:16:47] The advantages of raised bed gardening vs row gardening and in-ground gardening [00:18:03] The minimum space, cost, and time requirements for beginner gardeners [00:22:07] Nicole’s raised bed suggestion for long and rectangular plots of land and how to work with constraints in your garden [00:25:20] What is the maximum width for a garden bed? How much space should you put in between your garden beds? [00:30:43] How to address garden planning overwhelm and why Nicole believes gardening shouldn’t take time [00:32:45] Why setting up your garden properly is doing 90% of the work [00:34:37] Maria shares her favorite stroll and gardening companion [00:36:25] Where to get the best grow lights for all plant needs and the best seed starter packages for this season! [00:39:06] The best gardening advice Maria has gotten from her mom [00:39:54] Nicole shares the meaning behind her saying “think about nature” and how to reshape our thinking when it comes to plants and their growing abilities [00:43:47] Which plants should you mix in in your bed? How understanding plant families and the best seasons to grow them can give you the best yield [00:47:04] Should you be mindful of shading when combining large plants with smaller ones? Nicole shares the better factors that you should consider: temperature and timing [00:49:39] Where should you face your beds? [00:50:53] Should you start flowers from seeds or from seedlings? What are the best flowers to grow for beginners? [00:54:06] The best smaller sunflowers to grow and where to place them in your garden bed [00:55:25] Since most trellises are expensive, can you make a trellis on your own? [00:57:20] How many cherry tomato plants do you need to achieve Nicole’s amazing tomato arch? [00:59:27] Can you grow more than one plant on one trellis? Nicole shares some garden style tips when growing vines [01:00:46] The magic of gardening and what this hobby teaches us about life and growth [01:01:27] Why everyone should try kitchen gardening [01:05:02] Maria’s current garden situation and what she is looking forward to! Mentioned in our conversation: Brooke Castillo’s Podcast The Life Coach School Nicole Burke’s book Kitchen Garden Revival Gardenary’s YouTube video How Many Blooms Come from One Zinnia Gardenary’s YouTube video How to Grow Tomatoes Up an Arch Trellis Thank you to our episode sponsors: Allagash Brewing Company Allagash Brewing Company is an amazing brewery and b corporation out of Portland, Maine that has just come out with Fine Acre: an organic beer that’s the perfect accompaniment to your indoor and outdoor gardening practices this spring and summer! Fine Acre’s launch supports organic gardening and farming, so we are celebrating with the Beer Gardening with Allagash Sweepstakes! The prize is insanely planty with over $3000 of gardening goodies. Head over to allagash.com for mechanics on how to join the giveaway! Fine Acre and other Allagash beers are for drinkers 21+. Please drink responsibly. Modern Sprout Modern Sprout is connecting people and plants with their fabulous lines of grow lights, seed starter kits, and all sorts of planty products that empower people to cultivate their own indoor oasis, whether you live in a studio apartment or a sprawling farmhouse, with simple, stylish and sustainable green-thumb solutions for every home. They just launched new products like their seed starter kits and gift sets so head to modernsprout.com to check all their products out and use code 15bloom at checkout. Follow Nicole: Gardenary | Rooted Garden  Podcast Instagram Tiktok Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Do any of you remember that store in the mall that sold mini bonsai trees and meditative water features? I was pretty obsessed with them as a kid and was so taken with these tiny trees, all the miniaturization of these beautiful, serene scenes. I definitely had and killed several of those trees in my teenage years, and I’m put at ease to hear I’m not the only one after speaking to many of you on Instagram about bonsai and our guest today, Bjorn from Eisei-en Bonsai. We cover a lot about this niche hobby of bonsai within an already niche of plant care, so let's get to it! Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up! 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 being an apprentice [00:09:16] How to properly pronounce ‘bonsai’ and what it means [00:09:40] What is a bonsai? How do you classify a tree as a bonsai tree? [00:10:56] Can you turn any tree into a bonsai? [00:11:54] Apical dominance vs lateral dominance [00:14:14] How to measure bonsais and the different bonsai size classifications: shohin and chuhin [00:16:03] Where did bonsais originate from? [00:17:43] How do you differentiate between indoor bonsais and outdoor bonsais? What are great plants for both types? [00:19:29] How much light do bonsais need? [00:20:25] The basic bonsai potting mix: pumice, lava rock, and akadama (yes, it’s Japanese!) [00:22:01] How much fertilizer does your bonsai need? What kind of fertilizer should you apply to your bonsai? [00:23:26] Bonsai and teabags: how to ‘tea’ your bonsai when adding fertilizer [00:24:19] Why growing bonsais is about practicing control [00:25:00] How to take care of sick bonsai trees and what the long-term goal is for growing bonsais [00:26:02] What bonsais can teach us about patience [00:26:20] Where to get the best soil mixes for all plant needs [00:27:36] How to keep deer and wildlife from your garden [00:29:27] Do you want your bonsais to bloom? [00:30:51] How often should you water bonsais? Bjorn gives us the how-to and why’s on watering bonsais [00:34:32] Bonsai and shade cloths: where should you place your bonsai? What is a bonsai’s ideal light situation? [00:36:20] Bonsai pruning 101 [00:37:32] Plant nerd facts: what are the growth hormones auxin and cytokine and what do they do? [00:40:05] Why are bonsai trees in small and shallow pots? [00:41:20] How much of a bonsai tree’s roots should you prune? [00:42:48] Why spring is the best time to prune your bonsai [00:43:41] Root galls and how to properly remove them 00:45:58] How do you prune bonsai shoots? When and how do you use copper or aluminum wires to shape your bonsai? [00:49:32] The concept of mochikomi [00:50:28] The biggest mistakes people make when it comes to bonsais [00:52:08] Bjorn’s recommendations for beginner bonsai growers [00:55:39] Where to get the best bonsais online [00:56:43] Winterizing your bonsai tree [00:58:27] What is the best bonsai tree pest treatment? [01:00:10] Why everyone should try bonsai! Mentioned in our conversation: Knoxville Bonsai Society Brussels Bonsai Eisei-en Bonsai's YouTube video Sekka Hinoki from Simple Material Thank you to our episode sponsors: Espoma Organic For responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays, and more, visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my Amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here. DeerBusters DeerBusters strives to protect the gardens of companies and individuals through high-quality wildlife fencing. Deer and wildlife can be the bane of any gardener's existence and Deer Busters makes installing deer fences, simple with their easy to install fencing kits that come in several different materials and sizes. No fancy hardware needed. Visit deerbusters.com today to protect your plants tomorrow and use code BLOOM at checkout for 10% off. Follow Bjorn: Website  Instagram  YouTube Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

I’ve always known that Hardiness Zones and Frost Dates are important to planning your outdoor garden… but plant friend, I’ve never quite understood what they were or why they were so important. I’ve gotten as far as typing my zip code into the hardiness zone website, getting my “number” and then pretty much not doing anything with it. As I look to plan my first grown up garden this summer, I knew I needed help, so I asked Rochelle Greayer, of the renowned garden design website Pith & Vigor, who has years of garden design under her belt to help break all of these important concepts down for us, to better understand our outdoor environments. So many lightbulb moments in this episode let's dive right in.  Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up! In this episode we learn: [04:46] What Maria has in store for fellow novice gardeners like her this summer! [05:40] How Rochelle went from flying aircraft and satellites to a full-time garden designer [08:34] What Rochelle loves about garden design—and Maria’s luxury spa biophilic experience [10:00] The many careers you can get into if you want to pursue a plant profession [11:26] Do plants really clean the air in your apartment? Maria discusses this hot topic circulating in the plant community [13:10] The topics that Maria wants to understand about outdoor gardens [13:49] What are hardiness zones? What are the pros and cons of the USDA Hardiness Zones? [17:23] The difference between the USDA hardiness zones and the American Horticultural Society (AHS) Heat Zones [18:39] What does a plant’s hardiness mean? [19:20] Once you know your hardiness zone, how do you apply that information to your outdoor garden? [21:11] Does hardiness matter for annual plants? [21:58] How do frost dates differ from hardiness zones? What are frost dates actually for? [23:10] Why it is important to know frost dates—beware of last frost! [25:54] What’s more important between hardiness zone and frost dates? [26:25] The best seeds, soil, and fertilizers for your indoor and outdoor garden this season! [29:48] How to plan your garden with your hardiness zone and frost dates information [31:02] Frost date hack: you can extend your growing season inside! [32:31] Understanding how a plant supports itself during growing season [35:06] What are the Sunset climate zones? [36:58] Listener question #1: How much does microclimate affect your predicted garden zones? What is a microclimate? [39:31] How do you know if you have a microclimate in the garden? [41:06] Listener question #2: What methods can be used to push gardening zones, if a plant is hardy just outside your gardening zone? [41:43] Why it’s important to pay attention to the environments in your garden [44:44] Listener question #3: Have the zones changed because of climate change? [46:49] Rochelle’s favorite piece of advice for those who want to try out garden design [48:57] Rochelle’s gardening course for homeowners looking into improving their gardens [50:26] The cool history behind Pith + Vigor’s name [53:23] Maria’s plans for this seed season and how she’s applied this conversation to her garden planning   Mentioned in our conversation: USDA Hardiness Zone Map Frost Dates Calculator The Old Farmer’s Almanac Thank you to our episode sponsor: Territorial Seed Company Thank you Territorial Seed Co for sponsoring today's episode! Territorial Seed Co provides high quality seeds and plants (over 2000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75 acre farm and have a ton of fall varieties for us to try! It's already time to start planning your 2021 garden! For seeds, plants, online garden planner, how to videos and more visit TerritorialSeed.com and use code BLOOM10 for 10% off. Espoma Organic Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here. Follow Rochelle Pith + Vigor: Website  Instagram  Classes (Affiliate link) Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Of all the plants I’m feeling drawn to these days, Alocasia are at the top of my list. I feel like their weird, semi heart shaped, semi ovular shaped leaves look like little alien heads looking at me, popping out from my collection to say hello. They are oddly friendly but also strange looking plants that I’m obsessed with. There are so many reasons to love Alocasia, from the unique leaf shape, to their gorgeous vein patterns and the incredible variety of colors you see, I’m particularly entranced by Alocasia cuprea. Today we are joined by Enid from NSE Tropicals againt o dive deep into Alocasia care and best plants for different types of plant parents. I dare you to not try this amazing genus of plants after listening, sweet plant friend.   Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!   In this episode we learn: [04:13] Reintroducing Enid, why Maria is OBSESSED with alocasia, and what this episode has in store [05:19] Where can you find alocasias in nature? [06:00] With their similar beautiful features, how can you tell alocasias and anthurium apart? [07:44] What Maria loves about alocasias [08:17] Do alocasias love humidity? What kind of potting mix is ideal for them? [10:35] How often should you water your alocasias? [10:53] Is there a particular light situation that alocasias like? [12:41] What you should always remember when taking care of alocasias (or anthuriums!) [13:27] Enid shares how often she uses fertilizer and what fertilizer she uses on her alocasias [14:20] The experience behind why Maria is intimidated by alocasias [14:42] What happens to alocasias during their dormant period? What are things you can do when they are dormant? [17:42] Where to best get your garden planting needs this season! [19:37] Is there a perfect starter plant for everyone? Maria compiled the best ones suited for YOU [20:55] What is a corm and how does it function for alocasias? [21:25] How do you propagate alocasias? Can you propagate from their leaves? [22:06] Enid shares the most common mistake you might be making with your alocasias! [22:41] How do you save an alocasia from root rot? Can you STILL save it? [24:06] On the ground or in a pot, what’s the best way to keep alocasias upright and prevent them from tipping over? [25:13] What potting situation do alocasias prefer? [26:03] The possible explanation on why your alocasia is growing more flowers than leaves [27:21] Is preventing your alocasias’ dormancy harmful for them in the long-term? [28:53] You alocasias are actually pretty smart! [29:35] Enid’s alocasia recommendations for all stages of plant parents! [30:18] Maria and Enid share their stories with the hardy alocasia Polly [33:48] Maria talks about the alocasias she currently owns and her future plans for this genus!                 Mentioned in our conversation: BAGR Episode Aroids 101 Part 1 BAGR Episode Aroids 101 Part 2 BAGR Episode Anthurium Care The Common Cult Podcast with Heather and Eryn NSE Tropicals   Thank you to our episode sponsor: Territorial Seed Company Thank you Territorial Seed Co for sponsoring today's episode! Territorial Seed Co provides high quality seeds and plants (over 2000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75 acre farm and have a ton of fall varieties for us to try! It's already time to start planning your 2021 garden! For seeds, plants, online garden planner, how to videos and more visit TerritorialSeed.com and use code BLOOM10 for 10% off. Take the Plant Parent Personality Test! Take the Plant Parent Personality quiz to unlock your Plant Parent Potential and get a curated list of plants, DIY planty projects and podcasts tailored specifically for your lifestyle. Follow Enid Instagram and Facebook: @NSETropicals    https://www.nsetropicals.com/index.html   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

So we’ve all been in a garden center and picked up a plant, or had a friend give us a cutting and look at the plant in our hands and think “ummm what is this thing?” Today’s episode is all about learning some basic skills for identifying houseplants and how to observe our plants in order to get to know them better. We are joined by Derek of The Crazy Botanist for a higher level conversation about basic houseplant identification, and how to change our thinking around plants to see them for their leaf shapes, flowers and other identifying factors instead of just a name. This episode is a nice palate cleanser that encourages us to zoom out in our relationship to plants, in addition to the intense nerdy specifics we always like to deep dive on. I hope you enjoy it.   In this episode we learn: [02:05] Introducing Derek and episode key ideas [04:17] How Derek got into the plant parent life, where his obsession with plants started, and how he uses his degree in Botany! [06:23] How are plants classified? What is binomial nomenclature and how is it used to classify any living organism? [09:32] Derek breaks down the hierarchy of binomial nomenclature and the questions related to each denomination [12:54] What should we be looking for when identifying houseplants? What should we keep in mind when describing plants for identification? [15:33] What is the best—and easiest!—way to identify leaves? [17:39] Derek emphasizes the importance of proper communication in plant identification [18:26] Why Maria recommends having screen-free time with your plants [19:06] Derek shares his method of identification when going plant shopping—which you can also do! [21:07] A short history of plant identification methods and how the internet has made plant identification easier today [23:24] Where to get the most amazing indoor and outdoor gardening products and the best potting mixes [24:24] The best resource for your seed starting this season [26:30] How do you identify the flowers in your houseplants? Derek enumerates some factors that will help you with flower identification. [33:10] What identifying factors should you look for in stems? Do snake plants even have stems? [35:06] What are some houseplants that don’t look alike but are actually closely related? [37:03] Are there plants that look alike but are not related? Of course! [38:52] How do you tell maranta, calathea, ctenanthe, and stromanthe apart? [42:59] Where does The Crazy Botanist go for plant identification resources? [46:26] Derek reiterates the importance of accessible and understandable scientific communication [48:00] A little begonia identification lesson with help from the American Begonia Society! [51:20] Maria reflects on plant identification and how it helps us become better plant parents and better members of the plant community Mentioned in our conversation: American Begonia Society Leaf types and flower identification document Derek provided Sleep Whispers Podcast Thank you to our episode sponsors: Territorial Seed Company Thank you Territorial Seed Co for sponsoring today's episode! Territorial Seed Co provides high quality seeds and plants (over 2000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75 acre farm and have a ton of fall varieties for us to try! It's already time to start planning your 2021 garden! For seeds, plants, online garden planner, how to videos and more visit TerritorialSeed.com and use code BLOOM10 for 10% off. Espoma Organic Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here. Follow Derek Instagram @thechocolatebotanist Facebook thecrazybotanist The Crazy Botanist Youtube   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

When I think Jungle Vibes, anthuriums always come to mind. Their large leaves, mesmerizing vein patterns in the leaves, long slim stems and gorgeous flowers have such a prehistoric look to them. There is so much more to the world of Anthuriums besides the one you can always pick up in the grocery store, so today we welcome back the queen of the aroids, Enid from NSE tropicals to do a deep dive on Anthurium care. NSE Tropicals is one of the most sought after rare plant provider in the US. Restocks routinely sell out in minutes and we are lucky that the mastermind behind it, Enid joins us today for an in depth discussion. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, because Enid will be back next month, to discuss Alocasia care! In this episode we learn: How Maria’s wishlist plants have changed since she first started collecting [02:15] How you can help grow the Bloom and Grow Radio community! [04:00] Enid shares the wonderful story behind the NSE Tropicals, and its 21 year-old plant collecting history! [05:11] Why anthuriums are starting to be a big trend within the plant community [06:22] The interesting environment and origins of anthuriums [06:56] Basic care tips for indoor anthuriums on soil mix and humidity [11:05] Enid’s quick plant hack on increasing humidity [13:19] How to properly water your anthuriums [14:32] What’s the optimal humidity level for indoor anthuriums? [16:37] Do different varieties of anthuriums need different types of light? [18:08] Enid shares her own observations between anthuriums in a greenhouse versus anthuriums in open-air setups [19:19] Why plant parents should always consider the natural environment of their plants [20:06] Where to best get your garden planting needs this season! [21:08] Enid explains why your leaves shouldn’t feel hot to the touch [23:27] How to REALLY know your plants according to Enid [24:11] Are anthurium leaves drooping normal? How do you differentiate between an unhappy plant and normal plant behavior? [25:31] The nasty pests you should be looking out for when taking care of anthuriums and how to get rid of them the right way [27:10] General fertilizer tips for anthuriums and Enid’s recommended brands [29:08] What is pollination for? What are inflorescences? [30:19] Enid’s top 3 anthurium recommendations for beginner plant parents [34:24] Enid’s top 3 anthurium recommendations for advanced plant parents [35:12] Maria shares her future anthurium plans and what to expect from the next episode with Enid [37:03] Mentioned in our conversation: BAGR Episode Aroids 101 Part 1 BAGR Episode Aroids 101 Part 2 NSE Tropicals Thank you to our episode sponsor: Territorial Seed Company Thank you Territorial Seed Co for sponsoring today's episode! Territorial Seed Co provides high quality seeds and plants (over 2000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75 acre farm and have a ton of fall varieties for us to try! It's already time to start planning your 2021 garden! For seeds, plants, online garden planner, how to videos and more visit TerritorialSeed.com and use code BLOOM10 for 10% off. Follow Enid Instagram and Facebook: @NSETropicals  https://www.nsetropicals.com/index.html Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

So many of us got bitten by the outdoor gardening bug last year and learned there is no better way to connect with the food we eat.. then by growing it. My passion for growing edible plants has grown, like my space has. My first garden was a tiny box full of herbs and one tomato plant on our tiny balcony three years ago, and since then, the balcony containers grew, and now I’m excited to be in our first home with acres to farm this summer. Starting these edible plants from seed has been a bit intimidating, but in my efforts to continue growing as a plant parent, I’m ready to take the plunge and dive in. Starting from seed offers us the ability to be in control of the varieties we grow, plan in advance and save lots of money in the long run. My dear friend and mentor Joe Lamp’l- the "joe behind joe gardener" is the king of organic gardening and has an amazing seed starting course launching this week and was kind enough to stop by and give us the inside scoop on seed starting basics, and inspire us to deepen our curiosity about where food comes from and empower us to grow it ourselves. If this episode or topic inspires you... join me in Joe's 2021 Master Seed Starting Course! Enrollment is only a week long and closes February 2nd, 2021!  Use my affiliate link here and get access to the private zoom call with Joe and Myself specifically for our  Bloom and Grow Community! We will have the call in March, after we have all binged the course, and troubleshoot our specific questions with Joe and grow as a community together! In this episode we learn: [00:00:10] Maria shares her favorite experiences and benefits of seed starting [00:02:11] Where to get the best seeds for your spring and summer gardens this year [00:06:20] Joe demystifies seed starting and why you shouldn’t be nervous about starting your own garden! [00:07:24] What Joe does for a living and where you can check out for more of his gardening tips [00:09:39] Why Joe emphasizes understanding the why’s of gardening and plant parenthood [00:10:17] Maria shares her own experience with growing seeds and why she didn’t give it a ‘real shot’ prior [00:11:12] Joe talks about the rewarding feeling of starting from a seed versus seedling [00:12:43] The sense of ownership that seed starting instills in us [00:13:31] How growing your own garden expands your food choices [00:14:26] What Maria learned about seed starting versus seedlings when she grew her own tomatoes [00:16:47] Joe answers the question we’re all thinking about: how much do we need for a successful seed starting setup? [00:16:56] Breaking down the materials, the costs, the alternatives, and the conditions you need for seed starting [00:22:14] What kind of soil is ideal for seed starting? [00:24:10] Joe’s recommendations for seed tray sizes, compartment depth, and seed tray materials [00:28:06] When is the best time to start on your seeds? What is the most important date you need to know when growing your own seeds? [00:30:20] Where Maria is sourcing her seeds from for this gardening season [00:33:55] Do seeds have an expiration date? Joe emphasizes the importance of buying seeds from a good and established company [00:35:40] Do we need to be looking out for non-GMO seeds? [00:36:19] Is it possible to grow the seed of a fruit that you just ate? Joe discusses the difference between hybrid and open pollinated non-hybrid [00:38:17] Now that you’ve got your seed starting setup, how do you put your seeds in the soil? [00:39:01] What is the ideal light situation for seed starting? [00:39:38] The step-by-step process of seed starting, what you should expect when you’ve planted your seeds, and the most intensive part of the process according to Joe [00:43:10] The process of thinning and why Maria finds it SO frustrating [00:45:38] Is there a right and only way to germinate your seeds? For Maria’s mom, a damp towel in a Ziploc bag is the way to go [00:46:30] How to check if your seeds are still good [00:47:50] How does cold stratification work and why do some plants need it? Joe explains the what’s, the why’s, and the how’s of this process [00:49:46] What you can learn from Joe’s Master Seed Starting class [00:50:38] The importance of building an engaged and active community of seed starters [00:54:57] An exciting offer from Joe and Maria on how to be a better seed starter! [00:57:41] What Maria is excited about with her seed starting this season!                 Mentioned in our conversation: Take the Master Seed Starting Course with me! Enrollment is only a week long and closes February 2nd, 2021!  Use my affiliate link here and get access to the private zoom call with Joe and Myself specifically for our  Bloom and Grow Community! We will have the call in March, after we have all binged the course, and troubleshoot our specific questions with Joe and grow as a community together! BAGR Episode Living, Potted Christmas Trees with Joe Lamp’l BAGR Episode Fall Garden Plants and Projects with Joe Lamp’l BAGR Episode Talking Tomatoes with Craig LeHoullier and My MOM Cultivating Place Podcast by Jennifer Jewell   Thank you to our episode sponsors: These two sponsors are the perfect combination for seed starting! Use Espoma Organic Seed Starting mix paired with Territorial Seed Company seeds and seed starting accessories! That's what I'll be doing! Territorial Seed Company Thank you Territorial Seed Co for sponsoring today's episode! Territorial Seed Co provides high quality seeds and plants (over 2000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75 acre farm and have a ton of fall varieties for us to try! It's already time to start planning your 2021 garden! For seeds, plants, online garden planner, how to videos and more visit TerritorialSeed.com and use code BLOOM10 for 10% off. Espoma Organic Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here.   Follow Joe Take the Master Seed Starting Course with me! Enrollment is only a week long and closes February 2nd, 2021!  Use my affiliate link here and get access to the private zoom call with the Bloom and Grow Community with Joe and Myself to troubleshoot our questions after we take the course!   joe gardener website - joegardener.com The joe gardener show Podcasts - joegardener.com/podcast joe gardener Newsletter - https://growingagreenerworld.lpages.co/joegardener-group-membership-sign-up/ joe gardener Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joegardenerTV/ joe gardener Facebook Group -https://www.facebook.com/groups/joegardener/ joe gardener Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joegardener/ joe gardenerTV YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/joegardenerTV  joe gardener Twitter - https://twitter.com/joegardener joe gardener Online Gardening Academy - joegardener.com/learn Growing a Greener World - growingagreenerworld.com GGWTV YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/ggwtv Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

So we have said goodbye to 2020 and all of the insanity that came with it, but there is something we haven’t said goodbye to: working from home. Many companies have pledged to work from home well into 2021, leaving us sitting in  our sweatpants, computer monitors and weird makeshift home offices with reluctant acceptance. People are spending more time than EVER indoors and at their screens, and that’s why it’s never been MORE important to have plants not only in our homes, but in our work from home office set ups. Since WFH isn't going anywhere, in 2021, I'm choosing to reframe it from a frustration to an opportunity. An opportunity to have complete control over our WFH environment and create our desk space oasis to look exactly like we want it. Today’s episode is all about the why and how behind bringing plants into our workspaces, whether you are still working from home or are back in your office. Cobbling together a work from home set up was STRESSFUL in 2020, in our old apartment  I had a desk that folded up into the wall, so I couldn’t even decorate and settle in the way I wanted. But now, as we turn the page to 2021, let’s shake things up create some stress free and  joyful moments in our lives! For me the solution here has been plants and something that blew me away recently is how many people in our community are going HAM on their workspaces with plants. I posted my planty wfh set up on IG in December, asking if anyone else created a jungle oasis at their desk the way I did in 2020, and SO many of you sent pictures of your amazing planty home office set ups, and asked for help and ideas for how to set up your own. So this episode is for you plant friends, inspired by you and members of our community, and I hope everyone walks away from this episode with one idea to incorporate a little more green into their daily workflow.  I’ve broken this episode into two sections: the WHY where we dive into the reasons why having plants are so important in our space and talk a little about biophilic design and then part two the HOW. I share ideas inspired from the WHY section, break down the ways I incorporated plants and biophilic design into my home office and then review some photos listeners sent in and hope their setups might inspire you as well.  Get the free download with 9 Tips for Greening Up Your Work From Home Office Space In the 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 Tip #14: Install grow lights to incorporate more plants [32:44] Planty WFH Tip #15: Tiny space? Go vertical! [34:21] Maria’s biggest takeaways from 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design and her top advice on #plantyWFH setups [36:26] Finding joy and awe in your #plantyWFH as a small break from your work day Mentioned Resources in today's episode Get the free download with 9 Tips for Greening Up Your Work From Home Office Space Check out Maria's #plantywfh office tour on youtube! Blog with photos of our community members #plantywfh set ups BAGR YouTube video Houseplant Tour: My Restorative Plant Corner // Why Plant Care Truly is Self Care BAGR Episode How To Use Plants To Create Restorative Environments With Anne Meore From NYBG 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design by William Browning, Catherine Ryan, and Joseph Clancy Hoh Rainforest Audio Biophilia by Edward O. Wilson Frederick Law Olmsted View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery by Roger Ulrich Stephen R. Kellert Attention Restoration Theory: Exploring the Role of Soft Fascination and Mental Bandwidth by Rachel Kaplan What Was That Like Podcast by Scott Johnson Thank you to our episode sponsor: Makespace makes storage simple, seamless and affordable without you EVER having to leave your apartment. They pick up, store and return your stuff and provide the packing materials! To learn more, visit makespace.com and use code SPACEPLZ for $100 off! Take the Plant Parent Personality quiz to unlock your Plant Parent Potential and get a curated list of plants, DIY planty projects and podcasts tailored specifically for your lifestyle. Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

One of the biggest questions I’ve gotten from our community is how to understand humidity and watering better. As we are in the depths of winter, humidity is a big topic and focus in our plant care routines, and you are going to hear a LOT about it today in a nerdy deep dive with two other plant podcasters, the daddies of the Plant Daddy Podcast Stephen and Matthew.  I knew  there couldn’t be a better guests than these two guys who are total nerds and maybe the only two other people who get as jazzed as doing weird deep dives into plant care as I am. This conversation was supposed to be 40 minutes and ended up being 90 because we just couldn’t stop talking about plants and winter and humidity and problem solving and I hope your inner plant nerd sees the inner plant nerd in us and just smiles and feels seen. So kick back, cozy up with your plants and enjoy episode 112 of the Bloom and Grow Radio Podcast! Just wanted to let you plant friends know during the time of this interview I got REAL curious and polled you guys about which brands of hygrometers you use (those are the humidity meters we talked about in the episode) and I’ve become a bit obsessed at putting them all over my house and comparing and contrasting the humidity levels in different rooms- from the bedroom to the bathroom to the living room.  Check out this youtube video on my hygrometer and moisture meter review.    In this episode we learn:                    [00:05:32] Matthew and Stephen share their personal histories with plants, and Matthew’s previous plant number (it was A LOT) [00:09:31] Matthew and Stephen’s gateway plants and how the difference in their plant interests pave way to a more diverse discussion in their podcast [00:11:03] How the Plant Daddy Podcast came to be [00:14:18] Maria shares the idea behind doing a deep dive episode on humidity and winter plant care [00:15:20] What happens to your plants during winter, the changes you might see in them as it grows colder, and figuring out the light your plants need [00:18:48] Are you making sure that the heat and cold in your home are optimal for your plants? [00:21:10] Should you really just water your plants less come winter time? Matthew has a different and smart answer! [00:22:19] A glimpse into Maria’s opera days: a wet rag on top of the radiator for more humidity [00:24:03] Should you leave your plants touching or close together? [00:25:29] Let’s talk about dormancy! Yes, your plants also take some time to sleep [00:26:29] Matthew’s insightful perspective on plant dormancy and seasonal changes [00:28:36] Stephen’s easy and practical tip to understand plant dormancy [00:32:23] Are your plants required to go through dormancy? Maria, Matthew, and Stephen share their own experiences with controlled environments [00:35:15] Why it is important to know the genus of your plants and where they originate from [00:37:10] Matthew elaborates on bulbs and how different plants with bulbs behave during different seasons [00:40:45] One of the biggest secret plant killers during winter: pests! [00:41:42] How seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can also affect your plants [00:42:16] How to ‘double-down’ on pest control management during the winter according to Stephen [00:43:28] Matthew’s personal hacks on getting rid of mealybugs [00:46:30] One of the most important things to know when you have plants according to Matthew: there is no one answer to everything [00:47:01] Where to source the BEST seeds for your garden (It’s planning time!) [00:49:37] Maria’s curated starter plans for all the different types of plant parents out there [00:50:58] Understanding the humidity and the environment that we, our plants, and even our homes need during colder months [00:56:24] What are Stephen and Matthew’s approaches to maintaining the right humidity for each of their plants? [01:00:00] Maria shares why she wants to learn more about humidity despite not needing to really focus on it before (yes, it’s true) [01:01:50] The horrifying experience with a humidifier that taught Maria a lesson the hard way [01:02:56] Matthew and Stephen’s hot takes on humidifiers and misting [01:06:55] Interesting hack on avoiding molds on dry walls when using a humidifier [01:09:11] Why you should check how your humidifier is working in the environment or room that it is in [01:14:01] Humidity concerns matter, but are you watering and taking care of your plants’ soil properly? [01:16:11] How to keep tabs on your plants’ humidity with tools [01:17:41] Maria’s future plans and experiments on humidity [01:19:32] Appreciating the unique perspectives and representations that Plant Daddy Podcast brings to plant parenthood  Mentioned in our conversation: Plant Parent Personality Test Territorial Seed Company (Bloom10 gets ya 10% off) BAGR Episode Hoya Care 101 with Doug Chamberlain On The Ledge Podcast by Jane Perrone BAGR YouTube video Moisture Meter and Hygrometer Review / Humidity Products for Houseplants Haul Pull It Together Podcast by Alex Mateo Thank you to our episode sponsor: Territorial Seed Company Thank you Territorial Seed Co for sponsoring today's episode! Territorial Seed Co provides high quality seeds and plants (over 2000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75 acre farm and have a ton of fall varieties for us to try! It's already time to start planning your 2021 garden! For seeds, plants, online garden planner, how to videos and more visit TerritorialSeed.com and use code BLOOM10 for 10% off.   Follow Plant Daddy Podcast MERCH now available now through plantdaddypodcast.com https://www.instagram.com/plantdaddypodcast https://www.facebook.com/plantdaddypodcast https://plantdaddypodcast.threadless.com https://www.pinterest.com/plantdaddypodcast https://twitter.com/plantdaddypod   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Learn to care for plants successfully and cultivate more joy in your life with episodes of the Bloom and Grow Radio Podcast. Ever killed a houseplant before? Host Maria Failla can relate. That’s why she interviews planty experts to get answers to the plant care questions we all have, but might be nervous to ask: like what the heck IS bright indirect light? What is soil and potting mix made up of? Or What IS the best way to water my plants? Tune in to stop killing your plants, learn how to get them to thrive and most importantly, how plants can help us grow a little more joy in our lives while we “Keep Blooming and Keep Growing”! Subscribe to the show on iTunes or your preferred podcast player so you never miss an episode Not sure where to start? Check out the Bloom and Grow Radio Episode Catalogue where all the episodes are broken down by genre: Individual Plant Care, General Plant Care, Nerdy Plant Science, Plants & Wellness, Gardening & more! Want more Bloom and Grow Content? Check out the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show for companion videos and tours of Maria's collections and Planty Projects Follow @bloomandgrowradio on IG for daily planty inspiration. Take the Bloom and Grow Plant Parent Personality Test to unlock your inner plant parent potential with recommended plants, planty projects and podcast episodes tailored specifically for your personality Become a Patreon Plant Friend and support Bloom and Grow Radio for less than a fancy coffee a month! 

What a year it’s been. I’m thankful 2020 is coming to a close and excited for 2021, I think a silver lining 2020 has given us is truly understanding the power of plants and how they can help us relieve stress and cultivate more joy in our lives. My goal for Bloom and Grow is to help everyone successfully care for plants for that exact reason, to make the world a kinder and greener place. Now… there is also a dark side to this hobby of plant care. There is a moment in all of our lives where our hobby teeters the thin line between joyful and stressful. Where we fall so deeply in love with plants, maybe we bring too many home at once, or go through a season of life where we can’t care for our collection and then feel disappointed in ourselves. I initially thought my struggles with plant parent overwhelm have been unique, an outlier in our community, but after hearing from you in the listener survey, or in dms and emails, I know this moment of Plant Parent Overwhelm is something we all struggle with.   On this episode of BAGR, we revisit highlights of Episode 43: Your Brain On Plants, in which I interviewed Dr Caitlin Vander Weele, a neuroscientist about what chemically happens in our brain when we get addicted for plants. The conversation was eye opening, and on this topic, feel like the things Caitlin shares shed so much light on a problem so many plant parents struggle with at one point through out their plant parenthood. After snippets of that episode with Caitlin, I then share experiences, strategies and suggestions on how to deal with Plant Parent Overwhelm and how to go on a plant pause.    In this episode we learn: [03:09] Why Maria wanted to tackle plant parent overwhelm in this special episode [07:17] How this AMAZING liquid fertilizer lessened my stress about plant care [08:56] Maria narrates her personal experience with plant pause and Billy’s intervention when she peaked her plant obsession [10:11] What is dopamine? How does taking care of plants, or successfully growing an herb garden in Maria’s case, release dopamine and fuel our plant craze? [13:16] Dr Caitlin explains how the dopamine in our brains can cause compulsive behaviors a.k.a. buy more plants than we intend [14:41] What is a neurotransmitter? Dr Caitlin describes the molecules, synapses, and receptors in layman’s terms, for better understanding of that new plant high! [17:16] How are plants different from our other ‘material obsessions’? What is oxytocin and why does taking care of plants (and babies) release this hormone? [19:12] The four major stages of compulsive buying behavior: anticipation, preparation, shopping, and regret [21:31] Dr Caitlin explains different research and hypotheses exploring why plants are good for our mental health [23:36] Why being in nature unlocks our creativity and brings us a more positive emotional state [24:09] Maria shares how checking her plants regularly in the morning makes her feel settled and less stressed [25:13] How does plant care affect our brain and how we process our thoughts? [26:33] What are some of the things you can look out for to avoid an unhealthy relationship with plants? Maria gives her personal experiences when she went through an unhealthy obsession with plants [28:27] How to Manage Plant Parent Overwhelm Tip #1: Understand your plant number [30:00] How to Manage Plant Parent Overwhelm Tip #2: Accept that you’re overwhelmed and forgive yourself! [30:42] How to Manage Plant Parent Overwhelm Tip #3: Assess where you are [31:16] How to Manage Plant Parent Overwhelm Tip #4: Set a budget and STICK. TO. IT. [31:47] How to Manage Plant Parent Overwhelm Tip #5: Find your focus [32:16] How to Manage Plant Parent Overwhelm Tip #6: Work with what you got!  [33:38] Maria shares her plant pause experience, her realizations during her plant pause, and how it benefited her plants and her home [35:33] Plant Pause Tip #1: Define your rules — YOU know what YOU can do [36:51] Plant Pause Tip #2: Involve your community (and get closer with them) [38:16] Plant Pause Tip #3: Set a timeframe [38:50] Plant Pause Tip #4: Be kind to yourself [39:25] Plant Pause Tip #5: Remember it’s quality over quantity [40:15] If you decide to take a plant pause, don’t worry! Maria shares some fun things you can do while on your plant pause [40:27] Streamline your design and collection, learn your plants’ Latin names, propagate, fertilize, and learn learn learn while doing your plant pause [41:24] Plant parenthood can be seasonal and you can have times when you aren’t being the best plant parent to your plants, and that’s okay! [42:11] Maria shares her musings about the year that’s passed and about the new year to come [43:38] Maria’s exciting news! What’s in store for Bloom and Grow Radio in 2021 Mentioned in this episode: Check out the companion youtube video about plant parent overwhelm  Blog where all tips and tricks discussed in this episode live BAGR Episode Root-Ology with Leslie Halleck BAGR Episode Your Brain on Plants Thank you to our episode sponsor: Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here.   Follow Dr Caitlin Vander Weele Follow Dr Caitlin Vander Weele Twitter:@caitvw Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club  

One of the major things that plants do is help connect us with nature. I think as plant parents, once we use plants to reconnect with ourselves and make our homes look beautiful, they also get us thinking more about nature and the earth and how important it’s preservation is. So today’s episode is exploring just that: plant parenthood and low waste living, and what it means to make intentional decisions about preserving our planet while taking care of ourselves and our plants. I think we are all anxiously looking at 2021 and getting excited about the changes that will come. This is the time to set new years resolutions and just think about how we want to show up in 2021 for ourselves and I think more importantly, there are global conversations happening about how we can show up for those around us and the environment.   As I continue to fall deeper in love with plants, I’m finding that I’m falling deeper in love with nature itself and feeling a stronger sense of responsibility to take care of our planet. I’m so excited to welcome Nick Cutsumpas of @farmernicknyc  to the podcast and share this conversation with you and to inform and encourage our community to think about how we can apply these concepts of low waste living to not only our lives, but to our hobby of plant care. Nicks been a plant friend of mine for a while and I’ve loved learning more about sustainability from him, and figured he is the perfect intersection of plant parent and environmental activist to have for this chat about how to lead more sustainable lives as humans and plant parents.  In this episode we learn: [00:02:26] Introducing Nick Cutsumpas and episode key ideas [00:07:18] What Nick does, what started his plant journey (mothers DO know best!), and how plants served as his ‘saving grace’ when he moved into the city [00:10:38] Check out Nick in Netflix’s new show The Big Flower Fight! [00:11:14] What is regenerative environmental action? Nick explains sustainability vs regenerative [00:13:22] Are houseplant people practicing regenerative methods with their plants? According to Nick, to see is to believe when it comes to taking care of our environment [00:15:01] How Maria realized she could be doing more sustainable practices [00:15:22] Maria’s current idea obsession: plant blindness — Nature Not Furniture! [00:16:32] What Maria thinks of ‘zero waste’ and her reservations with the movement [00:17:17] Nick shares why he thinks plant blindness is similar to waste blindness [00:17:37] Why Nick strives for low waste consumption vs zero waste, how we as consumers can apply low waste consumption to the products we buy [00:19:45] Why the time to be more conscious is NOW more than ever and how taking care of plants reminds us that we can take action [00:20:47] Why Bloom and Grow Radio is doing an episode on low waste [00:21:45] Low Waste Beginner Tip #1: Reuse everything [00:22:46] Do you have tons of bubble wrap from your online orders? Save them for your next plant cutting gift! [00:23:50] What is ‘waste’? For Nick, it’s everything that ends up in a landfill [00:24:38] Maria’s lightbulb moment on her waste consumption: New York’s composting system [00:25:11] The negative effects of plastics in our environment and how we can be smart and responsible with our plastic consumption [00:26:54] Why we should be cautious about greenwashing, waste segregation, and biodegradable vs compostable materials [00:28:24] Nick’s sustainability influences [00:29:13] Low Waste Tip #2: Buy quality over quantity (Yes, you save more money this way!) [00:30:12] Nick’s sustainability progress: he hasn’t bought anything new in more than a year! The secret? Thrifting! [00:31:52] The eco-friendly furniture and mattress stores that Nick recommends [00:33:56] How the pandemic enabled more waste production [00:34:48] Why the most impact can be achieved through collective action; ‘10% is better’ [00:35:14] The BEST recycled and sustainable wall planters and the BEST plant kits to give this Holiday season! [00:38:56] Nick reveals the most common mistakes we all do when it comes to composting [00:39:54] How to REALLY begin your low waste journey [00:40:39] Why you need to wash your recyclables [00:41:22] Low Waste Tip #3: Find bulk stores and bring your own jars [00:41:50] How Nick manages to do zero-waste grocery shopping [00:42:25] What is ‘produce paralysis’? What is Nick’s proposed solution to packaging waste? [00:44:04] Low Waste Tip #4: Avoid single-use plastic in the produce section [00:45:24] Nick’s low waste hack: Put the jar in warm water for 10 minutes to remove the adhesive label, and reuse the jar for drinking or plant propagation! [00:46:47] Low Waste Tip #5: Don’t be shy to ask if you can use your own containers for your consumables! [00:47:39] Maria weighs in on the different straws from her own experiences (make sure you clean them!) [00:49:28] What do we do with our plastic nursery pots? a. bring them to a nursery, b. cache, c. make a tent for your drainage hole [00:53:38] Low Waste Tip #6: Grow something new in your used nursery pots [00:54:06] The company that Nick trusts to recycle his plastics [00:55:31] Propagating your plants can also help your recycle and upcycle [00:56:30] Low Waste Tip #7: Choose sustainable soil options [00:57:44] Low Waste Tip #8: Know your plant number! (we’re serious!) [00:59:00] Your plant consumption should be healthy AND environmentally-responsible [01:00:28] Low Waste Tip #9: Buy your plants from your local businesses [01:01:46] Plant shops that Nick and Maria recommend [01:04:05] Listener Question #1: Can you compost perlite? [01:04:49] Listener Question #2: Are there alternatives to plastic nursery pots and stickers? [01:06:28] Why you should support CSA [01:07:47] Why low waste and sustainable living is important to Nick [01:09:09] Our responsibility to our environment as plant parents! [01:10:24] Maria’s realizations and future commitment to the low waste living movement Check out the youtube video snippets of this interview! (airs 6 pm 12/15/20 Mentioned in our conversation: Produce Paralysis Blog by Nick Cutsumpas BAGR Episode  How to Manage a Large Plant Collection Netflix’s The Big Flower Fight Pela Case Lucy Biggers of NowThis Medley Furniture Avocado Green Mattress Recover Brands WallyGro Precious Plastic Folia Collective Espoma Greenery Unlimited noissue Crop Swap LA Glow Up Alert FYI The Bloom and Grow Website got a pretty epic makeover and I’d love for you to head on over and check it out- you can learn a little more about me, snag all of the freebies I’ve created for ya over the years, shop the Bloom and Grow Merch and Plant Friends Apparel line AND we’ve got a shop now that houses all the sponsor discount codes, my favorite books and courses and more. Thanks to Digital Grace Design for doing such an amazing job. Compostable Mailers   Thank you to our episode sponsors: Soltech Solutions Soltech Solutions Luxury Grow Lights: Whether its simply getting through the lower light winter- or if you’re like me and you’ve just got too many plants  and too few windows and need to bring more light indoors so your collection can keep growing- Soltech Solutions has the luxury lighting option for you! Soltech is offering BAGR listeners 20% off with code "20BLOOM" at soltechsolutions.com once again thats soltechsolutions.com and code 20BLOOM at checkout for 20%off. Wallygro Wallygro just launched it's "greenwall in a box" WALLY KITS that are everything you need to plant up their Eco or Loop planters: the plants, the potting mix, the fertilizer, and of course... the pots! It's the perfect gift for the holidays that you can order on your couch!! Check out the Wallygro Kits and pick the best one for you! Wallygro is offering BAG listeners 15% off for a limited time only so redeem this code if you are interested ASAP! BLOOM15 for the Wally Plant Kits active for Dec.15 to Dec. 29.   Follow Nick Instagram: @farmernickynyc https://www.farmernicknyc.com/ Grow Green Newsletter- you can join on the homepage of his website   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

I’m so excited to welcome back Kay from @inrootedlove for a next level conversation on the soil free Semi Hydroponic or Passive Hydroponic Lifestyle. You might remember Kay from episode 77 an Intro to Semi or Passive Hydroponics- so now that  year has passed and our community has been experimenting with this style of growing- she’s joining me again discuss what a year of passive- hydro has looked like, dive deeper into the concepts and answer listener questions. For those of you who don't know: Passive Hydroponics is a method for keeping plants not in soil, but in LECA or PON Lechuza (inorganic substrates) and managing their  nutrients yourself, instead of using potting mix. It’s a plant parent lifestyle many people swear by. I initially was NOT sold on the complexities of preparing LECA, measuring nutrients and more, but after a year of experimenting with passive-hydro I definitely see the value in this practice! So if you haven’t listened to that first episode- I highly recommend starting there before listening in on this one.  Two other ways to learn about Passive Hydro this week! Giveaway: Head over to @bloomandgrowradio on IG to enter our Passive Hydro Starter Kit Giveaway! We are giving away two rooted cuttings of Kay's marble pothos and two net pots with enough LECA and Lechuza to plant up each cutting in the substrates and conduct your OWN experiments! Youtube: Kay and I also made a companion video for the BAG Youtube Show where Kay gives us a mini LECA vs Lechuza tutorial and actually shows us how to pot up a plant types of substrate. If you’re curious on her techniques, click the link in the show notes to check the video out after  you listen to this episode! FYI The Bloom and Grow Website got a pretty epic makeover and I’d love for you to head on over and check it out- you can learn a little more about me, snag all of the freebies I’ve created for ya over the years, shop the Bloom and Grow Merch and Plant Friends Apparel line AND we’ve got a shop now that houses all the sponsor discount codes, my favorite books and courses and more. Thanks to Digital Grace Design for doing such an amazing job. In this episode we learn: What Kay's Plant Number is How Kay manages to keep 200+ plants in her home happy and healthy with NO grow lights The home characteristics Kay looked for when buying a home so her plants could thrive [9:00] What Maria secretly dreams of for the next home (it's not what you think) [10:00] What is Semi or Passive Hydro [10:55] Reasons for why you should try Semi or Passive Hydroponics [12:52] Kay's experience having small children and a large plant collection [12:37] Maria's main takeaways from a year of experimenting with semi-hydro: what she is doing great and where she still needs help [13:50] How do net pots work when roots start to grow out of the pot [15:43] How to handle orchid roots in LECA [17:0] How to handle aroid roots in LECA [17:20] Root pruning [17:50] The story behind Kay's gorgeous Albo Monstera [19:30] Is it bad for plants roots to touch the water in a Semi Hydro or Passive Hydro set up? [20:00] When to repot your plant in semi hydro [21:00] What happened when Maria forgot about her plants in LECA for 2 months [22:40] How can you avoid root rot when using semi hydroponics or passive hydroponics? [24:25] Nutrient troubleshooting deep dive [27:25] Kay elaborates on how she uses Azomax to manage pests in her large collection [31:19] What are the signs of a healthy plant in semi hydro [34:30] What does a healthy root look like in LECA How dry can you let your reservoir get before you kill your plant [37:16] How to gage water levels with opaque pots [37:50] What's an appropriate transition time for a plant to go through transplant shock? [41:26] Kays product she uses to help plants transition more efficiently [42:15] LECA VS PON: their differences, pros and cons [43:58] What PON lechuza is made up of [44:20] What plants Kay chooses to put PON in over LECA [45:00] Why Kay doesn't put all her plants in PON [45:01] What plants Kay plants in PON [45:20] Why Kay grows anthurium in PON [46:48] Does a PON set up look different than a LECA set up? [47:26] Why fertilizing with PON will look very different than fertilizing in LECA Are there any plant your shouldn't put in passive hydro? [49:10] How Kay uses PON completely different on her arid plants to help better replicate their natural environments [49:37] My Raphidophora tetrasperma propagation experiment Mentioned in our conversation: Episode 77 Semi or Passive Hydro 101 with Kay! (Maria and Kay's first episode together) Take the Bloom and Grow Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Heating Mats for plants (Kays Amazon Affiliate Links to the ones she uses) Large Option and Small Option Maria's youtube video on her first passive hydro set up Maria's youtube video on her 8 month passive hydro update Kay and Maria's youtube video potting up in LECA VS PON tutorial Kevins Green Pets (Kay's friend who intro'd her to Anthurium's in PON)   Thank you to our episode sponsor: Modern Sprout: Modern Sprout is connecting people and plants with their fabulous lines of grow lights, hydroponic planters and all sorts of plant accessories that empower people to cultivate their own indoor oasis, whether you live in a studio apartment or a sprawling farmhouse, with simple, stylish and sustainable green-thumb solutions for every home. For 15% off your order, visit modernsprout.com and use code 15bloom at checkout! Follow Kay Instagram: @inrootedlove   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

I recently took Intro to Horticultural Therapy at NYBG and Anne Meore, my teacher, joins me today to discuss the biggest lessons learned in class, review some studies we learned about on the science behind the plant/people connection and to discuss the concept and use of restorative spaces. As I “bloom and grow” as a plant parent and a business I am becoming more curious about the science behind the plant/person connection. The more I learn and read about plants as restorative instruments for human body and spirit, I’m realizing plants not only make people happy, but can help us heal faster and restore our brains to their natural state. We have never needed these tools MORE, especially after this year which has kept us all inside and glued to screens. Everyone can create a restorative environment in their own home, so Anne walks us through the components of a restorative space and then we brainstorm some awesome ways to create a restorative space even in our limited indoor environments. I wanted to thank NYBG for letting me take Intro to Hort Therapy with Anne, our guest today. If you are NY based, NYBG is open and magical during the winter. Discover the peaceful winter beauty across NYBG’s 250 acre landscape, from the winding trails of their old-growth forest to their arboretum collections of historic trees and ornamental conifers and get cozy in their conservatory with every tropical plant you could imagine. It’s a really spirit lifter and restorative space for me, especially in the winter. Plus, the Holiday Train Show returns this year for Members only and is on view through January 31.   In this episode we learn: Why Anne became a Horticultural Therapist How 2020 has caused Maria and Anne to re-evaluate their priorities and plants have been instrumental Using plants to cope with the trauma of Covid Directed vs Involuntary attention Directed attention and mental fatigue What is mental fatigue and how does it negatively impact us 4 Key Components of a restorative space: Being Away, Fascination, Extent and Compatibility, and what they mean How simple views of nature can help: Views from a Window and Views to Nature: Effects on Attention Attention Restoration Theory How to create a restorative environment indoors   Mentioned in our conversation: Books Biophilia The Nature Fix Forest Bathing   Studies The Restorative Benefits of Nature: Toward an Integrative Framework, Kaplan Restorative Effects of Natural Environment Experiences: Hartig, Man, Evans A Walk in the Woods, Anna Lena Phillips View from a Window, Ulrich Healthy nature healthy people: 'contact with nature' as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations, Maller, Townsend, Pryor, Brown, Leger Views to Nature: Effects on Attention, Tennessen and Cimprich 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design   Thank you to our episode sponsor: Modern Sprout: Modern Sprout is connecting people and plants with their fabulous lines of grow lights, hydroponic planters and all sorts of plant accessories that empower people to cultivate their own indoor oasis, whether you live in a studio apartment or a sprawling farmhouse, with simple, stylish and sustainable green-thumb solutions for every home. For 15% off your order, visit modernsprout.com and use code 15bloom at checkout! quotes: 12:35 - rhythm covid can't change Follow Anne and NYBG Anne's company: Planthropy NYBG Main Website NYBG Course Website NYBG Horticultural Therapy Program   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Boy of boy am I excited about this EPICly planty conversation. This episode is inspired largely by the responses in the BAGR 2020 Listener Survey I’ve been combing through. Many of us in the community are loving collecting plants, but have struggled with the overwhelm of learning how to manage your ever growing collections- so I decided to ask three plantstagrammers who have collections I’ve admired for a while, to pick their brains for their top tips for organizing, managing and designing with their plant collections of 75+ plants. BONUS- we’ve put together a giveaway with cuttings of our personal collections (including a cutting of Raffi my Raphidophora) on IG, so after you’re done listening, head over to IG to make sure you enter! Giveaway runs Tuesday November 10th, 2020 @ Noon through Friday November 13th @ Noon. I’m going to be honest with you plant friends, I wrestled with the idea for this episode, because I in no way want this episode to make anyone feel pressured to increase their collections. I want to stress this: the right number of plants is completely different for each person, for some people it’s 3 and no more, for others, like our fab guests, it’s more! I want to encourage everyone to go for quality,  not quantity and stick with the amount of plants that brings you joy and not stress. I’ll be sharing more of my thoughts on this and my personal collection at the end of this episode after the conversation comes to a close, so listen to the end! THAT being said, for those of you WITH larger collections who might be struggling or curious about how other plant parents do it- this episode is jammed packed with amazing ideas that i hope leave you inspired! You can also check out some clips of this episode on the youtube channel, where you can see their planty set ups and beautiful faces if you want more after this listen! Take the Bloom and Grow Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)   In this episode we learn: Meet Lucrecer from @soulsistaplants [9:00] Meet Phoebe from @welcometothejunglehome [11:00] Meet Cyril from @cyrilcybernated What is their Plant Number (How Many Plants they have in their homes) [22:26] Phoebe's top 3 tips for caring for a large plant collection [28:12] Lucrecer's top 3 tips for caring for a large plant [31:00] Cyril's top 3 tips for caring for a large plant collection [41:30] Each guests' best designing tip for plant styling [48:20] Maria's journey of dealing with the overwhelm that came with growing her personal collection[1:02:50] How to deal with Plant Parent Overwhelm Giveaway on Instagram with cuttings of Cyril, Lucrecer, Phoebe and Maria's collections! The youtube video that accompanies this episode! Click here to watch Bloom and Grow Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) "Plant Number" = how many plants you have in your collection Episode 43: Your Brain on Plants  Maria interviews a neuroscientist about the experience of become a "crazy" plant lady and going crazy growing her plant collection when she got started. Thanks to our sponsors: Modern Sprout: Modern Sprout is connecting people and plants with their fabulous lines of grow lights, hydroponic planters and all sorts of plant accessories that empower people to cultivate their own indoor oasis, whether you live in a studio apartment or a sprawling farmhouse, with simple, stylish and sustainable green-thumb solutions for every home. For 15% off your order, visit modernsprout.com and use code 15bloom at checkout! Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here.   Follow Lucrecer IG: @soulsistaplants Linktree: @soulsistaplants Newsletter: SoulSistaPlants   Follow Phoebe IG @welcometothejunglehome  Facebook /welcometothejunglehome Shop The Jungle Home Plant Tarp here!   Follow Cyril IG: @cyrilcybernated Youtube: /cyrilcybernated Facebook: @cyrilcybernated2018   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Plant friends, I’m so excited to finally bring this highly request episode to your earbuds! I have to be honest, for the first 3 years I really wasn’t getting the whole “hoya craze” that many of my plant friends were going through, I just didn’t get it. But after I was gifted a Hoya compacta from a listener… and realized how much it looked like stacked tortellinis, I started falling in love. THEN I went down a rabbit hole of what Hoya flowers looked like and I was sold. When looking for a guest for this show, I knew I had to look no further than Doug Chamberlain, the man behind Vermont Hoyas. Doug is one of the most successful Hoya collectors in all of the states and documents his collection on his blog. Today he shares his passion for hoyas and lots of information about them: where they grow in the wild, basic care, how he achieves ideal humidity in his home, a deep dive into flowers, we bust a few Hoya myths and then he shares his Top 5 Hoyas for Beginners, 3 Hoyas for Advanced Plant Parents and then assigns the perfect Hoya for each Plant Parent Personality.  You’re going to hear a lot of intimidating latin plant names, but he provided amazing photos of all the hoyas which we have collected for your hoya heads in two ways:  You can find them on the blog  We’ve made a youtube episode with just the matchmaking portion of this podcast with Doug’s photos superimposed over the audio, so you can watch and listen along to connect the photos to what we are talking about. I hope this episode sparks your curiosity within the Hoya family, and I'd love to know what your favorite Hoya's are! Share them with my on instagram @bloomandgrowradio. In this episode we learn: Dougs Plant Parent History and introduction to Hoya and his Ideal Hoya Set Up Where Hoya's live in nature [11:11] Why are Hoya's called "the wax plant" [14:00] Where Hoya got it's name [15:20] General Care Guidelines for All Hoyas [15:40] Doug's Set Up (and humidity hacks0 [16:29] What does a sunburn look like on a Hoya leaf [19:50] Best Watering Practices for Hoya [21:00] Words of encouragement from Doug when you have a hoya fail [24:00] If Hoya's like to be potbound [25:30] How to pot up a hoya [26:26] Best potting mix for a Hoya [27:50] What is a peduncle [32:00] What is bud blast [33:50] Why does a hoya bud fall off before it blooms [34:27] How to get your hoya to bloom [35:15] What is a "day length specific" hoya bloom How frequently does a Hoya bloom [38:00] Is there a hack to force Hoya to flower? [39:00] 5 Easiest Hoyas to Care for [39:30]  Rarer Hoya's for Advanced Plant Parents [44:20] Matchmaking for the Bloom and Grow Plant Parent Personalities! [47:10] How to fertilize hoyas [53:00] Listener Questions! Propagation tips [54:00] Tips for stimulating leaf growth [57:00]   Spelling and Hoyas Mentioned: 5 Easiest Hoyas to Care for Hoya Carnosa, Hoya Carnosa Crimson Queen, Hoya Pubicalyx, Hoya Cumingiana (Doug's Favorite!), Hoya Lacunosa, Hoya sp aff burtoniae   Rare Hoya's for Advanced Plant Parents Hoya engleriana, Hoya polystachya, Hoya Aff clemensiorum   Plant Parent Personality Hoya Pairings Mindful Plant Parent Pairing: Hoya undulata Low Key Plant Parent: Hoya obovata Curious Collector Plant Parent: Hoya amicabilis Design Based Plant Parent: Hoya finlaysonii Urban Farmer: Hoya empirialis (harvest the flowers) Best Scented Hoyas Hoya lacunosa, Hoya sp aff burtoniae, Hoya calycina Lovingly the best place to buy flowers online, matching you with a community of real, local florists across the US and Canada. Their website pairs you with local florists who create a custom bouquet for your loved one. Support local while supporting your loved ones and spread the planty love and get $9.99 your order at lovingly.com with code "BloomAndGrow" at checkout. Soltech Solutions Luxury Grow Lights: Whether its simply getting through the lower light winter- or if you’re like me and you’ve just got too many plants  and too few windows and need to bring more light indoors so your collection can keep growing- Soltech Solutions has the luxury lighting option for you! Soltech is offering BAGR listeners 20% off with code "20BLOOM" at soltechsolutions.com once again thats soltechsolutions.com and code 20BLOOM at checkout for 20%off.   Follow Doug Website: vermonthoyas.com Youtube: Doug Chamberlain    Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Today we invite Dr Elle Barnes back to the show after our very successful conversation after I took Intro to Plant Science with her at NYBG. Elle is a scientist and teacher for NYBG and in addition to Intro to Plant Science, I recently took The Science of Tree Communication class with as well. It was WILD to learn about the underground “wood wide web” that the forest runs on, and how trees communicate with one another through VOCs. I frequently go for morning walks in nearby woods, and since I took that class, I truly look at forest environment differently, and have such a deeper appreciation for it. Plant friends, there is a network of mycorrhizae negotiating transport of vital compounds for trees under every step we take outside! How cool is that?! In addition to the “Wood Wide Web,” a big part of our conversation in The Science of Tree Communication class was HOW trees and plants communicate with each other through VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds. Since VOCs are a hot topic in the plant community regarding how “plants clean air”, we took a deep dive to understanding this concept. Get ready to learn all about VOCs, what they are, how they are used and the great “Wood Wide Web”. Thanks to the NYBG for continuing to create enriching courses that have helped further my Plant Parent Knowledge. Check their offerings out here If you are in the NY area, the NYBG is back open, including the Palm Conservatory and is an absolutely DREAM! Consider becoming a member! Have you taken the 2020 Bloom and Grow Radio Listener Survey ?! Please take 5 minutes to take this survey and be a part of the future of Bloom and Grow Radio and Media! I did this survey 2 years ago and it was INSTRUMENTAL in planning episode topics and community resources. I can't wait to hear from you! What's your Plant Parent Personality? Take the FREE Bloom and Grow Plant Parent Personality Quiz to get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle In this episode we learn: How and why plants communicate with each other The "fake news" that VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are all bad for us How plants use VOCs to communicate with each other and themselves The above ground plant communication system If plants ACTUALLY clean the air, and how and why we might have been mislead with this notion If VOCS are all bad The difference between a VOC that comes off of a plant and one that comes off of a carpet The truth about the scent of fresh cut grass (and why it smells that way) What the scent of a rose actually is (it's a VOC!) How plants use VOCs to attract pollinators Maria's OBSESSION with The Overstory How plants and animals have evolved together "The enemy of my enemy" theory when it comes to how plants attract certain pollinators The "Wood Wide Web" and the underground plant communication system How fungi help trees and plants communicate with each other Dr Barnes' most "mind blowing" fact about trees and VOC Why Monstera are conditioned to look for darkness and not light VOCs and the Ozone Mentioned in Today's Episode: Dr's Barnes first episode on BAGR: Mind Blowing Facts from Intro to Plant Science Online courses offered at NYBG (This was based off of The Science of Tree Communication) The Overstory (Maria's absolute favorite book) * Bookstore.com Affiliate Link Thank you to today's sponsors! Soltech Solutions Luxury Grow Lights: Whether its simply getting through the lower light winter- or if you’re like me and you’ve just got too many plants  and too few windows and need to bring more light indoors so your collection can keep growing- Soltech Solutions has the luxury lighting option for you! Soltech is offering BAGR listeners 20% off with code 20BLOOM at soltechsolutions.com once again thats soltechsolutions.com and code 20BLOOM at checkout for 20%off. Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here. Follow Dr Elle Barnes Twitter:@ecoevoelle   Follow The New York Botanical Garden: IG: www.instagram.com/nybg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYBotanicalGarden/ www.nybg.org Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio

"You can't reach the brain till you go through the heart" - Joe Dombrowski I'm thrilled to welcome back Joe Dombrowski (@mrDtimes3) to the show after our wonderful episode on Plants in the Classroom a couple of years ago. Since then a lot has changed, Joe and I have become IRL friends (I was able to visit him in 2019 and we took an amazing trip to the Amazon Spheres together which you'll hear about in the episode), Joe has become a full time comedian AND... classrooms are looking very different these days. Since many kids are home with the pandemic, Joe and I thought we'd put together a list of fun planty experiments and projects to do with kids while we spend this time at home together. There is a project for every type of kid and every age. We hope this episode helps with ideas to get children (or adult children like us!) off of their phones and into the dirt and getting curious about plants. Please share your projects with us on instagram! @mrdtimes3 & @bloomandgrowradio Have you taken the 2020 Bloom and Grow Radio Listener Survey - Please take 5 minutes to take this survey and be a part of the future of Bloom and Grow Radio and Media! I did this survey 2 years ago and it was INSTRUMENTAL in planning episode topics and community resources. I can't wait to hear from you! In this episode we learn: Joe and Maria remember their trip to the Amazon Spheres together Joe's opinion on kids going back to school [12:25] Project 1: Seed Germination in a Bag [19:50] Project 2: Sweet Potato Experiment and understanding the scientific process Project 3: Pothos Propagation 3 Ways Project 4: Fairy Gardens and Terrariums Project 5: List of Interactive Plants for Kids Joe's list of his personal favorite plants in his collection Joe's most recent plant parent win For photos and instructions for these projects, check the blog for today's podcast  https://bloomandgrowradio.com/kids/ Mentioned in this episode: Episode 23: Plants in the Classroom with @mrdtimes3 Maria's new tiktok account Bloom and Grow Youtube Channel Here is a link to the book A Family Guide to Terrariums Mushroom Grow Kits! This is my favorite one from Back to the Roots! Back to the Roots Fishtank Water/Microgreen Garden Maria's episode on JOE's podcast, Social Studies   Thank you to our episode sponsors: Soltech Solutions Luxury Grow Lights: Whether its simply getting through the lower light winter- or if you’re like me and you’ve just got too many plants  and too few windows and need to bring more light indoors so your collection can keep growing- Soltech Solutions has the luxury lighting option for you! Soltech is offering BAGR listeners 20% off with code 20BLOOM at soltechsolutions.com once again thats soltechsolutions.com and code 20BLOOM at checkout for 20%off. Thank you Territorial Seed Co for sponsoring today's episode! Territorial Seed Co provides high quality seeds and plants (over 2000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75 acre farm and have a ton of fall varieties for us to try! For seeds, their online garden planner, how to videos and more visit TerritorialSeed.com and use code BLOOM20 for 20% off. Follow Joe Website: https://www.mrdtimes3.com/ Podcast: https://studyhall.libsyn.com/ Instagram: @mrdtimes3 Tiktok: @mrdtimes3 Merch Shop: https://www.shopmrdtimes3.com/ Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Tiktok: @bloomandgrowradio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club  

So thrilled to welcome Chris Satch back to the show for an UNBELIEVABLE, comprehensive conversation on all things WATERING! We cover everything from top watering, bottom watering, troubleshooting, how to identify root rot and many listener questions. This is not an episode to miss if you have any questions around watering your plants! Have you taken the 2020 Bloom and Grow Radio Listener Survey - Please take 5 minutes to take this survey and be a part of the future of Bloom and Grow Radio and Media! I did this survey 2 years ago and it was INSTRUMENTAL in planning episode topics and community resources. I can't wait to hear from you! Check out my youtube video on how I water my plants In this episode we learn: [5:00]What Chris is loving in his collection lately A quick overview on how to propagate fern spores How to grow mosses [12:30] What BAGR listeners are struggling with when it comes to how to water your plants [13:00] Why is watering so important to our plants? [14:20] What are xylem and phloem and how do the affect watering? [15:40] What is transpiration? [16:20] The connection between soil moisture and light [18:18] How humidity affects transpiration and our plants watering schedules [21:15] What are microclimates and how do they affect humidity [23:30] Watering Hack #1: Group Plants with Similar Needs Together [24:50] Chris's opinion on Top Watering Vs Bottom Watering [26:20 ] Best Top Watering Practices [29:00] Maria's (STRONG) opinion about care cards and watering instructions [30:50] What does "water when dry" mean- how many inches of soil should the top of the soil dry out [32:42] Watering Hack #2: Use the pot weight to understand how heavy soil saturation feels and get to know how a dry pot feels like as well [36:20] What is the ideal temperature for watering your plants [36:50] How to leave water in the catch tray of your pot with drainage [ 40:20] Best Bottom Watering Practices [42:10] Chris's issues with Bottom Watering [46:34] Root Rot: what it is, how do we fix it, how can we avoid it [48:30] Signs that you've under watered your plant [48:40] Signs that you've over watered your plant [49:50] Maria's honest experience about overwatering her plants this year [55:30] How Chris saves his plants from root rot [55:50] Chris's (STRONG) opinion about self watering pots [1:01:22] The truth about spritzing (you might not like this) [1:01:53] How brown tips can actually be a sign on fungal infection and not humidity or underwatering [1:06] How to use fungicide to treat brown edges on a plant [1:07] Why using warm water is important for watering [1:07:30] Where the ice cube watering myth started, why it's bogus and why you shouldn't use this method [1:08] Tap water vs distilled water vs rain water = does the type of water you water your plants with actually matter? [1:10:00]What white spots on leaves are and how to remove them [1:10:10]  Hack # 3: use lemon juice to remove white spots on leaves [1:11:43] When during the day should you water? [1:11:55] Do you water your plant before you repot? or leave it with dry soil? Mentioned in our conversation: Episode 97: How to Care for Ferns with Lisa from Houseplant Guru Maria's Youtube Video on How I Water My Plants Maria's Youtube video on The Perched Water Table and Drainage How Maria saved her variegated Watermelon Peperomia from Root Rot Thanks to our episode sponsors! Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here. Soltech Solutions Luxury Grow Lights: Whether its simply getting through the lower light winter- or if you’re like me and you’ve just got too many plants  and too few windows and need to bring more light indoors so your collection can keep growing- Soltech Solutions has the luxury lighting option for you! Soltech is offering BAGR listeners 20% off with code 20BLOOM at soltechsolutions.com once again thats soltechsolutions.com and code 20BLOOM at checkout for 20%off.   Follow Chris Instagram: @botanictonic Website: christophersatch.com   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

The 2020 Bloom and Grow Radio Listener Survey is live!- Please take 5 minutes to take this survey and be a part of the future of Bloom and Grow Radio and Media! I did this survey 2 years ago and it was INSTRUMENTAL in planning episode topics and community resources. We had 1000 people complete the survey last time, so my goal for this survey is 3000 planty listeners! I can't wait to hear from you! At this point in the growing season, I'm sure we all have some beautifully bushy herb plants... and maybe no ideas of what to make with them. Today's episode is focused on getting these homegrown herbs into our bellies! (If you want help learning how to grow herbs, check out Episode 22: Windowsill Herb Gardening). I’ve connected with some brilliant female chefs who share their favorite herb inspired recipes! Each chef chose an herb, they share why they love it in recipes so much and then educates us on how to cook their favorite dish inspired by their herb!  The first chunk of this episode is three powerhouse professional chefs who guide us through a LOT of helpful cooking and herb pairing info with mouth watering recipes. Then stay tuned to the end, where Billy shares his famous pesto recipe and my Italian Mom, Mama Failla, shares two sauces you can make with a bounty from the garden.  Cooking food that I’ve grown myself has been one of the most rewarding parts of my plant parenthood journey, I hope this episodes not only gets you growing but gets you cooking too! Make sure to report back to me and these chefs on IG about what you make! In this episode we learn: [6:50]  Getting to know Chef Serena Wolf and her thoughts on using Mint in recipes [16:50] MINT (and BASIL)Watermelon Salad with Tomato, Feta and Herb Vinaigrette Recipe breakdown and tips [30:30] Getting to know Chef Priyanka and learn about Coriander/Cilantro and how she uses it in recipe [36:55] Coriander Vs Cilantro and how to cook with it's 3 components: Seed, Stem and Leaf [40:00] Chef Priyanka's balance of Sweet, Salty, Spicy, Bitter and Umami and how Coriander plays a strong role in that [43:19] CORIANDER Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Turmeric, Fennel Seed and Dates [50:20] Getting to know Pastry Chef (and high school friend) Becca Newman [58:00] Becca breaks down the flavor profile of Lemon Verbena [1:01:26] Becca's philosophy of "what grows together, goes together" [1:01] LEMON VERBENA Cherry Chocolate and Lemon Verbena Ice Box Cake Recipe [1:17:40] Other herb options to substitute into the Ice Box Cake recipe if you don't have lemon verbena [1:21:33] BASIL with BILLY! And his famous walnut pesto recipe (we also reveal who we have a couples crush on) [1:24:10] Why Billy uses walnuts instead of pine nuts in his pesto [1:31:22] ROSEMARY Mama Failla's Rosemary Bolognese [1:38:35] SAGE Mama Failla's Butter and Sage Boiled Potatoes [1:41] PARSLEY AND THYME Mama Failla's Famous Polpetti! (Meat balls!) Recipes Mentioned in Today's Episode: Serena's recipe for Watermelon Salad with Tomato, Feta and Herb Vinaigrette Chef Priyanka's recipe for Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Turmeric Fennel Seed Dates  Chef Priyanka's BONUS recipe for  Vegan Indian Stuffed French Toast Becca's Cherry Chocolate and Lemon Verbena Ice Box Cake Mama Failla and Billy's Recipes for Rosemary Bolognese, Sage and Butter Sauce, Mama Failla's Meatballs and Billy's Famous Walnut Pesto!  Check out the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show with Videos of Mama Failla and Billy making their recipes! Mama Failla makes Rosemary Bolognese Billy makes Walnut Pesto Territorial Seed Fast Fall Gardening Fact: After you make your own pesto or Sauce from Billy and mom’s recipes with freshly harvested garlic- enjoy that flavor all year by freezing the sauce. We suggest filling a sealable freezer bag with the fresh pesto and smoothing it flat so you have about a ½” to ¾” layer. Then seal the bag and freeze. When you need a little pesto flavor, just break off a chunk and toss it into your recipe! I can’t wait to make pesto and bolognese next season with the territorial seed company garlic we are starting this fall! Thank you Territorial Seed Co for sponsoring today's episode! Territorial Seed Co provides high quality seeds and plants (over 2000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75 acre farm and have a ton of fall varieties for us to try! For seeds, their online garden planner, how to videos and more visit TerritorialSeed.com and use code BLOOM20 for 20% off.   Follow Serena https://domesticate-me.com/ Instagram Serena's Recipe for Watermelon Salad with Tomato, Feta and Herb Vinaigrette   Follow Priyanka www.chefpriyanka.com Instagram  LinkedIn Twitter Facebook   Follow Becca Instagram    Follow Billy Instagram   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Take the Bloom and Grow Radio 2020 Listener Survey!  It’s always a pleasure to have my #plantfriendIRL Danae from Folia Collective back on the show. Danae is a beloved guest of BAGR from her episode on How to Start a Plant Shop. The Folia Collective shops are in Los Angeles and she has created an epic planty brand for herself and her shops that filled with the most gorgeous, varied plants and beautiful plant accessories.  Danae has always had an unbelievable eye for design and style and so it makes complete sense that she was tapped to write her new book which just came out:Houseplants for All: How to Fill Any Home with Happy Plants  This is a really unique book at the intersection of Plant Care and Plant Styling. I’m so excited about and Danae was nice enough to join me for a conversation around Plant Styling. I… am not so gifted with an eye for design, so this conversation was super informative and left me with lots of great ideas for projects and guidelines for our future home.   In this episode we learn: How and why Danae started Folia Collective Why she decided to create a book focused on plant styling and plant care Danae's personal plant style How to manage "trends" and the pressure to constantly buy new stuff Why style and care need to go to together What Danae's approach to plant style and plant consulting is Maria outs her most embarrassing plant killer story How to take the best instagram shot of your plants... and still have they stay healthy How to match your lifestyle with your plants Why Maria is the greatest planty Marie Kondo Student Danae's plant styling tips   Danae's Tips for Styling Large Plant Collection to look Curated and not Cluttered Choose a unifying theme for your planters (Maria's theme is white and terracotta) Think about how you arrange your plants: varying height, texture and shapes Group plants together (trays are a great way to bring groups together) Stack pots on top of each other to create height. You can flip a pot upside down and put another pot on top   Mentioned in today's episode: Buy Danae's New Book! Houseplants for All: How to Fill Any Home with Happy Plants * *BAGR Amazon Affiliate code*   Thank you to today's episode sponsors! Territorial seed provides high quality seeds and plants (over 2000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75 acre farm and have a ton of fall varieties for us to try! For seeds, their online garden planner, how to videos and more visit TerritorialSeed.com and use code BLOOM20 for 20% off.     Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here.         Follow Danae and Folia Collective Buy Danae's New Book! Houseplants for All: How to Fill Any Home with Happy Plants *  http://danaerolynhorst.com/  https://www.instagram.com/danaerolynhorst/  https://foliacollective.com/ https://www.instagram.com/foliacollective/   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Plant Friends WELCOME to the 100th episode of Bloom and Grow Radio. Wow, I can’t believe we are here. 100 episodes over 3 years, when I really thought we might not get past episode 10. I’m humbled, proud and incredibly honored to have been through this journey alongside you. If you’ve been listening, you’ll know that this podcast was such an insane surprise for me. I’m a professional musical theater performer with a degree is in opera, I’ve spent my life as a plant killer, and now here I am, publishing this episode in celebration of 100 times we as a community have shown up to learn and grow together and nerd out about plants and plant care. What?! I’m so thankful to this community for supporting the show with your listens, shares, contributions and engagement. Beyond thankful. So today is going to be a celebration of just that- this beautiful community.   Speaking of community here are some resources I've made for our community to use!   The 2020 Bloom and Grow Radio Listener Survey - Please take 5 minutes to take this survey and let me get to know you! I did this survey 2 years ago and it was INSTRUMENTAL in planning episode topics and community resources. We had 1000 people complete the survey last time, so my goal for this survey is 3000 planty listeners! I can't wait to hear from you! The Bloom and Grow Radio Episode Directory! I realize 100 episodes can be overwhelming for any new listeners here, so I went through our 100 episode bank and categorized each episode based on its category: Plant Care, Nerdy Science Breakdowns, Wellness, Planty Business, Seasonal, DIY projects, Edible Gardening, Lifestyle, People and Food. That way, if you are a newbie to the show and feel overwhelmed at the feed, or even if your and OG listener, you can review whatever genre interests you and make sure you haven’t missed any episodes! I will continue updating the directory every 20 episodes or so so it’s always up to date, and I hope that it helps you continue your plant care and wellness education :) Lastly: there’s an epic party happening on IG this week: I'm going live at 1130 EST everyday with one of our favorite guests: yesterday was Leslie Halleck, today Chris Satch, Wednesday Colah from Black in the Garden, Thursday is Summer Rayne Oakes and Friday is Alessia from Apartmentbotanist. We are doing lives where we will have fun plant show and tells and chat and the week is ending in an EPIC giveaway with current and past sponsors of BAGR. Definetly head to @bloomandgrowradio to partake in that giveaway because it is CRAZY!   Top 10 Lessons Learned from 100 Episodes Plants are an instrument for connection Plants make people happy, but they can also make people overwhelmed and anxious. Understanding Light is the Key to Not Killing Plants Using grow lights is an amazing planty home hack Understanding how to water AKA Drainage and capillary action is the OTHER key to not killing plants Plants are a window to wellness With plants, there is always something new to try, no matter how advanced of a plant parent you are! Moss poles are a great addition to your plant fam Anyone can grow their own food Plants are a great way to help children and those in need     Bloom and Grow Radio Goals for the next 100 episodes! Continue to connect with our community on a deeper level and get to know you better through the new listener survey Spending more time in the private BAGR facebook group Designing new ways to get our community involved, virtually for 2020/2021 and IRL in the future! Learn more about horticultural therapy and food insecurity and figure out how BAGR can contribute meaningfully Grow the brand and business - i feel called to do this full time on a large scale: TV, Book, helping people bloom and grow   What’s clear to me is my role in this plant space is to be a community advocate, to learn alongside you, ask the questions you need answered, and foster relationships virtually or in real life with each other so that we can all grow. I believe caring for plants help develop empathy and kindness, and learning those skills will help us make the world a kinder and greener place, and it’s my calling to help as many people successfully care for plants in order to do that.   Thank you for being alongside me for this beautiful ride. Life looks nothing like what I thought it would when I started this podcast 3 years ago. I’m so thankful for that. My plant friends, I adore you, I wish you the plantiest lives full of growth and happiness and that you, of course, keep blooming and keep growing.   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club       Music used is entitled "Fresh Fallen Snow" composed by - Chris Haugen and is the property of Youtube Music Library.

So thrilled to welcome back Lisa from the Houseplant Guru for an EXTENSIVE chat about the wonderful world of ferns. We discuss why and how they are finicky and how to successfully care for them. We also discuss a fun variety of ferns to try for different personalities and answer a whole bunch of listener questions! Lisa has just published her FOURTH book Houseplant Party, filled with fun planty DIY projects for every type of person! In this episode we learn: Why Ferns are considered finicky Where ferns live in nature and how that affects their ability to thrive indoors How to best replicate their environment indoors Lisas humidity hacks to help ferns thrive Basic fern care: light, water, humidity How to fertilize ferns How to deal with mealybugs and scale with Ferns How "systemic pest control" actually works (I had not idea!) What are SPORES How to identify common fern pests Best ferns for different personalities Lisas favorite ferns to try Staghorn ferns Best watering cans to use Mentioned in this episode: Lisa's new book Houseplant Party! (BAGR Amazon Affiliate Link) https://thehouseplantguru.com/2019/09/17/how-to-care-for-a-birds-nest-fern/ https://thehouseplantguru.com/2011/09/15/great-grandmas-fern/ https://thehouseplantguru.com/2019/03/08/a-fern-for-the-fern-challenged/   Thank you Territorial Seed Company for Sponsoring today's episode! Territorial seed provides high quality seeds and plants (over 2000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75 acre farm and have a ton of fall varieties for us to try! For seeds, their online garden planner, how to videos and more visit TerritorialSeed.com and use code BLOOM20 for 20% off.   Instructions for being featured in the 100th episode of Bloom and Grow Radio   Follow Lisa, The Houseplant Guru Website: thehouseplantguru.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseplantguru/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/HouseplantGuru/   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Hi Plant Friends! I cant believe the 100th episode of Bloom and Grow Radio is around the corner! Many of you have been around since episode 1, and I'm so honored to have learned alongside you in this three year journey! The 100th episode will be my top 10 lessons learned from 100 episodes! I want this episode to be all about our community and these 100 episodes of learning, so I'd like to feature YOU and hear what YOU have learned from the 100 episode catalogue!   I'd love you to call in and answer the following question to get featured in the 100th episode!   What has been your favorite episode of BAGR and how did it help you and/or what is the top thing you've learned from listening to an episode BAGR?   How fun will it be for our community to share their most important lessons with each other? The episode itself will turn into a community sourced, education tribute to all of our amazing guests.   Here are the instructions for calling in! INSTRUCTIONS:   1) Call (203) 998-0394 2) Say and Spell your name and email at the beginning of the message so I can contact you! 3) Share your favorite episode and lesson learned from BAGR in the voicemail!   TIPS:   - Wear headphones with a microphone (way better sound!) - The google voice only allows for a 3 minute message, so you might want to write out your story, or jot some thoughts down on paper to allow for you to effectively tell your story without getting cut off. - If your story requires more than 3 minutes, you can call back and leave back to back messages.   Deadline to call is Wednesday August 5th, that's only a 5 days window to call your lessons in, so please do so ASAP.   I can't wait to hear from our community and feature your lessons. Thanks for being part of this beautiful journey and I'm honored to learn alongside and grow with you through every episode.

Plant friends: big announcement, WE’VE MOVED. I’ve been returning to the concept of pruning as I go through many unforeseen changes in life these days, the biggest being that Billy and I have moved out of our tiny NYC apartment in search of adventure and more space. Today I share the science behind pruning, and how it’s been helping me stay present and trust these sudden changes will all work out. I hope it helps you in your transitions and changes of 2020 as well!   My NYC Apartment Tour! 100+ Plants in less than 500 square feet! https://youtu.be/-ahLE_zusrI   FOLLOW MARIA AND BLOOM AND GROW RADIO: Take the Plant Parent Personality Test!:  Unlock your Plant Parent Potential by taking the test below and get curated recommendations for plants, projects and resources inspired by your lifestyle. Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

I am SO very excited to welcome Dr Elle Barnes, my teacher for my Intro to Plant Science with NYBG. HOLY MOLY this episode was so fun to record. I took the Intro to Plant Science Course with the NYBG virtually via Zoom during this period of social distancing and what I learned throughout the course blew my mind. Intro to Plant Science might be my most favorite class I’ve taken at NYBG yet. We dive into the basics of all of the processes that make our plant babies thrive and there is just so much to learn. Dr Barnes did such a good job at breaking down difficult plant science topics so even I could understand them that I was having major “aha! moments” every class. I started a running list at the bottom of my notes document titled “aha moments” so I could always refer back to them. That list has now turned into this episode! In today’s chat, I go through the “aha moment” list with Dr Barnes and ask her to help me explain all of these fundamental principals that have helped me understand plant care on such a deeper level. I hope this episode brings you some "aha moments" of your own and helps you and your plant collection to continue to bloom and grow! Please share them with me on Instagram so I can celebrate you! If you are interested in virtual learning opportunities in this period of social distancing check out NYBG at home which is their virtual hub with tons of free resources like videos, plant guides and virtual events and tours of the garden in addition to ALL of their courses that they have moved online. From botanical art classes, to plant science, there is something for everyone.   https://www.nybg.org/nybg-at-home/ NYBG is also opening it's doors back up in July to their members only. After all this isolation I am so excited to get back to the garden. Members will be the first to be able to access the park after reopening, in addition to free admission year round, special discounts and more- so if you are in the NY area, consider becoming a member this year!   In this episode we learn: How Dr Barnes became the Plant Lady scientist she is today What is the difference between Monocots and Dicots How seeds germinate Overview of cellular respiration and photosynthesis Can plants emit too much carbon dioxide that it can harm humans? What is a VOC How plants both emit and absorb VOCs Do plants really clean the air? How dormancy works Modified leaves and what we didn't know about Cacti and Onions Roses don't have thorns, they have prickles! Spines vs thorns vs prickles Flower petals vs sepal The concept of apical dominance and how it affects pruning What an apical bud is What the hormone auxin is and how important it is for our plants growth Why Maple trees in colder climates make sweeter syrup That a tomato is actually not a fruit or a vegetable What is an inflorescence     Thank you to this week's episode sponsor Wallygro! Wallygro, the company behind my beloved Eco Planter Greenwall, has released a new product: Loop! Loop is Wallygro's clever solution to a hanging planter that looks gorgeous and is designed with your plant's health in mind with it's 2 shell system. The inner shell provides 360 degrees of aeration for drainage and airflow and the outer shell insures no leakage.  PLUS Loop is made of recycled water bottles! Wallygro is giving listeners a limited time discount of 15% off with code BLOOMANDGROW15 at wallygro.com.Offer expires August 4th, 2020.   Follow Dr Elle Barnes Twitter:@ecoevoelle   Follow The New York Botanical Garden: IG: www.instagram.com/nybg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYBotanicalGarden/ www.nybg.org   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Plant Parent Personality Test!:  Unlock your Plant Parent Potential by taking the test below and get curated recommendations for plants, projects and resources inspired by your lifestyle. Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club  

I’m thrilled to welcome Nadia of Urban Farm Sista to the show today to discuss garden pests and her mission with the Agricademy. Nadia is the plant lady behind several amazing businesses and planty projects including the Urban Farm Sista Educational Social Media Platforms, Quiwi Produce and Agricademy. She graduated from Ohio State in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture where she majored in Animal Sciences/minored in Entomology. Entomology is bugs, plant friends and today we do a DEEP DIVE into the common garden pests and insects that we struggle with and learn how to identify and treat them. I appreciate this conversation with Nadia because she helps us zoom out and understand our gardens as a full ecosystem. In gardening, it's always important to "zoom out" and see the larger picture, this conversation very much illustrates that! Check out the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show!   What we learn: How Nadia became the founder of Quiwi Produce, the Agricademy and Urban Farm Sista Why Nadia chose to get a degree in Entomology (studying insects!) How to differentiate a "good" vs a "bad" insect Zooming out and understanding the garden as an ecosystem and why insects are important Why Hemp is important (beyond CBD and Cannabis) Most common garden pests: how to identify and treat them Aphids and Ants (Minute 36:00) Caterpillars (Minute 48:25) Leaf Beetles (discussed throughout the episode) Leaf Miners (Minute 1:00) Wasps (1:03) Recipe for pest control spray Why and how does Neem oil work What is BT Bacteria What is Diatomaceous Earth Why and how to use Insect Nets Does releasing predatory bugs outdoors work? Nadias non profit: Agricademy Its mission the Food is Essential project Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Aphid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsTTC7CKO2c&feature=youtu.be Recipe for Nadias Neem Spray: Found in her amazing Insect Investigator PDF Bacillus thuringiensis - Information on BT Bacteria Diatamaceous Earth / Flea Beetles - https://youtu.be/PQ222Sa6XXI  Insect Net- She discusses insect nets in her video on Catepillars   Peterson Field Guide to Insects*: Nadia's recommended insect anthology *Bloom and Grow Amazon Affiliate Code*     Thank you to this weeks episode sponsors: Makespace makes storage simple, seamless and affordable without you EVER having to leave your apartment. They pick up, store and return your stuff and provide the packing materials! To learn more, visit makespace.com and use code SPACEPLZ for $100 off! Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here.       Follow Nadia IG: Urbanfarmsista Youtube: Urbanfarmsista Agricademyinc.org Amazon Storefront -https://www.amazon.com/shop/urbanfarmsista     Donate to Farming is Essential Project Website: http://www.agricademyinc.org/farming Gofundme: gf.me/u/xz6muf Facebook Campaign :https://www.facebook.com/donate/885370131959752/?fundraiser_source=external_url Cash App: $agricademyinc Mail Donations to: Agricademy Inc. 8711 Reading Road Cincinnati, OH 45215 (checks payable to Agricademy Inc.)   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Plant Parent Personality Test!:  Unlock your Plant Parent Potential by taking the test below and get curated recommendations for plants, projects and resources inspired by your lifestyle. Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

I’m  so thrilled to invite my Soil Science teacher Dr. Anna Paltseva to join us today for a nerdy conversation about soil science and drainage. I took her Soil Science 101 class virtually with the NYBG this year and learned so much. I look at soil and the earth differently after this course. What we learned is way too much to cover in one episode, so today Dr Paltseva and I hone in on drainage for houseplants: why it’s important, the science behind it and how we can achieve it for our houseplants.  I think one of my top 5 proudest moments over the 95 episode span of BAGR is the "lightbulb moment" we have in this conversation while discussing capillary action. But I’ll let you hear it in your own time in the midst of the episode. If you want more: I made a super nerdy youtube video companion to this episode. I show you some visuals to further explain what we discussed in our interview and show you the experiments I did for my presentation on drainage. Speaking of the NYBG, they have created an incredible virtual resource for you in this moment of social distancing: the NYBG At Home center. Since the Garden’s gates are temporarily closed, they’ve opened their virtual gates to you! They’ve compiled videos, plant guides, virtual events for your free entertainment and education and my favorite aspect of the NYBG at Home is their online courses! Plant Friends… these courses aren’t free, but they are so worth it. I got so much out of my soil science class, I will never pot a plant the same again, and this intro to plant science class is transforming the way I look at my balcony garden and plants. Check everything they have to offer at https://www.nybg.org/nybg-at-home/     In this episode we learn: Anna's childhood that inspired her to become a Soil Scientist Why fresh produce literally tastes better in Italy (hint... it has to do with the soil) What is the difference between soil and dirt Differences between outdoor and indoor soil Why indoor houseplant soil needs to be aerated The purpose of aeration Ways to help your soil that has become "hydrophobic" The "recipe" for soil How Sand, Silt and Clay drain at different rates and how that affects your soil What is "capillary action" and why bottom watering is best What is adhesion and cohesion in relation to capillary action Can you overwater a plant using the bottom watering method? What is the Perched Water Table How Maria has changed her plant care practices after learning about the Perched Water Table How do plants absorb minerals through roots and soil What are macro and micro nutrients What nutrients are important for our plants   Mentioned in the episode: Bloom and Grow Youtube Show on Drainage   Thank you to this week's episode sponsor: Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here.   Follow Dr Anya Paltseva Instagram: @soil_expert Website: https://www.annapaltseva.com/publications Youtube: Anna Paltseva   Follow The New York Botanical Garden: IG: www.instagram.com/nybg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYBotanicalGarden/ www.nybg.org Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Plant Parent Personality Test!:  Unlock your Plant Parent Potential by taking the test below and get curated recommendations for plants, projects and resources inspired by your lifestyle. Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

On the heels of the #amplifymelanatedvoices initiative, we take pause to reflect on the national and international conversation happening around the Black Lives Matter movement. We hear excerpts from two episodes with two beautiful Black Plant People, Christopher from PlantKween and Colah from Black in the Garden, share inspiring stories about how the Plant Community rallied to raise money and support the Black Lives Matters Movement, hear what Maria and Bloom and Grow's commitments are and end with a special poem and time for reflection.  Featured  Voices, Resources and Inspirational Stories of the Plant Community Stepping Up to Support Black Lives Matter Follow Christopher AKA PlantKween on Instagram: @plantkween Follow Colah and Black in the Garden: on Instagram @blackinthegarden  and subscribe on iTunes: Black in the Garden Podcast Ross Gay: A Small Needful Fact  https://www.rossgay.net/about Summer Rayne Oakes #PlantOneForward resource for Black Owned Plant Shops - this can be added to, so many sure your or your favorite black owned plant shops are on this list!  Betsy Begonia's US Black Owned Plant Related Businesses List - you can also email her to add others onto the list  Permacrafters created a list of 50 Black Voices in the Green Space to follow under the following categories: Herbalism, Environmental Justice, Climate Activism, Outdoors, Ecology, Vegan, Sustainable Living, Farming and Food Justice,  Sustainable Fashion, Filmmaking and more  #plantingforprogress was an initiative launched Agatha Isabel or @plant.ma on IG,  to support BLM, and has been extended to also focus on the local NYC community of Black, Latinx, POC, LGBTQ+ including @theforesightproject @audrelordeproject @innocenceproject.   It started when Agatha auctioned off a Philodendron Pink Princess she had for Black Lives Matter and ACLU Nationwide on her personal account. Upon hearing this, local plant shop Nelly's Flowers and Plants (@nellysflowershop) donated 12 plants to her cause, which she then rallied some of her plant friends to auction off on their accounts (@plantblerd @thehoodbotanist @siloliage @plantmepaul @welcometothejunglehome @felinejungle @thejungleupstairs @plant.ma ). This auctioning went throughout the week and has now raised over SIX times the original amount of her PPP and that number is still growing! This seed of an idea that Agatha had to raise money on her personal account turned into an incredible cross account, cross plant community supported movement that has raised an amazing amount of money for 3 national organizations and 3 local NYC community organizations. And it's not stopping here, follow @plantingforprogress on instagram to follow more auctions, as new people are donating plants to be auctioned everyday. They are planning on having monthly auctions of rare collector plants for good causes, so give them a follow if you're interested.   Rachel Cargle and her free 30 day #dothework course   What is Bloom and Grow Doing: - Doing the work: continuing to learn about the system injustice against black people in the country and using our privilege to help this cause.  - Donated to Black Lives Matter, Color of Change, The New Georgia Project, Showing Up for Racial Justice and Teens for Food Justice and continuing to seek out organizations that support ending racial injustice and food insecurity  - Finding diverse voices to interview for the podcast - Vote   This is a movement not a moment.    Follow Christopher AKA PlantKween Instagram: @plantkween   Follow Colah and Black in the Garden: iTunes: Black in the Garden Podcast IG: @blackinthegarden    Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

So thrilled to be welcoming Becca de la Plants and  SO MANY of our favorite plant-tubers to the show today on an epic cross media collaboration! I have become very curious about the Plant-tube, the Planty corner of Youtube, and decided to do a deep dive by reaching out to YOUR favorite plant-tubers to get answers to my questions! This is a two part episode hosted on the Bloom and Grow Radio Podcast and Youtube Show. Todays podcast episode has special guest Becca de la Plants for a conversation on all things youtube: history, the differences in the plant-tube sect of the youtube space, maintaining a channel, growing one, monetization and etiquette. THEN we have a beautiful montage of 11 plant-tubers sharing why they love their channels and the plant-tube community and why (you'll be surprised at how varied their answers are!). THEN on the Bloom and Grow Youtube Channel, we have a video with all 13 of us sharing How to Sow, Grow and Nourish a Plant-tube Channel with tips for creating your OWN channel if you are curious. These plant-tubers are sweet, passionate people and I feel lucky to have gotten to know them over the course of this collaboration. Make sure to head to their channels and subscribe and give them some love! In this Episode We Learn: Becca's journey to becoming Becca De Le Plants Youtube Vs Planttube Why Plant-tube might have the most haters How Plant-tube fits into the world of Youtube Etiquette for watching and engaging with plant-tube videos How plant-tubers make money (if they do) How to connect with local plant people in your community #indoorjungledirectory A compilation of our favorite Plant-tubers sharing their favorite part about having a Plant-tube channel (dont forget to listen to this part, it will give you all the feels!)   Make sure to check out the video companion to this episode: How to Sow, Grow and Nourish a Plant-tube Channel!   Follow Our Plant-tube Collaborators! Becca from De Le Plants Planty Youtube Lifestyle Youtube and Instagram   Betsy from Betsy Begonia - Youtube and Instagram Harli G  from Harli G  Youtube and Instagram Gerard from Gerard's Horticulture Culture Youtube and Instagram Rachel from Heart Shaped Leaves  Youtube and Instagram and PODCAST! Adam from Knot Dude Youtube and Instagram Sharina Tallada Youtube and Instagram Nick Pileggi Youtube and Instagram Nicole from My Clean Leaves Youtube and Instagram Pam from Pam's Pretty Plants Youtube and Instagram Christian from Crazy Plant Guy Youtube and Instagram and TikTok! Darryl from House Plant Journal Youtube and Instagram     Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Plant Parent Personality Test!:  Unlock your Plant Parent Potential by taking the test below and get curated recommendations for plants, projects and resources inspired by your lifestyle. Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Today we welcome back Marc Hachadourian from the New York Botanical Garden to the show! You might remember Marc from Episode 50: Maranta, Calathea and Stromanthe 101 where he gave so many amazing tips and tricks for caring for this finicky but beautiful group of plants. Now he is back for an in depth review of the world of Begonias! He gives us the history of these plants and tips and guidelines to keep these gorgeous creatures thriving in our homes. As you’ll learn in the episode, I’ve always been a bit scared of Begonias, but after this episode, I’ve found myself cruising online plant shops for an Angel Wing Begonia… I found a Red Ruby Begonia which I’ve ordered off of amazon and will do an unboxing of when it arrives, but if you have the inside scoop on where I can get an Angel Wing Begonia… let me know on the post for the podcast episode on IG! Marc Hachadourian is the Director of Glasshouse Horticulture and Senior Curator of Orchids at the New York Botanical Garden. His amazing plant brain, friendly personality and passion for plants is kind of legendary in the plant space and I’m so excited to bring him back for another show. I could seriously talk to Marc all day. And I’m so thankful to the New York Botanical Garden for lending him to us for this episode. Speaking of the NYBG, they have created an incredible virtual resource for you in this moment of social distancing: the NYBG At Home center. Since the Garden’s gates are temporarily closed, they’ve opened their virtual gates to you! They’ve compiled videos, plant guides, virtual events- like you can take a virtual tour of the Orchid Show or the Magnolias in Bloom and my favorite aspect of the NYBG at Home is their online courses! I just finished Soil Science 101 with them and I’m currently taking Intro to Plant Science with them. Plant Friends… these courses aren’t free, but they are so worth it. I got so much out of my soil science class, I will never pot a plant the same again, and this intro to plant science class is transforming the way I look at my balcony garden and plants. I’m like trying to lecture Billy about monocots vs dicots and plant adaptions and he is looking at me like a crazy person. But if you aren’t interested in getting science-y they also have Botanical Watercolor, Botanical Embroidery and currently have a series called “All About Containers” if you are interested in growing edibles in containers this season. Check everything they have to offer at https://www.nybg.org/nybg-at-home/ In this episode we learn: Marc's love of Begonias The Begonia's  (and other plant) that was featured in American Gothic  The wide variety of Begonias available to plant parents Marc's famous Houseplant Hospital and Humidity Hacks General care guidelines for light, soil and watering of Begonias Where Begonias grow in the natural world Mentioned in today's episode: Maria's favorite soil company, Espoma Organics Leslie Hallecks book on Propagation: Plant Parenting     Thank you to this week's episode sponsors: Modern Sprout: for more information on Modern Sprout's amazing *NEW* line of indoor grow lights and adorable and innovative hydroponic grow kits, seed starter kits, seed pops, planty accessories and more visit www.modernsprout.com and use code "15BLOOM" at checkout for 15% off.   Espoma Organics: for responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here.   Follow The New York Botanical Garden: IG: www.instagram.com/nybg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYBotanicalGarden/ www.nybg.org Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Plant Parent Personality Test!:  Unlock your Plant Parent Potential by taking the test below and get curated recommendations for plants, projects and resources inspired by your lifestyle. Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

So excited to welcome my MOM back to Bloom and Grow Radio today! It feels very fitting to have her joining us so close to Mother's Day! You might remember her from Episode 20: Talking Tomatoes when she gave us her Italian secrets to tomato gardening, and now she's back to talk about what she's learned with 5 years of edible landscaping under her belt (and a lifetime of general gardening experience). She shares her top 10 tips for Edible Landscaping and Gardening with our audience today and has a LOT to share. In this episode we learn: My Mom's history as a plant lady Her garden growing up with my Italian Grandparents Her tip for how to memorize your houseplant names Her process for evaluating her new house and figuring out how to start a garden on new land How she chooses plants for her garden How she grew the "Failla Farm" section by section over 5 years Mom's top 10 tips for edible landscaping and beginning gardeners! Read the top 10 tips on the blog! https://bloomandgrowradio.com/momtips/ Check out the Youtube Tour of my Moms Garden! 

I’m so excited to finally welcome Jane Perrone of On the Ledge Podcast to the show. Jane and I have both been podcasting for almost three years now and, if we do say so ourselves, are the OG houseplant centered podcast on the airwaves. It’s only taken three years and a pandemic to make our schedules clear enough to pull our heads out of the production of our own shows to finally visit each other shows, so we thought it would be fun to interview each other on our shows in the same week. So if you are interested in hearing Jane interview me you can check out her channel, and if you are a new listener of Jane’s coming here to hear her interview, welcome! In this episode we learn: If Jane Perrone and I view each other as competition How we feel about being the OG houseplant podcasters How Jane's family has reacted to her plant collection One particular topic that Jane wants to set the record straight about How both Jane and Maria have developed their knowledge of plant care Jane's favorite houseplant of the moment What Jane's house plant set up is in her home How many plants and grow lights Jane currently has in her home What the rarest plant Jane has is Why the term "plant parent" can be tricky for some people   Check out my Modern Sprout Growbar and Growhouse installation on this weeks Youtube Show video Thank you to this week's episode sponsor: Modern Sprout! For more information on Modern Sprout's amazing *NEW* line of smart indoor grow lights and adorable and innovative hydroponic grow kits, seed starter kits, seed pops, planty accessories and more visit www.modernsprout.com and use code "15BLOOM" at checkout for 15% off. *discount code not available for Mother's Day Bundles*     Have you taken the Bloom and Grow Plant Parent Personality Test yet? Take the 2 minute test to learn your Plant Parent Personality and what plants, projects and podcast episodes are perfectly suited to your lifestyle!   Follow Jane: Instagram @j.l.perrone Twitter @janeperrone Main podcast link janeperrone.com Facebook group Houseplant Fans of On The Ledge https://www.facebook.com/groups/houseplantfans/     Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Plant Parent Personality Test!:  Unlock your Plant Parent Potential by taking the test below and get curated recommendations for plants, projects and resources inspired by your lifestyle. Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

So excited to welcome Toby Adams, the Director of the Edible Academy for the New York Botanical Garden onto the show to talk all things vegetable gardening! The NYBG Edible Academy is a state-of-the-art educational facility featuring hands-on activities and innovative programs that help children, families, teachers, and the general public learn about growing and preparing vegetables, fruit, and herbs while encouraging a lifelong interest in gardening, nutrition awareness, and environmental stewardship. Toby has worked at the NYBG for almost 20 years, and has a passion for helping people understand how to grow food- as you’ll see in our interview. We don't talk a lot of about herbs because I've already done an Herb Garden 101 episode with a horticulturalist from NYBG on another episode! If you are interested in growing herbs check out Episode 22: Windowsill Herb Gardening 101 I’ve been taking a lot of online courses in this time of isolation and spending a lot of time focusing on what I will grow on my tiny balcony garden this spring and summer. The New York Botanical Garden has an unbelievable array of online courses and even have a Horticulture Certificate degree you can complete! I've taken several NYBG courses and am totally hooked! The first course I took was Fundamentals of Gardening and I’m currently enrolled in the virtual Soil Science 101 class. Plant friends… I am loving these classes so much, as I’m finding they are teaching me the underlying reasons behind so many basic plant care techniques I know. Learn with me! I’ll be taking Intro to Plant Science with the NYBG  starting April 23rd and I’d love for you to join me! I cannot WAIT to dive into the scientific processes our plants go through that I don’t quite understand and would love to have you in class with me! In case this episode gets you excited and you want to learn more about vegetable gardening, they also have four virtual courses focusing on vegetable gardening coming up! Rooftop Gardening (Starts April 22) Mastering the Art of Tomato Gardening (April 23) Vegetable Gardening Saturday (April 25) Super Small Space Veggie Gardening (Starts April 28) In this episode we learn: Maria's overview of the main takeaways she took from her Fundamentals of Gardening Class Annual vs Perennial Compost vs Mulch Basic Garden Design Strategies What is the Edible Academy at NYBG and how is it reconnect kids with food What are the Fundamentals of Vegetable Gardening Understanding what you want to grow Understanding what you CAN grow Understanding your growing conditions The pluses and minuses to container gardening vs bed gardening Best soil to use for vegetables and herbs How to assess your garden sunlight General fertilizing guidelines Easy to grow Spring edibles: Lettuce, Radishes, Sugar Snap Peas Easy to grow Summer edibles: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, beans What not to grow (and why) Why everyone should try vegetable gardening this year Mentioned in the episode: Take the Plant Parent Personality Test!:  Unlock your Plant Parent Potential by taking the test below and get curated recommendations for plants, projects and resources inspired by your lifestyle. NYBG Online Courses Intro to Plant Science (Starts April 23 and I'll be taking it!) Rooftop Gardening (Starts April 22) Mastering the Art of Tomato Gardening (April 23) Vegetable Gardening Saturday (April 25) Super Small Space Veggie Gardening (Starts April 28) All of NYBG's virtual content, including a link to online classes, can be accessed through NYBG at Home USDA Hardiness Zones: enter your zip code in the map here to find yours! Soil Testing: find your local cooperative agent for testing guidelines Thank you to this week's episode sponsors! For more information on Modern Sprout's amazing *NEW* line of indoor grow lights and adorable and innovative hydroponic grow kits, seed starter kits, seed pops, planty accessories and more visit www.modernsprout.com and use code "15BLOOM" at checkout for 15% off.  For responsibly made, fabulous indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here. Follow The New York Botanical Garden: IG: www.instagram.com/nybg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYBotanicalGarden/ www.nybg.org Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Take the Plant Parent Personality Test!:  Unlock your Plant Parent Potential by taking the test below and get curated recommendations for plants, projects and resources inspired by your lifestyle. Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club  

Today's episode is simply me sharing things that are inspiring me in this weird time for our country. There is so much to be scared of, but so much to be thankful for and inspired by. A lot of people are feeling helpless and alone, and this is a list of ways that you can help those in need and yourself in the Age of Corona! Resources Mentioned in Today's Episode: #PlantOneForward Initiative Summer Rayne Oakes' #plantoneforward initiative: Summer Rayne is encouraging everyone in our community to support local growers and plant shops by sending one plants to one person who could use cheering up in this moment: a loved one, a plant friend, or maybe even someone you've lost touch with. If you can afford to, this is a great way to help our beloved plant shops (and the growers that supply them) stay in business. I sent a thank you plant from @plantsbypost From Summer Raynes' Blog post: "If even 100 of us do so, we’ll positively affect the lives of 300 people (you, the person who owns the shop, and the person you give the plant to); 300 becomes 900; 900 becomes 2,700; 2,700 becomes 8,100; 8,100 becomes 24,300; and so on and so forth. It’s simple acts such as these that not only help our communities—but also help us stay connected to one another. " Click here for SRO's blog with all of the plant shops mentioned To buy something for yourself AND sending a plant to your friend visit Steves Leaves to take advantage of their #plantoneforwardbonus. Purchase a plant (or more) and then add the item Promo to their cart (it can be found by searching promo on the site). Use promo code #PLANTONEFORWARD to send an airplant to a friend at a separate address when you place your order. You will need to put the name and address of who you are sending the air plant to into the comments section of the order so we can mail it to the other person. Victory Garden Movement or Cooperative Gardens Commission Click here to read the NY Times article about it! The Victory Garden movement was a result of World War 1, when people were encouraged to grow as much food at home as possible to become self- sufficient. It was so successful that it was predicted that up to 40 % of the countries vegetables were grown in community, home and school gardens. In 2020 as a response to the Covid Pandemic, the Experimental Farm Network is swiftly pulling together the Cooperative Gardens Commission (renamed after they decided to move away from the Corona Victory Garden Network). The commission is pledging to helping connect experienced gardeners with supplies to help their communities grow their own food. You can visit www.coogardens.org to pledge supplies or volunteer time to help the movement. In their own words: "In response to this crisis, Experimental Farm Network (EFN) is urging all people who can to establish "Cooperative Gardens" to grow as much food this year as they possibly can. We hope this effort will help people across the country (and potentially in other countries as well) to provide themselves and their communities with healthy fresh food, reduce our reliance on the faltering industrial food system (which is terrible for the environment and human health even when fully functioning), and make it easier for folks to stay in their communities and avoid further transmission of the virus. We hope people in cities will take over defunct community gardens and vacant lots and fill them with life once more. We hope people in towns and suburbs who normally work hard to keep their lawns green will instead rip up grass and plant vegetable gardens. And we hope rural farmers who normally grow big fields of commodity crops — folks who know how to farm and have a great capacity to produce lots of food — will set aside at least a portion of their land and labor to grow fruits and vegetables for their neighbors and for those in need in nearby communities (especially in cities, where people are likely to suffer greatly in the event of major supply chain disruptions). This is a time for social solidarity on a scale not seen since wartime — though such solidarity would inarguably be welcome in peacetime too, given how many people already lack food sovereignty, particularly in historically oppressed communities. During World War I, a National War Garden Commission was established by concerned individuals outside of government before the US even entered the war. Girl Scouts tended a quarter-acre garden in Boston Common. The Army's Camp Dix here in New Jersey hosted a 400-acre "war garden" tended by soldiers (with 140 acres of potatoes alone). Schools and Universities grew food on their campuses. And people of all ages came to consider gardening to be their civic duty. We must do the same today. Please fill out this survey if you have food production resources to share (seeds, tools, land, volunteer labor, soil/compost, tillage equipment, knowledge, etc), or are interested in starting a farm or garden in your community, particularly if you don't have access to all of the resources you need. We are working around the clock with a growing coalition of individuals and organizations able to help and will do our best to match those in need with those who have (likely through a different platform than this one, which we will ask you to migrate over to at some point very soon). If you would like to donate funds to support our organizing efforts, please visit www.ExperimentalFarmNetwork.org and click the "Donate" button at the bottom of the page." GrowIt! 1000 Plant Giveaway GrowIt! is giving away 1000 free plants through April 19th. You enter by participating in the "Spring is NOT cancelled giveaway" conversation on the GrowIt! App- if you get selected then GrowIt! will ship a houseplant to your door via a small business OR give you a giftcard to a local garden center.Visit our Giveaway FAQ for details. Little Prince Growers: Garden Center 911 https://littleprinceplants.com/garden-center-911/   Little Prince is a grower in Oregon who is helping garden centers and nurseries who are in need. They are a grower that ships directly from their growhouse, so they are set up for success in this time- but garden centers with no online sales capacity are struggling. So they are telling garden centers and shops who can't sell, that if they direct their customers to the Little Prince site and make sales through them, Little Prince will send them 20% of the sale to help them stay afloat. It's a really creative way for a grower with the ability to sell, help generate even a small amount of revenue for shops that cannot. If you know a shop or nursery who could benefit from this, visit the Garden Center 911 Page at Little Prince Nursery. Also, if you are just curious to see their awesome array of succulents, airplants, houseplants and more, you can use the Bloom and Grow Radio Affiliate link here. Educational Offerings Now is the time to take time to advance your learning! I am on an online course spree! I'm currently taking the online Soil Science 101 class at NYBG, BSchool by Marie Forleo, Joe Lampl's Organic Vegetable Gardening course AND I've got a botanical watercolor class tonight I'm taking with friends! I'm hooked! I know there finances might be tighter for some of us in these periods- so I have offerings listed in every price range (including free) for you to check out. FREE If you're looking for free gardening tips- there are limitless options of different channels! As I prep for my spring garden, lately I've been watching: Joe Gardener Youtube Channel Epic Gardening Youtube Channel Garden Answer Youtube Channel Homestead Brooklyn Youtube Channel But comment below on the blog if you have channels you want to suggest! The New York Botanical Garden has created the New York Botanical Garden At Home Hub for a one stop visit where you can find virtual tours of the garden, plant guides, videos, recipes for kids, blogs  links to their online courses and so much more! PAID NYBG has put many of their courses online! I've taken Fundamentals of Gardening and Soil Science 101 and loved it! I'll be enrolling in the Plant Science 101 Course starting April 23rd, incase anyone wants to join me! If you are interested in growing herbs and vegetables they have the following classes coming up: Rooftop Gardening (Starts April 22) Mastering the Art of Tomato Gardening (April 23) Vegetable Gardening Saturday (April 25) Super Small Space Veggie Gardening (Starts April 28) Click Here to check them out Craft Jam has all sorts of fun botanically inspired classes like botanical watercolor and embroidery (I'm taking the Floral Watercolor on April 2nd and Modern Calligraphy on April 4th!) Leslie Halleck has discounted her Garden Consultations and Business Consultations for people wanting to design their first gardens or help their planty businesses pivot in these times. For rates and more info click here Rooney Bloom (from our two part Cannabis Series) launched his online shop where he sells plants and consulting services. But for the month of April he is doing a 4 part educational series for kids on learning how to grow plants from seed. This could be a very fun activity for those of you with kids at home! http://www.rooneybloom.com/products/online-education Local NYC Offerings Farm One is the hydroponic farm in NYC that is run by our Hydroponics 101 guest, Rob. The farm grows rare herbs and flowers and sells them to high end restaurants across NY. Because of the restaurant closures, they've found themselves with a farm full of product and no one to sell it to...so they are offering it to folks to use in their home quarantine cooking creations. :) They will also going to be releasing herb mixes to follow along with video content, like cocktail classes and have a recorded a tasting tour of the farm and will be offering a pack of the herbs covered in that tour so people can taste along at home. Check out their herbs delivered to your door and tours and other offerings at https://store.farm.one​. You can also buy a gift card to use once the farm reopens for a tour! NYC based Advertising Agency CSM, launched #ExperienceGood a campaign to collectively celebrate the ideas and people adapting to the sudden shift in what live experiences mean in the midst of this unprecedented crisis. If you are a business owner trying to pivot and need to feel uplifted  and inspired, head to the experiencegood.co to find some inspo! On a Larger Scale GiveDirectly is the leading global NGO specialized in delivering digital cash transfers. They've worked in challenging contexts across 8 countries, from Houston after Harvey to the most remote parts of Uganda, and now they have turned their attention to those in need in the US in response to Covid. They are helping Americans who are on SNAP (or foodstamps) to get financial relieve into households in need. (quoted from April 2nd edition of Washington Post's Power UP Newsletter) “We are working specifically with people on food assistance,” Michael Faye, the president and co-founder of GiveDirectly, told Power Up. “80 percent of these people will have lost work or received a reduction in wages … The urgency of the crisis cannot be understated. The difference between getting someone a check — or buying a load of groceries now versus waiting a month or so is pretty meaningful.” The nonprofit has already committed to doling out $10 million for cash transfers of $1,000 to 9,000 American families. They've also rolled out their #PassTheCheck pledge. The group is encouraging Americans “about to receive government checks even though they might not need it,” to donate their check — or a portion of it — to help a low-income family. “To the extent that you are in a fortunate position, we are asking you to give [your check] to someone in more need,” Faye told us. “Do the math. If 1 percent of the population doesn't need their check and donates it — that's $3.5 billion dollars.” If you are in a position to give or #PassTheCheck learn more at givedirectly.org In Summary People all over the country are doing amazing things to help those in need in this time of crisis in which none of us could have prepared for. It is scary, it is unnerving, and it is at times, beautiful. The pandemic is horrible and wreaking havoc on our economic and healthcare systems, but silver linings will come out of this. People are quarantining sometimes not to help themselves, but to help others not get sick. Neighbors are offering to do grocery runs for those unable to go outside in these conditions. Old friends are connecting over zoom. Families and couples are reconnecting in quarantine in deeper ways. This period of isolation is causing all of us to slow down for a minute and be present. Just like plant care. How lucky are we to have plantcare as a hobby in this time! So how can you help? Maybe you are in a position to donate which is amazing. But there are so many ways to help that aren't even financial. Check in on a friend who you know is alone in quarantine. Share an uplifting story.  Back a birthday cake for your friend who's birthday party got cancelled because of social distancing and drop it off on her doorstep. Prepare some cuttings of your plants to send to people you want to feel loved! Or just take some time for yourself to go ham on youtube videos and gardening books to increase your plantcare knowledge. If you have the means, support a local plant shop by buying a plant for yourself or a friend. Donate to an organization that is meaningful or send money to a friend or family member in need. Or maybe buy some educational books or courses for yourself to pass the time. Whatever you choose to do, be kind to yourself and be kind to others, and Keep Blooming and Keep Growing.

My Fiance, Billy, joins me today to give you the inside scoop on what the last year has looked like for us. As most of you know I left home for an entire year to travel with Cats the Musical, and Billy was left to care for all of our 150 plants all by himself. This was a HUGE undertaking for him, as I was the "primary caretaker" for our plants when we lived together, so we break down exactly how both of us went into this new phase of life and lessons learned along the way. Thank you to Billy, my partner in plants and partner in life, who greets every challenge with an open heart and open mind. I'm so thankful to have you to grow through life with. In this episode we learn: Billy's reaction to me leaving him with our 150 plants for tour for a year Billy's journey warming to my passion for plants when it began An overview of our "plant pause" How Billy managed caring for our 150 plants on his own while I toured the country with Cats Maria's strategies for helping Billy learn how to care for their plants Mentioned in the episode: Billy's first episode on BAGR: Tips for Living with a Crazy Plant Person Thank you Plants by Post for sponsoring today's episode! Plants by Post is a family-owned nursery located in Northern California cutting out the middleman and delivering beautiful and healthy  indoor and outdoor annuals and perennials directly to your doorstep, nationwide. I have used them several times and have been blown away by the quality of their plants, intention behind their shipping and love how environmentally friendly they are! Spring is here, Plant Friends! Time to stock up! Head to plantsbypost.com and use code BLOOM20 for 20% off your order!     Follow Billy Instagram: @atadashbilly   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Brittany Gowan, the plant lady behind @ihavethisthingwithurbanjungles on IG and the Pause with Plants Podcast has been a #plantfriendIRL for a while now and a lovely lady. She has been practicing and teaching her Pause with Plants Method and we thought today would be the perfect time to discuss how to use plants to reduce stress. There has never been a better time than to have houseplants and practice houseplant care than now, when many of us are confined to our homes in the midst of this pandemic! It's important to understand tools and techniques for us to use our houseplants to reduce our stress. I've never been more thankful for my houseplants than the last 8 days of quarantine! This talk with Brittany inspired my to do a planty workout you can find on my IGTV. I hope it inspires you to bring a little calm into your "work from home" days!    In this episode we learn: How Brittany became the plant lady she is now and why she started Pause with Plants How to incorporate plants into your mental wellness routine How to use plants in your morning routine The importance of breath while practicing mindful awareness How to use plants in your meditation The importance of routine while working from home Techniques to incorporate more calm and recenter yourself The "Pause with Plants" Method: connect, move and meditate with plants   Mentioned in this episode: Brittany's comprehensive guide to how to Pause with Plants   If you've got time to spare and want to boost your plant care education try these episodes of the Bloom and Grow Radio Podcast: Episode 03: How NOT to kill your succulents! Episode 02: Top 5 Houseplants for Beginners Episode 18: Prepping your Plants for Spring Episode 19: Terrarium 101 Episode 20: Talking Tomatoes  Episodes 46/47: Understanding Natural Light Episode 71: Low Light Plants  Episode 74: Grow Lights 101 Also scroll the podcast feed to find 101 episodes on: orchids, airplants, fiddle leaf figs, monstera, peperomia, african violets, prayer plants, windowsill herb gardening, container gardening and more!   Thank you Plants by Post for sponsoring today's episode! Plants by Post is a family-owned nursery located in Northern California cutting out the middleman and delivering beautiful and healthy  indoor and outdoor annuals and perennials directly to your doorstep, nationwide. I have used them several times and have been blown away by the quality of their plants, intention behind their shipping and love how environmentally friendly they are! Spring is here, Plant Friends! Time to stock up! Head to plantsbypost.com and use code BLOOM20 for 20% off your order!   Follow Brittany and Pause with Plants: Pause with Plants Podcast PausewithPlants.com @PausewithPlants @ihavethisthingwithurbanjungles brittany@brittanygowan.com   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

I’m excited to have another podcaster join me today on the podcast! Today we welcome Colah B Tawkin of the Black in the Garden Podcast who created the podcast to bring more of a voice and presence for the stories and voices of Black Gardeners and Plant People. Today, in a belated Black History Month episode (since I didn’t air the podcast last month) Colah shares amazing stories about some historic  black gardeners and plant people, we discuss her top 5 favorite houseplants that originate in Africa and Colah highlights some beautifully diverse gardeners doing amazing things in the plant space who we need to know about! This conversation was eye opening, enlightening and inspiring and I’m thankful to Colah for sharing all of this amazing information! I hope you find this information as interesting as I did and that maybe you find a new person on IG to follow or make your #plantfriendIRL!   In this episode we learn: About Colah and her plant lady journey and why she created the Black in the Garden Podcast About Harriet Tubman's knowledge of plants and how it served her as she lead people to freedom on the Underground Railroad About how George Washington Carver, who was born a slave, revolutionized agriculture in the South Colah's top 5 favorite houseplants that originate in Africa Colah shares companies and people who are striving for inclusivity and representation in the plant space (tagged and linked below)   Mentioned in the Episode: Colah and the Black in the Garden Podcast @SoulfireFarm(IG), Farm  committed to ending racism and injustice in the food system.  Leah Penniman author of Farming While Black @GreenHeffaFarm (IG) - NC hemp farmer, hemp herbal tea purveyor, Farmer Cee on Youtube @cocoandseed  (IG) nature inspired home and garden products: personalized enamel camping mugs (monstera mugs!), indoor garden kits(desktop microgreens planters), rose gold propagation tube stands, cute journal stickers + more! Products are carefully crafted, sourced, and packaged with eco-friendly and sustainable materials.  https://cocoandseed.com/?ref=blackinthegarden 10% off with *Black in the Garden affiliate link* @seedmailseedco (IG) Black purveyor of adorably packaged $0.99 seeds (microgreens +garlic +potatoes) with a mission is to deliver affordable garden adventures right to your doorstep. Offering in depth online grow guides to empower new gardeners! Code: BLACKINTHEGARDEN for buy 5 get 1 free *Black in the Garden affiliate code* @urbanfarmsista (IG) 'The Bug Lady' Nadia Ruffin:  Entomologist and Science enthusiast  founder of the Agricademy: Teaching youth about the agriculture industry through agriscience and career exploration. https://quiwiproduce.farm/school/ Youtube: Urban Farm Sista @botanical.highlander (IG) Derek Haynes 'The Crazy Botanist'  Botanist, author, and kombucha maker, spreading the love of plant and fungi to all! @Lillithplantshop (IG), Washington DC plant shop offering plant styling, installation, pop-ups and workshops. Fostering connectivity to plants in all spaces!   Podcast: Edible Activist Podcast : Hosted by Melissa L. Jones; dynamic people of color in the food and agriculture space share personal food journeys, stories and perspectives that stem from the land.   Youtube: @NYCplantnerd (IG) : plant vlogger and sneaker head offering straightforward indoor gardening and plant care tips.   Urban logic https://www.youtube.com/user/SuperSonicPunk   @gerards_horticulture_culture : Exotic plant collector and enthusiast. Gerard offers his quirky brand of plant care tips with jazzy beats!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFzGD3RJqK4L3YkRhSb4Yug   Thank you Plants by Post for sponsoring today's episode! Plants by Post is a family-owned nursery located in Northern California cutting out the middleman and delivering beautiful and healthy  indoor and outdoor annuals and perennials directly to your doorstep, nationwide. I have used them several times and have been blown away by the quality of their plants, intention behind their shipping and love how environmentally friendly they are! Spring is here, Plant Friends! Time to stock up! Head to plantsbypost.com and use code BLOOM20 for 20% off your order! Follow Colah and Black in the Garden: iTunes: Black in the Garden Podcast IG: @blackinthegarden    Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

African Violets are having a comeback, plant friends! You heard it here first. I know a lot of people feel like African Violets are their "grandma's houseplants", but this flowering gesneriad brings cute fuzzy leaves and bright, multi-colored blooms to the tropical landscape of our urban jungles. What's not to love! They can sometimes be thought of as finicky, so Lisa the "Houseplant Guru" joins me to walk me through every step to African Violet success! 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 the episode we did previously on Low Light Plants) and I love her! Have you checked out the new Bloom and Grow Radio Youtube Channel? If you like this content, you’ll love the fun videos I’m making- this week I released a moss pole tutorial video that pairs with episode 42 of the podcast with Tylor from Arium Botanicals. You can also find planty home makeovers, behind the scenes tours of cannabis growers, Airplant 101, my hacks for traveling with plants  and more. Click here to watch and subscribe! In this episode we learn: Where African Violets Originate How they grow outdoors What is a gesneriad Care: watering, light, soil Best watering practices for African Violets When to repot How to Fertilize Bloom Cycles- how to have your violet stay in bloom Troubleshooting listeners from our Patreon Supporters! Links mentioned in the episode: AVSA or African Violet Society of America. http://www.avsa.org/ The national convention is in Little Rock, Arkansas this year, Sunday May 24-Sunday May 31. It moves every year so if it isn’t close to you this year, next year, it may be. It is a huge event including a judged show (where you will see African violets like you’ve never seen) as well as a marketplace to buy all things violets, and educational presentations, too. Self-watering pots: Oyama pots- the wicking material is perlite. Here is an article about how to use them. There were only sites I’m not sure about to order them from. On the AVSA website there is a supplies button and it takes you to all the vendors for plants and supplies. That includes the Oyama and Dandy pot. https://www.oyamaplanters.net/how-to-use-oyama-planters Plants: Two very reputable companies. https://www.violetbarn.com/ http://lyndonlyon.com/   Thank you Plants by Post for sponsoring today's episode! Plants by Post is a family-owned nursery located in Northern California cutting out the middleman and delivering beautiful and healthy  indoor and outdoor annuals and perennials directly to your doorstep, nationwide. I have used them several times and have been blown away by the quality of their plants, intention behind their shipping and love how environmentally friendly they are! Spring is here, Plant Friends! Time to stock up! Head to plantsbypost.com and use code BLOOM20 for 20% off your order!   Follow Lisa, The Houseplant Guru Website: thehouseplantguru.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseplantguru/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/HouseplantGuru/ Recent Blog Posts: Acclimating Plants to Your Enviornment: https://thehouseplantguru.com/2019/07/10/help-your-houseplant-adapt-to-the-light-it-is-receiving/ What to Do with Burned Leaves: https://thehouseplantguru.com/2018/11/06/tuesdaytidbits-too-much-sun/ Cleaning your leaves: https://thehouseplantguru.com/2018/11/06/tuesdaytidbits-too-much-sun/   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Thrilled to be bringing you the audio from the Live Taping on Herbal Mixology done in 2019 in Dallas at the Gardenuity HQ! The entire evening was built around my two favorite things: herbs and drinks! We had an amazing panel of female founders talking about how liquor and spirits are made (spoiler alert, they come from plants!), how to incorporate herbs and veggies into our cocktails and how to grow and select those plants! It's an amazing conversation with amazing women I'm thrilled to introduce you to! Meet the panelists Donna, Claudia and Chris! Donna is the co-founder of Gardenuity: a company that ships container gardens right to your door. They take the stress and hustle out of growing your own food. Whether you are looking for a kitchen herb garden, peppers, tomatoes, carrots or a variety of seasonal herbs and vegetables, Gardenuity will make growing them to harvest super simple. They have a cocktail herb garden which Billy and I have had for a couple of years that would be a fun purchase if you get inspired after this episode! You can mention the code "Spring2020" will save $10 off of any order at Gardenuity.com - this will be valid until the end of June 2020. Claudia is the cofounder of Katy Trail Vodka which is crafted by Silver Nickel Distillery, one of the first distilleries in the city of Dallas, TX since prohibition. All of their products are crafted, distilled and bottled in Dallas and are gluten free. They also use no artificial coloring or flavoring in their product which is a topic of our discussion on the panel. Chris from HD Liquid Catering and Betty Cocktail is a master mixologist who moonlights are all of the hottest Dallas bars and consults for the new speakeasy being set up in the Texas Rangers Globe Life Park and her own company Betty Cocktail- her motto is “if you can dream it (with alcohol)… we can do it! She works with service industry workers and home enthusiasts to curate cocktails, craft cocktail menus, elevate home bars, bartender training and more. She joined us today representing HD Liquid Catering which is Dallas’s premier full service bar catering company, and co-founders Heather and Don have over 30 years of experience in the event industry. They are highly respected across Texas, and you can see their amazing work on their IG page @hdliquidcater. Chris has her hands in allllllll the mixology pots in the Dallas scene, but she is just the coolest gal, an empowerer of women and an all around lady boss. ** just to be clear, when we refer to "edibles" in this podcast, it refers to edible vegetables and herbs... nothing regarding Cannabis. Edible plants and veggies are what we are talking about adding to our drinks! **   In this episode we learn: How liquors are made (from plants!) How vodka is made and what distilling is Strategies for shopping for liquor at the store Importance of natural flavorings Best starter cocktail herbs Basic herb care History of mixology Tips for a beginner to make a great cocktail Suggestions for herb/liquor pairings How to incorporate herbs into cocktails: infused syrups and alcohols, garnishes and salt rims Mocktail ideas   Follow Gardenuity: ** Spring gardens are shipping nationally! You can mention the code "Spring2020" will save $10 off of any order at Gardenuity.com - this will be valid until the end of June 2020 ** Website: gardenuity.com IG: @gardenuity Follow Katy Trail Vodka: Website: katytrailvodka.com IG: @katytrailvodka Follow Chris and HQ Liquid Catering Website: hdliquidcatering.com IG: @hdliquidcater Betty Cocktail (Chris's personal business): bettycocktail.com IG: @bettycocktail Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

I’m in Canada and connected some my favorite Canadian plant friends for a fun discussion on the winter months (while we are in the midst of a cold Toronto December). Today I have Darryl from @houseplantjournal and Jaz from @gardenstead to not only discuss how to care for our plants the winter months, but to more importantly, how to “zoom out” to think about what is actually happening to light and our surroundings in the winter to better understand WHY we alter our care routines. We might push you to think and go a little deeper in your plant care approach and routine- it’s lots of food (or should I say “fertilizer”) for thought with these fun plant parents!   In this episode we learn: Why and how light changes in the winter How winter’s change in light affects our indoor plants Signs to look for in our plants to see if they are transitioning well Why dormancy is important Tips for caring for houseplants in the winter Fun plant projects to do in the winter   Mentioned in the episode: Maria's Favorite Things // Holiday Gift Guide and Discounts: http://bit.ly/BAGRgiftguideyoutube Youtube tour of my indoor grow lights: http://bit.ly/BAGRgrowlighttour Website for measuring light Darryl Uses:   Thank you to today's episode sponsors!   Wallygro offers sustainable and ridiculously simple vertical gardening solutions for any plant parent to have the greenwall of their dreams! (Check mine out on the youtube channel this week!) To learn more about their Eco Planters (that come in 12 gorgeous colors!) head to wallygro.com and use code BLOOM20 for 20% off!   Plants by Post is a family-owned nursery located in Northern California cutting out the middleman and delivering beautiful and healthy  indoor and outdoor annuals and perennials directly to your doorstep, nationwide. I have used them several times and have been blown away by the quality of their plants, intention behind their shipping and love how environmentally friendly they are! Give the gift of PLANTS this season! Head to plantsbypost.com and use code BLOOM19 for 20% off your order!   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club   Follow Darryl and Houseplant Journal: Preorder Darryl's New Bool! The New Plant Parent: Develop Your Green Thumb and Care for Your House-Plant Family Instagram and Facebook: @houseplantjournal Twitter: @houseplantjrnl Website: www.houseplantjournal.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/houseplantjournal   Follow Jaz and Gardenstead YouTube: www.youtube.com/gardenstead   Facebook: www.facebook.com/gardensteadcommunity   Instagram: www.instagram.com/gardenstead   Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@gardenstead    Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/gardenstead  

Today Leslie Halleck ("Her Highness of Horticulture") joins me again to talk about the topic I was most excited to cover this season: ROOTS (or as we call it "root-ology". We spend so much time thinking about the “above soil” section of the plant, and often times, disregard the unbelievable root structure underneath the soil that is responsible for keeping the plant alive! So today Leslie walks us through what roots are, why they are important, how they vary, and lots of troubleshooting questions from our Patreon supporters.   Make sure to subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show- this week I released a Wallygro grow wall update and this month we will have other videos like a tour of my grow lights and more! Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss anything.   In this episode we learn: What roots do for the plant Roots relationship with the “above ground” portion of the plant Water vs soil roots What growing medium does for root development Different types of roots: fibrous, tap, tuberous, adventitious What an aerial root is Is a rhizome a root? Best practices with roots when repotting Listener questions!   Mentioned in this episode: Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! Wallygro Greenwall Update and Install Leslie's Books: Plant Parenting (for propagation) and Gardening Under Lights    Thank you to today's episode sponsors!   Wallygro offers sustainable and ridiculously simple vertical gardening solutions for any plant parent to have the greenwall of their dreams! (Check mine out on the youtube channel this week!) To learn more about their Eco Planters (that come in 12 gorgeous colors!) head to wallygro.com and use code BLOOM20 for 20% off!   Plants by Post is a family-owned nursery located in Northern California cutting out the middleman and delivering beautiful and healthy  indoor and outdoor annuals and perennials directly to your doorstep, nationwide. I have used them several times and have been blown away by the quality of their plants, intention behind their shipping and love how environmentally friendly they are! Give the gift of PLANTS this season! Head to plantsbypost.com and use code BLOOM19 for 20% off your order!   Follow Leslie Halleck: Books: Plant Parenting and Gardening Under Lights Instagram Twitter Pinterest Facebook Website: https://lesliehalleck.com/   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Today I speak with several people about various aspects of laws around plants- whether it’s importing plants from abroad or seeking to patent plants in the states. First we hear a tale from a friend of the show, Alessia from @apartmentbotanist, about how the USDA seized a plant that was illegally shipped to her. Then I speak to Lydia Colon, Head of the Plant for Planting Policy Unit at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or APHIS. We discuss why it’s important to acquire proper paperwork when ordering plants from overseas. Next we talk to Angela Treadwell who is the founder of Plants Nouveau, a company referred to as a “breeders agent” that helps breeders license and develop new plants to be introduced to market. Angela shares why and how plant patents are obtained. Last we hear a word to the wise from our favorite recurring plant lady on BAGR, Leslie Halleck. The overall objective of this episode is to begin to bring awareness to our community of the "back end" of horticulture. Rules and regulations we might not understand when just purchasing plants. This might become a series as we continue to learn about how plants come to market, and how and why they are regulated around the world, as we've barely scratched the surface.   In this episode we learn: How and why the USDA regulates plant imports State vs country laws What is APHIS? What do we need to know about ordering plants internationally? What is a phytosanitary certificate? Why are there domestic laws that differ from state to state when it comes to plants? Plant Patents- what are the!? What is Plants Nouveau? Why do people get plants patented What is does it take to get a plant patent? Can you propagate a patented plant? Where to learn more about plant patents   Thank you to this weeks episode sponsors!   For more information on Modern Sprout's amazing line of indoor grow lights and adorable and innovative hydroponic grow kits, visit www.modernsprout.com and use code "BLOOM15" at checkout for 15% off. For responsibly made, unbelievable indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here.   Mentioned in the interview with Lydia Colon APHIS Web Page: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/home/ USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is an Agency that regulates the import of agricultural products—such as plants—to facilitate safe trade.   Rules for traveler with plants: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/traveler/intl-travel/plants-seeds/plants-seeds This site is a resource for travelers coming from abroad that would like to bring a plant back home.   Plants and plant products import permits: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import-information/permits/plants-and-plant-products-permits This website lists all of the import permits that cover regulated plant and plant products.   Plant Permit Help Desk: Telephone (301) 851-2046 or (877) 770-5990 (Toll-Free Automated System); Fax (301) 734-5786; Email: plantproducts.permits@usda.gov The plant permit help desk can help you navigate the permitting process by helping identify the requirements and what you need to do to meet them.   Lacey Act information (rare or endangered species): https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import-information/SA_Lacey_Act The Lacey Act regulates trade in threatened or endangered species. If you are importing a threatened or endangered species there may be additional requirements you need to meet.     National Plant Board – State Regulatory Official https://nationalplantboard.org/membership/  This lists the State Plant Regulatory Official for each state with contact information. These contacts will help you determine what requirements are necessary from moving plants across state lines. Contact the official in the destination state to learn the requirements. Follow Alessia from @Apartmentbotanist Instagram @apartmentbotanist Linktree https://linktr.ee/apartmentbotanist   Follow Angela and Plants Nouveau Twitter: @plantweenie Facebook: /plantsnouveau Instagram: @plants_nouveau Website: http://plantsnouveau.com/about/     Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Thrilled to have the OG Botanical Bro of Bloom and Grow Radio, Chris Satch back today to discuss a very hot topic- Variegation. What the heck is it, why does it occur and how can we foster and encourage it in our plants. I love when Chris comes on the show because we always get nerdy, and this episode explains so much. I’m not going to say anything more about it- because the conversation speaks for itself. Before we dive into the conversation, Chris has asked me to share some info about an upcoming event he is involved with and very passionate about. He is deeply involved with the Manhattan Orchid Society and they are putting on their annual orchid show in January. The link to the event is in the show notes- they are looking for donations and volunteers to help with the event. Bloom and Grow Radio has donated! In this episode we learn: What is variegation? Why does it occur in nature? Three different types of variegation: tissue, coloration and pathological What mosaic virus is How variegation occurs in the genes of a plant Variegation vs Variation Can you encourage variegation? How does your plant care routine change for a variegated plant Patreon Plant Friend and Listener questions! Thank you to this weeks episode sponsors! For more information on Modern Sprout's amazing line of indoor grow lights and adorable and innovative hydroponic grow kits, visit www.modernsprout.com and use code "BLOOM15" at checkout for 15% off. For responsibly made, unbelievable indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here.   Follow Chris Satch Instagram: @botanictonic Website: https://christophersatch.com/ Manhattan Orchid Society January Show! (volunteer and/or donate!)   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Plant Side Chats are shorter episodes with just Maria as she shares life lessons learned in the garden. Today's topic is: What to do when your orchid or plant doesn't bloom when you want it to.    THANK YOU TO TODAY’S EPISODE SPONSORS! SOLTECH SOLUTIONS MAKES LUXURY GROW LIGHTS THAT LOOK LIKE HIGH END MODERN LIGHT FIXTURES WITH CUTTING EDGE GROW SPECTRUM FOR HOUSEPLANTS AND DWARF FRUITING TREES. I HAVE THREE OF THEIR ASPECT PENDANT LIGHTS IN MY APARTMENT AND LOVE THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW HIGHLAND TRACK LIGHT SYSTEM! FOR 15% OFF A LIGHT OF YOUR OWN, VISIT SOLTECHSOLUTIONS.COM AND USE CODE “BLOOM15” AT CHECKOUT.     FOLLOW MARIA AND BLOOM AND GROW RADIO: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club Save

Today’s episode is exciting for me to share with you because the topic was something I was completely confused and bewildered by: this “semi-hydro” craze. Semi Hydro- (which is not a correct term, it’s actually called “passive hydro” standing for “passive hydroponics”) is the growing practice of using LECA balls, which are puffed clay balls that look like coco-puff cereal, to grow your houseplants. You’ve probably seen photos of this, where the plants look like they are buried in coco puffs or a bowl of olives). Plant Friends, I did NOT get this trend. Or how it worked. But I started seeing more and more photos from trusted plant friends who use them, and kept getting more and more questions from you guys about it. Enter Kay, of the instagram account @inrootedlove, who has kept over a hundred houseplants thriving in this passive hydroponic system for a year and a half. Plant Friends… I’m slowly becoming a believer. After my conversation with Kay, I transferred my orchid and the top of a pilea peperomiodes that I accidentally broke off into LECA and I can’t believe how happy the orchid has been so far, and the pilea rooted in under a week. I documented my experiment with setting them up in LECA on the Youtube channel if you are interested in checking it out. Like last weeks hydroponics episode, this Passive Hydroponic set up could be a really fun way for someone looking for a planty project for the winter, or maybe for the plant parent that just hates potting soil (or maybe has a partner that hates potting soil). Passive Hydro also seems to be a great option for a plant parent that likes to get their inner mad scientist on- because as you’ll learn, you are totally in control of mixing nutrient solutions for the plant. Whatever you plant parent personality is, this was a really interesting conversation and has been a really fun planty experiment for me that I hope inspires you to continue playing around with your indoor jungle!   In this episode we learn: What is "semi hydro" aka "passive Hydroponics" How Kay became the LECA Plant Lady she is today How Semi Hydro works What are LECA balls What materials do you need to have a LECA set up How does a beginner make their first LECA set up How expensive is this hobby? How to fertilize What products Kay uses in her home Pest management for a semi hydro set up   Mentioned in this episode: Dallas Live Taping: Herbal Mixology with Gardenuity! http://bit.ly/gardenuityBAGR Bloom and Grow “Passive or Semi Hydro” Amazon Store: http://bit.ly/bagrsemihydro Maria sets up her orchid and pilea cutting in LECA on Youtube: http://bit.ly/BAGRSemiHydroYoutube     Thank you to today's episode sponsors! Osea Malibu is the original plant-based, non toxic skincare derived from seaweed plant friends- it doesn’t get more planty than that!!! Each product is infused with sustainably-sourced, organic Patagonian seaweed and 
active botanicals that leave your skin feeling amazing. I LOVE their Ocean Cleanser, Atmosphere Cream and Argan Oil! Visit oseamalibu.com/bloomandgrow  and use code "bloomandgrow" for $10 off your purchase of $50 or more!   Soltech Solutions makes luxury grow lights that look like high end modern light fixtures with cutting edge grow spectrum for houseplants and dwarf fruiting trees. I have three of their Aspect pendant lights in my apartment and love the launch of the new Highland Track Light System! For 15% off a light of your own, visit soltechsolutions.com and use code Bloom15 at checkout.   Follow Kay: Instagram: @inrootedlove   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Very excited to welcome Rob from Farm.One to the podcast today for a conversation about beginners Hydroponics. Rob is doing Hydroponic Gardening at an incredibly high level at Farm.One- a hydroponic, vertical farm that grows rare and exotic produce indoors, year-round, pesticide- free in a basement in NYC. I met Rob last year when I was fortunate enough to tour Farm.One and was blown away by the concept of the business and the set up. I think a lot of us are very curious about hydroponic gardening, and experimenting with growing edibles indoors- and as winter is approaching… we might be interested in having an indoor gardening project to ward off the winter blues! In this episode we learn: How and why Rob created Farm.One What is Hydroponic Gardening Hydroponic Vs Aquaponic Vs Semi Hydro Gardening What a basic hydroponic set up looks like for a DIY plant parent Existing systems that one can buy to just plug and grow Materials needed for a basic hydroponic set up Why you need a “bubbler” for your hydro set up Nutrients- what is important and what isn’t Why EC and PH are important for your water supply (and what they are) How to test your water Pre-made Hydroponic Set Ups you can buy     Mentioned in today's episode Visit the Bloom and Grow Radio Amazon Storefront for the Hydroponic Materials mentioned in today's episode! http://bit.ly/BAGRhydroponics     Thank you to today's episode sponsors! Soltech Solutions makes luxury grow lights that look like high end modern light fixtures with cutting edge grow spectrum for houseplants and dwarf fruiting trees. I have three of their Aspect pendant lights in my apartment and love the launch of the new Highland Track Light System! For 15% off a light of your own, visit soltechsolutions.com and use code "Bloom15" at checkout.     Follow Rob and Farm.One Website: https://farm.one Instagram: @farm.one   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Plant Friends- I'm so happy to have brought you the wonderful conversation this week on The Science of Soil. It's important for us to understand what makes our soils our plant babies grow so happily (or unhappily) in. I realize in this conversation, I stumbled upon a hot topic that I was unaware of: whether or not peat moss is sustainable. I've had conversations with members of our communities and advisors in the horticultural industry, and I've realized this is an incredibly complex conversation, with many layers, angles and sides. Plant Friends, I’m learning alongside you in this journey, and thought I’d provide you with some resources for you to further educate yourselves to make your own decisions. Jane Perrone’s Episode on the sustainability of Peat on On the Ledge Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-103-houseplants-sustainability-part-one-peat/id1211183700?i=1000444873656 Dr Mark kindly sent over two websites to learn more about how Canada is regulating their bogs. https://peatmoss.com/  (Peat Moss Association in Canada) http://www.sungro.com/about-us/sustainable-peat-moss/ Information from the Canadian Peat Moss Supplier Metrolina works with. Other resources passed along from listeners and that I’ve found: http://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2015/5/4/the-truth-about-peat They also have a great podcast, but this is a short blog from 2015 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090904165253.htm A study from 2009 on research for alternative growing media. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/should-sustainable-gardeners-use-peat-moss/2017/05/09/1fc746f0-3118-11e7-9534-00e4656c22aa_story.html- Britain is outlawing it by 2030, big argument against stores a third of the worlds carbon. https://www.rootsimple.com/2010/12/is-peat-moss-a-sustainable-resource/     Two people with opposing views on Peat Moss that make interesting arguments- there are also lots of comments on the blog you can read. https://peatmoss.com/responsible-production/laws-certifications-and-policies-of-the-industry/ There is a Rules and Regulations Section for Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association https://www.gardenmyths.com/peat-peatmoss-true-story/

So excited about this highly request episode on the science of soil. Finding a “soil expert” was kind of tough, but when I met Dr Mark Yelanich on a recent visit to Metrolina Greenhouse, I knew I had found the answers to my prayers. Dr. Mark has been the Director of Research at Metrolina Greenhouses for the past 14 years. Metrolina Greenhouse is the single-site heated greenhouse in the United States at 162 acres under roof. The Metrolina Research department focuses on working with plant breeding companies to find varieties that will delight home gardeners and help them be more successful. The research department also works on finding improved ways of producing our plants to make Metrolina more sustainable and efficient. Before Metrolina Dr. Mark worked for Scotts Miracle Gro (SMG) where he was the Senior Scientist in charge of research on Miracle Gro branded potting and garden soil (and received three patents on soil products). Dr.Mark received his Ph.D., Masters and bachelors from Michigan State University (The Harvard of Horticulture). He is married to Lisa for 26 years and has two daughters Hannah and Emily (sadly neither are going into Horticulture but he is still very proud!) Today he joins me to break down the different components of soil, and why choosing the right soil is so important for the success of our houseplants! If you are interested in seeing Dr Mark and Metrolina Greenhouse, check out the behind the scenes tour Dr Mark gave me when I was in North Carolina! You see the entire process of what it takes to grow a plant in a commercial greenhouse! In this episode we learn: How Dr Mark became a soil expert Difference between outdoor and indoor soil Why to NEVER use outdoor soil What mixes to use for indoor plants What makes up potting mix: peat moss, perlite, pumice, bark, vermiculite, coco coir, earthworm casings, various “meals”, fertilizer pellets Fertilizing practices (brief overview) Best ratio for indoor potting mixes and what to include (and what not to include) Best way to store soil Is reusing soil ok? What’s up with “baking”soil? How and when to repot your plants When to start fertilizing Pest control Is the white mold on the top of the soil going to kill a plant   Mentioned in today's episode! Check out my tour of Metrolina Greenhouse with Dr Mark! http://bit.ly/BAGRMetrolina If you are wondering what soil and fertilizers I use on my plants, here are the links to the Espoma Organic products I use.   Thank you to today's episode sponsors! Soltech Solutions makes luxury grow lights that look like high end modern light fixtures with cutting edge grow spectrum for houseplants and dwarf fruiting trees. I have three of their Aspect pendant lights in my apartment and love the launch of the new Highland Track Light System! For 15% off a light of your own, visit soltechsolutions.com and use code Bloom15 at checkout.   Osea Malibu is the original plant-based, non toxic skincare derived from seaweed plant friends- it doesn’t get more planty than that!!! Each product is infused with sustainably-sourced, organic Patagonian seaweed and 
active botanicals that leave your skin feeling amazing. I LOVE their Ocean Cleanser, Atmosphere Cream and Argan Oil! Visit oseamalibu.com/bloomandgrow  and use code "bloomandgrow" for $10 off your purchase of $50 or more!   Follow Dr Mark and Metrolina Greenhouses: http://www.metrolinagreenhouses.com/ https://www.facebook.com/metrolinagreenhouses/ https://www.instagram.com/metrolinaghs/ https://www.youtube.com/metrolinagreenhouses   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club

Thrilled as always to welcome Leslie Halleck back on the show. You will remember Leslie from our two part series on Understanding Natural Light and Propagation 101. She has two books, Plant Parenting- a guide to plant propagation and Gardening Under Lights. Today Leslie joins me to discuss everything we need to know about grow lights. Winter is coming plant friends, and many of us might need to take the plunge with additional grow lights to make sure our plants are happy and healthy. Personally, as my plant collection grew, I quickly realized I did not have the amount of light needed for the amount of plants I had collected. That's when I started bringing grow lights home to help keep all my plants happy. I also got really into using them as part of the design of our apartments, as my go to grow light companies, Soltech Solutions and Modern Sprout make gorgeous lights that actually enhance your homes aesthetic instead of making you look like you are up to something questionable. This is the second episode we’ve done on grow lights. The first one was Episode 12 with Chris Satch. I wanted to do another one because this science of grow lights, and photosynthesis can be tricky and it’s nice to hear it explained by various people. That’s why we have several episodes on succulents, and other topics. So listen to today’s episode, listen to it again, listen to episode 12, just keep listening and absorbing and learning.   In this episode we learn: What Leslie’s personal grow light set up is What photosynthesis is Why light is important for plants What the different colors of light do for plants and why “full spectrum” grow lights are so important Lumens vs PAR vs Kelvin = how to measure light What the best choice of grow lights for indoor houseplants are Defining “bright indirect” for a grow light Patreon Plant Friend and listener Questions !   Mentioned in today's episode! Leslie's books: Gardening Under Lights and Plant Parenting: Easy Ways to Make New Houseplants Soltech Solutions: soltechsolutions.com and use "Bloom20" for 20% Modern Sprout: modernsprout.com use code "Bloom" for 15% off Bloom and Grow Amazon Grow light  Storefront: http://bit.ly/growlightep *The mentioned codes and amazon links are Bloom and Grow Affiliate partnerships, meaning Bloom and Grow Radio will receive a portion of the sale at no extra cost to you.*   Thank you to our two amazing episode sponsors: Espoma Organics and Floating Bed and Breakfast.   For responsibly made, unbelievable indoor and outdoor organic soils, fertilizers, pest control sprays and more visit espoma.com to find your local dealer or check out my amazon storefront of my favorite Espoma products here. For the plantiest airbnb experience of your life in the Norfolk, VA area, visit theloiselaine.com and message Nicole for 20% off by telling her Maria sent you!   Follow Leslie Halleck: Book: Plant Parenting and Gardening Under Lights Instagram Twitter Pinterest Facebook Website: https://lesliehalleck.com/   Follow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio: Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Subscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /Bloomandgrowradio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com Join the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club