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

When I visited the Seattle Spheres and saw the famous green wall with its 40,000 plants, I was mesmerized. But what really caught my eye were these strange little plastic baggies hanging off some stems. I wondered if they were hurting the plants at first. But then I looked closer, I realized those bags were filled with insects. Beneficial insects, to be exact. And they were there to manage pests naturally.So if you’re like me and have struggled with pests like spider mites, thrips, or mealybugs on your plants, this episode with Jamie Stanton from DMV Beneficials should show you how beneficial insects work in deterring pests naturally.GET THE FREE HOUSEPLANT PEST CONTROL DOWNLOAD HEREIn this episode, we learn:[02:34] Download my new houseplant pest guide for free![03:37] Meet Jamie from DMV Beneficials[06:59] What is a “beneficial insect” and what makes it beneficial?[09:59] Why not just use pesticides?[12:01] How do these beneficial predators work with your houseplants?[13:42] What are the risks of releasing beneficial insects in your home?[14:38] Can beneficial insects sting us?[15:19] Never worry about water restriction ever again by picking up a copy of "The Water Smart Garden" by Noelle Johnson[16:32] Discover high-quality organic gardening products with Espoma Organic[18:22] Stay away from these beneficial insects![20:42] How to get started[28:10] Can we see the mites we release?[29:35] Beneficial insect against scales[29:46] Effective thrips management[33:44] Can you use beneficials in tandem with pesticides?[34:51] Top houseplant pests that give the most headaches[41:31] How does sustainability play into beneficials?[48:19] Where to find DMV Beneficials near youMentioned in our conversation:Monterey Horticultural OilWhat's Your Plant Parent Personality?GET THE FREE HOUSEPLANT PEST CONTROL DOWNLOAD HERELearn how to use beneficial insects to protect your houseplants,check out the full show notes and blog here!Follow JamieInstagramFacebookFollow DMV BeneficialsWebsiteInstagramFacebookTwitter/XYoutubeThank you to our episode sponsors:Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Quarto: The Water-Smart Garden by Noelle JohnsonGrab a copy of The Water-Smart Garden by Noelle Johnson at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, quarto.com, or amazon.com to get inspired and take action on your garden.Follow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA* Check out HelloFresh: https://hellofresh.com/bloom10fm* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM* Check out Ollie: https://ollie.com/MARIAAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

I can't believe we're already in 2025, but I am SO excited to spill all the tea about my wild plant experiment from last year. In 2024, I totally went for it and added over 40 new plant species to my collection—and it was quite the adventure! Some of these plants thrived, some flopped, and yes, some didn’t make it. So in this episode, I’m sharing it all—from my favorites to my fails—and what I learned along the way.In this episode, we learn:[01:51] Reflecting on 2024[04:31] What’s your plant parent personality?[06:38] Why I now consider myself a low maintenance plant parent[09:08] How I fell in love with Ficus (and fell out of love with Calathea)[11:52] My success with Anthuriums and Alocasia[13:37] Why my most repurchased plants are philodendrons (+ pothos)[15:19] Start 2025 with soothing premium chimes with Wind River![17:00] Grow your best garden yet with the AHS Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening![19:39] Why there is less light in your house than you believe[20:50] My top favorite plants in 2024[33:44] My least favorite plants in 2024[37:56] Plants that didn’t make it in 2024 :([42:53] What's in store for my 2025 houseplant collection?Mentioned in our conversation:What's Your Plant Parent Personality?Growing Joy Ep 147: How to Care For Carnivorous Plants Indoors with Damon of California CarnivoresGrowing Joy Ep 269: Carnivorous Plants: The Houseplant Pest Control You Never Thought Of with Kenny CooganGrowing Joy Ep 247: Growing Joy "After Dark": Spilling the Planty Tea with Kamili Bell Hill and Agatha IsabelHow Carnivorous Plants Can Be Used for Pest Control // Indoor Carnivorous PlantsFull Soltech Highland Light and Wallygrow Eco Wall Planter Greenwall Set Up and ReviewÅKERBÄR greenhouse, in/outdoor/white, 45 cm - IKEAFor a complete list of my 2024 plant collection ranked,check out the full show notes and blog here!Thank you to our episode sponsors:Wind River ChimesVisit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.Quarto: American Horticultural Society Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable GardeningGrab a copy of the Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, quarto.com or amazon.com to start growing organically.Follow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA* Check out HelloFresh: https://hellofresh.com/bloom10fm* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM* Check out Ollie: https://ollie.com/MARIAAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What role do you think nature plays in your life? For me, it has always been a deeper way to improve my mental, physical, and emotional health. In fact, it’s not just me who thinks this way. The minute I hopped into the digital recording studio, I knew that my guest was someone very similar to me! I’ve been following Marcus Bridgewater, better known as Garden Marcus, for years, and I’m so happy to say that he surpassed my dreams of what this conversation on plants and wellness could have been.In this episode, we learn:[02:12] Who is Marcus from Garden Marcus?[04:49] Something we have in common![09:03] How did Garden Marcus get started?[12:50] How did Marcus first start gardening?[17:01] Our crazy plant parent stories[18:56] Community and isolation[20:37] Why we need more green spaces[27:41] How to be a more “grounding” person[30:08] How disconnected is the world from nature?[33:08] Exploring plant life parallels[36:37] How to understand “feelings”[39:35] How to awaken to nature’s presence[43:27] How Marcus’s book came to be[46:11] Mind, body, and spirit[47:32] What it means to be “community loyal”[48:23] Garden Marcus vs. Marcus Bridgewater[51:04] Check out Seasons of Growth: The New Journal[53:30] Where to follow/find Garden MarcusMentioned in this conversation:How to Grow: Nurture Your Garden, Nurture Yourself by Marcus BridgewaterSeasons of Growth: A Journal for Well-Being Inspired by Marcus BridgewaterChoice ForwardRedwood National and State Parks (U.S. National Park Service)For more plant-life parallels,check out the full show notes and blog here!Follow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA* Check out HelloFresh: https://hellofresh.com/bloom10fm* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM* Check out Ollie: https://ollie.com/MARIAAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Plant friends, did you know your houseplants can double as pest control? Carnivorous plants don’t just survive—they hunt. Venus flytraps can snap down on unsuspecting flies, while pitcher plants lure bugs into their slippery traps. These carnivorous plants themselves are nature’s own pest management system.So I’ve brought on a guest who knows everything there is to know about them: Kenny Coogan, the head of education at the International Carnivorous Plant Society.Kenny has been growing carnivorous plants for about 20 years, and about five years ago, he joined the ICPS as the education director. He quit his day job and turned his passion into his profession, running a carnivorous plant nursery in Florida. As he puts it, "Carnivorous plants are my life."In this episode, we learn:[01:47] What’s not to love about carnivorous plants?[04:52] Who is Kenny?[08:01] Some facts about Venus flytraps[09:57] What is a carnivorous plant?[12:54] Where do we find carnivorous plants outdoors?[15:36] Don’t let your houseplants wither this winter with Soltech Growlights![16:57] Nourish your houseplants with Espoma Organic’s gentle and premium fertilizers![18:57] What triggers carnivorous plants’ dormancy?[19:57] What carnivorous plants do to their prey[24:17] Specific care for temperate carnivorous plants[27:31] Specific care for tropical carnivorous plants[32:43] Can you feed carnivorous plants hamburger? (how to hand-feed them)[36:41] Trigger mechanism of Venus flytraps[38:48] How much light do Venus flytraps love?[42:58] What are the best houseplant-friendly carnivorous plants?[48:26] Watering and potting tips for carnivorous plants[50:30] Common mistakes and troubleshooting Mentioned in our conversation:International Carnivorous Plant SocietyICPS Classroom GrantsVerdant LyfeVenus Fly Traps & More Carnivorous PlantsFlorida's Carnivorous Plants: Understanding, Identifying, and Cultivating the State's Native Species by Kenny CooganLittle Shop of Horrors (1986) - IMDbCarnivorous Plants Animated Series by ICPSCarnivorex 3D printer model programs | ICPSFor carnivorous plants' care basics and feeding tips,check out the full show notes and blog here! Thank you to our episode sponsors:Soltech SolutionsCheck them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Follow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Graza: https://graza.co/MARIA* Check out HelloFresh: https://hellofresh.com/bloom10fm* Check out Manukora: https://manukora.com/BLOOM* Check out Ollie: https://ollie.com/MARIAAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands