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

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

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

By: Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness
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Looking for free, natural ways to decrease stress and increase joy and calm in your life? The answer might be simpler than you think: houseplants, gardening and nature. On Growing Joy with Plants, learn alongside Happy Plant Lady, Maria Failla to care for plants, engage with nature, and use them to manage your overwhelm, anxiety and experience happiness and calm you thought was only available on vacation.Plant care is self care. Come grow some joy with us. Follow along on socials @growingjoywithmaria© 2017 Bloom and Grow, LLC Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • How to Keep Calatheas Alive Without Losing Your Mind: Best of Growing Joy Replay

    How to Keep Calatheas Alive Without Losing Your Mind: Best of Growing Joy Replay
    May 29 2026
    Calathea is one of the most gorgeous and often most disappointing houseplants a new plant parent can bring home. If you've ever taken a beginner plant shopping, you already know: they walk straight to the calatheas. Can you blame them? These plants look like they were literally hand-painted by Mother Nature. But calathea care is pretty tricky. The leaves curl. The edges go crispy and brown. The humidity demands feel impossible. Suddenly, your most beautiful plant becomes your most dramatic one. That's why I brought Mark Hachadourian, Director of Glasshouse Horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden, to cover how to care for calatheas and prayer plants, troubleshoot the most common problems, and actually keep them alive. In this episode, we learn: What Marc does for the NYBGWhat plants fall under the Marantaceae FamilyPrayer Plant, Calathea and Stromanthe- their differences and similaritiesWhy do the leaves fold up and down as in “prayer”Why the bottoms of many Marantaceae are purpleWhy the tips brown and how we help avoid thisWhy humidity is so important for the Marantaceae familyMarc answers a collection of listener questions Mentioned in our conversation: New York Botanical Garden What do you think is the #1 reason calatheas are so hard to keep alive? Check out the full show notes and blog for Mark's expert Calathea troubleshooting guide! Follow Marc & NYBG: Website Instagram Facebook Follow Maria and Growing Joy: Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here! Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    42 mins
  • Biophilic Design Explained: Boost Mental Health With Nature At Home

    Biophilic Design Explained: Boost Mental Health With Nature At Home
    May 26 2026
    Does this design decision bring me closer to nature? When I started renovating our new home a few months ago, I wasn’t going to make a single design choice without asking this question. This lens is called biophilic design, and I actually had an episode about it before! But to talk about it more, I’ve invited Oliver Heath, an architect, designer, and thought leader in biophilic design. Oliver is based in England, studied at the Bartlett School of Architecture, runs his own biophilic design consultancy, and has spent decades translating this science from large-scale commercial buildings into something the rest of us can actually use. He also wrote a book called Design a Healthy Home. Let's dive in! In this episode, we learn: [02:46] How did Oliver discover biophilic design?[05:30] Is biophilic design taught in architecture school?[07:34] How Oliver’s consulting firm applies nature to large commercial spaces[10:05] Why happy people are more productive[11:47] How biophilic design is trickling down to residential housing and communities[13:52] What is the true definition of biophilic design?[15:10] Espoma Organic[17:31] The "always on" urban environments[19:09] How nature affects property values, crime rates, and education[24:41] The three key elements of biophilic design[27:04] The true foundation of designing a space[29:41] How to approach indoor airflow, fresh air, and scent[31:32] Moving beyond technical checklists to the sensory quality of a building[32:31] How to make your home more biophilic[34:31] Tips for managing artificial light and circadian rhythms at home[40:00] Picking colors based on positive nature experiences? (Ecological Valence Theory)[44:02] Incorporating ‘haptic invitations’ and natural materials into your spaces[45:34] How an autistic school in London used biophilic niches to create a safe sensory environment[48:22] How to safely incorporate the sound and feel of water indoors[51:55] Check out Oliver’s book ‘Design a Healthy Home’[53:45] Check out Oliver’s online course![55:36] Oliver’s favorite biophilic features in his own home[57:08] Where to find Oliver, his book, and the Biophilic Design School! Mentioned in our conversation: Design A Healthy Home by Oliver HeathOliver Heath Design SchoolThe Hackney Garden School ProjectInternational WELL Building InstituteSeattle SpheresLumie® | Wake-Up Light Alarm Clocks for Better Sleep + Waking Incorporate nature into your home with easy but key biophilic tips from Oliver, check out the full show notes and blog here! Follow Oliver:WebsiteInstagramLinkedIn Thank you to our episode sponsor: Espoma Organic Visit 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 Leung Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria Subscribe to the Growing Joy YouTube channel! /growingjoywithmaria Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • The Wild Truth About Plant Intelligence and Human Connection: Best of Growing Joy Replay

    The Wild Truth About Plant Intelligence and Human Connection: Best of Growing Joy Replay
    May 21 2026
    What if your houseplants are doing so much more than just looking pretty on your windowsill? What if they’re actually communicating, sensing their environment, and responding in ways we’re only beginning to understand? In this Best of Growing Joy replay, I sit down with Paco Calvo and Natalie Lawrence, co-authors of Planta Sapiens, to explore plant intelligence, plant behavior, and the big question: do plants have feelings and some form of plant consciousness? We talk about how plants sense their surroundings, how they “decide” where to grow, and what our human-plant connection can teach us about slowing down and reconnecting with nature. If you’ve ever wondered whether your plants notice you, or what’s really going on inside your favorite vining houseplants, this conversation will totally change how you see every plant in your home and garden! In this episode, we learn: [06:32] Who is Professor Paco Palvo?[07:01] Why is MINT Lab in the philosophy department instead of the plant science department?[09:28] Who is Natalie Lawrence? [10:00] The relationship between animals and plants: biophilia[13:34] What is anthropophilia?[16:26] What role do houseplants play in our relationship with nature?[18:04] How humans have shaped the phenotype, or characteristics, of plants through agriculture[20:09] What special message would you engrave on your wind chime?[22:40] The best way to sleep better and feel calmer naturally in no time![25:58] Different types of intelligence displayed by plants[26:39] How do we see from a plant’s perspective?[27:27] Tip 1: Observe the plants’ behavior through time-lapse photography[27:45] Tip 2: Monitor the plants’ electrophysiological states[28:14] Tip 3: Observe the plant holistically through naked eyes (the most important!)[32:41] Melatonin synthesis in plants: what we can learn [34:57] How vines (climbing plants) have evolved to locate host trees through senses like “sniffing”[36:59] Where to get the best quality and variety of seeds for ease of planting experience this year![38:35] Sourcing a wide variety of high-quality soil, fertilizer, potty mix, and more![40:24] What are some of the ways vines (climbing plants) can find their host trees?[42:04] Are plants smarter? (Hint: It’s not what you think!)[44:07] What are the limits of technology when it comes to understanding plant intelligence?[46:56] Do plants have feelings? [50:24] Do plants understand music?[53:35] What is plant blindness? Mentioned in our conversation: Planta Sapiens: The New Science of Plant Intelligence, book by Paco Calvo and Natalie LawrenceMINT Lab / Minimal Intelligence LabHow society makes monsters, TEDx talk by Natalie LawrenceBBC Wildlife – Natalie Lawrence BBC Woman's Hour “The unicorn – a symbol of our times?” with Natalie LawrenceNatalie Lawrence on Aeon Magazine Do you think your houseplants can actually sense what’s happening around them? Check out the full show notes and blog for a deeper look at plant intelligence and consciousness! Follow Paco: MINT Lab Follow Natalie: Website X Linkedin Follow Maria and Growing Joy: Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here! Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    48 mins
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