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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Summary

 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
  • The Hydrangea Care Secrets Behind Those Massive Summer Blooms: Best of Growing Joy Replay

    The Hydrangea Care Secrets Behind Those Massive Summer Blooms: Best of Growing Joy Replay
    May 14 2026
    To me, a hedge of hydrangea is one of the most iconic things you can do for your garden. They're epic, gorgeous, and yes, they have a reputation for being a little high maintenance. But once you set them up for success, hydrangeas can be one of the easiest flowering shrubs to grow. In this Best of Growing Joy replay, I'm sitting down with Ryan McEnaney aka @ryanplantsplants a fifth-generation member of Bailey Nurseries and the face behind the best-selling Endless Summer Hydrangeas collection. Ryan breaks down everything from the 4 main hydrangea varieties and the number one pruning mistake killing your blooms, to soil pH secrets for changing your flower color, fertilizing tips, and how reblooming varieties can flower every month. If you already have a hydrangea in your garden, it's going to be so much happier this year. And if you don't have one yet? You just might be inspired to bring one home! In this episode, we learn: [06:13] What has Ryan’s plant parent journey looked like?[09:54] What are the 4 main species of hydrangea?[13:42] Understanding bloom cycles for pruning[16:56] Say goodbye to balcony watering stress this summer with self-watering planters![17:23] Learn how to create the perfect cutting garden for bouquets with The Cut Flower Handbook[18:25] What is the blooming cycle of hydrangeas?[20:09] When should you prune hydrangeas?[22:40] How does soil affect the color of Hydrangea macrophylla blooms?[28:58] What should you know about planting hydrangeas in the ground?[30:12] What’s the general light guideline?[30:42] Common mistakes people make with planting hydrangea[31:23] Get everything you need, from containers to raised beds, with Gardener's Supply Company[32:40] Check your hydrangeas’ soil acidity with Espoma Organics[34:30] Why is it important to choose hydrangeas with flower buds?[42:42] How to extend the length of hydrangea blooms[48:26] Where can you find Ryan on social media?[48:43] Where can you get Ryan’s book ‘Field Guide to Outside Style’? Mentioned in our conversation: Northwest Flower and Garden ShowBailey NurseriesFirst EditionsYoutube: 210 How to Grow Citrus IndoorsPop Star® Reblooming HydrangeaEndless Summer HydrangeasEspoma Organic Soil AcidifierEspoma Organic Garden LimeEspoma Organic Holly-tone Organic FertilizerEspoma Organic Rose-tone Organic Fertilizer‘Limelight' – Panicle Hydrangea – Hydrangea paniculataVanilla Strawberry™ Panicle Hydrangea Have you been struggling to get your hydrangeas to bloom? Check out the full show notes and blog for everything you need to know about hydrangea care, pruning, and soil! Follow Ryan Website Instagram Book 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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    44 mins
  • How to Grow Sweet Peas, The World's Most Nostalgic Flower

    How to Grow Sweet Peas, The World's Most Nostalgic Flower
    May 12 2026
    Don't sweet peas have the most amazing floral scent? I remember them as a scent before I ever knew them as a flower, like the Bath & Body Works body spray that no other brands can seem to replicate. Then I realized I had never actually done an episode on these before, so there’s no better time than to invite my dear plant friend, Marryn Mathis, the Sweet Pea Queen, to share her story! Marryn quit a 21-year IT career, moved her family onto raw land in a 28-foot travel trailer, and built The Farmhouse Flower Farm from the ground up. She's now growing 40,000 sweet pea seedlings a season, breeding her own varieties, and just wrote a book on the subject! Let's get growing! In this episode, we learn: [02:49] Meet Marryn Mathis, the Sweet Pea Queen![06:51] Growing flowers at scale without formal training[08:12] Growing cut flowers for florists vs. harvesting seeds for sale[09:14] What’s her process of breeding and naming a new Sweet Pea variety?[10:52] Why Sweet Pea deserves more popularity![13:38] What’s the history behind Sweet Pea? (Hint: It started in Sicily!)[15:37] Lisa Ziegler’s Cut Flower Handbook[16:55] Espoma Organic[18:47] How sweet peas migrated from garden fixtures into the cut flower industry[19:38] What is the sweet pea fragrance scale and how do you differentiate them?[21:31] Spencer sweet peas vs. other varieties[22:37] How to grow sweet peas in hot climates and warmer zones (like Florida and Texas)[24:31] Starting sweet peas from seed vs. buying garden center seedlings[24:45] How to start sweet peas from seed[26:25] The #1 mistake people make when growing sweet peas[27:06] The 55-degree germination temperature for sweet pea seeds[29:51] When to transplant indoor-started sweet peas[31:27] How sunlight and location impact the lifespan of your sweet peas[32:58] How to set up drip irrigation for sweet pea beds[36:17] How to create a magical "Sweet Pea Tunnel" with cattle panels[37:15] What are the biggest mistakes beginners make with sweet peas?[39:45] Some cutting tips for sweet peas[41:38] Is there a way to preserve sweet pea scent after cutting?[41:51] What are the best workhorse sweet pea varieties for beginners?[45:30] Where to find Marryn, her seeds, and her farm![46:10] Check out their new storefront on their farm! Mentioned in our conversation: Sweet Pea School Book by Marryn MathisPRO-MIX Potting MixEspoma Potting Soil MixGrowing Joy 246: What is Regenerative Gardening and Permaculture? with Stephanie Rose of Garden Therapy For Marryn's trusted advice on how to grow sweet peas, check out the full show notes and blog here! Follow Marryn:WebsiteInstagramFacebookYouTubeShop Thank you to our episode sponsors: Quarto: The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa M Ziegler Pick up The Cut Flower Handbook at your favorite local bookstore, quarto.com, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble or amazon.com. 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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    54 mins
  • Grow Your Own Salad: How to Grow Lettuce from Seed to Harvest: Best of Growing Joy Replay

    Grow Your Own Salad: How to Grow Lettuce from Seed to Harvest: Best of Growing Joy Replay
    May 7 2026
    If you knew where most grocery store lettuce comes from and what it goes through before it lands in that plastic box, you’d never look at bagged salad the same way again. In this Best of Growing Joy episode, I’m sharing a practical, beginner-friendly guide on how to grow lettuce from seed so you can harvest fresh, crunchy salad greens right outside your door with my friend and garden coach, Nicole Burke of Gardener. We talk about simple ways to grow lettuce in raised beds, containers, grow bags, and even tiny balconies, so you can enjoy homegrown salads on repeat all season long! Nicole breaks down the different types of lettuce and salad greens, when to direct sow seeds versus starting them indoors, and the watering routine that actually keeps those shallow roots happy. We also chat about easy organic pest strategies, smart spacing, and how to harvest lettuce so it keeps growing back, giving you that dreamy cut-and-come-again salad garden. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel confident starting lettuce from seed and excited to swap those plastic boxes for vibrant, living greens just a few steps from your kitchen! In this episode, we learn: [00:03] Maria shares indoor hydroponic lettuce growth and outdoor lettuce garden prep.[06:02] Why lettuce is ideal for first-time food-growing houseplant parents.[06:53] What is Gardenary all about?[08:23] How Nicole makes beautiful raised-bed gardens[14:19] Where are 98% of the United States lettuces grown?[17:01] What materials are needed for lettuce?[20:47] Where can you find a wide array of quality lettuce seeds and seed mixes?[23:27] Where to get a potting mix, soil, fertilizer, or compost for your garden beds/containers?[25:15] What lettuce does Nicole recommend for beginners?[24:34] Lettuce Category #1: Loose leaf[29:15] Lettuce Category #2: Head lettuce[31:09] Is Nicole indoor-starting or direct-sowing lettuce?[32:32] How do you calculate when it's time to start direct sowing?[35:55] What is the process of growing lettuce from seed?[36:14] Process #1: If you have limited space[40:40] Where to find a nutrition program for weight management, more energy, and clear skin?[42:55] Process #2: If you live in an apartment[46:01] What are Nicole’s tips for harvesting?[47:53] What mistakes do people commonly make in growing lettuce?[49:58] How to eat Swiss chard[52:23] Have you heard of Nicole’s newest book Kitchen Garden Revival?[57:45] Where can you follow Nicole? Mentioned in our conversation: Growing Joy Episode 120 Designing and Planning My Garden // Coaching With Nicole of GardenaryIvette Soler’s book The Edible Front Yard: The Mow-Less, Grow-More Plan for a Beautiful, Bountiful GardenHydroponic planterNicole Burke’s book Kitchen Garden RevivalNicole’s Burke’s book Leaves, Roots & FruitRocky Top Mix Salad BlendTerritorial Seed Company Spring MixesMartha Stewart's book Vegetables: Inspired Recipes and Tips for Choosing, Cooking, and Enjoying the Freshest Seasonal Flavors: A Cookbook10 Years, 4 Cities, 8 Gardens-Nicole Burke's Kitchen Garden Journey Craving fresher, crunchier salads straight from your garden? Check out the full show notes and blog for my favorite beginner lettuce varieties, seed-starting tips, and easy harvest tricks! Follow Nicole Website Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube 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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    50 mins
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