plant care | Growing Joy with Maria

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, Apple      Spotify     Castbox Do you have the guts to release beneficial insects in your home? I recently invited Jamie, the co-founder of DMV Beneficials, into my studio to do exactly that. We spent the afternoon performing a professional consultation on my green wall. We examined my alocasia, philodendron, hoya, and more under a microscope to see what was really going on. We found broad mites, spider mite eggs, and a possible infestation starting on my rabbit's foot fern. It was a little scary, but probably the best way to recreate nature right in our living rooms is to release these beneficial insects. You can watch the full video of our release on my YouTube channel if you want to see these bugs in action! In this episode, we learn: [02:03] What to expect from this unique live-audio episode [07:04] Meet Jamie from DMV Beneficials and what her company offers! [08:46] What are beneficial insects? [09:53] How Jamie conducts a live pest diagnostic check [12:27] What kind of microscope should you use to look for pests? [14:05] Why we start diagnostics with plants like Alocasia and Philodendron [15:35] Experience the richness of single-origin honey with 3x more antioxidants with Manukora! [17:20] How to identify eggs vs. dust [19:45] Is it normal to see pests on your plants? [22:12] Checking for thrips on a philodendron [24:24] Are beneficial bugs safe to use in a home with birds and pets? [24:49] Identifying broad mites and how they get inside your home [27:40] What to look for when checking Hoyas for flat mites [29:48] Let’s check my fern for pests [32:58] How to use keystone plants to assess your plant population health [33:26] How to release soil predators (Stratiolaelaps) to your pots [35:22] How to aesthetically place and hang beneficial insect sachets [39:02] Treating ferns and hoyas with the beneficial insects! [43:21] How to safely release lacewings to your plants [46:44] How to use a hex cell to treat 60 plants with one release [49:19] Where to find Jamie, DMV Beneficials, and local bug chapters! Order my book! Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung What Are Beneficial Insects for Houseplants? Beneficial insects are predatory bugs that eat the pest bugs that attack your plants. In simple terms, “Good bugs for bad bugs.” It’s about balance. Don’t you realize that we spend so much time on grow lights and humidifiers to replicate nature, but we normally skip over this part entirely? The right beneficial insect depends on the pest. Common ones to know: Spider mites (especially on Alocasia) Thrips (especially on Philodendron) Broad mites (can hit almost any plant) Flat mites (showing up more in Hoyas and Anthuriums) Fungus gnats (soil-dwelling, super common) Note: No active pests confirmed = you can still use beneficials preemptively. How to Do a Plant Pest Diagnostic at Home Jamie's process starts before the microscope even comes out. First, check the overall vibe. Jamie looks at keystone plants first! These are the plants that act as magnets for specific pests. Is the leaf vibrant? Are new leaves coming in consistently? A stressed/dull plant is your first clue to look closer. Then, grab a microscope. Jamie uses a $29.99 app-connected microscope from Amazon, by the way. How to scope your plants: Start at the leaf veins (this is where the pests live) Check both old leaves and new Hold the scope still and wait mites will walk into frame Round = egg. Jagged = dust. Note: The microscope doesn't just confirm pests. It confirms when something isn't a pest issue, so you're not reaching for a pesticide unnecessarily. How to Apply Beneficial Insects Indoors Jamie brought three types of beneficials to my greenwall, and each one works differently: Stratiolaelaps: soil predators that hunt for pests hiding in your potting mix (just a tablespoon or two sprinkled on top does the trick). Predatory mite sachets: hang directly on the plant. Lacewing larvae: generalist predators (they eat almost everything); released from a hex cell or bottle A few things to know before you release: Rinse your plants first to reduce the current population. Hang sachets on a stem, not the soil Lacewings can be released outdoors if you're nervous about them inside Why Beneficial Insects Work Better Than Pesticides Most of us reach for a spray the second we spot something. But Jamie said that using pesticides preventatively is like taking antibiotics when you're not sick. It leads to pesticide resistance, and over time, it stops working. Beneficials don't have that problem. They're part of a natural system that's been working long before we started buying pest sprays. If you are ready to try this in your own home, please support Jamie and DMV Beneficials. They even have a damage dictionary on their website to help you identify what is going on with your leaves! Plus, if you’re not aware, Jamie and I collaborated on a free Ultimate Houseplant Pest Guide that you can download right now to help you manage the top six houseplant pests! Mentioned in our conversation: Growing Joy 272: Beneficial Insects For Effortless Houseplant Pest Management with Jamie of DMV Beneficials The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Pests DMV Beneficials Shop Neem Oil Lacewing Larvae in Hexcell (400 Count) Cryptolaemus Larvae in Bottle (250 Count) Stratiolaelaps Mites in Bottle (12500/25000/125000) Thank you to our episode sponsor: Manukora Swap your artificial sweeteners with single-origin manuka honey! Manukora honey is a rich, creamy honey from the remote forests of New Zealand, ethically harvested and packed with powerful nutrients. It contains triple the antioxidants and prebiotics of regular honey, supporting immunity and gut health. Versatile and delicious, it can be used in coffee, smoothies, smoothie bowls, or enjoyed straight from the spoon for an energy boost. Go to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts! Follow DMV Beneficials: Website Instagram Facebook X 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 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 The post Beneficial Insect Consult on My Greenwall with DMV Beneficials, Ep 340 appeared first on Growing Joy with Maria.

Did you know that some of our favorite houseplants are actually toxic to pets? I was able to interview Anastasia from Leaf & Paw about Pets and Plants and how to be both a pet parent and a plant parent. Anastasia has a blog dedicated to her passion for collecting plants while caring for her two cats and a hedgehog. In this episode, she walks us through what we need to know about toxicity, how to style with pets in mind, and the top 10 best and worst plants for our pets. Let's dive in! 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: [03:41] What this episode has in store for you, plant friend! [05:13] How Anastasia became both a plant parent and a pet parent, and how Leaf and Paw came to be [07:19] Why it’s important to know how to have plants and pets together [08:37] What is toxicity in plants? How do you approach toxicity when it comes to your pets? [12:11] Are there levels of toxicity in plants? What should you do when your pet eats a toxic plant? [13:38] How to prevent your pets from eating your plant collection: utilize your home architecture [15:08] Why understanding your pet can help you keep them away from your plants [16:02] How to style with floor plants while keeping them safe from your pets [17:21] Do river stones and vinegar spray work for pet-prone plants?</

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/67e959af-a492-4959-8e5b-0028cda54f63/stream.mp3   If you love your dog as much as you love your monstera or other houseplants, you’ve probably run into this dilemma: how do you keep your plants alive without putting your pup at risk? This has been a problem for plant parents who are also pet parents. Some plants are toxic, some dogs are curious nibblers, and sometimes it feels like your plants and your pets are destined to clash. To figure this out, I talked with Dudley, the plant lover behind Pablo’s Plants on Instagram and TikTok. His brand centers on his golden retriever, Pablo, and he’s here to share with us how to keep both plants and pets safe at home.   In this episode, we learn: [00:00] Can dogs and houseplants really live in harmony? [02:06] What does Dudley’s plant setup look like (Lowe's racks + Barrina lights + phone control) [02:53] Who is Dudley (aka Pablo’s Plants) and his golden retriever (Pablo)? [04:58] How did Dudley end up bringing Pablo home? [06:45] Who handles the plants better: the cats or Pablo? [07:29] Why Pablo is worse with plants [08:18] How do you actually train a dog to “leave it”? [09:38] Which common houseplants are secretly toxic to pets? (Lilies, pot

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/a28a15f8-3292-4403-8dc4-86a5fb54afd5/stream.mp3   What do a theater kid, a Venus flytrap, and a million TikTok followers have in common? Abundance… and my new plant friend Brian from Redleaf Ranch! Brian is the viral TikTok gardener you've probably come across if you spend any time in plant social media. He's the guy who makes you say “abundance!” out loud, and he’s here to talk about his approach to abundance and gratitude, plus how he used gardening as a tool for personal growth and community building.   In this episode, we learn: [01:42] Meet Brian from Redleaf Ranch! [02:47] How long has Brian been a theater kid and a plant person? [04:09] Why carnivorous plants have super tall flowers [05:06] Growing abundance: winter squash, potatoes, and food that preserves well [06:20] How Redleaf Ranch began [09:01] The “vision” moment that made Brian feel at home in the soil [11:24] Redleaf Ranch + Redleaf Exotics [14:48] Prep your garden for fall and extend your growing season with Espoma Organic's premium gardening products! [16:23] Learn 75 plant facts with the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Plants-Superpowers-Remarkable-your-Garden/dp/1836

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/8d55fe52-5069-4351-b0c4-0b2984b1784f/stream.mp3   If you’ve ever watched your fiddle leaf fig drop all its leaves, battled fungus gnats that fly into your ear, or poured water on your plant only to watch it run straight through the pot without soaking in, this is your wake-up call. I called in the big guns for this one with my plant friend Mandi from Happy Happy Houseplant. Between our two communities, these are the plant problems we get asked about the most, and she’s got science-backed fixes for each of them. We’re going to be talking about failing fiddle leaf figs, fungus gnats that refuse to leave, and that dreaded “gap of death” in your soil. So let's get to it! Get my Houseplant SOS course here! In this episode, we learn: [02:26] Get to know my “Plant SOS” mini-course! [05:29] How Happy Happy Houseplant began [09:51] How did Mandi grow a million-follower plant brand on IG? [11:01] Building a team and scaling operations [12:52] How did they get into plant products? [15:16] Give the gift of music and memories with a Wind River Chimes<span style="font

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/d3d567a2-6275-4466-ac06-1d7f93bce25a/stream.mp3   I thought I had a pretty deep connection with plants. I mean, this podcast is literally about talking to them (and about them). But after 300+ episodes, this is the only conversation that impacted my daily interaction with plants. My guest, LoriAnn Bird, an Indigenous Métis herbalist and author of Revered Roots, introduced a concept of “plants as our relatives.” Elders. Teachers. Sovereign beings. And once you start viewing them that way, you can’t unsee it. You will realize that we all need to take care of what takes care of us. Listen in and join the conversation!   In this episode, we learn: [04:56] What does “ indigenous plants” mean for LoriAnn? [06:18] How LoriAnn developed her close relationship with nature [08:51] What it means to be a Métis woman [10:39] Being raised in a privileged Eurocentric view [12:10] How herbalism came into LoriAnn’s life [14:53] Gift a soothing and personalized Wind River Chime for any special occasion, and get a free engraving! [17:06] Why the book was structured to start with relationships [17:41] The 5 Rs of plant relationship [24:17] Understanding our relatives: rooted, stone, and flying nations [28:44] What's the connection between humans and birds? [30:29] The story of “Sky Woman” [32:03] Birth, life, death, rebirth – continuous cycles [33:39] Honorable harvest and reciprocal foraging [35:58] Asking permission from landowners when foraging<

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/d2cc1be1-6fde-4567-a545-623caed1669d/stream.mp3   Are you looking at your basket filled with zucchini (and cucumbers) that you’ve harvested this summer? You might also be wondering what you can do with them because there’s only so much roasted zucchini and pickled cucumber one person can take. You’re in the perfect place, because in this episode, I invited one of my favorite plant people, Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide. Kaleb’s a modern homesteader, gardener, storyteller, and now a New York Times bestselling cookbook author! He joined us to chat about all the ways to actually enjoy your zucchini harvests aside from your typical zoodles! These four recipes are from Kaleb’s book There’s Always Room at the Table, and they’re flavorful, comforting, and super doable. Time to cook!   In this episode, we learn: [03:50] Meet Kaleb Wyse from Wyse Guide [05:44] What type of gardener is Kaleb? [06:18] Zone 5B growing conditions [09:02] How can you find boundaries in your gardening practice? [10:16] Kaleb's #1 advice for new gardeners <

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/f793e525-193f-4ec9-a74d-d6da4242d7af/stream.mp3   Click here to listen to the podcast episode!   Your plant parent story might have started with some humble pothos. It’s forgiving, fast-growing, and honestly, it’s probably the most underrated plant in most of our collections. But there is so much more to the pothos that you might be missing out on. So in this episode, we’re going to talk about pothos way beyond the basics with the help of my plant friend Justin Hancock of Costa Farms. Justin started in horticultural publishing before joining Costa Farms to assist with their marketing. His role at Costa Farms now involves testing how new plant varieties hold up with different light/watering/environment conditions, and making sure the average person can be successful with them. Let’s dive in!   In this episode, we learn: [00:00] Why Pothos might be the most underrated plant in your collection [02:14] Meet Justin Hancock from Costa Farms! [03:09] Justin’s lifelong plant passion and career path [04:37] What Justin does at Costa Farms [05:20] Why Pothos is having a comeback moment [07:45]  Where do pothos come from? [08:16] Pothos or Epipremnum or… something else?  What makes a pothos a pothos? <span style

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/e188ce7c-06a1-4a11-ae36-15a3a3448ba0/stream.mp3   This year, I had the joy of hosting a live Growing Joy popup at the Southeast Plant Show. I’ve been fortunate to attend a few plant events lately, but this one felt special in a way that’s hard to describe. The energy was electric! The people were overflowing with joy, and the plants were everything. If you love to connect with plant people, discover trending varieties, and just soak up good vibes, the Southeast Plant Show is a must. It’s a plant parent’s dream, with over 120 vendors representing everything from tropical houseplants to handmade pots (even snakes). Here’s a compilation of my conversations with different plant vendors, influencers, and company owners! They share trending houseplants, expert tips, and juicy hot takes about your favorite plants.   In this episode, we learn: [03:16] Meet Erica Parker, founder & creator of Southeast Plant Show! [05:49] Wade Richards (Plants by Wade Lee) [09:18] Jeannie Tejeda (Urbnflockr) [13:17] Ben (Trapped Nursery) [16:43] Ara (Propagation Diaries) [20:03] Adam Golan (Poured LLC) [23:49] Jenni (Gazing Green) [26:35] Jocelyn Ho (Rare Plant Fairy) <span style="font-wei

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/42470589-8f55-4635-8d0f-8473cc2e4ea8/stream.mp3   Have you ever felt drawn to a specific tree—and wondered why? You might already be receiving messages without realizing it. In this episode of Growing Joy, I sat down with intuitive nature expert and green witch Rachael Cohen of Our Infinite Nature to explore one of the most fascinating and overlooked topics in the natural world: tree communication. From the underground mycelial networks to intuitive connections and bioelectrical signals, this conversation will change the way you see the trees around you.   In this episode, we learn: [00:00] Rachael’s back for another intuitive talk about trees! [03:03] Launching the Intuitive Moon Community [04:23] Upcoming  Reiki mentorship program [05:36] How do nature and trees support mental health? [07:51] Why we feel more “rooted” around trees than houseplants [09:47] Can trees actually touch us back? The TikTok tree trend [11:27] The

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/39e184c8-dccf-46ec-91ae-7b9039d5d7c3/stream.mp3   Did you know that some common outdoor plants have superpowers? Some can survive atomic bombing, clean up radiation, and even outsmart insects. This is Part 2 of my conversation with David Domoney, author of Plants with Superpowers, about the superpowers of outdoor plants. These plants can completely change how you walk down the street and look at nature. Listen to Part 1 of our conversation about indoor plant superpowers here.   In this episode, we learn: [02:19] Welcome to part 2 with David Domoney: outdoor plants with superpowers [03:29] How did ginkgo trees survive Hiroshima? [06:08] How do sunflowers purify radioactive and toxic soil? [08:24] How magnolias trap beetles for pollination [09:31] Calming lavender vs. stimulating lavender [11:02] Try David’s lavender gin and tonic recipe! [13:32] Raspberries with a surprise twist [13:54] Bee orchid's mimicry superpower [14:51] Give your plants the

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/267b75de-decb-448a-a3fa-cf47643ad0db/stream.mp3   Did you know that lavender comes in dozens of varieties, each with a different smell, and many with different growing habits? I did learn that from Rebecca at Lavender Connection, who owns a family-run lavender farm in Sequim, Washington, which also happens to be the lavender capital of the United States! After meeting her at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, where her beautiful lavender scents were wafting over to my booth all day, I knew I had to have her on the podcast to share her incredible expertise.   In this episode, we learn: [02:40] How Rebecca became a lavender expert [06:25] Where does lavender grow natively? [07:17] How many species does lavender have? [09:06] English vs French vs Spanish lavender [11:19] How to avoid killing your lavender (top growing tips!) [12:55] Why you need well-draining soil for lavender [15:13] Make someone’s special day unforgettable by gifting them Wind River Chimes! [1

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/bc49d28a-2854-48d0-900c-a13df0d59af4/stream.mp3   Have you ever killed a succulent and then felt like you were completely doomed as a plant parent? That was totally me about eight years ago. I brought succulents home because everyone said they were the easiest, most foolproof plant. Yet I still managed to kill them. Naturally, I spent a lot of time thinking I was just a plant killer. However, I eventually learned that succulents aren’t fool proof. And if you’ve had your heart broken by one (or five), it might not have totally been your fault. Maybe it just wasn’t the right plant for you! Or you just needed a few key things to learn about how to keep succulents alive. So I invited my plant friend and the succulent queen of Indiana, Abby Perry of Abby’s Garden Parties, to talk about the real reason so many people kill succulents, what they actually need, and how to figure out if they’re even the right plant for you.   In this episode, we learn: [00:00] Have you ever killed a succulent? [03:16] How Abby became a succulent expert [07:14] The #1 mistake: overwatering [08:47] What makes a plant a “succulent”? [09:56] Cacti vs. succulents: what’s the difference? [12:26] How and when to water succulents? [14:59] Grow lights and why succulents need strong lighting

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/986dfd74-a505-4306-878e-2946c36f632b/stream.mp3   A few weeks ago, I found 22 baby ducklings on my roof. Not one. Not ten. But 22 fluffy, peeping, impossibly cute ducklings in the eaves of my Florida home. The videos I made went a little viral on Instagram and Tiktok, and so many people DM-ed me asking for updates! To be honest, it was one of the happiest and most bizarre days of my life because it made me realize how much my relationship with nature and plants had evolved. I've gone from solely being focused on growing houseplants in pots (things that I can control) to being completely obsessed with the natural world around me, marveling that the ability that baby ducks have to fledge, and and the cuteness that comes alongside it. I've called this transition “nature-curious)    In this episode, we learn: [01:34] How 22 ducks changed my perspective on nature and plants [03:57] What “nature curious” lifestyle means to me [06:27] I used to be “plant blind” [07:45] How I changed after moving from 500 sq ft to 5 acres [11:26] Becoming sensitive to nature’s subtle sounds & shifts [12:42] How I met Mama Duck (and how she learned to trust me) [14:36] Feeding the ducklings and fostering a bond with them! [15:14] Stop wishing for that magic stress-erasing wand and grab the next best thing: <a h

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/f275a48f-d795-47a2-a7f3-7bf1d3eecd90/stream.mp3   How do you view soil in your garden? A lot of us look at soil as just the brown stuff under our feet. We usually don’t think about all of the different components that make up soil, all of the different organisms living in soil, or how it is this whole environment that our plants depend on. It is a living, breathing ecosystem that could be the answer to improving your entire garden. As gardeners, you know that soil is important so you should be feeding it, not just feeding your plants. And there's no better person to talk about that topic today than Juliet Sargeant, an award-winning British garden designer, educator, and author of Start with Soil:  Simple Steps for a Thriving Garden.   In this episode, we learn: [00:00] Why soil is more than just dirt [03:28] Who is Juliet Sargeant? [05:31] Soil as a mix of science and creativity [09:02] What are the different components of soil? (topsoil, subsoil) [12:07]  Air pockets in soil [14:37] Give your plants the nutrient-rich foundation they need with Espoma Organic! [16:08] Join the movement of confident female gardeners

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/78713db9-6a64-4757-8da5-9180dab317b9/stream.mp3   Did you know that your houseplants have superpowers? Some can actually seek out darkness to find the light, some can count, and some can actually bring wealth. To help me reveal all these amazing aspects of our houseplants is my new friend, David Domoney. He’s a celebrated British horticulturist, television presenter, and author with over 30 Royal Horticultural Society medals. And his book, Plants with Superpowers, is what actually inspired me to do this episode. This is the first of a two-part series on plants and their superpowers, and I have him on twice because he is such an enthusiastic person. I love his energy so much.   In this episode, we learn: [03:50] Why is green considered a calming color [04:40]  How did David become the lore specialist of plants? [08:33] What inspired David to write his book? [11:20] What is the superpower of the Venus flytrap? [13:43] Venus Flytrap evolution and feeding tips [14:40] Garden in comfort and style with new Dovetail Workwear X John Deere overalls, designed specifically for wom