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I’m Maria, Podcast Host,
Happy Plant Lady...
and former Plant Killer.

I created the Growing Joy with Plants Podcast (formerly called Bloom and Grow Radio) to learn alongside you as I interview experts in plant care and wellness to help us all grow joy  in our indoor jungles and lives.

Whether you are a plant killer, beginner plant parent, advanced plant parent, or even a horticultural expert,
I promise… if you love plants, we’ve got an episode for you.

As Featured in

Our Top Episodes for...

General Plant Care
Individual Plant Care
Nerdy Science
Plants & Wellness
Plant Side Chats
Gardening
Garden to Table
Seasonal Plant Care
DIY Planty Projects
Planty Business
Lifestyle
Planty People

Our Top Episodes for...

2017
1st episode Released
1st
US Houseplant Podcast
200+
Podcast Episodes
700+
5-Star Listener Reviews
2Mil+
Episodes downloaded

Recent Podcast Episodes

Climate Proof Your Garden with Kim Stoddart, Ep 230

Why You Should Care About the Spring Equinox, Ep 229

Everything You Need to Know About Calathea, Ep 228

Homesteading Basics with Kevin of Epic Gardening, Ep 227

How to Repot Houseplants, Ep 226

Indoor Plant Projects for Stress Relief with Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago, Ep 225

Everything You Need to Know About Ficus, Ep 224

Cultivating Intuition with Nature with Rachael of Our Infinite Nature, Ep 223

Humidity and Houseplants with Leslie Halleck, Ep 222

Top 5 Seed Starting Mistakes with Joe Gardener, Ep 221

How to Make a Tiny Meadow in Your Yard with Graham Laird Gardner, Ep 220

How to Care for Alocasias, Ep 219

2024 Goals for My Houseplants and Garden, Ep 218

I killed a bunch of plants this year, here’s what happened: How to Do a Plant Audit, Ep 217

Being Organic Before Organic Was Cool: The Story of Espoma Organic, Ep 216

4 Things You Need to Know about Winter and Houseplants, Ep 215

9 Jobs in Horticulture with Daniel Fuller of Plants Grow Here, Ep 214

How Much Light Do My Houseplants Need? with Darryl of House Plant Journal, Ep 213

5 Houseplant Crafts that Make Amazing DIY Holiday Gifts, Ep 212

How to Put Your Garden to Bed for Winter, Ep 211

How to Grow Citrus Indoors with Danny of Via Citrus, Ep 210

Plant Magic: How to Be a Green Witch with Rachael from Infinite Succulent, Ep 209

DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit with Leslie Halleck, Ep 208

Rooted in Generosity: Inspiring Harmony Through Wind Chimes and Why You Need Them in Your Garden, Ep 207

The History of Italian Gardens and Italian Citrus with Helena Attlee, Ep 206

Houseplant Styling Tips, How to Be A Professional Houseplant Stylist and All Things Maryah Greene, Ep 205

How to Identify Houseplant Disease with Leslie Halleck, Ep 204

How to Bring Your Plants Indoors for the Winter, Ep 203

How to Can and Ferment Vegetables and Fruits from Your Garden with Stephanie Thurow, Ep 202

How to Forage for Healing Plants in Your Backyard with Heather Houskeeper, Ep 201

How to Get Rid of Spider Mites on Indoor Plants

How to Get Rid of Whiteflies on Plants

How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats in My Plants

How to Get Rid of Mealybugs on Houseplants

How to Get Rid of Thrips Indoors

Common Houseplant Pest Identification and How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies and Mealybugs: Grow Better with Leslie, Ep 200

How to Get Rid of Scale on My Plants

How to Grow Garlic with Jill Winger, Ep 199

How They Built A Million Dollar Plant Company: Plantrepreneur Profile with Soltech, Ep 198

The Power of a Therapeutic Garden to Help Us Feel Better, Ep 197

Overwatered vs Underwatered Plants, How Much Light Do Indoor Plants Need and More Common Houseplant Problems: Grow Better with Leslie, Ep 196

Homesteading for Beginners with Michelle Bruhn and Stephanie Thurow, Ep 195

The History of Flowers with Noel Kingsbury, Ep 194

War Gardens, Victory Gardens or Pandemic Gardens: The History Behind Why People Grow Plants in Hard Times with Maggie Stucky, Ep 193

How to Overcome Burnout Through The Healing Power of Nature, Ep 192

The Mushroom Miniseries: How to Grow Mushrooms Indoors, Ep 191

How to Stop Killing Succulents: Succulent Care and Propagation Guide with Andrea of JustSuccIt.com, Ep 190

The Power of Therapeutic Horticulture with Hilda Krus of The Horticultural Society of New York, Ep 185

Companion Planting Basics with the Garden Managers of The Lodge at Woodloch, Ep 189

Mini Episode: 5 Ways to Use Scented Plants to Reduce Stress and Increase Joy

The Art of Aromatic Gardening with Amy of NYC Aromatica, Ep 188

9 Interior Design Tips to Apply to Your Garden with Kelly of Decorating Tips and Tricks, Ep 187

The History of Houseplants with Jane Perrone, Ep 186

Grow Your Own Salad: How to Grow Lettuce from Seed to Harvest with Nicole from Gardenary, Ep 184

The Mushroom Miniseries: How to Grow Functional Mushrooms in Your Garden, Ep 183

Spring Houseplant Care, Ep 182

Top Gardening Mistakes to Avoid in Your 2023 Garden with Joe Lamp’l, Ep 181

Minimalism and Plants with Stephanie of Sustainable Minimalist, Ep 180

Living Soil, Planttok and Finding Creativity Through Plants with Dirty Roots Berlin, Ep 179

The Mushroom Miniseries: Mushrooms 101 Plus the Answer to “What is the Mushroom Growing in My Houseplant!”, Ep 178

The Evolution of Plant Parenthood with Adam, Becca and Nicole from Potted Together, Ep 177

Landscaping in the Southwest with Tina from The Desert Botanical Garden, Ep 176

How Seeds are Produced: Behind the Scenes of How Our Seeds are Selected, Grown, Tested and Multiplied with Territorial Seed Company, Ep 175

Can Plants Feel? Unmasking Plant Intelligence with Paco Calvo and Natalie Lawrence, Ep 174

Seed Starting Basics with Joe Lamp’l, Ep 173

Caudex Plants with Plant Daddy Pod, Ep 172

What To Do When A Plant Dies with Cassidy from Succulents and Sunshine, Ep 171

We’re Growing: How Embracing Life and Mental Health Challenges can Positively Affect a Business with Callie, my Business Coach, Ep 170

How to Prep Your Houseplants for Winter, Ep 169

Grow Your Own Tea: Intro to Herbalism with Juliet of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, Ep 168

How to Adjust to Moving to a Different Garden Zone with Mama Failla, Ep 167

How To Keep Your Plants Alive While On Vacation, Ep 166

Everyday Plant Magic with Rachael of Infinite Succulent, Ep 165

Plant Care for Earth Care with Farmer Nick, Ep 164

Heart Centered Gardening with Danielle LaPorte, Ep 163

3 Easy DIY Houseplant Projects to Utilize Vertical Space with Erin of @houseplantclub and @cleverbloom , Ep 161

Fall Gardening Tips with Joe Gardener, Ep 161

Self-Care Through Plant Care with Niyya of The Bloom Journey, Ep 160

What is Transpiration and Why is it Important for Our Plants?, Ep 6

Houseplants that Bloom with Lisa of The Houseplant Guru, Ep 159

Grow and Make Essential Oils with Chris Satch, Ep 158

How Often Should I Change My Propagation Vessel Water? , Ep 5

Engaging Your Senses with Plants at NYBG, Ep 157

How Our Community Grows Joy, Ep 156

Cultivating Curiosity with Plants with Tyler Thrasher, Ep 155

Does Isolating Plants and Castile Soap Actually Work? , Ep 4

How to Make Terrariums, Paludariums and Vivariums with Patricia of Doodle Bird Terrariums, Ep 154

Popular and Unique Aroids to Try this Summer with Enid of NSE Tropicals, Ep 153

Preserving Asian Heritage Through Seeds and Stories with YC of Kitazawa Seed Co, Ep 152

Beginner’s Guide to Greenhouses, Ep 151

Knowledge Nugget: What is Seed Scarification? , Ep 3

Bulb Basics with Jenks Farmer, Ep 150

Limey’s Grand Adventure // Flying My Lime Tree to Florida

How to Start a Product-Based Planty Business // Plus a HUGE announcement! with Samantha of Hemleva, Ep 149

Rubber Plant Care Guide and Frequently Asked Questions with Raffaele from Ohio Tropics, Ep 148

Knowledge Nugget: What is PAR?, Ep 2

How to Care For Carnivorous Plants Indoors with Damon of California Carnivores, Ep 147

Knowledge Nugget: What is a Peperomia Inflorescence?, Ep 1

Exploring the Past, Present and Future of Black People in Horticulture with Colah B Tawkin, Ep 146

Interior Design Trends and Houseplants with Betsy from Affordable Interior Design, Ep 145

Streamlining and Simplifying Houseplant Care: Checking in with the guys from the Plant Daddy Pod, Ep 144

Finding Joy Through Plants in a Season of Transition: Reflecting on 2021, Ep 143

Wedding Flower Crash Course for To Be Weds with Corina of The Botaniste, Ep 142

26 Ways to Incorporate Plants Into Your Wedding with Katie O’Neil, Ep 141

3 Plant Inspired DIY Wedding Ideas that Live On After the Big Day, Ep 140

Snake Plants 101 with Chris Satch, Ep 139

Plantrepreneurship and Planty TikTok with Reagan Kastner, Ep 138

Planty Fake News: 3 Plant Care Myths Busted with Leslie Halleck Ep 137

Maria’s Favorite Things 2021: The Plant Parent Gift Guide, Ep 136

Aquatic Plants and Planted Aquariums with 101 with Karen Randall, Ep 135

Lessons from Plants for 2021 with Beronda Montgomery, Ep 134

Designing and Revitalizing a Garden in a New Home with Stephen Orr, Ep 133

Plant Parent Confessions with Members of the Garden Party Platform, Ep 132

Culinary Medicine from Our Gardens with Dr John la Puma, Ep 131

Plant Care Routines: The Plant Friend Hang Series, Ep 130

How to Root Bare Nodes or “Wet Sticks” with Bloom Daddy Plants, Ep 129

Flower Power: How to Grow Cut Flowers All Season Long (for Beginners), Ep 128

The Studies Behind the Plant/Person Connection with Dr Sue Stuart-Smith, Ep 127

in-ground gardening basics

In-Ground Gardening Basics with My New Plant Friend Melody, Ep 126

palm care

Palm Care 101 with Chris Satch, Ep 125

plant care

4 “Plant Care Hacks” I No Longer Do and Other Shifts in My Plant Care Practice, Ep 124

How to Manage Deer, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Moles, Voles and Other Animals in Your Garden with Brie The Plant Lady, Ep 123

plants and pets

Plants and Pets: What You Need to Know // Pet Proof Your Plants, Ep 122

tiny plants

Plant Trend Alert: Tiny Plants with Leslie Halleck, Ep 121

garden design

Designing and Planning My Garden // Coaching with Nicole of Gardenary, Ep 120

Intro to Bonsai with Bjorn from Eisei-en Bonsai, Ep 119

hardiness zones

Understanding Hardiness Zones, Frost Dates and Microclimates in the Garden, Ep 118

alocasia care

Alocasia Care with Enid from NSE Tropicals, Ep 117

houseplant identification

Houseplant Identification Basics from Derek from The Crazy Botanist, Ep 116

anthurium care

Anthurium Care with Enid from NSE Tropicals, Ep 115

seed starting 101

Seed Starting 101 with Joe Lamp’l, Ep 114

plants and the office

Plants & the Home Office: Why and How to Green Up Your Work From Home Office Space // #plantywfh, #113

humidity deep dive for plant care

Humidity Deep Dive and Winter Plant Care with the Plant Daddy Podcast Daddies, #112

The Art of the Plant Pause and Managing Plant Parent Overwhelm, 111

low waste plant parenthood

Low Waste Plant Parenthood with @farmernickynyc, 110

LECA va PON Lechuza semi passive hydro

Episode 109: Passive Hydroponics 2.0 and the LECA VS PON Debate

How to Use Plants to Create Restorative Environments

Episode 108: How to Use Plants to Create Restorative Environments with Anne Meore from NYBG

how to care for a large plant collection

Episode 107: How to Care for a Large Plant Collection with @cyrilcybernated, @soulsistaplants and @welcometothejunglehome

easiest hoyas, rare hoyas, hoya care

Episode 106: Hoya Care 101 and the Best Hoya’s for Beginners, Intermediates and YOUR Plant Parent Personality!

how plants communication with each other through VOCs and the Wood Wide Web

Episode 105: How Plants Communicate Through VOCs and the “Wood Wide Web”

Episode 104: Indoor Plant Projects for Kids

How to Water Your Plants with Chris Satch, Episode 103

Episode 102: Garden to Table: Herb Inspired Recipes

Episode 101: Styling with Plants with Danae from Folia Collective

Episode 100: 10 Planty Lessons Learned from 100 Episodes with Maria and Members of the Bloom and Grow Radio Community

Episode 99: How to Care for Ferns with Lisa from The Houseplant Guru

Episode 98: Pruning Back to Inspire Growth

Episode 97: Mind-Blowing Lessons Learned in Intro to Plant Science at NYBG with Dr Elle Barnes

Episode 96: Common Garden Pests with Nadia from Urban Farm Sista

Episode 95: Understanding Drainage and the Perched Water Table

Episode 94: Growing Together

Ep 93: The Wild World of PLANT-TUBE

Episode 92: Begonias with Marc from NYBG

tips for edible landscaping and beginner gardeners

Episode 91: My Mom’s 10 Tips for Beginning Gardeners and Edible Landscapers

Episode 90: Jane Perrone of On the Ledge Podcast

Episode 89: Fundamentals of Vegetable Gardening with the NYBG

Episode 88: Inspirational Stories and Ideas for Isolating Times: How to Help the Horticulture Industry Get Through

Episode 87: My Fiancé Cared for My Plants for a Year While I was on Tour: Here’s What Happened

Episode 86: Pause with Plants to Release Stress and Increase Calm with Brittany from the Pause with Plants Podcast

Episode 84: Historic Black Plant People and Top 5 Favorite Houseplants from Africa with Colah, host of Black in the Garden Podcast

African Violets 101 Care Guide

Episode 84: African Violets 101 with Lisa from Houseplant Guru

Bonus Episode: Herbal Mixology with Gardenuity, Katy Trail Vodka and HD Liquor Catering

Episode 82: Winter Plant Care with Darryl from @houseplantjournal and Jaz from @gardenstead

Episode 81: “Root-ology” with Leslie Halleck

Episode 80: Plant Laws and Plant Patents

Episode 79: Variegation 101 with Chris Satch

Episode 77: “Semi” or “Passive” Hydro with Kay from @inrootedlove

Episode 76: Hydroponic Gardening 101 with Rob from Farm.One

Episode 75: The Science of Soil with Dr Mark from Metrolina Greenhouse

Episode 74: Grow Lights 101 with Leslie Halleck

Episode 73: Indoor Plant Appreciation and The Amazon Rainforest Fires

Episode 72: Fall Garden Plants and Projects with Joe Lamp’l

Episode 71: Low Light Plants for Beginners and Advanced Plant Parents with the Houseplant Guru

Episode 70: Growing Cannabis Part 2: Flowering to Harvest

Episode 69: Growing Cannabis Part 1: Set Up, Seed Starting and the Vegetative Stage with Rooney Bloom and Chudy Azuogu

Live Taping: Peperomia 101 with Nick Pileggi

Episode 66: 5 Tips for Planning Your Perfect Plant Shopping Day and Inclusivity and Representation in the Plant Community with @plantkween

Episode 65: A Plants Journey from Grower to You Home with Mickey Hargitay

Episode 64: Propagation 101 with Leslie Halleck

Ep 63: Container Gardening 101

Episode 62: Live Taping in Tucson: Living with Plants in the Desert

Episode 61: How to Move with Plants

Episode 60: Live Taping! DIY Succulent Crowns with Infinite Succulent

Episode 59: Live Taping: How to Cultivate Healthy Plant Community: Online and IRL with Danae from Folia Collective and Christine from Work Hard Plant Hard

Episode 58: How to Identify a Plant with No Name Tag with Summer Rayne Oakes of Homestead Brooklyn

Episode 57: Pollinators and Native Bees with Dave from Crown Bees

Episode 56: Community Episode: Plant Fail Lessons

Episode 55: Plant Side Chat- Lessons Learned in the Redwoods

Episode 54: Plant Latin 101 with Chris Satch

Episode 53: Plants IRL aka Nature and Monstera talk with @mickmitty

Episode 52: Soil Aeration and Thriving vs Surviving in a Low Light Home with Darryl from Houseplant Journal

Episode 51: How to Live with a “Crazy Plant Person”

Episode 50: Calathea, Maranta and Stromanthe 101

Episode 49: Plant Parent Lessons Learned in 2018

Episode 47: Understanding Natural Light: Measuring Tools

Episode 46: Understanding Natural Light: General Rules

Episode 45: Aroid 101 Part 2

Episode 44: Aroids 101 Part 1

Episode 43: Your Brain on Plants

Episode 42: Make Your Own Moss Pole Tutorial

Maria’s Favorite Things / Holiday Gift Guide

Plant Side Chat #4: Pruning

Episode 39: Growing Your Business Like You Tend Your Garden

Episode 38: Transitioning Your Plants Back Indoors for Winter with Chris from The Sill

Episode 37: Horticultural Therapy

Episode 36: Growing a Large Jungle in a Small Space and Humidity Hacks with @Apartmentbotanist

Episode 35: How to Grow Desert Plants Indoors with Ryan from Dig It Gardens

Episode 34: Hilton Carter

Episode 33: Monstera 101 with Scott from @tropicaloco

Episode 32: Airplants 101 with @airplantman

Episode 31: Plants and Babies with Molly Mansfield

Episode 30: Orchid 101 with Chris from The Sill

Episode 29: Indoor Citrus Care with MI Gardener

Episode 28: Plant Side Chat #4 : The Tale of the Tomato Plant

Episode 27: Plants in the Classroom with @mrdtimes3

Episode 26: Pest Control with Summer Rayne Oakes

Episode 25: The Fiddle Leaf Fig with @leighkiyoko

Episode 24: How to Start a Plant Shop with Folia Collective

Mother’s Day Special

Season 2! Windowsill Herb Gardening 101 with the New York Botanical Garden

Plant Side Chat # 3: The Changing of the Seasons

Episode 20: Talking Tomatoes with Craig LeHoullier and My MOM

Episode 19: Terrarium 101 with @teenytinyterra

Episode 18: Prepping Your Houseplant For Spring and the Science Behind Fertilizer With Chris Satch from The Sill

Episode 17: The Studies Behind Why Plants Make People Happy and Healthy with Christine from @workhardplanthard

Episode 16: Mounting Epiphytes and the Creation of Cleverbloom.com – House Plant Club Series Part 2!

Episode 15: @houseplantclub Part 1: 5 tips for Curating and Growing your Planty Instagram Account with Morgan of @plantingpink

Episode 14: The Friendship Plant! The Ins and Outs of the Popular Pilea Peperomioides with the founder of PIEP

Plant Side Chat # 2: Planty Friendships

Episode 12: Everything You Need to Know about Indoor Grow Lights with The Sill’s Chris Satch

Episode 11: Inside the Mind of “Mr Plant Geek” and tips for the Traveling Plant Parent

Plant Side Chat #1: Bloom and Grow at Your Own Rate

Double Joy: Plants and Cats and Poisonous Plants to Avoid with @Plant_Lady_is_the_New_Cat_Lady

Episode 07: TheOperatingSystem: Plant Propagation 101 and Using Plants to Disconnect

Episode 06: Enjoy a Living, Potted Christmas Tree for the Holiday Season! With Joe Lamp’l of Growing a Greener World and The Joe Gardener Show Podcast.

Episode 05: Cut Christmas Tree Care and Supporting Local Businesses with Mary Jeanne Packer of The Christmas Tree Farmers Association

Episode 04: Summer Rayne Oakes: Plants for the Advanced Plant Parent and Practicing Patience

Episode 3: How to not Kill Your Succulent and Learning Resiliance with Diana Zarins of How To Succulents

Episode 02: Top 5 Houseplants for Beginners and Learning Kindness with The Sill’s Christopher Satch

Episode 1: The Story Behind Bloom and Grow Radio!

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Our commitments to you as a listener...

We wouldn't be here without you.  So here are our promises to you.  We will:

• Be relentlessly curious.

• ALWAYS ask the questions others may be embarrassed to ask.  No "dumb" questions in this community of plant friends!

• Lead with kindness and positivity.  No shaming or shade throwing here.  There's enough of that in the world already.

• Continue sourcing you, our community of listeners, for the topics YOU want to learn more about.  Have you taken the 2023 Listener Survey yet?

• Never take ourselves or plants too seriously.  This hobby is supposed to be FUN, not stressful!

“I’m a newly addicted plant parent and I’ve learned SO MUCH from Bloom and Grow. It just makes me so happy and even more excited about my plant babies, as if that was even possible. If you love plants, listen to this podcast!"

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