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

Did you know that your bulb garden doesn't have to be high-maintenance? One of my earliest memories is my mom planting what felt like endless tulip bulbs—500 of them, in fact. She was a young mom with three kids, no spare time, and definitely not a person who could fuss over plants every day, but somehow, she always had color! Bulbs showed up for her, and she did not have to slave over her garden to get them. That’s why I know it i...

Did you know that you can actually grow edible gourmet mushrooms in your garden right alongside your tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, herbs, and veggies?

You can! And by doing that, you can improve your soil health, support your garden ecosystem, and add another delicious crop to harvest and enjoy throughout the growing season.

This is the second episode in our Mushroom Mini Series. Last week, we re-released our episode on growing mushr...

My goal this year is to find more ease and joy in my garden! I love my plants, but I don’t want my yard to feel like another job. And when I realized that was a theme that was gonna keep coming up, I knew I needed to do an episode on permaculture. So I invited my plant friend, Brandy Hall. She’s a permaculture designer and has helped me see it as a simple, practical way to garden. She calls herself a garden editor for homeowners, w...

What if your next houseplant could double in size overnight and end up on your dinner plate?

Today we’re talking about how to grow mushrooms indoors and why it might be one of the most fun, beginner-friendly ways to grow edible mushrooms at home.

A couple of years ago, I recorded a Mushroom Miniseries with my husband and mushroom expert Louis from North Spore, and we talked about everything from growing mushrooms indoors to outdoor...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sea of information about indoor plants, wondering which tips to trust? You're not alone! Join me on this enlightening episode of "Growing Joy with Plants," where I chat with Tanner, the creative mind behind Tanner the Planter. Tanner's journey into the world of plants began in his childhood in Oregon, and he’s here to share his passion for plant care and how he navigates the challenges of carin...

2026 is the year of ease, joy, and low-maintenance plant care! It’s time that plants make us feel good instead of dread every time we walk past them. Something’s off if plants are stressing you out. So I invited my friend Cassidy Tuttle from Succulents and Sunshine back on the podcast because if there’s anyone who embodies easy plant care, it’s her! We talked about what’s actually happening in our plant lives right now: having too ...

If you ask me, the secret to being everyone’s favorite neighbor or friend is always having a handful of blooms ready to share. And the best way to do that is to grow your own cut flower garden so you can step outside, snip a few stems, and instantly make someone’s day.

In this Best of Growing Joy replay, I’m bringing back one of my favorite conversations with flower farmer and friend Brooklyn Sherri, a Denver-based urban flower far...

Have you ever wondered how the trees around you might hold stories of spirits and ancient traditions? Join me, on this enchanting journey into the heart of Finnish mythology, as I chat with the incredibly talented Nina, an illustrator and researcher from Finland. Nina's profound connection to nature, rooted in her upbringing in a forestry village, brings an enlightening perspective on tree worship and the animistic beliefs that cel...

What if you could grow 300+ indoor plants without hauling watering cans to the shower every weekend… and without even dealing with soil?

In this episode of the Best of Growing Joy series, we’re revisiting one of the most amazing approaches to plant care: passive hydroponics, often called semi-hydro. My friend Kay from @inrootedlove is back for what we’re calling Passive Hydro 2.0, and we’re diving into the real-life details of grow...

I'm getting certified as a forest therapy guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT)! Every single time, though, people’s response is the same. "Oh my God, that sounds so cool. But what is that?" I get that the words "forest therapy" or "forest bathing" sound vague. Some think it’s like hiking or yoga in the woods, but many can be mistaken.

I spent years focused almost entirely on houseplants. But the deeper I g...

Welcome back to part two of our Understanding Natural Light series. We’re bringing this conversation back as part of our Best of Growing Joy episodes because it’s one of the most helpful discussions we’ve ever had about indoor plant lighting.

This episode is a replay of my conversation with Leslie Halleck, a dear plant friend of mine and a horticulture and lighting expert. If you’re a plant parent trying to understand the light in ...

This is my third year attending the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle, and I come back with all the plant tea! Every year, this festival just keeps getting better. The only way I can describe what it feels like is that I walked into a convention center and forgot I was in one. In front of me, there were 20 full garden landscapes installed on the concrete floor. The lights are dimmed, and you can hear birdsongs and smell m...

Natural light for indoor plants is one of the most misunderstood parts of plant care. Most plant parents think their homes are bright enough for houseplants… but the truth is, we often overestimate how much light our plants are actually getting.

So we all know that the concept of bright indirect light is kind of a disaster. It’s one of the most confusing things in indoor plant care, and most plant parents wildly overestimate how mu...

Are you tired of the boom-and-bust cycle of traditional gardening? Imagine a world where your garden is a source of joy and sustenance all year round! Join me, in this enlightening episode of Growing Joy with Plants, where I chat with the incredibly knowledgeable gardening expert, Charlie Nardozzi. Together, we dive deep into the realm of low maintenance gardening and explore innovative techniques that not only simplify your garden...

Hands down, without a doubt, incorporating indoor plants into my office has been the single best thing I’ve done for my mental health during the workday. And at this point, plant friends, if you or someone you love is working without plants in the workplace, we need to talk.

Because this is not just about aesthetics.

This is about biophilic design and workplace wellness. It is about the science that proves how plants and productivity...

I’ve been waiting a very long time to write these words. I’m pregnant!!! And we’re having a baby boy! His nickname is Polpettino (which means ‘little meatball’ in Italian) because my husband Billy is fourth-generation Irish, and this baby is going to come out the most Irish kid you've ever met, so he's getting to be Italian while he's still in there. And we love him so much already. But before we get to the joy, I need to take you ...

When I first started gardening, the second someone mentioned hardiness zones or frost dates, my eyes would immediately glaze over.

I had no idea what my USDA hardiness zone was. I didn’t know how to find my last frost date. I didn’t understand what “Zone 6B” or “Zone 10A” even meant for my plants. I had lived in the same place my entire life and somehow never once looked at a zone map. I didn’t think it mattered.

Now, after years of ...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a passion for plants into a thriving business? Join me as I sit down with Erika, the incredible wife of Tanner the Planter, to explore their inspiring journey in the plant business. From their unexpected meeting during a lunch break to co-owning the flourishing plant shop, Famous in Oregon, which opened its doors during the pandemic, Erika shares the heartfelt story behind their love and...

Have you ever been scrolling Instagram before and seen a picture where it looks like plants are planted in Cocoa Puffs, like little brown balls, or gravel? Maybe as you've been scrolling, you've seen the words semi-hydroponics, passive hydroponics, or LECA.

Well, today’s episode is a deep dive into the art of growing plants hydroponically, but specifically through semi-hydroponics, a popular soil-free growing method that uses an ino...