How to Use Plants to Heal From Grief

Grief is so heavy that it can feel like an impossible weight to carry. But if you think about it, you can use plant care as a method to process grief and loss. Like plants, people can also grow and find resilience. They don’t rush and don’t demand. They just grow… little by little, day by day.

In this episode, I want to share the story of my dear plant friend, Wade Lee, also known as Plants by Wade Lee. His story is so much more than houseplant care. It’s about loss, grief, healing, and finding joy again, one leaf, one root, one seed at a time.

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] How plants can help you heal from grief
• [04:22] Wade’s story with grief and plants
• [10:10] Finding solace in plants
• [15:14] Find tranquility in every breeze this 2025 with Wind River Chimes!
• [16:55] Learn how to grow more food with less space and effort with the 4th edition of ‘Square Foot Gardening’!
• [18:08] Honoring Steven and new beginnings!
• [22:32] How we connect with the spiritual realm
• [25:39] How Wade secured a gardener position
• [29:38] How to use plants as a therapeutic tool for grief
• [33:43] Finding grace in dead plants
• [36:28] At what point did Wade begin using social media?
• [39:53] What are some methods for using plants to heal from grief?
• [42:44] What is nature in different forms?
• [45:49] Where can you find Wade on social media?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Leonardi's Nursery
• The Cummer Museum
• Southeast Plant Show
• Wade Lee’s Hair Portfolio

For Wade's recommendations on how to use plants as a therapeutic tool,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Follow Wade:

Website

Podcast

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

YouTube

Twitter

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Quarto: All New! Square Foot Gardening, 4th Edition

Get your copy of All New! Square Foot Gardening, 4th Edition today at your local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble, quarto.com, or amazon.com. 

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 .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}