Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care Podcast By Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness 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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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
  • Tree History: Finnish Mythology and Tree Worship

    Tree History: Finnish Mythology and Tree Worship
    Mar 24 2026
    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 celebrate trees as living entities with their own spirits or 'väki. In this episode, we dive deep into the rich tapestry of Finnish folklore, exploring how the relationship between humans and nature is woven into the very fabric of their mythology. Nina shares fascinating insights into the concept of spirit trees—those special trees that families adopt to symbolize their connection to the land. You’ll learn about the rituals surrounding offerings to these trees, which serve as a beautiful reminder of our bond with the environment. As plant lovers and plant parents, we often seek ways to connect with nature, and this episode offers practical tips on how to foster relationships with trees in our own communities. From hugging trees to making thoughtful offerings, Nina encourages us to embrace acts of reverence that deepen our connection with the natural world. Plus, we touch on the resurgence of interest in folklore amidst modern environmental concerns, highlighting how these ancient beliefs can guide us in our gardening practices and home-based wellness. Join us for this joyful living exploration of Finnish mythology and the healing power of nature. Whether you're looking for watering tips, battling plant pests, or simply seeking a mindful gardening experience, this episode is packed with insights to enhance your plant parenthood journey. Tune in to discover how you can cultivate a deeper relationship with the trees around you and bring more joy into your life through holistic plant care. In this episode, we learn: [02:26] Meet Niina and her life growing up in Finnish forests![03:39] How she went from “weird” folklore kid to researcher[04:50] Why Finnish mythology centers on “animism” and not on heroic gods[05:48] A bit of Finnish history![07:45] What is the concept of väki?[09:24] What does Finnish tree mythology represent in daily life?[11:36] Why spirit trees are seen as guides, healers, and places to seek advice[12:41] What is the story of "The Giving Tree”?[13:03] How are these beliefs practiced socially vs individually?[15:45] Experience rich and antioxidant-packed Manukora honey![17:28] Start your seed starting season with Espoma Organic’s premium gardening products![19:58] How Finland’s month names followed seasons[21:54] What are some tree-centered traditions tied to birth, death, and life cycles?[23:40] Offerings and sacrificial trees![25:33] What “tree spirits” are and how they’re imagined in Finnish lore[27:41] Hunting rituals and making offerings to forest deities[28:31] Favorite stories about  Mielikki and Tapio[30:07] Is there a resurgence of interest in Finnish folklore and old names?[31:40] Tree hugging, forest bathing, and tourists seeking Finnish woods![32:33] What are some practices to start building your own relationship with trees?[34:28] Modern rituals: offering, gratitude, and everyday connection[35:01] What is Niina’s personal relationship with trees?[36:48] Where to find Niina online and how to get her illustrated tree folklore book! Mentioned in our conversation: Growing Joy Episode 322: From Plant Care to Nature Therapy: A Solo Heart to HeartGrowing Joy Episode 298: Tree Communication 101: Science, Spirit, and Synchronicity with Rachael of Our Infinite NatureLittle Book Of Finnish Tree Magic (Finnish Mythology With Fairychamber) by Niina Niskanen To learn more about the vast world of Finnish mythology, check out the full show notes and blog here! Follow Niina: WebsiteInstagramAll her productsCourses Thank you to our episode sponsors: Manukora 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! 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 ...
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    40 mins
  • Leca vs Pon: Which Is Better for Indoor Plants? Best of Growing Joy Replay

    Leca vs Pon: Which Is Better for Indoor Plants? Best of Growing Joy Replay
    Mar 19 2026
    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 growing plants this way. We talk about LECA vs Pon, root pruning, reservoirs, fertilizer concerns, and what happens when life gets busy and you forget about your plants for a while. If you’ve experimented with LECA, are curious about Pon, or want to better understand passive hydroponics for indoor plants, Kay is the perfect person to learn from. This conversation will help you troubleshoot common issues, understand the method more deeply, and grow your plants with greater confidence. In this episode, we learn: What Kay's Plant Number isHow Kay manages to keep 200+ plants in her home happy and healthy with NO grow lightsThe home characteristics Kay looked for when buying a home so her plants could thrive [9:00]What Maria secretly dreams of for the next home (it's not what you think) [10:00]What is Semi or Passive Hydro [10:55]Reasons for why you should try Semi or Passive Hydroponics [12:52]Kay's experience having small children and a large plant collection [12:37]Maria's main takeaways from a year of experimenting with semi-hydro: what she is doing great and where she still needs help [13:50]How do net pots work when roots start to grow out of the pot [15:43]How to handle orchid roots in LECA [17:0]How to handle aroid roots in LECA [17:20]Root pruning [17:50]The story behind Kay's gorgeous Albo Monstera [19:30]Is it bad for plants roots to touch the water in a Semi Hydro or Passive Hydro set up? [20:00]When to repot your plant in semi hydro [21:00]What happened when Maria forgot about her plants in LECA for 2 months [22:40]How can you avoid root rot when using semi hydroponics or passive hydroponics? [24:25]Nutrient troubleshooting deep dive [27:25]Kay elaborates on how she uses Azomax to manage pests in her large collection [31:19]What are the signs of a healthy plant in semi hydro [34:30]What does a healthy root look like in LECAHow dry can you let your reservoir get before you kill your plant [37:16]How to gage water levels with opaque pots [37:50]What's an appropriate transition time for a plant to go through transplant shock? [41:26]Kays product she uses to help plants transition more efficiently [42:15]LECA VS PON: their differences, pros and cons [43:58]What PON lechuza is made up of [44:20]What plants Kay chooses to put PON in over LECA [45:00]Why Kay doesn't put all her plants in PON [45:01]What plants Kay plants in PON [45:20]Why Kay grows anthurium in PON [46:48]Does a PON set up look different than a LECA set up? [47:26]Why fertilizing with PON will look very different than fertilizing in LECAAre there any plant your shouldn't put in passive hydro? [49:10]How Kay uses PON completely different on her arid plants to help better replicate their natural environments [49:37]My Raphidophora tetrasperma propagation experiment Mentioned in our conversation: Episode 77 Semi or Passive Hydro 101 with Kay! (Maria and Kay's first episode together)Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects, and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Heating Mats for plants (Kays Amazon Affiliate Links to the ones she uses) Large Option and Small OptionMaria's youtube video on her first passive hydro set upMaria's youtube video on her 8 month passive hydro updateKay and Maria's youtube video potting up in LECA VS PON tutorialKevins Green Pets (Kay's friend who intro'd her to Anthurium's in PON) Have you experimented with LECA or Pon yet? Check out the full show notes and blog to learn how passive hydroponics works and how to get started! Follow Kay Instagram Facebook 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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    49 mins
  • What is Forest Bathing: Exploring Forest Therapy with ANFT

    What is Forest Bathing: Exploring Forest Therapy with ANFT
    Mar 17 2026
    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 got into plant care, the more I started to see the bigger picture. Plants aren't just decoration, and nature isn't just a backdrop. There's something real happening when we slow down and actually be in it. So I invited Amos Clifford, the founder of ANFT, and the top forest therapy guide and trainer, Nadine Mazzola, to talk about what this practice really is! In this episode, we learn: [01:54] Why forest therapy feels so accessible and meaningful to me![03:05] What is forest bathing?[06:32] How did Nadine become a forest therapy guide?[08:26] The story behind how ANFT was founded![12:07] How forest therapy slowly gained traction[13:13] Why forest bathing is gaining cultural relevance[15:16] The Productive Garden[16:37] How everyone carries stories about nature[17:18] What actually happens during a forest therapy walk?[21:03] Why participants often experience anxiety at the beginning of forest therapy[22:01] How forest bathing helps regulate the nervous system[25:40] My first forest bathing experience and the challenge of slowing down[26:57] Why having a forest guide matters[32:00] What’s the science behind forest bathing?[32:42] Amos on the global boom in forest therapy research[35:19] Chronic stress and “salaryman” overwork in Japan[38:59] How forest therapy differs from other wellness practices[41:32] How forest bathing practices differ across the world[44:55] Why ANFT guiding focuses on sensory invitations[48:32] Inside the rigorous forest therapy guide training![53:05] The relational philosophy of forest therapy[55:54] Why is all medicine relational?[59:05] How forest therapy addresses our disconnection from the world[1:03:16] Where to find Nadine’s work and her book Forest Bathing With Your Dog[1:04:18] What is Amos’s next chapter for ANFT and forest therapy?[01:10:02] Where to find Amos' work, the ANFT global guide map, and Forest Bathing Finder[01:12:50] How my upcoming digital forest therapy sessions will work! Mentioned in our conversation: Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing LiForest Bathing with Your Dog by Nadine MazzolaYour Guide to Forest Bathing: Experience the Healing Power of Nature by Amos CliffordGuide Directory - Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT)Forest Bathing Finder For a deeper dive into the science of forest bathing, check out the full show notes and blog here! Follow Nadine: WebsiteInstagramFacebookYouTube Follow Amos: WebsiteInstagramFacebookLinkedInX Thank you to our episode sponsor: Quarto: The Productive Garden by Stephanie Hafferty Grab The Productive Garden at quarto.com and wherever books are sold. 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 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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    1 hr and 15 mins
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I love this! I started listening this podcast also as a new plant mom, used to kill cactus like begginer. I've learned a lot and had fun listening to Maria. Also the plant community is amazing!! Grateful

Best plant podcast ever!!!!!

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