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

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 is

How Kay manages to keep 200+ plants in her home happy and healthy with NO grow lights

The 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 LECA

How 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 LECA

Are 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 Option

Maria's youtube video on her first passive hydro set up

Maria's youtube video on her 8 month passive hydro update

Kay and Maria's youtube video potting up in LECA VS PON tutorial

Kevins 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.

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 Li

Forest Bathing with Your Dog by Nadine Mazzola

Your Guide to Forest Bathing: Experience the Healing Power of Nature by Amos Clifford

Guide 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:

Website
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

 

Follow Amos:

Website
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
X

 

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.

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 your home, this conversation is a must-listen because the number one mistake I see plant lovers make is misunderstanding their light.

Most people think they have bright light for their plants when they actually don’t. Our eyes are not great at judging how much light indoor plants really receive, which is why so many plants struggle indoors.

So in this episode, we dive into how to measure light for indoor plants. We talk about window directions, the difference between brightness and light volume, and how to use simple tools like a light meter to understand what your plants are actually experiencing. We also break down why plants think about light in energy or calories, not just how bright a room feels to us.

And make sure you grab the free Understanding Natural Light download that goes with this series. It walks you step by step through how to measure light in your home so you can stop guessing and start choosing the right plants for your space.

 

In this episode, we learn:

What the most important colors of light are for growing plants

How to use a free app to get a better understanding of your indoor lighting environment

What is the difference between LUX, Footcandles and PAR

What micromoles are

What DLI (Daily Light Intergral) is

The results of my homework and how many “aha” moments I had about the ACTUAL light in my apartment

How drastic the difference in light is within only a few feet from your window

What area of your apartment is probably low light that you never knew about

Whether or not you can put plants in a bathroom with no windows

Whether or not you can put plants in an office with no windows

Citrus under lights, pests

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

Lux Light Meter

PAR meter

Soltech Solution Aspect Light (Use code bloom15 for 15% off!)

Free Understanding Natural Light Download

Leslie’s Book, Gardening Under Lights; The Complete Guide for Indoor Growers

 

 

Do you actually know how much light your plants are getting?

Check out the full show notes and blog to learn how to measure light for your indoor plants!

 

Follow Leslie

Website

Instagram

Twitter

Pinterest

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.

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 mulch and something floral. I gave a talk on my plant parent personalities and co-hosted the House of Plants pop-up with Costa Farms. But I always leave with more than I came for because every year, the garden installs and what vendors are selling tells me something real about where gardening and houseplants are headed. So here are my main takeaways from the 2026 Northwest Flower and Garden Festival!

 

In this episode, we learn:

[02:05] What the Northwest Flower & Garden Show (Festival) is

[05:15] How the display gardens work!

[06:11] What are the biggest 2026 garden trends?

[07:50] My 3 favorite whimsical garden installs!

[14:09] Why you should do whimsy/storytelling in your own gardens!

[14:32] What are the newest houseplant trends in 2026?

[16:36] Why plant parents are craving low-maintenance plants

[18:14] How Espoma Organic helped bring me to the NWFG!

[20:41] Ripe Tomato Revolution by Frank Hyman

[22:45] Krystal (Plantswithkrystal) on diverse plants, terrariums, and ponds

[24:48] Justin (Costa Farms) on variegation trends and golden monstera

[25:20] What’s the one thing plant parents still get wrong?

[26:42] Zach (Soltech) on bold statement plants and grow lights

[30:04] Kamili (Plantblerd) on evergreen favorites and the lure of “unicorn plants”

[32:48] Farmer Nick on variegation overload and the limits of “rare plant” culture

[37:18] Cassidy (Succulents and Sunshine) on why rigid watering schedules don’t work

[41:52] Claudia (In the Garden with Claudia) on houseplant energy at a gardening show

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

Northwest Flower & Garden Festival

Costa Farms

Relish Gardens’ The Jewel Box: A Moment Preserved

West Seattle Nursery’s Where Stories Take Root

Hello Garden Designs’ The Garden Maker’s Atelier

Krystal @plantswithkrystal: Website | Instagram

Justin from Costa Farms: Website | Instagram

Zach from Soltech: Website | Instagram

Kamili Bell Hill @plantblerd: Instagram

Nick Cutsumpas @farmernick: Website | Instagram

Cassidy @succulentsandsunshine: Website | Instagram

Claudia @inthegardenwithclaudia: Instagram

 

For my favorite plant installs at the NWFGS 2026,

check out the full show notes and blog here! 

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Quarto: Ripe Tomato Revolution by Frank Hyman

Grab Ripe Tomato Revolutionat 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

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.

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 much light they have in their homes.

That’s exactly why I’m so excited to bring back this two-part series on natural light for indoor plants from the Best of Growing Joy collection.

In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend, horticulturist and lighting expert Leslie Halleck, author of Gardening Under Lights, one of the best resources for understanding grow lights and indoor plant lighting. But before we even talk about grow lights, we need to understand something even more fundamental: how light actually works for plants.

In this conversation, Leslie and I get into the nitty-gritty of what light really means for houseplants, why the phrase “bright indirect light” causes so much confusion for plant parents, and how to actually measure light for your plants at home.

There’s also a free download in the show notes that walks you through three days of measuring the natural light in your home, so you can finally understand what your plants are really getting.

 

In this episode, we learn:

How Leslie came to be the lighting expert she is now

Measuring and understanding NATURAL light 101

The difference between the volume of light vs the brightness of light

What PAR is and why it is important for understand our natural light in our apartments

The most brilliant metaphor for light that will make even the science inept person understand light, photons and photosynthesis

How the direction your window faces affects the amount of light in your apartment, and a good rule of thumb to live by

What the heck “bright indirect light’ actually is!

Practical steps to understanding “bright indirect light” for your specific surrounding

How many feet away from your windowsill does “bright light” turn to “medium light” and then turn to “low light”

Why we overwater our plants (spoiler alert… it’s often because of your lighting conditions)

If sunbeams that move throughout your apartments make a different for your plants

Why experimenting with plant placement and light is crucial

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

Soltech (Use code bloom15 for 15% off!)

Gardening Under Lights; The Complete Guide for Indoor Growers

 

Are you sure your plants are actually getting enough light?

Check out the full show notes and blog to learn how to measure the natural light in your home!

 

Follow Leslie

Website

Instagram

Twitter

Pinterest

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.