All My Plants are Dead

All My Plants are Dead

Author: Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness September 22, 2026 Duration: 23:31

So, plant friends… all my plants are dead. Well, not all of them. But MANY of them. I had a baby in June, and my houseplants did not survive my postpartum era. What’s interesting is that I've heard from listeners who went through this exact thing. I never judged them once and coached them through it. But I still thought it would never be me, because I have a whole podcast about houseplants. But here we are. Let's talk about it!

 

In this episode, we learn:

  • [00:00] My plants are dead!!!
  • [01:55] 12 weeks postpartum in Florida with a baby… and a lot of sad plants :(
  • [03:06] My pregnancy, buying/renovating a house, and a very difficult birth
  • [05:09] How 'mom brain' affected me
  • [06:54] How I’m redefining plant parenthood
  • [07:46] The syngonium I found on my honeymoon
  • [08:37] What are the life transitions that quietly change how I care for plants?
  • [10:02] 8 years of shifting my interests (houseplants, growing food, cut flowers, propagation, tropicals)
  • [12:50] What I actually want now in this new season of life
  • [14:17] Low maintenance, high impact (stroller walks, snipped bouquets, and birdsongs)
  • [15:35] Experience the richness of single-origin honey with 3x more antioxidants with Manukora Honey!
  • [17:21] What connecting with nature indoors looks like
  • [18:51] Caring for Polpettino and feeling more like a mammal than ever!
  • [19:47] Why this episode is "All My Plants Are Dead," not "I Killed All My Plants"
  • [20:09] Not giving up on plants and what I'm committing to in Zone 10B!
  • [21:24] What does your growing joy look like right now, and what do you want it to look like in 2027?

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

 

What's next for my plants?

Check out the full show notes and blog here!

 

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

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!

 

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

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There’s a quiet, accessible kind of wellness waiting for you on a windowsill or in a patch of soil. Growing Joy with Plants explores that very idea, moving beyond basic tips to examine how our relationship with the natural world directly nurtures our mental and emotional health. Hosted by Maria Failla, a self-proclaimed Happy Plant Lady and author of "Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness," this podcast feels like a warm conversation with a knowledgeable friend. Maria guides you through the practicalities of keeping your houseplants alive and thriving, but the discussion always circles back to the deeper connection-how the simple acts of watering, repotting, or simply observing growth can become anchors of calm in a hectic day. Each episode digs into how gardening and engaging with nature, even in small urban spaces, offer tangible tools to manage feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. This isn't about achieving a perfect indoor jungle; it's about finding moments of peace and genuine happiness through the process of care. The underlying message throughout the podcast is a powerful and gentle reminder: tending to your plants is fundamentally an act of tending to yourself. You’ll come away with not just better plant care knowledge, but a refreshed perspective on cultivating joy in your daily routine, learning that the serenity you might seek on vacation can be rooted right in your own home.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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