Monarch Butterflies, Growing Milkweed, And The Power Of Plant People

Monarch Butterflies, Growing Milkweed, And The Power Of Plant People

Author: Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness May 5, 2026 Duration: 1:08:02
Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care
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Why are monarch butterflies so special? If you follow me on Instagram, you already know my answer. The monarch butterfly has completely taken over my heart. I literally dressed up as one for Halloween this year, and I have zero regrets! Ever since my husband and I moved to Florida, I started planting milkweed just to watch them hatch in my own yard. And wow. Seeing their life cycle happen right in front of me made me think deeply about gardening. It also made me realize I had a lot to learn. So I called up my favorite wildlife nerd, David Mizejewski, and we spent a whole podcast episode just geeking out about monarch butterflies together! Let's dive in!

 

In this episode, we learn:

  • [03:57] Meet David Mizejewski, a naturalist, NWF, and a fellow monarch nerd!
  • [04:36] Why monarch butterflies hold a special emotional place for me
  • [06:06] What are the benefits of monarchs?
  • [08:49] Are monarchs really disappearing?
  • [10:53] Why the endangered/threatened designation is so confusing
  • [12:52] What would a "threatened" listing actually do for monarchs?
  • [15:28] Manukora
  • [17:13] How microplastics affect the environment
  • [18:25] Why are monarchs disappearing?
  • [19:20] The monarch lifecycle
  • [22:19] Why monarchs are specialists
  • [29:48] How gardeners can actually help monarch butterflies
  • [31:33] Native milkweed varieties worth knowing
  • [35:12] How to source pesticide-free native plants
  • [36:45] What are neonicotinoids?
  • [37:37] Which milkweed to avoid (aka the tropical milkweed problem)
  • [42:39] How to visually identify tropical milkweed
  • [45:05] Why you shouldn’t hand-rear monarchs!
  • [48:25] How the monarch migration actually works
  • [52:03] What to do instead of hand-rearing!
  • [53:43] Why parasitic wasps killing caterpillars is natural
  • [57:46] Where to find native plants by zip code
  • [59:46] How to certify your monarch garden with NWF
  • [01:01:19] My plans for my new home, my HOA, and my neighborhood kids!
  • [01:02:35] NWF's "cues of care" strategy
  • [01:04:37] Where to find David and all NWF resources

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

 

If you want to help the monarch population,

check out the full show notes and blog for David's expert advice!

 

Follow David:

Website
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
TikTok
LinkedIn

 

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

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

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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

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