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Why Plant Parents Need Nighttime Garden Break for Mindful Gardening

Why Plant Parents Need Nighttime Garden Break for Mindful Gardening

Author: Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness July 7, 2026 Duration: 45:03
Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care
LeisureEducationGardenHealthHealth & FitnessHome

What if the most relaxing time for you in your garden isn't during the day, but after dark? In those cool summer nights when garden chores aren't practical because you can't see very well, we have a unique opportunity to ease burnout, support mental health, and deepen your connection to plants and nature. So I'm joined by a friend, Perla Sofia Curbelo-Santiago, a repeat guest and the author of Verdura, to talk about her new take on garden breaks after dark. And we discuss how to create simple, mindful rituals that help plant parents unwind, reset, and find joy in the garden in the evening, in even just 10 minutes. Let's get started!

 

In this episode, we learn:

  • [01:39] Catching up with Perla Sofia Curbelo-Santiago and the Northwest Flower and Garden Show!
  • [03:43] What Perla has been up to since publishing her book, Verdura
  • [05:13] How do garden breaks improve employee well-being?
  • [09:15] Perla’s personal wake-up call with burnout and
  • [10:22] Why we need to stop feeling guilty about taking breaks
  • [14:05] Why shifting your garden break to the evening is an overlooked opportunity
  • [14:58] Experience single-origin honey with 3x more antioxidants with Manukora!
  • [16:43] How experiencing complete darkness after Hurricane Maria inspired Perla’s night sky gardening
  • [18:36] How our artificial outdoor lighting negatively affects pollinators and migrating birds
  • [19:01] Why it’s actually easier to relax in your garden at night than during the day
  • [21:12] Simple ways to light your outdoor spaces without disturbing local wildlife
  • [25:14] How to safely plan your paths and prepare for your first garden break after dark
  • [28:48] What should you actually do during a 5 to 15-minute nighttime garden break?
  • [33:25] How to take a meaningful nature break when winter weather keeps you indoors
  • [36:43] How one client uses her garden's evening soundscape to decompress after a long workday
  • [41:21] Where to find Perla, AgroChic, and her resources online!

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

 

For Perla's mindful gardening insights,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

 

Follow Perla:

Website – Spanish
Website – English
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter/X

 

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!

ZenAI

Visit zen.ai to start your first vibecast for free.

 

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


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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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