Episodes
Is there more to our relationship with houseplants than collecting and cultivating? Maria Failla of Bloom and Grow Radio is back to make her case in a revealing interview that we both love. What does a mindfulness practice actually mean? And how can you begin your own? It's easier and more powerful than you might think. And it may surprise you which Plant Daddy this speaks to most!
Published 01/11/22
If the Plant Daddies could surprise each other with a plant to grow together, what would happen? You’ll find out in our last episode of 2021! Then we revisit (and judge) our plant predictions for the year, pick our favorite episodes, and chat about the plant highlights in our own collections. Can a rehab project be a “gift?” How well do we actually know each other? Cozy up for one of our favorite episodes of the year!
Published 12/22/21
How much do you know about fertilizing your houseplants? …and how much do we know? After a radically honest discussion of our own routines, Miles from The Plant Store is back to answer our questions, dispel some myths, AND participate in our fertilizer lightening round. Are liquids better than slow-release pellets? Is "organic" mostly about marketing? What about DIY fertilizers? Some of his answers may surprise you!
Published 12/15/21
Need a foliage plant for a low light spot that will actually survive? Even thrive? This week we talk about Aglaonema, which we both believe is one of your best options for this situation. How long can these actually survive in less-than-ideal light? And how much moisture (or lack of it) can they tolerate? Our answers may surprise you. Also, what’s an “Aglaonema stepfather,” and how's that custom textile print coming? Like we say, this is about respect.
Published 12/07/21
What should go in that less-sunny window? The Plant Daddies tackle a timely listener question in this month’s Chill 'n Chat, and after so long without plant updates, let each other know how their respective urban jungles/bogs/deserts are faring. Is success in a north-facing window about plant selection, or managing expectations? What does Stephen do when he thinks he has overwatered? And was Matthew aware that we did an episode about having too many plants? No new episode next week, but we’ll...
Published 11/23/21
Many of us have owned a Croton plant, Codiaeum variegatum, but how many of us can reliably get them to thrive indoors? The Plant Daddies have had mixed results themselves, so Mark Peters of Peters Crotons and Cordylines joins the show to help. Should these plants be allowed to dry thoroughly? Of the surprisingly diverse Croton cultivars, which is the best for indoor growing? We get these answers, fascinating history, and some surprising tips for plant parents from this expert grower!
Published 11/16/21
Are you a fan of cactus flowers… but not cactus spines? This week the Plant Daddies cover Echinopsis subdenudata, the Domino Cactus, an easy-to-care-for favorite that's often easy to find, too! It's great for newer plant parents, but does this species offer anything for seasoned growers? Will we make sense of the taxonomy here? Then someone utters the sentence "I don't know flower talk."
Published 11/09/21
Are you considering a splurge Hoya? If so, the Plant Daddies believe Hoya callistophylla should be on your short list. Are the rumors about straightforward care for this species true? And where are the cuttings Matthew promised Stephen? After we share other, similar Hoyas in the Finlaysonii complex worth considering, will this episode get an explicit rating? At this point, no one should be surprised!
Published 11/02/21
For this month's Chill 'n Chat, we dish about plant pots! (See what I did there? Thank you.) We'll cover our dos and don'ts, how these fit into the broader care equation, and our tips for converting mugs and thrift store finds into vessels your plants will thrive in. Which kinds do we find most difficult? And what are our strangest pots? In a shocking twist, we even throw in some aesthetic opinions.
Published 10/19/21
The Spider Plant finally gets some love! We share our experiences, care tips, opinions (of course) and even a few stories about this hardy favorite. How can you keep them bright and green? Have we ever killed one? And could this plant be poised for a resurgence in popularity? Just hear Stephen out. Also, if you’ve mastered these, we’ll share a related species that might tempt you. Check out our sponsor! Use code PLANTDADDYSUMMER for 25% off at southsideplants.com
Published 10/06/21
After some Stephen-centric plant updates, the Plant Daddies cover a surprisingly rewarding houseplant that you may be able to propagate after you make that fruit salad. The pineapple, Ananas comosus, is in bloom for Matthew, who details his care experiences--good and bad--and the long road ahead to that sweet snack. Is this the best tropical fruit to grow at home? Does Stephen know what one looks like? Use code PLANTDADDYSUMMER for 25% off at southsideplants.com
Published 09/29/21
Not long ago, the Plant Daddies discussed how many houseplants is too many, and if memory serves, they felt like they had enough... so what happened last weekend? A plant sale to benefit a couple of their favorite local plant organizations! They each pick a new plant to share, discuss their geeky research so far, and use each other as additional resources - but who's growing the caudiciform Gesneriad, and who picked up an uncommon flowering shrub? Then, it's time for a listener question about...
Published 09/22/21
This week the Plant Daddies cover Scindapsus pictus and treubii, ubiquitous trailing tropicals with variety and hardiness that may surprise you. Are these truly alternatives for the classic Golden Pothos? And why are these considered "a Pothos" …and why is a Pothos called a Pothos anyway? Matthew's mic breaks, so it sounds like he's calling from an airplane. And it's been a while since Stephen hasn't grown a plant we're discussing, so he leans in.
Published 09/15/21
Can't stop buying plants? Or have you ever felt so overwhelmed you've considered leaving the hobby altogether? The month's Chill and Chat is near and dear to our hearts, and we have a feeling it may speak to some of you as well. Do you have too many plants? Do we?! How does it feel, and how should we think about this? While there's no one-size-fits-all answer, the Plant Daddies offer some stories that may tell you the signs and suggest some next steps toward feeling better.
Published 09/07/21
This week we cover what may be one of the original strange houseplants, Bowiea, which has been described as "possessing little beauty" while also being "certainly one of the most curious plants." So guess which one of us is more excited? Kidding - we're both here for this one! We clear up the vague care guidance found online, detail our growing experiences, and even talk styling choices. How flaky does Stephen like it? And since this is a bit of a oddity, Matthew goes wild sharing botanical...
Published 08/24/21
This week we talk Ficus elastica. If there's so much to love about the hardy, beautiful, low-light-tolerant Indian Rubber Fig, then why is this one just in the friend zone for the Plant Daddies? We also cover ideal care and our recommendations for pruning and shaping your plant as it grows. Then we give you multiple pronunciations of "Banyan!" And why does Stephen sound like he's calling in from a quiet library?
Published 08/17/21
This Chill and Chat is about houseplants that don't simply grow larger - they undergo dramatic metamorphoses. Monstera deliciosa is a familiar example, Nepenthes do this when they're thriving, and the Blue Star Fern even has some surprises up its rhizome. How long until splits and fenestration develop in Monsteras? Stephen presses Matthew for answers, but has he ever experienced upper Nepenthes pitchers on his own plants? Then the Plant Daddies answer a listener question about propagating cacti.
Published 08/10/21
In the first Plant Profile of Season 3, the Plant Daddies cover String of Turtles. Should you treat this like String of Hearts or String of Pearls? Is this their favorite of the "strings of things"? And how can you promote lush vining? In a Plant Daddy Podcast first, Stephen asks for a picture of Matthew's plant to judge! And please act surprised when Stephen reveals he's growing a hard-to-find alternative.
Published 08/03/21
We're back and excited! To kick off Season 3, we're returning to Hoyas, and diving deeper into these plants both of us are so enthused about. With so many varieties new to cultivation, how are we researching their care? What unusual and unexpected ones have caught out attention? What about mounting them? Where is this craze going?? And did you know that they are people who don’t like Hoyas?! (No, it isn't Stephen this time!) Use code PLANTDADDYSUMMER for 25% at southsideplants.com
Published 07/27/21
Hey! We missed you! We're not back from break quite yet, but we thought we'd share this fun, brief chat (mostly about Hoyas) with Jane Perrone of On the Ledge Podcast that took place a few months ago as we set up to our record about Thalassa Cruso for Episode 95.
Published 07/20/21
The Plant Daddies brave a historic Pacific Northwest heatwave to bring you our final episode of Season 2! In this Chill and Chat, we give some plant updates (mostly about Hoyas, who are we kidding?), share our heatwave plant care strategies, and talk about an interesting recent study suggesting Staghorn Ferns may be eusocial. Stephen can't resist mentioning Ant Plants, and Matthew is already planning a fern colony in his stairwell. We'll see everyone in a few weeks!
Published 06/29/21
We made it! And you made it! For our 100th episode, the Plant Daddies serve a variety show of sorts - with listener questions, our most (and least) improved plant skills since beginning the show, and even we have learned from each other. How do you make that grocery store Phalaenopsis orchid bloom again? How should you move with plants? How have our collections changed in the last two years? Does Stephen still think his plants are the coolest? Does Matthew like Hoyas yet? (eye rolls)
Published 06/22/21
Looking for a consistently-flowering houseplant for that warm, sunny spot where more delicate plants may not thrive? Euphorbia milii is one Matthew has kept for years and Stephen feels may be having a moment. Is care the same as other succulent Euphorbias? How much should you worry about the sap toxicity and thorns? This might be another plant the Plant Daddies agree on.
Published 06/08/21
It’s Chill and Chat time again, and the Plant Daddies cover a grab bag of planty topics on their minds. Is Matthew changing his mind about terra cotta pots? Stephen finds a chart for profitable propagation... supposedly. And is this the first time we talk about growing things from seed?
Published 06/01/21
We don't mean to be cocky, but this may be our most titillating episode yet. See what we did there? Thank you. We tackle not one but two of the most popular novelty cacti, the so-called 'Boob Cactus' and the 'Penis Cactus.' Something… for almost everybody? Anyway, how easy are these to care for? And why do they look this way in the first place? Can the Plant Daddies resist the cheap jokes? And if we could only choose one, which would we recommend?
Published 05/27/21