Episode 136: Welwitschia and the "Weird Houseplant" Experience

*tap tap* ...Is this thing still on? Our hiatus has lasted slightly longer than we expected, but Maria from Growing Joy is on the very short list of people who can coax us out of podcast retirement. We hope you enjoy this conversation about caudex plants– a flavor we both love!From Growing Joy Podcast:"Are you ready to add some unique, eye-catching beauty to your plant collection? Meet the caudex plant—also known as the foot, Stephania erecta, or even the Potato Plant. While these plants may be stunning, they can be a handful to take care of without proper knowledge. Join us as we explore the world of caudex plants with expert guests Stephen and Matthew from the Plant Daddy Podcast. From the well-known Stephania erecta to other varieties that are more accessible and easy to care for, we'll share everything you need to know to be successful with caudex plants."Growing Joy with Maria Podcast - Empowering Plant Parents Worldwide

Our Season 3 finale is here, and we’re wrapping up with a Q&A show covering succulent substrates, flowering plants for beginners, opinions on “rare” and “status plants,” favorite moments from this season, and more! Remember Lightning Rounds? To Stephen’s delight, Matthew throws one in. Have we forgiven our Mandarin Plants yet? And have we forgiven ourselves for the Paperwhite episode? Let’s just say we’re ready for a vacation!Then on the After Show, we chat more about our summer plans – both planty and otherwise. To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcastHave a good summer, see you in August!

Now that Summer weather has finally reached us here in Seattle, we sit down to share our plant-oriented reading and listening lists. Then we welcome Maria Failla back on the show to tell us about her new book, Growing Joy: The Plant Lover’s Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants), one we both loved! Remember almanacs? Which Plant Daddy gives Ortho some credit? And how are the Chinquapins doing? Happy Summer, y’all!Don't forget to pick up your copy of Growing Joy!https://bloomandgrowradio.com/bookThen on the After Show, we continue chatting with Maria to ask her a few more questions about the process of writing Growing Joy, and who she would have wanted to record the audio version if it hadn't been her. To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcastShow notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-143-our-planty-summer-reading-lists

It’s truth time. Since we *so bravely* shared our plant goals earlier this year, have we made any progress? Stephen started using windows, and he finally has some results to report. And Matthew is doing a certain thing a lot more consistently. But do we still have those Mandarin Plants? Let’s just say you can tell we’re getting close to the end of our season! Also, what’s 2+3? Asking for a friend.And a special thank you to our new Patrons for the month of June! Head over to Patreon to become an Official Patron to listen ad-free, and get access to our exclusive After Shows!https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcastNeed a plant sitter? We’ve teamed up with Watering Can App! https://www.wateringcanapp.comShow notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-142-so-how-are-those-plant-resolutions-coming

At long last, The Plant Daddies will break their silence… and talk about Air Plants. We've discussed other Bromeliads in the past, so how has it taken this long to cover perhaps the most popular genus?! Perhaps it's because we don't consider ourselves great Air Plant growers, so we brought Tillandsia expert, Emily Allsop from Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle, to help! There’s a lot of varying care advice for these, so what does she recommend? What have our experiences and/or struggles been? And what are some ideas for more experienced growers? Then on the After Show, do we feel more compelled to buy plants that contain the names of family and friends? To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcastAre you in the Seattle area? Come see us live at the Volunteer Park Conservatory June 18th as we host a Pride Plant Parenthood Panel! Tickets at:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pride-plant-parenthood-with-plant-daddy-podcast-tickets-341371761127Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-141-air-plants

If you do everything right, the plant we’re discussing this week will look kind of dead! Did that get your attention? If that sounds appealing to you - and it does to us - then you really should give the Bundle of Sticks Plant, Cynanchum marnierianum, a try. What are our experiences with this surprisingly easy plant? How can you even tell if it's thriving? And why are we not surprised Stephen already owned it? This is one we both love!Then on the After Show, we discuss what we found when we looked for online communities of Plant Parents with a love for "Dead Stick Plants," and what this interest might look like outside of the succulent world. To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcastAre you in the Seattle area? Come see us live at the Volunteer Park Conservatory June 18th as we host a Pride Plant Parenthood Panel! Tickets at:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pride-plant-parenthood-with-plant-daddy-podcast-tickets-341371761127We’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-140-bundle-of-sticks-plant

This month, we revisit a perennial Plant Parent passion – propagation! See what I did there? Thank you. Anyway, are there any new trends lately? What propagation are we doing in our own collections? And what the heck do we plan to do with these new plants? We “get into it” discussing sphagnum, perlite, and other preferred propagation mediums. But both Plant Daddies agree that this part of the hobby is so fun!And a special thank you to our new Patrons for the month of May! Head over to Patreon to become an Official Patron to listen ad-free, and get access to our exclusive After Shows!https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcastWe’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!

If you haven't seen the striking, bright orange growth of the Mandarin Plant, Chlorophytum orchidastrum, then you’re in for a treat. We were so intrigued that we both tried growing them! After 6 months, what have we learned? Which Plant Daddy had a better experience? How are their flowers? And could this be the Spider Plant’s prettier, moodier cousin?Then on the After Show, we discuss the plant pots we never have success with. Are they cursed? To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcastWe’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-138-the-mandarin-plant

Looking for a Hoya you can thoroughly enjoy… even without flowers? This week, the Plant Daddies check in on Hoya polyneura, one they both consider a favorite “foliage Hoya”. How did we cut through the varying care information found online? How did our plants fare in our different conditions? And why does Matthew prefer mermaids to fish? Then on the After Show, what are our next Hoya goals… if we have any left? To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcastWe’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-137-the-fishtail-hoya

We know it’s an unlikely choice for most plant parents, but the strategies and fun involved in cultivating unusual houseplants like Welwitschia mirabilis is an experience we’re excited to share! And even if he has never touched one, Matthew loves the botanical and evolutionary mystery this living fossil presents. What can we do when there’s no clear care info for a plant? Does Stephen even know what he’s doing yet? Say hello to Aunt Ephedra for us.Then on the After Show, what is Stephen’s long term plan here? And what might be protecting wild populations? To listen, head over to Patreon - Official Patrons get to listen ad-free with exclusive access to our After Shows!https://www.patreon.com/plantdaddypodcastWe’ve teamed up with Soltech Solutions! Save 15% on amazing plant lights with code PLANTDADDYPODCAST!Show notes: https://www.plantdaddypodcast.com/podcast-episodes/ep-136-welwitschia