Plantrama - Plants, Landscapes, & Bringing Nature Indoors

If you think that pesto has to be made of basil, think again! Ellen and C.L. talk about spring pestos, how quickly plants start to photosynthesize, and discuss the pros and cons of various types of mulch. We end with a question about the best fennel to grow if you want the seeds. :34   What’s for dinner: Spring Pestos! Make pesto before the basil has even germinated.  4:58   Insider Information: How quickly does photosynthesis start? 8:48  Eat/Drink/Grow: Much about Mulch   24:15    Love Letters and Questions: Cassy asks about growing fennel for seeds, not greens or bulbs.

In this episode we define some terms that plant geeks toss around, and give you a recipe for figuring out what’s wrong with your houseplants. If you’ve ever wondered why fertilizer is called “plant food” or how lichen can grow on a rock or your roof, this is your podcast! :28   Plant Noob:  Semi-Evergreen? Sub-shrub? 3:39  Eat/Drink/Grow:  Diagnosing problems on houseplants. 17:45 Focus on Fertilizer:  Why fertilizer shouldn’t be thought of as plant food. 19:24 Love Letters and Questions  Nina asked “How the heck does lichen grow/stay alive on stones and dead branches?”   

C.L. and Ellen rave about green flowers, explain the difference between aggressive and invasive plants, and discuss the common belief that sunflowers poison other plants. Plus we answer Meredith’s question about why cut flowers don’t grow roots.  :40 True or False: Sunflowers poison other plants    5:19  Eat/Drink/Grow: Green Flowers! 14:51 The Plant Noob: The difference between aggressive and invasive plants. 19:31  Love Letters and Questions:  Meredith  asks “What makes some plants easy to propagate, and others not-so-easy?”

Did you know that a spring tonic doesn’t have to be a drink? Hear Ellen and C.L. talk about tonics, what to do if you’ve started your seeds too early, the definition of direct sowing and vegetables for hot climates. :30 What’s For Dinner:  What’s your spring tonic? 4:57 Eat/Drink/Grow:    Starting seeds too early.  15:31 Insider Information:  What does it mean to direct sow? 19:50 Love Letters and Questions: Erik writes about growing vegetables in Texas.

In this episode you’ll hear about ways to prepare the chard, kale or other greens you froze last summer. Learn why water beads up on some leaves, all about Cannas, and if hydrogen peroxide is a good thing to use on plant problems. :30  What’s for dinner: Greens from the freezer 4:22 Insider Information: What are “Hydrophobic leaves?” 8:55 Eat/Drink/Grow:  Cannas        17:42 Love Letters and Questions:  Samantha asked about using hydrogen peroxide in the garden

Ellen and C.L. explain what a “standard form” plant is and why you might want to plant the perennial yarrow in your landscape. Hear a rave review of Jessica Walliser’s new book about science-based companion planting, and learn about vole trails. :30  Plant Noob: What’s a “standard?”  4:13 Eat/Drink/Grow:  Achillea, aka yarrow 14:16 Product Review:  Plant Partners book review 19:45 Love Letters and Questions:  Tedi wonders about the trails she sees in her garden after a snow melt.

If you’re wondering about sterilizing soil for seed starting, growing peppers in your vegetable garden, or the best water for your houseplants, this episode is for you.  :30  True or False:  You should bake garden soil in the oven, then use it to start your seeds indoors. 5:35  Eat/Drink/Grow: Growing Peppers 19:53   Love Letters and Questions:  Kari wrote to ask about chlorine in water for houseplants.

:30    What’s For Dinner: Fennel 7:04    Eat/Drink/Grow: Epiphytes – what they are, some common houseplants that are epiphytic, and what this means for how we care for those plants. 15:03   Insider Information: What are pelleted seeds? 19:44  Love Letters and Questions:    Melissa writes about paperwhite narcissus. Ellen and C.L talk about growing fennel, what an epiphytic plant is, and why you may want to try some pellitized seeds. We answer Melissa’s question about why some paperwhite narcissus are more fragrant than others. Link to Brent and Becky’s Bulbs:   https://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/Narcissus/Ziva/Narcissus 

In this episode of Plantrama we talk about essential herbs to grow or forage for, pinching plants to make them bushy, African violets and a Zoom houseplant event in February. :28  What’s for dinner: Essential herbs to grow or forage for. 7:40     Insider Information: “Pinching” tips off of plants to make them bushier.   12:33   Eat/Drink/Grow:  African violets – Saintpaulia 21:02   Connections:  Zoom with us the Plantrama Team!

Ellen and C.L. discuss plants that male or female, how some plants are used to remove harmful substances from the soil, and why it might be good to test old seed instead of automatically tossing it out. :27   Plant Noob: Dioecious plants 8:33      Eat/Drink/Grow: Phytoremediation 16:48    Love Letters and Questions:  Karen wrote to ask about the seeds she has left from past years.

The Plantrama team discusses the clearly fake rainbow tomatoes, growing the wonderfully real jade plants indoors, and Ellen’s new craft cocktail class.  :30 True or False: Rainbow Tomato Seeds 3:17 Eat/Drink/Grow: Jade plants: Crassula  13:29 Insider Information:  Ellen’s online craft cocktail course 17:30 Love Letters and Questions: Anthony writes asking why lichen seems to shrink and grow.

Hear ideas for making quiche or frittatas, learn about earthworm castings and why it’s good for plants, and discover a cactus that grows in most of North America. :36   What’s For Dinner: Quiche or Frittata 5:55    Eat/Drink/Grow:  Earthworm Castings. 15:52   Insider Information: Opuntia humifusa, prickly pear cactus 21:56   Love Letters and Questions:    Anne writes about blue flowers.

In this New Year’s Eve podcast, Ellen and C.L. raise a glass to toast a better year ahead. Hear about small in-home greenhouse/terrariums, learn about “pencil cactus,” and listen to our answer for Quinn, who wants to fertilize his Ohio lawn in the winter. :30  What’s For Dinner: Celebratory Cocktails    6:04 Eat/Drink/Grow: Tiny Home Greenhouses 12:57 Plant Noob:   Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks on Fire' 21:00 Love Letters and Questions:  Quinn wrote to ask about whether it’s too late to fertilize his lawn in Ohio.

Hear about an easy and elegant houseplant as Ellen and C.L. talk about Hoyas. Learn about determining your garden style, and discover how plants without leaves might still be photosynthizing. :30     Insider Information:     All about hoyas 8:34     Eat/Drink/Grow:   Knowing or learning what your garden style is.  20:24   Love letter and Questions:  Did you know that green stems are capable of photosynthesis?

Looking for an amazing houseplant that flowers all year? Worried that the seeds you buy might be GMO’s? Could you use a good book to read this winter? All of these topics and using shredding paper in the garden, in this episode. 29 Plant Noob: Are some seeds available to home gardeners GMO?    4:21 Eat/Drink/Grow:  Amazing Anthuriums 14:15 Product Review: Good winter reads – fiction that features plants. 22:16 Love Letters and Questions    Karl wrote asking if the stuff from his paper shredder would make good mulch.

Ellen and C.L. explain that yes, it is possible to have too much compost in the soil. We discuss the lovely Helleborus niger, aka the Christmas rose, and answer a question about spider plants. :28   True or False: Healthy soil has a high percentage of organic matter in it. 4:55  Eat/Drink/Grow:  The Christmas Rose – Helleborus niger 13:49 Love Letters and Questions:  Ken wrote asking about spider plants, aka ribbon plant, aka airplane plant.

Hear about some savory/sweet cookies, learn about ferns that make attractive houseplants, discover the meeting of the term “entire margins,” and find out if you should clear out your vegetable garden…all in this week’s episode of Plantrama. :32  What’s For Dinner: Cookies! 5:31  Eat/Drink/Grow: Ferns as houseplants. 17:40  Insider Information: What does “entire leaf margins” mean? 18:46  Love Letters and Questions:   Deb asks if she has to clear the dead vegetables out of her vegetable garden now.  

Discover spice rubs, a hot “Curio” houseplant, and hear what to do with the bulbs and other plants you haven’t yet placed into the ground. :30  What’s for dinner: Spice Rubs for Meat and Tofu 5:18  Insider Information:  A suddenly “hot houseplant” - Curio rowleyanus, syn. Senecio rowleyanus 9:34    Eat/Drink/Grow:   When you forgot to put bulbs or other plants into the ground.   17:24  Love Letters and Questions:  Did you start a “Covid Garden?”  How was your experience? We want to hear your stories. How did planting make you feel? What was the most problematic thing, and what was the most joyful aspect of the process? Email us! The Link for Ellen’s Wild Spice Cabinet online course: https://backyard-forager.thinkific.com/courses/The-Wild-Spice-Cabinet

In this episode we consider how drought and snow effect plants, creating a plant-filled Zoom Room, and spring bulbs that come up before spring.  :30  Plant Noob:  Is snow hard on plants?  7:05  Eat/Drink/Grow:  Drought!  The long-term consequences of dry periods. 14:23  A Plant-Filled Zoom Room: How to create a lush environment for your virtual work. 20:30   Love Letters and Questions   Cara writes:  “Some of my bulbs are coming up!  I think they believe it’s spring…

Hear Ellen and C.L. discuss fertilizers for houseplants, the amazing avocado, and cranberries, wild and cultivated. :30 True or False:  You have to use special fertilizer for each type of indoor plant. 5:23 Eat/Drink/Grow:  Avocados are AMAZING! 14:40 Love Letters and Questions:  Do cranberries grow under water?