Plantrama - Plants, Landscapes, & Bringing Nature Indoors

You can make a lasagna without pasta! We offer several ideas. Plus we explore seed starting terms such as thinning, damping off and seed leaves, and end with a discussion about the succulent flapjack plant (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora). :30 What’s For Dinner:   Lasagna without the pasta. 5:26   Eat/Drink/Grow: Thinning, damping off, and “seed leaves” – some seed starting basic terms. 18:41  Love Letters and Questions Emma writes about a flapjack plant.

This episode starts with talk about bitters, what they are, why you want them in a cocktail, and how to make your own. We go on to talk about the basics for making a terrarium and end with a question from a listener about using heat mats for starting seeds. :30 What’s for dinner: Bitters.  The link to Ellen's Recipes for bitters. 9:07 Eat/Drink/Grow:   Terrariums 23:57 Love Letters and Questions: Hannah writes, “Do I need to use heat mats?”

We begin this episode with the types of roses that are available for gardens, and which are the easiest to grow. Next we discuss the cottony bug that plagues many houseplants, the mealy bug. And we end with a question from a listener about the sensitive plant, a mimosa with leaves that close when you touch them. :29 Plant Noob: The types of roses. 9:30 Eat/Drink/Grow:  Mealy Bug. 17:12 Love Letters and Questions Byron writes that he’s a parent and wants to find some Sensitive Plant for his kids.

Do you want to know what it takes to successfully grow a Monstera? Ellen and C.L. explain the first three things you need to know about this stylish plant. In the main segment we discuss options for DIY brides…or anyone planning to have a large event in their yard or garden. The episode ends by talking about what type of lights are needed for starting vegetable seedlings. :33 Plantrama 1 – 2 – 3: “I want to grow a Monstera plant.” 4:41 Eat/Drink/Grow:  Grow Your Own Wedding. 17:02 Love Letters and Questions: Gabby writes: “I want to grow my own vegetable plants from seeds this year. What kind of lights do I need?”

         In this episode of Plantrama we talk about vegan Nachos, growing a Clivia plant, why some plants go dormant, and how to keep a frosty fern alive. :31 What’s For Dinner:   Nachos!  C.L.'s Vegan nachos can be seen here. 5:07 Eat/Drink/Grow: Considering Clivia     13:25 Did You Know:    What is a “dormant period” and do plants need one? 18:29 Love Letters and Questions: Meghan writes to ask how to keep her ‘frosty fern’ alive.  

In this episode we talk about using Sumac as a spice, how to keep those huge and how to prevent those heavy Amaryllis flowers from falling over and breaking off. In the main segment we discuss seed catalogs and end with Fred’s question about how he can keep his houseplants alive when he’s away on vacation. Plus a link to The Wild Spice Cabinet, Ellen’s online course. :30 What’s for dinner: Using Sumac as a spice. Check out Ellen's Foraged Spice Class Here. 5:39  Insider Information: Supporting Amaryllis flowers 13:25 Eat/Drink/Grow: The seed catalogs are out! 19:15 Love Letters and Questions: Keeping houseplants alive while you’re on vacation.

We begin this episode with the importance of planting something new “at ground level.” Next Ellen and C.L. discuss what to do if your gardens have grown too large or unmanageable. We give garden design tips and end with Kerry’s request for different holiday plant suggestions. :30    Plant Noob: The importance of digging a large enough hole. 6:21   Eat/Drink/Grow: What to do if your garden beds have “gotten away from you.” 17:27   Garden Design Tips:  Straight lines are formal, groups are less so. Why odd numbers are important. 21:24   Love Letters and Questions Kerry asks for suggestions for holiday plants that aren’t Christmas Cactus, Cyclamen or Poinsettias.

This episode gives you some hints about growing and cooking with rosemary. Ellen and C.L. discuss what makes a plant deserve the label of “invasive” and we talk about Panicum virgatum, aka switch or panic grass. And speaking of panicking…P.J. writes about mold on his Cannabis buds. :30 What’s for dinner: Rosemary 6:27 True or False: A plant that spreads quickly is invasive and should be avoided. 11:51 Eat/Drink/Grow: Panicum virgatum – aka switch grass 16:45 Love Letters and Questions: P.J. writes to say that his cannabis plants molded!

Learn about an easy, vegetable comfort dish and the Norfolk Island Pine houseplant. Discover great holiday gifts and find out what is meant by “genus and species.” There are no stupid questions here, as long as the topic is plants!   :30 What’s For Dinner:   Twice Baked Potatoes 6:42  Eat/Drink/Grow:   Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla native to Norfolk Island, a small island between Australia and New Zealand and not really a pine. 14:34 Insider Information: The Plantrama Gift List 21:28 Love Letters and Questions: Could you please explain the terms species and genus?

Have you wondered why some plants can live underwater but your houseplants die if you give them too much water? Hear why this is, which houseplants Ellen and C.L. recommend, and learn about “Secret Suppers” in this episode of Plantrama. :33 Insider Information: Why some plants can grow under water while others rot and die in too much water.   9:20 Eat/Drink/Grow: Houseplant Debate!   20:12 Did You Know: A Secret Supper  Learn more here. 24:58 Love Letters and Questions:   Paul wants to know if there are palm trees that are cold hardy.

Are you wondering if the plant with yellow leaves will recover and turn green again? Have you ever wondered if we can indeed compare apples to oranges? And what plants are good for a slope in part sun? Ellen and C.L. discuss all of these, and C.L. tells a story about a late-to-migrate hummingbird. :27 Plant Noob: When leaves turn yellow, are they likely to turn back to green again? 5:04 Eat/Drink/Grow: Comparing Apples to Oranges 8:18 Story: A late to migrate hummingbird. 16:34 Love Letters and Questions Sue wrote asking for recommendations for plants to hold soil on a slope that gets morning sun.

Do you like that nice, crisp line that edging a lawn provides in your landscape? Are you hungry for a delicious stuffing to prepare this Thanksgiving? Ellen and C.L. have thoughts and suggestions. They are also anxious to introduce you to the new kids on the block…not the band, but some great new varieties of a native shrub. All of that plus a discussion about the importance of the size of pots for indoor or outdoor containers.   :28 What’s for dinner: Wild mushroom and chestnut stuffing…foraged or store bought 3:50 True or False: Garden beds need to be “edged” every year. 11:02 Eat/Drink/Grow:  New Kid On The Block: Diervilla shrubs! 17:30 Love Letters and Questions:   Barbara wrote saying, “My question is about pots for container plantings.

Should you really plant pansies in the fall? Why didn’t my plant bloom well this year when last year it was beautiful? Are you tired of kale yet? These are some of the deep questions that Ellen Zachos and C.L. Fornari consider in this episode of Plantrama. Oh….and evergreen plants for stylish winter containers.   :28  What’s For Dinner:   Tuscan Kale! 6:09  Eat/Drink/Grow:  Planting Pansies in the Fall. 13:21  Insider Information: Why some plants bloom heavily one year and not the next. 16:33  Love Letters and Questions Gail writes, wondering if she can plant small evergreens in her window boxes for the winter.

In this autumnal episode Ellen Zachos and C.L. Fornari talk about the pros and cons of straw bale gardens…fantastic or a fad? We talk about burdock (one person’s weed is another’s dinner) and keeping that potted bay tree over the winter indoors. :28 Plant Noob: What is burdock? 3:33 Eat/Drink/Grow: straw bale gardens 12:42 Did You Know: Overwintering bay trees 22:54 Love Letters and Questions The myth of sweet acorns

C.L. and Ellen explain how you can make your ornamental grasses look amusing and fun for the fall into the winter holidays. We discuss the benefits and drawbacks to not raking the leaves out of your gardens, and talk about wild grape vines. The episode ends with Sara’s question about her houseplants that got frosted. :30     Just For Fun: Making ornamental grasses look festive. 3:33     Insider Information: Should you be leaving the leaves? 11:28   Eat/Drink/Grow: Grapes growing wild! 21:50   Love Letters and Questions Sara writes about her plants that got frosted.

Have you wondered what people mean when they talk about a plant’s dripline, or if you can still put plants in the ground in October? Do you want to know if you can leave your outdoor furniture in the elements over the winter, or if it’s possible to have one of those Pinterest-posted green walls indoors? If so, this episode is for you! :30  Plant Noob:   What’s a “dripline?” 3:03   Eat/Drink/Grow: Is it too late to plant or transplant? 16:43   Your Outdoor Office: Bring the chairs and tables inside or leave them out? 20:02   Love Letters and Questions: Tina asks how to make a green wall indoors

In this episode Ellen and C.L. talk about a great way to prepare fresh sage leaves for a garnish, whether hanging herbs and other plants upside down to dry is important, the basics of compost, and how long carrots can be left to grow in the ground. :27  What’s for dinner: Fried Sage Leaves 4:22 True or False: You have to hang plants you’re drying upside down 8:37  Eat/Drink/Grow: Compost 101 25:45 Love Letters and Questions:   Carol asks how long she can leave carrots in the ground.  

Here's a taste of what the Plantrama Podcast is all about.

We start off this podcast with a toast to fall as Ellen presents an autumnal cocktail…a frozen persimmon margarita! We discuss protecting plants for the winter (should you?) and growing figs in cold climates. The glorious, fall-flowering goldenrod is a plant we celebrate, and we’re happy to announce the arrival of Plantrama shirts and other merch. :31 autumnal cocktails 4:35 winter protection 13:10 figs 23:04 goldenrod 27:34 Plant 911/merch

Do you need to repot an orchid? Want to grow a cup-a-Joe in your living room? Maybe you’re interested in saving seeds from plants you’ve grown in your garden, or you need a handy tool for deadheading and cutting flower bouquets. If any of this is of interest, have we got a podcast for you! :28  Plant Noob: How to repot an Orchid 10:42  Eat/Drink/Grow: Coffee plants 18:27  Product Review: Product review…garden snips by Corona and Dramm 22:17 Love Letters and Questions: Randi asks about saving seeds.