Houseplant Trends, Tips & Hot Takes: Live from the Southeast Plant Show

Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care

Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness

Education, Wellness, Gardening, Leisure, Eco Therapy, Nature Therapy, Self Care, Health & Fitness, Houseplants, How To, Home & Garden, Mental Health, Plants

4.8 • 912 Ratings

🗓️ 22 July 2025

⏱️ 78 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This year, I had the joy of hosting a live Growing Joy popup at the Southeast Plant Show. I’ve been fortunate to attend a few plant events lately, but this one felt special in a way that’s hard to describe. The energy was electric! The people were overflowing with joy, and the plants were everything.If you love to connect with plant people, discover trending varieties, and just soak up good vibes, the Southeast Plant Show is a must. It’s a plant parent’s dream, with over 120 vendors representing everything from tropical houseplants to handmade pots (even snakes). Here’s a compilation of my conversations with different plant vendors, influencers, and company owners! They share trending houseplants, expert tips, and juicy hot takes about your favorite plants.In this episode, we learn:[03:16] Erica Parker, founder & creator of Southeast Plant Show! Southeast Plant Show | @southeastplantshow[05:49] Wade Richards - Plants by Wade Lee | @plantsbywadelee[09:18] Jeannie Tejeda - @urbnflockr | Urbnflockr | TikTok[13:17] Ben - Trapped Nursery | @trappednursery[16:43] Ara - Propagation Diaries | @propagationdiaries[20:03] Adam Golan - @pourednh | @pouredllc | YouTube[23:49] Jenni - @gazinggreen[26:35] Jocelyn Ho - Rare Plant Fairy | @rareplantfairy[29:41] Leslie Patton - @_lottap | Not Your Average Sansevieria[32:42] Carlos Nieto - @carlosalocasias_leafandreef | Leaf and Reef Facebook[35:35] Colah B Tawkin - @blackinthegarden | Black in the Garden - Podcast[39:36] Cass Marion - @plantaddicted_cass[43:20] Davida Freeman (CPMG Studio Press) - @condoplantmama[45:38] Lakeisha Jones - @pinkpothosatl | @pinkpothosatl | TikTok[48:27] Jess Gaston - @live.glow.grow | liveglowgrow | TikTok[52:00] Joshua Hite - Plant Zaddy | @infinite_hite[53:54] Lauren (Lauren's Fairy Garden) - @stufflaurendoes_ | @stufflaurendoes_ | TikTok[58:33] Carley Crutchfield - @theproblemplant | @theproblemplant | TikTok[59:49] Derek Haynes - @thechocolatebotanist | The Chocolate Botanist[01:02:37] Angelina - Palmstreet | @palmstreetappMentioned in our conversation:Growing Joy 147: How to Care For Carnivorous Plants IndoorsSpecial Thanks to:Ara (@propagationdiaries) and Scott (@top_cut_plants) for coordination of the podcastJosh (@plantzaddyclub) and Marcus (@plantdecoatl) for the production and design of the podcast lounge)For your favorite influencers' hottest plant takes,check out the full show notes and blog here!Thank you to our episode sponsor:Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.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 LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Transcript

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0:00.0	You know, what is your controversial plant opinion?
0:01.7	If it takes distil water, it's not worth it.
0:04.3	Yeah.
0:04.8	I'm just not doing it. I'm sorry. Not every single plant needs an airy, chunky mix. I think Hoyas are so boring. They're just, to me, they're the most boring. I just, they don't do anything. That's amazing. They don't do it for you. Hoyas are overrated. Man, poins are really yes or no here.
0:03.7	I don't like Calatheias, but I feel about that's not very controversial. I think I'll take it as a controversial plant opinion because it's about not liking something that I also share that controversial plant opinion. If the plant's not giving you joy anymore, it's okay to get rid of it. Sometimes you can have too many
0:38.7	plants. I don't think missing is necessary for humidity reason. Soil free is superior to soil.
0:45.0	Whoa. Okay. Welcome to the Growing Joy with Plants podcast, where we not only learn how to care for plants
0:58.9	successfully, but how to simply and affordably use our plant babies to cultivate more joy
1:03.8	in our lives by doing so. I'm Maria, former plant killer turned happy plant lady, author
1:09.3	of Growing Joy, The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness, Speaker, Podcaster, and most importantly, your new best plant friend.
1:15.8	On Growing Joy with Plants, you'll find conversations about house plant care, gardening tutorials, and wellness through the lens of plants.
1:23.3	Plant care is self-care on Growing Joy.
1:32.3	Plant friends, welcome to the Growing Joy podcast, this time live at the Southeast Plant Show.
1:38.1	I am so excited to be here at a live Growing Joy pop-up on the floor at the Southeast Plant Show. I'm having so much fun.
1:46.8	I have to say, I've been very fortunate that I've gone to multiple plant shows this year.
1:50.8	The plant shows are where it's at. If you want to find out what's trending. If you want to find
1:55.5	out what is the plant of the moment. And most importantly, if you want to connect with plant people,
2:00.2	if you want to connect with other people, if you want to connect
2:01.1	with other like-minded plant friends who love plants, want to show you what they're purchasing,
2:06.0	want to nerd out with you, find a local plant show and go to it. I have had the most incredible
2:11.3	interactions with wonderful plant people, plant influencers, and the vendors, the plant entrepreneurs
2:16.9	that are selling plants at
	...

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