The first time I heard about wet stick propagation, I had no idea it even existed! That's why when I got an offer from a listener, Joey (@joey_de_la_plants), for a variegated Monstera 'Albo' wetstick (and I knew I wanted that plant but I had no idea what “wetstick” meant), I went down a research rabbit hole to know more about the process of rooting it. For the last 5 months, my node has not only rooted, but started growing!. So when I connected with Payton from Bloom Daddy Plants—who actively uses this method all the time to run his shop—I knew we had a super fun episode on our hands. And boy, did we go overboard with the cross-platform collaboration surrounding this episode! Tune in to learn all about node propagation, and join the Philodendron "Pink Princess" Wetstick Giveaway on Instagramfor the chance to win your own Philodendron 'Pink Princess' wet stick to try this method yourself!!Join the Bloom and Grow Garden PartyJoin us in the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet: our private community platform and app with dedicated conversation topics, quarterly meet ups, regional groups and the ability to find plant friends near you and so much more!Join the Garden Party and become a Plant Friend!Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!In this episode we learn:[03:35] What to expect in this cross-platform episode (and where to find them!)[04:51] How to get your own Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’ wet stick![07:17] Who is Payton, how his journey as a plant parent began, and how Bloom Daddy came to be[10:05] Should we refer to plants as ‘rare’?[13:00] Breaking the myth surrounding node propagation[14:15] What is a ‘wet stick’? Its many other names and how to identify a node[18:00] Why node propagation is used in nurseries[19:33] 4 things you need for node propagation[20:53] The ideal humidity level for your nodes (and cheaper alternatives for humidity chambers!)[24:37] Where to cut a node from and how to do it[25:50] Where to get the best garlic varieties for your year-round garden[27:14] How to protect your greens and veggies from wildlife[29:08] At what angle should you cut a node?[29:54] When do you put the node in a prop box?[30:43] Why you should let your node callus over[31:02] How to activate your node (and make it happy!)[32:48] Differentiating levels of moisture, and what the best moisture level is for your node[35:23] How much space should you leave between your node and your prop box?[37:17] The ideal light situation for your node prop box[40:06] Transitioning your node after it establishes roots[45:00] Maria shares where her curiosity took her recent peperomia propagation[47:00] How to join the Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’ wet stick giveawayMentioned in our conversation:Payton’s YouTube video on different Sphagnum moss moisture levelsPhilodendron 'Pink Princess' Wetstick Giveaway happening on the @bloomandgrowradio IG accountThank you to our episode sponsors:Territorial Seed CompanyTerritorial Seed Co provides high-quality seeds and plants (over 2000 varieties) that are tried and tested on their 75-acre farm and have a ton of fall varieties for us to try! Most of us think of the gardening season as spring and summer, but with the right timing and varieties for your location, you can grow year-round! Territorial Seed Company carries lots of varieties to start in summer and harvest in late fall, winter, and even over winter. For seeds, plants, online garden planner, how-to videos and more, visit TerritorialSeed.com and use code BLOOM10 for 10% off on your first order.DeerBustersIf you’ve got wildlife looking at your veggie garden, DeerBusters is here to help! DeerBusters strives to protect the gardens of companies and individuals through high-quality, easy-to-install, wildlife fencing kits that come in several different materials and sizes. No fancy hardware needed. Visit deerbuster.com today to protect your plants tomorrow and use code BLOOM at checkout for 10% off.Follow Payton:InstagramWebsiteEtsyFollow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!Take the Bloom and Grow 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 and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadioTiktok: @bloomandgrowradioSubscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /BloomandgrowradioWebsite: www.bloomandgrowradio.comJoin the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club