How to Maintain a Large Plant Collection

Growing Joy with Plants is the top Home & Garden podcast on Apple Podcasts about houseplants, gardening, and nature-inspired wellness. Plant killer turned Happy Plant Lady (me) Maria Failla, interviews experts on how to successfully care for plants and cultivate joy and calm through doing so.?

Each week this newsletter will share nature-inspired insights, tips, and actionable steps drawn from the conversations.?

Still a plant killer? No worries! We’ve all been there - all plant killers, plant enthusiasts, and plant impartial are welcome. All you need to start is your curiosity. I’ve got your back for the rest.?

Here’s why a large plant collection helps you grow joy, cultivate calm, weed anxiety…

I've followed Samantha on Instagram (@houseplusplant) for a while now, drooling over her stunning plant rooms and all the rare plant varieties she's successfully grown. With over 600K followers, she's basically a celebrity.

When I finally got to meet her (digitally) and go deep into how she manages her 250+ plants, I knew I had to share all her gems of wisdom with you guys in this episode. She's been nurturing houseplants for over a decade and growing her collection seriously after moving into a new house with an amazing sunroom. She’s the real deal.

Don't Be A Helicopter Plant Parent

One day a week is too much work to water all of your plants, so water a few of them every day when you see fit. Samantha walks around every morning with her coffee, checking on her plants and watering anything that needs it.

Relaxing like this prevents you from getting overwhelmed. You will feel better and your plants will thank you.

It is easy to create an aesthetically pleasing, uncluttered look by grouping similar plants together, arranging them at different heights, and keeping neutral-colored planters.

Organize using stands and shelves to create tiers, grouping similar species together for a cohesive look. Let your pretty plants be the stars.

Smart Gadgets Are The Future

Don't make things harder than they need to be. You can use innovative plant gadgets to make life easier (they’re created for that specific reason). Automated grow lights turn on and off perfectly without you thinking about it.

Self-watering pots and fancy watering stakes keep soil moist. And plant apps will even remind you when it's time to water. Allow that clever technology to do the laborious work for you.

Know When To Let Go

You should not force yourself to keep plants that you have lost interest in. It's totally OK to rehome or give away ones you're just not enjoying anymore.

Don't think of it as throwing them away—you're just setting them free to be loved by someone new. And you can always get another one later if you miss them!

Anyone can have a fantastic indoor greenhouse without going insane if they adopt Samantha’s mindset and use some clever techniques.

How many plants do you own so far?

Interested in greening up your workspace to enjoy the benefits of increased productivity and creativity while reducing stress in your workday? Grab my free download here.