Plant Daddy Podcast
170 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 425 ratingsYour digital plant friends, here to help you take your indoor jungle/desert/bog to the next level since 2019!
Plant Daddy Podcast is hosted by Stephen and Matthew, two passionate hobbyists who love sharing plant care experiences and stories that speak to plant parents of all experience levels. Whether you are just starting your houseplant journey or already managing an indoor jungle, we are here to share growing techniques and methods, new and unusual plants, or the background and history of familiar ones. Each host brings different perspectives and tastes in plants, but both have enjoyed the great privilege of learning their own local and online plant communities, and they seek to pay this forward to anyone interested in taking their hobby to the next level. Or just enjoy some geeky banter. Plants are enriching and fun, endlessly rewarding, and Plant Daddy Podcast is excited to be your digital plant friends!
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Episodes
Episode 56: Season 1 Finale, with Missleidy the Plant Lady!
July 01, 2020 04:33 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MBIt’s the Season 1 finale, y’all! The Plant Daddies bring Missleidy the Plant Lady on to talk about drag, her background in plants, and recommendations for living the urban jungle life. But first, they reminisce about their first year of podcasting, things they've learned, and the plants they’re surprised to be into right now - Stephen literally has leafy tropicals, and Matthew is baking succulents under grow lights. Thanks for listening, we’ll be back in a couple weeks! As always, happy growing!
Episode 55: Meyer Lemon Plant Profile
June 23, 2020 04:50 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBGrowing Citrus indoors sounds cute, but how soon will you be making lemonade? Stephen is tempted to try growing Meyer Lemon after babysitting Matthew’s balcony Citrus orchard a couple years ago, so picks his brain before making a final decision. And why won’t Matthew admit that the Meyer Lemon is actually a lemon? We tried to leave Martha Stewart out of this, but we couldn't.
Episode 55: Meyer Lemon
June 23, 2020 04:50 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBGrowing Citrus indoors sounds cute, but how soon will you be making lemonade? Stephen is tempted to try growing Meyer Lemon after babysitting Matthew’s balcony Citrus orchard a couple years ago, so picks his brain before making a final decision. And why won’t Matthew admit that the Meyer Lemon is actually a lemon? We tried to leave Martha Stewart out of this, but we couldn't.
Episode 54: Alocasia and Colocasia
June 16, 2020 03:32 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBOne person's dramatic tropical plant is another person's bucket of green shovels! Yeah, don't ask. You’ve seen Elephant Ear tubers for sale with the spring bulbs, and Alocasia x amazonica with the indoor tropicals, but have you ever tried growing these stately Aroids? Not all Taro makes a good plant indoors, and how do you get your Jewel Alocasia to have more than one leaf at a time? Matthew has a potting strategy for that!
Episode 53: Cape Sundew, Drosera capensis Plant Profile
June 09, 2020 03:56 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBLooking for a striking, easy carnivorous plant? How about a beautiful companion to your tropicals that will pitch in and help catch those gnats? Stephen can't stop saying good things about this one. Grimly, Matthew tries to "improve his drosera outcomes." Let's support him, yes?
Episode 52: Philodendron gloriosum Plant Profile
June 02, 2020 03:27 - 32 minutes - 30 MBWant to get those high-end Aroid feelings without all the work? We have an Aroid for you. Philodendron gloriosum has everything: Heart shaped leaves. Velvety green foliage. White veins. Rapid growth. Undemanding care requirements. Is this the BEST exotic Philodendron for home-growing? Matthew reveals that he showers with this plant. Should we call someone about that?
Episode 51: Blue Flowers: a Pantone-inspired Off Topic
May 25, 2020 23:33 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBEver wonder why there are so few blue flowers? Don't even get Matthew started! (Oops - too late) His first wishlist plant was a blue rose when he was a toddler. A few decades later, and with Classic Blue as the Pantone Color of the Year, are we any closer? Have your science textbooks handy as we delve into ways genetic modification is changing the cut flower industry, a garden favorite that changes color already, and discuss why we even want blue flowers in the first place.
Episode 50: Plant Daddy Q&A, a 50th Episode Celebration!
May 25, 2020 23:33 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBGuess who's reached the big 5-0…. episodes?! Join us as we answer listener questions about pests, soil, lighting, and plant parenthood (sometimes with listener replies), and ultimately hijack the episode to talk through our own plant hoarding - nay, "plant collecting" - anxieties. At length.
Episode 49: Aroid Potting Medium: Substrate Sessions
May 13, 2020 03:32 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBReady to elevate your indoor Aroid game? Matthew sure is, and wants everyone onboard! Is Stephen ready, though? Well, at a certain point he includes "praying" in his Aroid tips, so you be the judge. Gather around for our second Substrate Session, and don’t forget to bring your [every soil ingredient ever]!
Episode 48: Monstera adansonii Plant Profile
May 05, 2020 04:15 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBDo you like Aroids? Enough to listen through an episode that sounds like Stephen's calling from inside a whale? You’re in luck! Monstera adansonii is a practically perfect houseplant, as easy as Pothos. Stephen also surprises Matthew with how interchangeable it is with candles, and then tries to get his name on the waitlist for cuttings of the mature adansonii Matthew plans to have in half a decade. Tune in to hear about this ornamental plant, and troubleshoot the very few issues you could en...
Episode 47: Euphorbia obesa Plant Profile
April 28, 2020 03:35 - 28 minutes - 26 MBThe Plant Daddies are in complete agreement once again! Euphorbia obesa is a rare and endangered South African succulent, with the appearance of a stone sphere. Want to hear how Stephen snatched the last one away from Matthew at a sale? And then hear us torture some weird cheating husband analogy while imposing a sexual orientation on their poor, innocent plants? Um… then this is the episode for you? The quarantine struggle is real!
Episode 46: Psychoactive Plants: a 4/20 Off Topic Holiday Episode
April 21, 2020 02:14 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBIt’s 4/20 today, so what better way to celebrate than a (pretty much) off-topic episode about two psychoactive plants most relevant in our lives? Since we’re a Seattle-based show, we’re obviously talking about coffee and marijuana! We discuss our relationships to Coffea arabica and Cannabis, their consumable products, and maybe some of our own experiences in growing them (when legally permissible, of course.) Our podcast is for entertainment and education, so please imbibe and garden responsi...
Episode 45: String of Pearls, Senecio rowleyanus Plant Profile
April 14, 2020 04:37 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBIn their first socially-distanced episode, the Plant Daddies discuss the String of Pearls, Senecio rowleyanus, and reminisce about the days when they could hang out and pilfer each other's plants. Whose succulent soil recipe is best? And how long will that poor cutting stay on Stephen's countertop? Brace yourself for some audio hiccups as we learn how to talk over the phone. It's hard for millennials!
Episode 44: Succulent & Cactus Soil: Substrates Session
March 31, 2020 03:05 - 27 minutes - 25 MBGet ready to get dirty as we talk potting substrates specifics! Including our absolute favorite recipes and good options with easy-to-find materials. First up, succulent soil, which Stephen and Matthew agree is probably the most critical to get right for these plants' health. Listen to hear why they just do not use succulent potting mix off the shelves of most garden centers!
Episode 43: Quarantine Plant Projects
March 24, 2020 02:37 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBThe Plant Daddies get together (at a safe distance!) to serve up a few quarantine-friendly plant project ideas. Hoya propagation box? Give those tropicals a spray down in the shower, or tidy up those plants, pots, and mounts that have gone unnoticed all winter? Pruning aroids for bushy growth or rapid maturity? We're here for you/it! We even manage to surprise each other with some of our suggestions.
Episode 42: Plumeria obtusa Plant Profile
March 17, 2020 02:21 - 42 minutes - 39 MBHave you ever seen Plumeria on a vacation and wanted to bring that *feeling* home with you? Have you ever wanted to listen to two people in a wet, cold climate struggle with a tropical tree? Look no further than today's episode, where Matthew's Dwarf Singapore Pink Plumeria blooming success has truly gone to his head! Stephen forces a thorough audit of his past failures. Oh, and we have advice for you when you try, too!
Episode 41: Keeping up with ZZ Plants
March 10, 2020 02:54 - 56 minutes - 52 MBThe Plant Daddies cover Zamioculcas zamiifolia care, cultivars, some stories, and even patent law (before they turn tail and run!). And have you see the trending plant displays featuring the Black Raven ZZ Plant in American big box stores recently? We have all sorts of thoughts and feelings. Also, please sign my petition asking Matthew to STOP driving circles around Seattle looking for them. Thank you.
Episode 40: Plant Pest Geek-out, with Miles Jonard
February 25, 2020 07:51 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBPull up a chair for a geeky chat about houseplant pests with one of our favorite local experts, tackling everything from spider mites to multi-syllabic chemical names. After a quick detour discussing plants that look like body parts (like our new mascots!), we tackle the worst pests for your urban jungle, how to prevent, identify, treat, and then continue to re-treat, until you finally come to terms with your indoor ecosystem! Are the Plant Daddies gleeful about each other's pest stories? You...
Episode 39: Mediumsode! Fiddle Leaf Fig... how's that going?
February 18, 2020 04:28 - 45 minutes - 62.7 MBAre we still thinking about our Fiddle Leaf Figs? The Plant Daddies attempt a Ficus lyrata deep dive, with special attention paid to those mature plants we may have bought during that craze a few years ago. If yours is now growing into the ceiling and/or misshapen… what now?? Matthew details his myriad attempts to create bushier trees, and then hatches a bold new plan. And don't miss another one of Stephen's vaguely rude descriptions of a plant he just isn't that into!
Episode 39: Fiddle Leaf Fig... how's that going?
February 18, 2020 04:28 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MBAre we still thinking about our Fiddle Leaf Figs? The Plant Daddies attempt a Ficus lyrata deep dive, with special attention paid to those mature plants we may have bought during that craze a few years ago. If yours is now growing into the ceiling and/or misshapen… what now?? Matthew details his myriad attempts to create bushier trees, and then hatches a bold new plan. And don't miss another one of Stephen's vaguely rude descriptions of a plant he just isn't that into!
Episode 38: Sensitive Plant, Mimosa pudica Plant Profile
February 11, 2020 04:58 - 31 minutes - 29 MBDo you want a plant that does more? Well… in this case the Plant Daddies don't necessarily. But they both agree that Mimosa pudica, also known as the Sensitive Plant, is a botanical oddity that they've enjoyed and will likely grow again. Is a plant capable of rapid movement one that can melt the hearts of those strange people in our lives who aren't into plants? Have we finally found a flower that only Stephen likes?
Episode 38: Minisode! Sensitive Plant, Mimosa pudica Plant Profile
February 11, 2020 04:58 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MBDo you want a plant that does more? Well… in this case the Plant Daddies don't necessarily. But they both agree that Mimosa pudica, also known as the Sensitive Plant, is a botanical oddity that they've enjoyed and will likely grow again. Is a plant capable of rapid movement one that can melt the hearts of those strange people in our lives who aren't into plants? Have we finally found a flower that only Stephen likes?
Episode 37: Mounting Plants, with James Gray
February 04, 2020 07:26 - 1 hour - 58.7 MBJoin us as we talk all things mounting! From plant choices, materials and techniques… to tree crotches. Fellow Plant Daddy James Gray joins us to share his unique perspective on artistic mounting, with particular advice for mounted ferns and Tillandsia xerographica. Please take a shot each time Matthew says “humusy tree crotch.”
Episode 36: Minisode! Cast Iron Plant, Aspidistra elatior Plant Profile
January 28, 2020 02:34 - 31 minutes - 43.4 MBIs Aspidistra the holy grail of hardy houseplants? Since they’ve been called Spittoon plants in the past, they must be pretty cast iron. The Plant Daddies discuss this plant's surprising, lengthy, and poignant presence in British history, what to look for when you're buying one, and treat you to an argument about something they've agreed upon! Matthew is kind enough to include a book review of one he hasn't read.
Episode 36: Cast Iron Plant, Aspidistra elatior Plant Profile
January 28, 2020 02:34 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBIs Aspidistra the holy grail of hardy houseplant? We suspect that since they’ve been called Spittoon plants in the past, they must be pretty cast iron. The Plant Daddies discuss this plant's surprising, lengthy, and poignant presence in British history, what to look for when you're buying one, and treat you to an argument about something they've agreed upon! Matthew is kind enough to include a book review of one he hasn't read.
Episode 35: Rhaphidophora tetrasperma Plant Profile
January 20, 2020 22:43 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBIt's a special day, everyone: Stephen has his first "real Aroid," and according to Matthew, his first "real tropical foliage plant!" After years of gnat-free living in a home brimming with carnivorous plants, tune in to hear Stephen struggling to wrap his mind around the unexpected side effects of suddenly-broadened horizons. We discuss our skepticism about the supposed R. pertusa mix-up in tissue culture, our care advice, and how this plant can give you a living wall without much effort.
Episode 35: Minisode! Rhaphidophora tetrasperma Plant Profile
January 20, 2020 22:43 - 34 minutes - 46.3 MBIt's a special day, everyone: Stephen has his first "real aroid," and according to Matthew, his first "real tropical foliage plant!" After years of gnat-free living in a home brimming with carnivorous plants, tune in to hear Stephen struggling to wrap his mind around the unexpected side effects of suddenly-broadened horizons. We discuss our skepticism about the supposed R. pertusa mix-up in tissue culture, our care advice, and how this plant can give you a living wall without much effort.
Episode 34: Sansevieria
January 14, 2020 03:36 - 53 minutes - 49 MBSansevieria have been popular since they first entered cultivation… thousands of years ago? The Plant Daddies dig into this classic mainstay to answer some questions about this near-perfect houseplant - like why leaf cuttings don’t always produce the same cultivar as the parent. Matthew also shows his first genuine interest in variegated plants, but that might have to do with the fact that he learned that they are chimeras. Tune in to hear about this often overlooked, nearly-invincible Snake ...
Episode 34: Sansevieria
January 14, 2020 03:36 - 53 minutes - 70.9 MBSansevieria have been popular since they first entered cultivation… thousands of years ago? The Plant Daddies dig into this classic mainstay to answer some questions about this near-perfect houseplant - like why leaf cuttings don’t always produce the same cultivar as the parent. Matthew also shows his first genuine interest in variegated plants, but that might have to do with the fact that he learned that they are chimeras. Tune in to hear about this often overlooked, nearly-invincible Snak...
Episode 33: Houseplant Data & Trends Bonus Episode
January 07, 2020 06:24 - 1 hour - 63.7 MBDid you miss us? Awww, shucks. If so, join us as we ease into the new year during this bonus episode, where we have an unstructured conversation about recent houseplant trends and interesting data from the GrowIt app. Geeky plant chat alert! We hope this tides you over before the Plant Daddies resume regularly scheduled programming next week!
Episode 32: 2019 Houseplant Highlights, with Mulled Wine
December 24, 2019 05:42 - 1 hour - 58 MBStephen and Matthew slide (or limp?) toward the 2019 finish line and attempt a little walk down memory lane under the influence of holiday beverages (and more)! "Read between the blurred lines," Matthew says... I know... Anyway, we'll cover our plant highs and lows for the year, what we've learned about the houseplant hobbyist community, and our indoor gardening resolutions for 2020 before taking a brief break for the holidays. See you in early January!
Episode 31: Another Look at Holiday Plants
December 17, 2019 06:29 - 55 minutes - 51 MBAre millennials less inclined to participate in "holiday plants?" The Plant Daddies discuss experiences and options, including fake vs. real trees and post-season poinsettia care. Then Devin Wallien stops by to share his favorites… from a dumpster dive? And Stephen, fresh from his discovery that amaryllis is actually a real plant (not a fanciful IKEA prop), may be more interested in other bulbs with weird foliage. Yes, typical.
Episode 30: String of Hearts, Ceropegia woodii Plant Profile
December 10, 2019 03:32 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBString of Hearts, Tangle of Hearts, Rosary Vine… whatever you call Ceropegia woodii, you’re probably already in love with this beautiful trailing succulent vine. But this simple plant has one critical care detail you must observe before you can sit back and watch her vines trail down to the floor. And Stephen does not hate this plant! Why did Matthew think that?! How rude. Plus a bonus Taxonomy Time segment from Matthew.
Episode 30: Minisode! String of Hearts, Ceropegia woodii Plant Profile
December 10, 2019 03:32 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBString of Hearts, Tangle of Hearts, Rosary Vine… whatever you call Ceropegia woodii, you’re probably already in love with this beautiful trailing succulent vine. But this simple plant has one critical care detail you must observe before you can sit back and watch her vines trail down to the floor. And Stephen does not hate this plant! Why did Matthew think that?! How rude. Plus a bonus Taxonomy Time segment from Matthew.
Episode 29: Geeking out with Mr. Plant Geek, Michael Perry
December 03, 2019 04:45 - 54 minutes - 50 MBMichael Perry of Mr. Plant Geek fame joins The Plant Daddies from China to chat about gardening, identity, and pretzels. We discuss his globe-trotting life with a partner who is decidedly NOT a Plant Daddy, and learn a bit about how Michael became the Plant Geek he is today! Grab a pretzel and get cozy.
Episode 28: Thanksgiving Bonus! Hanging out with Devin Wallien
November 28, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBIn our Thanksgiving bonus, we sit down with Devin Wallien, a fourth generation horticulture professional and fellow Plant Daddy. We chat about myriad things, from Plumeria and Adeniums to composing the perfect balcony container garden-- all the way down to zone 4! Does anyone else think PP Plant should be the new name for Pilea peperomioides?
Episode 27: Minisode! Fittonia & Hypoestes Plant Profile
November 25, 2019 20:00 - 25 minutes - 34.6 MBThe Plant Daddies have been fashionably late before, but we're YEARS late to the Nerve Plant and Polka Dot Plant party. Listen in to hear our verdict on these charismatic, colorful little survivors!
Episode 27: Fittonia & Hypoestes Plant Profile
November 25, 2019 20:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBThe Plant Daddies have been fashionably late before, but we're YEARS late to the Nerve Plant and Polka Dot Plant party. However, something inspired us to give them a try - perhaps the videos we’ve seen online of their dramatic revival after getting some water - and we made it a point to try them ourselves. Listen in to hear our verdict on these charismatic, colorful little survivors!
Episode 26: Pinguiculas with Bob Beer
November 19, 2019 03:51 - 1 hour - 65.8 MBPinguicula, butterworts, pings... whatever you call them, this carnivorous plant with beautiful foliage and showy flowers has a secret: it moonlights as a succulent. Bob Beer joins the Plant Daddies to walk through caring for these surprising, approachably easy houseplants.
Episode 25: So You Want to Propagate...
November 11, 2019 20:42 - 1 hour - 69 MBJoin us as we geek out about propagation, from aroids to succulents, where we'll try to take you a level or two deeper than just *how* to do it. Why does propagation from leaf cuttings work for some plants but not others? And why didn't that heart-shaped Hoya kerrii turn into a full plant? Then Matthew tries to move some of his plants into Stephen's windows. Stephen says NO.
Episode 24: Calatheas and Prayer Plants
November 05, 2019 03:08 - 1 hour - 58.1 MBMatthew tries again to expand Stephen's "very particular" tastes with a sweeping introduction to the Prayer Plants and Calatheas. Will he succeed? And can he pronounce Zingiberales? Tune in to find out!
Episode 23: Off Topic! Halloween Bonus
October 31, 2019 13:00 - 1 hour - 86.4 MBMatthew and Stephen dive *deep* (drunkenly) into a favorite classic movie, Little Shop of Horrors, with the crew from 24 Flames per Second, one of our favorite podcasts! In 2019, is this a problematic narrative? Is Seymour even a plant person?? Wait…Jar Jar? Somehow this is a Halloween episode, OK?
Episode 23: Off Topic! Little Shop of Horrors Halloween Bonus
October 31, 2019 13:00 - 1 hour - 69.9 MBMatthew and Stephen dive *deep* (drunkenly) into a favorite classic movie, Little Shop of Horrors, with the crew from 24 Flames per Second, one of our favorite podcasts! In 2019, is this a problematic narrative? Is Seymour even a plant person?? Wait…Jar Jar? Somehow this is a Halloween episode, OK?
Episode 22: Brassavola nodosa Plant Profile
October 28, 2019 22:00 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBWant to hear what it sounds like when we thoroughly agree on a plant? Behold Brassavola nodosa, a fragrant, tough orchid that we have both kept and loved for years. We'll walk through our different approaches and histories with this outstanding windowsill orchid.
Episode 22: Minisode! Brassavola nodosa Orchid Plant Profile
October 28, 2019 22:00 - 33 minutes - 32.7 MBWant to hear what it sounds like when we thoroughly agree on a plant? Behold Brassavola nodosa, a fragrant, tough orchid that we have both kept and loved for years. We'll walk through our different approaches and histories with this outstanding windowsill orchid.
Episode 22: Minisode! Brassavola nodosa Plant Profile
October 28, 2019 22:00 - 33 minutes - 32.7 MBWant to hear what it sounds like when we thoroughly agree on a plant? Behold Brassavola nodosa, a fragrant, tough orchid that we have both kept and loved for years. We'll walk through our different approaches and histories with this outstanding windowsill orchid.
Episode 21: Pothos. We're going to talk about them.
October 22, 2019 02:17 - 1 hour - 61.2 MBThe Plant Daddies grudgingly admit the numerous merits of the pedestrian but perennially-dependable Pothos plants! Even some with rabbit proteins. Matthew admits that he is secretly propagating them. And listen, we don't get into care advice, but just give them some light and water once in a while. OK?
Episode 20: with Jane Perrone, of On The Ledge
October 15, 2019 03:26 - 1 hour - 57.4 MB!!! OK, today we welcome one of our very favorites, Jane Perrone of On The Ledge podcast! She shares where her houseplant journey began, some of her current favorites, and even a few plants she would NOT grow-- and the Plant Daddies take sides! After our interview, we continue to dish on plants that we "do not prefer." Fans of variegation, shield your ears!
Episode 19: Minisode! Begonia maculata ‘Wightii’ Plant Profile
October 10, 2019 19:00 - 19 minutes - 23.4 MBEveryone has seen pictures of the internet’s current favorite Begonia on social media, Begonia maculata ‘Wightii’. AKA Polka Dot Begonia, this is a beautiful cultivar loved for its graphic, colorful foliage and white flowers. The Plant Daddies have a checkered [terrible] record with Begonias, so wanted to figure out if this popular but hard-to-find specimen would be their silver bullet to Begonias fit for paradise. More importantly, is this a flowering tropical foliage plant that Stephen can...
Episode 19: Begonia maculata ‘Wightii’ Plant Profile
October 10, 2019 19:00 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MBEveryone has seen pictures of the internet’s current favorite Begonia on social media, Begonia maculata ‘Wightii’. AKA Polka Dot Begonia, this is a beautiful cultivar loved for its graphic, colorful foliage and white flowers. The Plant Daddies have a checkered [terrible] record with Begonias, so wanted to figure out if this popular but hard-to-find specimen would be their silver bullet to Begonias fit for paradise. More importantly, is this a flowering tropical foliage plant that Stephen can ...