Flower Power Garden Hour

I sit down with Mike Allarea (VP Cultivation) of Fireworx Farms to discuss their methodology for growing Cannabis. Having been in the industry for years, Mike has a formula that works to provide top quality product to their dispensaries. Amongst other things, we discuss beneficial insects, grow lights and what container method he has experienced most success with. Lights: Gavita HID Rooting Hormone: Clonex Rockwool cubes: Grodan Hugo Blocks ( 1” and 6”) Environmental/Water Sensors: Grodan GroSens Multisensor Fertilizer/Beneficial Insects: Shalepeakhorticulture.com Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order. To ask questions for future shows, submit

Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. Topics this week include: Dwarf Lime tree – growing indoors, but not fruiting Birds of Paradise – best way to prune/control growth Hibiscus – method to prune to ensure fuller growth next season Amaryllis – how to treat after blooms disappear Peach Leaf curl – timing of liquid copper spray application Dragon fruit – what are the long white things growing off it   To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

What do you do when you inherit several decades-old bonsai? For my guest it was easy… become a bonsai grower yourself. Now over 10 years in, those inherited bonsai (some as old as 50) are thriving…in addition to many more Jimmy Jet Black has added. In this episode I talk to Jimmy about the fundamentals of bonsai and what his tips and tricks are including: What are the easiest plants to start with What is the best soil to use How exactly do you grow bonsai with its roots exposed Jimmy Jet can be found at: YouTube Snail Trail4x4 podcast Instagram Twitter Facebook snailtrail4x4.com To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. It’s a grab bag of topics this time, including: Hydrangea – did not flower…why? Lemon tree – plant producing fruit, but appears sick…is it? Tomatoes – late season, still producing, but not ripening Irises – time of year to transfer? Christmas Cactus – care during winter months Oranges – splitting and molding….why? To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Hoyas produce some of the most beautiful flowers, and the fact they can do so as a houseplant is a win-win. I sit down with the owner of Flori-Culture nursery, Jonathan Robbins, and we discuss the care and cultivation of Hoyas and other not-as-common houseplants. Included in this are the epiphytic cacti Rhipsalis, Dischidias and even the much sought after Selenicereus wittii. Learn Jonathan’s propagation tips, soil recommendations and watering techniques. Jonathan can be found at: Wesbite: Flori-Culture.com Instagram: flori.culture.orchid.supplies Facebook: Click here Email: sales@flori-culture.com   If you live in or are visiting Northern California, be sure to visit Flori-Culture nursery at: 7621 Fair Oaks Blvd Carmichael, CA 95608

Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week -- grab bag of questions.  Persimmon tree. Best time of year to buy/plant? Seed or bare root? African Daisies – starting to die….advice? Purple potatoes – can you let them grow over the winter? Lemon tree. How to propagate….seed or cutting? Jade plant. Severe damage due to freezing…can it be saved? Gnats &/or chewing insects – how to get rid of Timing of liquid copper spray To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Poisons, spines and secondary metabolites….plants have numerous ways of ensuring they are protected and dispersed. I sit down with botanist Jonathon Holguin and we discuss some of our favorite ways plants protect/disperse themselves. Why does Stevia taste sweet, what are the compounds in stinging nettle and what happens when you get Euphorbia sap in your eye? Some of these defenses we encounter often while hiking, and others we hope to never experience -- such as Giant cow parsnip or Monkshood poisoning. Others are essential in our everyday life… such as coffee and chocolate. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

This is a review show of what worked and didn’t work in my vegetable garden this summer. I go over both the varieties of plant and techniques I used with a critical perspective. Tomatoes. Florida weave versus cages. My pruning process in the future. Straw as weed block. Success of varieties including Sungold, Black Beauty, Berkley Tie Dye Peppers. MANY successes, including ghost peppers, shishito, poblano, bell peppers, Rhenza Macedonia. Why the success? Melons. Mixed bag on planting technique – too crowded. Review on varieties (hit and miss on success), and future plans Also review: eggplants, beans, Solanum quitoense, zucca gourd, Sakurajima giant radish, corn and more To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week -- grab bag of questions.  Fall planting – what can still be planted for Fall in the San Joaquin Valley Rose bushes – yellow spots on leaves….what to do to prevent Ficus – losing leaves on only a certain portion of the plant Comfrey – can it be planted in raised beds for winter? How to break through hard pan in order to plant Superblue Lavendar – for indoor growing in the Northeast US, should a ceramic or plastic pot be used Bromeliad – help with growing a very dry, no natural light office To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Terrariums are a great way to grow a landscape on a miniature scale. I sit down with expert terrarium builders Kyle Shankle and Eric Cendejas to discuss building a terrarium from container up. Learn what soil is best, water-proofing techniques, drainage, how to build features, which lighting system to choose and of course all the plants that will reward you with your own mini-jungle. Eric can be found @aroiddaddy on Instagram To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com  

Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. The focus is on flowers this week, with a smattering of vegetables thrown in. Black tulip magnolia – not blooming, unhealthy looking Mums – growing tall, but not flowering Bougainvillea – growing out of control, how to train Christmas cactus – half growing well, half not Butterfly bushes – how to prep for winter Japanese maples – browning as summer gets hot “Rusty” leaves – what is causing, how to mitigate Tomatoes – second harvest is green and hard Avocados – tree not producing To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Marlene sits down with Nathan Gonzales, instructional assistant of biology at American River College and talks about his favorite plants to use medicinally and while on the trail. Learn what California native can be used as an antimicrobial band-aid in a pinch, what plants make the best fire starting material and what uncommon plant can be snacked on to get you a bit giddy! This ethnobotany centric episode covers many of the plants people see every day when hiking and dwells into the many uses Native Americans have for them. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Mighty, majestic… these are words often used to describe Oaks. For Emily Griswold, Oaks are so much more.. they are her passion. She has turned this passion into collecting and disseminating different Oak species to various collections across the world, as well as curating the 300-species-strong Shields Oak Grove on the UC Davis campus. I sit down with Emily and tap into her knowledge on all things Oaks… how to grow, diseases, species suitable for backyards, the smallest and the oldest (which will blow your mind). Click here for article on the oldest know oak talked about during episode. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. It’s a grab bag of topics this time, including: Hibiscus leaves dropping – causation? Orchids – root location Watermelons with a black spot on bottom – fungus or? Passion Fruit viability – Central Valley CA Dwarf lemon not producing Watermelons – white inside….why? Roses – tiny holes in flowers To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

How did two engineers become chocolate makers? As we discuss the process of making chocolate with Karla McNeil and Eddie Houston, owners of Cru Chocolate, it becomes clear that chocolate making is not only an art but part chemistry and engineering. This episode covers the history of cacao, its importance in many South American cultures and the steps to make beans to bar. Additionally, we dive into the challenges of being a company with a culture focused on sustainability and ensuring the success of their South American partners. Cru Chocolate can be found at: www.cruchocolate.com. Locations to purchase and partners can be found here. Instagram Facebook Twitter   To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Growing a cover crop is a great way to incorporate nitrogen into the soil, but what exactly does this mean? What are the best plants for it and what are the steps to getting the most out of the cover crop. I sit down with Dr. Matt Amicucci, owner of Calyxo Biosystems, and discuss nitrogen fixation. We then veer into his involvement in the research and discovery of a native Oaxacan corn that makes enough nitrogen that the local farmers have never fertilized their soil! We then go into more detail into Matt’s PhD work…. how not all carbs are created equal. Matt’s research took over 1,000 fruit and vegetables and broke down every carb and sugar to map out what exactly we eat and how it affects our health. A fascinating discussion about our preconceived notions regarding certain foods, gut biome and potential applications of the research. Matt can be found at @farmforageferment on Instagram To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or I

Bees, butterflies, beetles, oh my. These are just some of the important pollinators needed to achieve great fruit and vegetable set in your garden. Find out which plants are best at attracting pollinators, as well as tips and tricks on hand pollinating when pollinators go MIA. Learn why your strawberries and squash are malformed, as well as how to plant corn to achieve high quality. This episode covers all things pollination! To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

An episode dedicated to answering questions submitted by listeners. Topics this week include: Peppers – poor growth and production Tomatoes and squash – what are the best fertilizers/amendments Leaf curling on tomatoes Epsom salt – good for plants (specifically tomatoes)? Technique for disinfecting gardening shears Marigolds as companion plants Is peat moss effective to retain moisture in soil To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Marlene sits down with “Farmer Fred” Hoffman, renown long time Garden Show radio host, writer and lifetime Master Gardener. Having decades of both practical experience and countless hours with farmers/garden professionals, Fred is an incredible fountain of knowledge, tips, troubleshooting – and a amazing storyteller in the best sense. Subjects discussed: Farmer Fred history; Growing up in North Hollywood; From radio to gardening; From Captain Fred to Farmer Fred; Truckers come to the rescue to find Farmer Fred’s stolen car; Diazinon experience piques Fred’s interest in gardening; Organic heirloom popcorn farming; When to plant tomatoes; Tomato Blossom End Rot and how to treat (or not); Beneficial insects and how to attract; Farmer Fred’s favorite tomatoes to grow; Heirloom tomatoes and limited fruit set; Marlene’s favorite peppers (Padrone and Shishido); Raised bed construction and irrigation; Companion planting; Malabar spinach – trellis climbing, summer greens; Tomato cages and the Florida Weave; Concrete r

In this episode Marlene delves into making softwood cuttings in order to propagate clones of parent plants. Taking cuttings is a fast and reliable method of obtaining numerous plants from a small amount of source material. Marlene covers: Auxin -- primary hormone for root production Step by step process of how to successfully take a cutting Common issues people run into with cuttings To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com