The Houseplant Coach

We’ve all seen a beautiful prop box - but do we have to use perlite or sphagnum? What else is an option? Or do we need a prop box at all? Learn more in this episode :)

In this second part, we dig into the different types of variegation, understanding why it occurs and how to encourage more of it!

Here’s part one on our full breakdown of variegation! This one gets into terminology and has a few related tangents - part 2 coming soon!

For the first half of the episode, check out the previous one - got cut off mid recording :)This one covers the nutrient deficit we often assume is a good idea for houseplants during the winter, and why that assumption doesn’t fit with their evolution in the tropics.

This one is a two-parter because my audio cut out halfway through :) This answers the “should we fertilize in winter” question with a more elegant solution, and also speaks to covering all the bases and giving your plants the ability to be more self-sustaining :)

Do you have an overgrown jungle in your house? It’s time to plan the annual crazy haircut-and-propagate project! More info in the episode :)

Has an internet jerk ever told you to give up on houseplants because you clearly suck at the hobby? Well, after 30 years with my own plants and 12+ years in the industry, apparently it’s time for me to quit. Or it would be if I listened to advice from some rando. So here’s me telling you not to quit - even after you killed the third philo brandi and swear you’ll never try again. Even after your whole collection gets mites because of that impulse calathea. Even after you forget another plant on that high shelf. And yes, even if someone is mean to you. Your friendly neighborhood houseplant coach says that following your heart (to plants!) is the only choice 💚

Cabbage water pH testing and grain-urine pregnancy tests today, folks! WTF, you ask? ME TOO. 🤣

In this episode we go into all things nitrogen: the overall function within plants (it’s everywhere!), plus symptoms of deficiency and toxicity. Plus: announcing the monthly OHP gift card giveaway! Share your product recommendation or a helpful podcast or social post from Of Happy Plants on social media (either to your profile or in a plant group - whoever would find it useful!) to enter to win a $50 gift card! No purchase necessary, of course! :)

Okay folks, PLEASE keep in mind that both the words “watering” and “schedule” should be held EXTREMELY loosely! In this episode we cover watering, light, the myth of the slow-growing hoya, and more! Find the Hungry Plant System, V’s Mix, and B*tches Love Hoyas soil at https://ohhappyplants.shop

Here’s one for the outdoor gardeners - a study on mitigating allelopathic chemical release with biochar remediation! Study will be added to resources in the OHP Member Community :)

Today’s plant chat is about plant care variables, specifically how to determine if someone’s prescriptive advice is actual fact or if it’s based on insufficient information. Unless advice is based on repeat instances of a plant’s behavior (like blooming, wilting, etc) with many plants of that particular species, all variables are accounted for, AND the result is repeatable (i.e. you can make any plant of that species do it again), informational is anecdotal and shouldn’t be treated as fact. Even my results! If they’re based on a sample size of 1 plant, EVEN IF I can show consistency in behavior, until I control variables and do this with many plants of the same species, this is not true science :) If you want to add to the (anecdotal!) results that V’s Mix is getting with hundreds of other customers, try it this month for FREE! Spend $50 at ohhappyplants.shop, get a free quart of V’s Mix! Sale starts 1/10/26.

Today I ran across someone feeling hopeless and helpless - feeling that their small impact wasn’t enough. We ALL can move the needle if each of us keeps up the work. So it was time for a chat about herbs that can help us keep our heads up. As always, check with your doctor (and pharmacist!) for advice and interactions before using any herb. If you want to skip straight to the herbs, go to the 33.5 minute mark. Also, V’s Mix is going on sale again this month - spend $50, get a free quart! Sale starts Saturday, January 10th (or maybe today, if I get to it). Https://OhHappyPlants.shop

Two-parter this time! We’re talking about how to recognize good advice as well as a thorough examination of a Christmas cactus’ drought issue and how to remedy it. Also, 40% off sale on DrySoil gallons through 1/1/2026, because I’m turning 40 this week! :)

This was one of the hardest plants to care for during my time in interiorscape, and a lot of the dead ones were due to shipping issues! Learn more about the cuetlaxochitl (aka poinsettia) here! Also, free gifts with every order through December 2025! Https://ohhappyplants.shop

Have you ever potted a plant up in a super chunky mix and watched it go downhill? It may be the wrong substrate for your watering style! But here’s how to prevent that :) Also, holiday freebies are going into every box from Oh Happy Plants through the end of December (2025)! Get your plant care on at https://ohhappyplants.shop

Ever import super expensive plants, only to have them rot? Here are some tips! Tip #1: take a deep breath. None of this is urgent :)

I got some questions about bringing potted evergreens indoors in terms of issues with breaking winter dormancy, so I did some more research and is still encourage you to get one - if only as an experiment! Also, sale on now - free $49 bag of V’s Mix with every $200 spent at https://ohhappyplants.shop! Sale ends 12/7/25

Explore variegation with me! We’re talking types, colors, flavors (well, maybe not that one!), and causes of variegation :) Plus, check out the sale - for every $40 spent at https://OhHappyPlants.shop, get a FREE quart of Tropical Climber soil!

I’ve heard a lot of folks say they choose an artificial tree so they wouldn’t be cutting down a live one. Let’s dig into the sustainability of the whole thing before we make a choice this year :)

Don’t separate your houseplants! PSA on the plant loneliness epidemic (yes, yes, I made that up 🤣 tell the others! 🤣). Last two days of the sale! Spend $50, get a free quart of either V’s Mix or B*tches Love Hoyas soil! Https://ohhappyplants.shop

SALE! Spend $50, get a free quart of V’s Mix or B*tches Love Hoyas! Now through 11/5/25 This episode is about grief journeying, community building, vulnerability, and self-forgiveness in plant care. Bonus: puppy snores.

Recently(ish) someone brought a video to my attention from a soil scientist who was talking about the concern with perlite and fluoride toxicity. There were a few issues with the data and the points presented, and while the studies I found that line up with this video do show little cause for concern, they weren’t designed with real-world applicability in mind. Listen to the episode for these points as well as what we can do to minimize risk. And, as always, Oh Happy Dirt remains perlite-free because it’s my job to make it the absolute best available :) Also, right now (end of October/early November 2025) there’s a sale on: spend $50, get a free quart of either V’s Mix or our hoya soil. Https://OhHappyPlants.shop

Hi folks! This is a “how to stop feeling so damn helpless” episode, plus interspersed info about hoyas and a sale announcement. For Doc Tenzin’s work including his comic book A Capacity to Change, see https://doctenzin.com Want great dirt? Https://ohhappyplants.shop - and remember, if you share OHP social media posts you’ll be entered in a drawing for a gift card each month!

It’s a WHOLE rant today, in a number of directions, but we’re also talking upcoming tree pruning and mealybug treatment, as well as the current sale at ohhappyplants.shop

Have you fallen for the old “plants slow their growth in the winter because of dormancy” BS? For our houseplants, this is usually counter to their natural cycles! Listen in for more :)

Here’s my current nonsense: plants in a jar! Plus: sale announcement, and the sewer rat of hope :)

What temperature is the nightly low in your area? It might be time to bring your houseplants in for the season! Here’s a guide to temps, pest treatment, and more!

I’m about to try a a few new-to-me home remedies for powdery mildew - stay tuned for updates! Also, a discussion about repotting plants as the seasons change.

Got pests in your garden? Plant more flowers! Here’s the most legit excuse EVER to plant a zillion flowers and turn your veggie garden into a beautiful, half-edible, half-ornamental paradise 🥰

Are your plants taking over your home, or looking super scraggly? Here’s an episode about propagating all those crazy beasts :)

Here’s the thing: they never left. But this is a trick that folks don’t tell you - another piece of the treatment process that will ACTUALLY lead to complete eradication. PSA: this treatment is a leaf spray ONLY - do not pour onto roots!

How much soil do you need? How do you figure that out when you’ve completely forgotten high school math class? And what’s a better deal, using the OHP 30% off sale on 5 ‘generous quarts’ or buying a 2-gallon bag? (Hint: it’s the 2-gallon bag if you’re getting one type of soil!) Answer all those questions and more with this episode :)

This episode is about how education works better when people are relaxed about it, how gatekeeping is a capitalist ploy to keep us separate, and how communication is my goal - not “proper” language. Trigger warning: mention of an unpleasant bodily function - skip from 7:20ish to 8min.

Trigger warning for vegans - we’re talking outdoor gardening and blood meal. But this is all relevant to indoor plants! Today it’s a discussion of the importance of feeding your plants so they can bust out some awesomeness for you :)

Want a bushier houseplant? Here are some scientifically proven tips for branching, plus info about light, holding off on repotting a plant, and more! For soil and other incredible houseplant supplies, check out ohhappyplants.shop!

What are your plants dreaming about right now? Is it a new moss pole, repot, or pruning job? Maybe they’d just like you to notice the spider mite issue that has suddenly become a real problem due to higher temps? Here’s a discussion of plant behavior, summertime considerations, and more!

The ONE thing that made the biggest difference to my plants across nearly 30 years of houseplant tending is consistency - and when you have late-diagnosed AuDHD, it’s extra apparent. Listen in for practical tips to get you more consistent, plus extras: discussion of subirrigation, spider mite treatment, soil nutrients and nitrogen-induced tip burn, self-forgiveness when caring for plants in early widowhood, and more. Also, for the next two weeks, get a FREE quart of V’s Mix for every $50 spent at https://ohhappyplants.shop - this soil is absolutely MAGICAL and I’d love for you to have some!

Think orchids are too fussy to keep alive — let alone get to bloom again? Think again. In this episode, Veronica is joined by the incredible Raffaele DiLallo of Ohio Tropics, creator of “Become an Orchid Master."  He’s here to break down the myths, mistakes, and surprisingly simple techniques behind long-term orchid success. We cover: - Why your store-bought orchid stopped blooming (and how to fix it) - The BIG things most people get wrong about watering orchids - How to understand your orchid’s roots — literally Whether you’ve killed five orchids or just picked up your first Phalaenopsis, this episode will start you on the path of orchid mastery — no greenhouse required. 🪴 To get $50 off "Become an Orchid Master", use code OHHAPPYORCHID here: https://raffaele-dilallo.mykaj... Grab your favorite beverage, pull up a chair, and let’s get into some flower talk 🌸

Learn about bromeliad watering, root systems, soils, and more!

Here’s a question from an OHP member about snake plants and stress blooms. To join the FREE member community, visit https://members.OhHappyPlants....

Lots of people think some houseplants just grow slowly, but usually it’s our care (or something else that’s fixable). Here are a bunch of solutions, including a discussion of soil testing and veggie garden corrections :)

Do you have a water softener? You could be killing your leaves with sodium toxicity! Full description and solutions in the episode. Products available at https://ohhappyplants.shop - FREE member site at https://members.ohhappyplants.... :)

Got grey spots of mold in your begonia? Love planty shenanigans? Want fast-growing hoyas that bloom like crazy? This is the episode for you! Products mentioned are available at https://ohhappyplants.shop

Hi everyone! This one is about inviting pollinators into your space, and a general PSA about the impact of poor estrogen metabolism on energy levels and how beef organs can fix the whole problem. No houseplants this time, but you can always make your plants go NUTS with soil from https://OhHappyPlants.shop!

Have you seen those trendy companies that sell pseudo-fancy soil for aroids, but the only thing in it is big chunks? Here’s why to avoid this!

Learn about causes of different types of leaf yellowing, soil mushrooms vs slime mold, and then it’s a long discussion about different kinds of intentional community building, “independence as trauma response” that we all carry, and ideas about building interconnected communities right where we are ❤️

Have you ever listened to a podcast and learned about some previously-unheard-of way you’ve been harming your plants, then said “wait, is this really true? That’s odd…”? Well, here’s an example of that - and the solution (guess what - the solution is a team of nerds who are strangers to each other because that’s the power of the internet and the plant community!). Talking about pH Up/Down products and how they DON’T harm your plants when used correctly ❤️

Bad propagation advice, soil sale, business tips, and stay tuned for an incoming orchid podcast with Raffaele of Ohio Tropics!

The forsythias are rooted and ready to give away! Here’s more info on attempting to create economic disruption armed with only rooting hormone and pruning shears 🤣