Flower Power Garden Hour

Orchid grower Shawn Shumaker breaks down all the do’s and dont’s to successfully grow orchids inside your home… including the number one tip to get yours to rebloom. Plus -- is the ice cube watering method good or bad, what planting media should you use and what should be done to control pests. If you are looking to expand your collection, Shawn discusses other species that can be grown inside just as easily as Phalaenopsis. You can follow Shawn at: Instagram: @Shawn_shumaker   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

Listener Q&A episode.  Topics include: New growth on cactus – should it be removed, and if so…how? Hydrangeas – when to cut and how Lemons – why are they cracking? Musa basjoo – recommendations for transitioning into fall/winter Maple tree – recommendations to improve growing conditions 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

In this episode, I discuss November garden To-Do tasks.  There is actually quite a lot as we transition fully into the colder and wetter months of the year. Continue clean up – pull out dead plants; remove lead, vegetable and fruit debris Plant bulbs – chill tulips or buy Darwin varieties Divide grasses, agapanthus, etc Plant vegetables:  Fava beans, bok choy, broccoli, celery, swiss chard, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, mustard, onions, radish, shallot, spinach Plant cover crops: Fava beans, red clover Move succulents out of potential rain Bring plumerias inside Plants non-frost sensitive perennials Plant sweet peas (plants or seeds) Plant CA native seeds Turn off irrigation Controls winter weeds (like oxalis)   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

Want to grow your succulents to perfection? Want to venture into growing more difficult ones? Or how about just not wanting to kill them? Then this episode is for you. Gianluca Bacci -- expert succulent grower -- joins me to discuss soils, watering, Lithops, Welwitschia and more. Gianluca can be followed at: Instagram: @marinsect_gianluca 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

Want to grow your succulents to perfection? Want to venture into growing more difficult ones? Or how about just not wanting to kill them? Then this episode is for you. Gianluca Bacci -- expert succulent grower -- joins me to discuss soils, watering, Lithops, Welwitschia and more. Gianluca can be followed at: Instagram: @marinsect_gianluca 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

Dr. Cassandra Quave is a botanist extraordinaire. I was fortunate to chat about her early life, career path, and her new book “The Plant Hunter: A Scientist’s Quest for Nature’s Next Medicines.” Book Description: In The Plant Hunter, Dr. Quave weaves together science, botany, and memoir to tell us the extraordinary story of her own journey. Traveling by canoe, ATV, mule, airboat, and on foot, she has conducted field research in the flooded forests of the remote Amazon, the murky swamps of southern Florida, the rolling hills of central Italy, isolated mountaintops in Albania and Kosovo, and volcanic isles arising out of the Mediterranean — all in search of natural compounds, long-known to traditional healers, that could help save us all from the looming crisis of untreatable superbugs. And as a person born with multiple congenital defects of her skeletal system, she's done it all with just one leg. Filled with grit, tragedy, triumph, awe, and scientific discovery, her story illuminates how the path forward for

In this episode, I discuss October garden To-Do tasks.  There is a big variety with a lot on the list, including: Continue clean up – pull out dead plants; remove lead, vegetable and fruit debris Use soil sulfur to drop pH Prune non-frost sensitive plants Cover succulents if chance of rain Add beneficial nematodes Plant perennials Buy bulbs…chill tulips 8-12 weeks Plant vegetables – fava beans, beets, bok choy, celery, swiss chard, collards, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustards, peas, radishes, shallots, turnips Cover crops, including fava beans, clover Consider planting wildflower seeds – CA natives… clarkia, poppies Collect seeds off prior year plants   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

The backbone of any organic garden are hard working beneficial/parasitic insects. I talk with founder of ARBICO-Organics, Sheri Herrera de Frey, about which ones are a must for gardeners to incorporate. We discuss controls for whiteflies, Japanese and cucumber beetles, gnats, borers and so many more. Plus -- learn why releasing beneficial nematodes should be on your garden to do list.  ARBICO-Organics can be found on-line below: Website:  arbico-organics.com Facebook Instagram   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

Listener Q&A episode.  Topics include: Propagating a String of Pearls Basil infested with caterpillars Mandarin bush – will it produce late in the season Azalea – how to care for Overwintering eggplants & peppers – when to prepare Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow – best time of year & method to transplant   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

Avocados, blueberries and Hydrangeas - 3 plants I get a lot of questions about. In some parts of the world they grow like weeds, but in many locations they can be tricky. I talk to Bruce Ritter -- co-founder of the Sacramento Botanical Garden -- about growing these, as well as how the plan to build a world class garden in Sacramento is going.   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

In this episode, I discuss September garden To-Do tasks.  There is a big variety with a lot on the list, including: Clean up – remove certain vegetables. There are certain ones to leave (peppers, eggplants, etc) as cool temperatures can help them.  Plant Fall/Winter vegetables, including brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, cabbage, kales, swiss chard Harvest gourds such as pumpkins and squash Plan and purchase bulbs that will be planted in Fall, bloom in Spring Add beneficial nematodes Cut back certain plants, such as pruning hydrangeas Near the end of September -- start dividing irises, planting perennials and natives   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 does it take to grow healthy CBD with organic regenerative practices? I talk to founder of Sunset Lake CBD, Sam Bellavance and farmer/grower Caitlin Silber to hear about how they produce the most beautiful plants in Vermont. We discuss how they feed the soil, prevent most pest and disease problems and what they use to treat powdery mildew. Plus -- we talk about all their wonderful products and uses.   Sunset Lake CBD can be found at: Website: com Instagram: sunsetlakecbd Facebook: Sunset Lake CBD LinkedIn: Sunset Lake CBD   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

A plant out of place… this is a universal definition  of a weed. Weeds are many gardeners' biggest nemesis.  If left unchecked they can cause numerous issues in a garden. I breakdown how weeds get to your garden, how to control them and the single most important task to prevent an inundation. 

Grab bag listener Q&A episode – fruit tree pruning, orchids, hibiscus…..topics include:  Old wood chippings – what can I use for? Orchids – how to treat ant infestation Hibiscus – part is green, part is brown….diagnosis? Spotted spurge – how to mitigate this weed Peach tree – how to prune to prevent branch breakage 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

The dog days of summer are upon us, and heat and smoke from wildfires is everyday life.  In this episode, I discuss this as well as all August to-do tasks, which compared to other months are not as daunting.  These include your fall vegetable planning/prep, summer fruit tree pruning, and some beginning thoughts on water issues.     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

Doing a bit of summer fruit tree care can go a long way for a plentiful, healthy crop the following year.  I talk to Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn nursery, about the benefits of summer pruning, what you should be fertilizing with, summer pests, how to tell if you watering enough and many more helpful tips. Don and Redwood Barn can be found at: Website:  redwoodbarn.com Instagram:  redwoodbarnnursery & don.shor Facebook:  Redwood Barn Nursery   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

Grab bag listener Q&A episode – tree issues and recommendations, vegetables, pests….  Jade – why is it turning red Thrips – how to mitigate Cucumbers – why very pale in color Limbs dropping on a tree that seems healthy Maple tree – roots are starting to show at the base….should they be covered with soil 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

Sonya Harris is a lifetime educator. Working with kids with special needs she became aware of the importance of alternative learning and began her journey creating a school garden. Sonya’s energy and dedication quickly morphed into a bigger mission -- eventually leading to the nonprofit Bullock Garden Project. The mission of the organization is stated below: We are dedicated to empowering individuals, groups, and organizations, focusing on people within marginalized communities, in creating sustainable agriculture and incorporating garden education through building community sustainability awareness; partnering with community and green industry organizations; strengthening social/emotional development and well-being and nurturing independence through experiential learning and garden-based education; and inspiring future leaders to support green initiatives.   Sonya and the Bullock Garden Project can be found at the following: Website: Bullockgardenproject.org Facebook: BullockGardenProject Instagram: bullock

Summer is in full swing, and oppressive heat is dominating the western US.  Even with that, believe it or not this is the time of year I start thinking about my plan for winter vegetables.  In this episode, I discuss this as well as all other July garden to-do tasks including…vegetables to plant, summer fruit tree pruning, pruning hydrangeas, and lavender and blueberry care.    To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at: Facebook Instagram YouTube email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Grab bag listener Q&A episode – vegetables, flowers, trees, pests….  Butternut squash identification  Japanese Maple – what are the white spots on leaves? Hydrangea -- flowers dying prematurely Lavender – why are leaves turning yellow? Tomatoes – what are the small, red insects and webbing? Magnolia tree – limbs have been dying for a few years.  Anything that can be done?   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