Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness

by Maria Failla, Samantha Leung (Illustrator)

Planty practices to grow your way to happier, more peaceful lifeDiscover the power of plants to help you disconnect from the stress and anxiety of modern life and grow more joy in your world. Filled with practices to help plant lovers step away from their screens and cultivate delight and peace of mind with plants, Growing Joy is your guide to transforming plant care into self-care. In easy to read, light-hearted chapters, author Maria Failla, host of the beloved podcast Bloom and Grow Radio, explores the science behind our love of plants and shares how that humble aloe plant on your windowsill can unlock a world of wellness and delight. With ideas and tips both big and small—from simply making a habit of looking at a plant before looking at a screen in the morning to creating a plant-infused restorative retreat in your home—Growing Joy will help you create a meaningful wellness practice rooted in nature and connection. And of course, there’s some plant care tips in there too to make sure both you and your green friends thrive! Whether you’re a plant parent pro or the anxious owner of a single, not-dead-yet succulent, Growing Joy will help you reconnect with yourself, bring more smiles to your face and peace in your heart, and inspire a lifelong relationship with plants that will keep you blooming and growing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Plants, Gardening, Nature, Self Help, Audiobook, Psychology

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2022

Reviews

[Ugnė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knyga pradedantiesiems augalų augintojams, kuriems greta konkrečių patarimų, kaip ką laistyti ir kur laikyti, dar reikia paskatinimo ir padrąsinimo. Draugiška ir optimistiška, vietomis gal netgi perdėm, orientuota į nuostatų augalų atžvilgiu ugdymą ir skatinanti per augalus žiūrėt į save. Jei norisi konkrečių patarimų, ką su kokiu augalu daryti, jų bus mažai ir knyga nuvils. Tačiau jei norisi tiesiog lengvo skaitymo, kuris įkvėptų pradėti kažką auginti savo namuose, tada ši knyga kaip tik tam.

[Simona · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kaip didi gamtos mylėtoja po truputį jaukinuosi ir mintis apie augalų auginimą namuose. Iki šiol rinkdavaus viso labo kaktusus ar pinigų medžius, kurie nekreipia dėmesio į priežiūrą, o jau jei visai apsileidžiu - kai miršta man nelabai skauda. 😀 Bet pastebiu, kad ant palangių atsiranda vis daugiau augalėlių su savom istorijom. Atsiranda noras lipdyt jiems vazoniukus ir bent šiek tiek daugiau jais rūpintis, todėl knygą rinkausi kaip idėjų, įkvėpimo ir žinių šaltinį.

Nepasakyčiau, kad ji buvo neapsakomai nuostabi ar unikali, bet buvo ir neblogų patarimų ar pastebėjimų. Joje radau daug girdėtos informacijos - apie augalų naudą, savipagalbos būdus, meditaciją, terapiją, savo džiaugsmo susikūrimą ir gamtos teikiamą naudą. Jeigu esate visiški miesto žmonės, nieko bendro su gamta ir augalais neturintys - rasit daugiau nei aš.

Knygose mane dažnai erzina ištisų patarimų tirados - rašyk dienoraštį, kalbėk su savo augalais, susikurk rutiną, daryk begales dalykų, kurie tau padės. Tų patarimų jūrose man labiau norėtųsi asmeninės istorijos, žinių, neprimetant jų kaip vieno teisingo kelio. Tikiu, kad kai kuriems tokie patarimai ir gairės padeda susistyguot gyvenimą ir manau, kad jų laikantis išties gali pagerėt gyvenimo kokybė. Bet man labiausiai veikia, kai susikuriu savus ritualus pati. Paskaičius kito kelionę mėgstu pasiimt patikusias detales.

Tai jokių dienoraščių nepuoliau rašyt, kad ir kaip man siūlė. 😀 Bet buvo naudinga paskaityt apie apšvietimą namuose ir augalus, žemės aeraciją, drenažą, augalų tręšimą.

Šiuo gyvenimo etapu nesu išprotėjus dėl kambarinių augalų (labiau dabar mane domina lauko gėlės, naminius augalus tik jaukiuosi), todėl nebuvo labai artima. Bet iš kitos pusės labai žavu, nes suvokiu tokio išprotėjimo dėl ko nors naudą, suprantu bendruomenės naudą ir kitose savo gyvenimo srityse galiu rast sąsąjų su tuo, ką ji rašo. Taip stipriai pasinert į bet kokį hobį gali būti labai daug naudos nešanti patirtis. Žavu stebėti iš šalies kiek daug skirtingų "pasinešimo" sričių kiekvienas sau randame. 💛

[Broken Lifeboat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook 🎧 read by the author
04 hours 43 minutes

Self-care 🧘🏻‍♀️ + plant care 🪴

Better living through houseplants and I dig it

[Ruby Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book about plants and self-care. Maria Failla and Samantha Leung share how engaging with a plant even once a day can help grow joy during the most stressful of times. Whether or not you already have plants, or are wondering how enjoyable they might be, these authors provide great examples of how plants can be a lifeline. Highly recommend! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[CeCe Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a warm embrace of a plant-based book! Maria writes as though she is talking directly to the reader and I drank it up! This book shares Maria’s path from plant killer to lover to podcast host/author/joy bringer. The plant / life connections Maria points out are obvious and yet profound. At the end of the book she has a wonderful section on ‘how to keep plants alive’. She presents this section as the rest of the book - chatty, informative, inspirational. I highly recommend Growing Joy to budding enthusiasts & plant pros alike!

[Agnė | laikas knygai · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tebūnie, pasiduodu, neprisiverčiu perskaityti iki galo.

Kam ši knyga galėtų patikti? Žmogui, nutolusiam nuo gamtos, norinčiam namus pagyvinti žaluma, sulėtinti gyvenimo tempą, daugiau laiko praleisti lauke, gamtoje, pastebėti tiek kambarinių, tiek lauko augalų grožį ir taip sumažinti patiriamą stresą.

Nors pristatoma, kad knyga tinkama ir augalų mylėtojams profesionalams, bet, matomai, mano aplinkoje užtektinai augalų ir džiaugsmo jais rūpinantis, pamokantis autorės tonas erzino ir neatradau joje nieko naujo ar įkvepiančio.

[Eirimė|Pusvalandis tylos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nuostabi knyga, pilna džiaugsmo, gėrio ir meilės.
Auginti geles verta ne tik dėl grožio, bet ir savo vidinio gerbūvio. Skaitant knygą, užsidega meilė augalams, noras juos puoselėti, jais rūpintis. Supranti, kokie jie gali būti kartais trapūs ar kaip tik tvirti lyg medžiai. Tai knyga apie gamtą, apie žalumą, kuri mus lydi kasdien būdama šalia.

[CallahansBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of inspiration to help you make like a tree, and grow!

What I loved about ‘Growing Joy’ is its focus on self-help *through* something: myriad mental & emotional benefits are the byproduct of a healthy interest in plants. It gives you something to do while working on yourself.

There’s a calming, healthy power of nature that’s there for the taking if we know how to harness it.

The author helps readers do just that - let off steam by goin’ green.

Start small.

You don’t have to be Vito Corleone strolling through your vast orange groves. You needn’t be a 16th century peasant tending your isolated zen garden.

A houseplant, a trail walk. Maria Failla’s self-care approach is one with a chance for success (my battlefield of dead orchids notwithstanding).

A modest foray into plant-life might pay outsized dividends toward a peaceful mind. Great read, packed with novel concepts.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing Joy is a book for plant lovers at any stage of their love affair with plants. In a fantastically relatable and conversational style, Maria Failla explores ways in which plants, and nature, can foster well-being in our hectic, over-stimulated human lives. She explores the outdoors, the home, and the senses with techniques for slowing down and tuning into our surroundings so that we might find a sense of peace. But wait, there's more! There are also strategies for managing our love for plants, feelings of plant care overwhelm, general houseplant care tips, and best of all, a list of resources so that the reader can explore topics in more detail. One person's love for plants is not always relatable to another person, for plant lovers there is validation in these pages. The following is a favorite quote, "There is a tenderness within ourselves that can be cultivated. We bond with our plant collections, our hearts swell, and we take those feel-good vibes into the world."

[Amity Orona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up randomly at the library one day.

Then I got a phone call that changed my entire life. I lost my mom. When I started to read this it was just suppose to get my mind off the roaring grief and anger I was feeling.

This book was just what I needed to help me gently acknowledge my pain and grief. It invited me to slow down and savor and nurture not only my plants, but my surroundings, therefore myself.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of Maria's book and was so excited to read it! I loved the way Maria talks to her readers- as if she is there in the room, talking with friends. I appreciated learning about her journey into the world of plants and I share her fascination and joy that comes from watching plants grow and change. Maria connects this joy to self-care in such a seamless, natural way that I immediately started incorporating her self-care recommendations with my plant care. She also provides many resources for other means of self-care and healing in connection with nature, such as forest bathing, and I'm excited to dive into learning these other topics as well. Finally, the book is illustrated beautifully with happy plants and quotes that made me smile each time I turned the page. I think we can all use a reminder to slow down and appreciate the wonder of nature despite the stress of our lives, and this book was just what I needed.

[megan carr · Rating 3 out of 5]

everything and nothing about houseplants

[Chloé · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as a guide to engaging with plants in different ways, especially for self care. It has great ideas for ways to interact with your plants beyond during direct care like watering, and ideas for integrating more plants and nature into your life, both inside and outside. It's readable, engaging, and useful!

[Laura Maia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book does provide some beginner tips for plants and a roadmap for where to look for more info.
However, it is clearly a book writen by an influencer that is not necessarily knowledgeable about the topic. Too much time is spent focused on her personal life or with “easy” metaphors with everyday life.
I bought it, my dog destroyed the cover and I decided on reading it, but I wish I had selected a guide with more information.

[Rashae · Rating 4 out of 5]

*audiobook* I really enjoyed this book!! I found it really insightful and have started transforming a few things at a time to include less technology and more plants and earth connection in my life. It’s been helpful and eye opening, and while I don’t necessarily feel like plant-parenthood is an extreme to devote myself to, I do want a balance of healthy living, healthy plant growth, and caring for the earth that this book talks about.

[Collette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated receiving an ARC of Growing Joy, and felt that it both complemented and expanded my level of appreciation for plants. I also loved the author's metaphors on growing plants and growing ourselves, and all the comparisons that exist between the physical growth of a plant and the inner growth of humans. I posses a natural love of plants, though mostly outdoors through my spring gardens, home landscaping and succulents and cacti obsession. This book prompted me to look at my indoor space and see that I need to bring more living greenery into my home. The book prompted me to get curious and do my research before I started my collection. I have found a few challenges to be not a lot of direct light through my windows and the fact that houseplants are really expensive at plant stores and nurseries. If I do buy retail, I want to make sure I'm set up for success before I buy...maybe considering grow lights or shelving in spaces with lots of light. I'm also hunting for plant sales or plant swaps in my local area, and hoping this new venture will also be an avenue for cultivating some plant friends, as the author recommends in the book. Overall, I'm happy I read this book, as it is full of helpful, encouraging and positive words, which are much needed these days!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this book, from the cover and design presentation (heart eyes for the attached green ribbon bookmark!) to the illustrations, the approachable content, and resources/appendix for future, easy reference. I forget how I found Maria Failla, but I’m so happy that she’s in my virtual life, helping me on my own plant journey!

If you’ve ever wondered why people become obsessed with plants, how people find joy in watering or pruning or propagating, this is the guide for you! I have altered my morning routine thanks to suggestions from Failla’s book (and podcast - - avid listener). If you pick up this book, incorporate the practices that feel helpful and right for you in this moment, leave the others for another time. As you renew your relationship with nature - and yourself - I think you’ll revisit the book and those practices you didn’t feel ready to pursue. In the uncertainty of life, it’s time to grow joy!!!

[Otis · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know what it’s like when you have a genuine conversation with your favorite: aunt, brother, sister - you fill in the blank! They listen without judging but still keep it real with you! This book is much like that. Maria’s passion for people and plants shine through the pages, and, while not for everyone, she has self-care practices to share with everyone. More importantly, Maria Failla gives sound planty advice from a place of compassion and experience, with a planty knowledge that any plant parent can use. Her life experiences strike home on a common and relatable right-of-planty-passage. Delight in her stories and get ready to “dig deep” as Maria helps you achieve your best self and grow your houseplant know-how!

I know this review is a bit “flowery”, but for real people: anyone who cares about self-care can benefit from any of these practices!

[Chloe Tsudama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly-- I haven't read something cover-to-cover in a long time, but Growing Joy is the book that has brought me out of that "half-finished" rut! This book has been written in such a tender, brave, and artful way that hits you right in the feels within the first couple of pages. Growing Joy feels like having a good friend invite you to take a seat on a scenic garden bench next to them, and encourage you to get curious about cultivating connection with yourself, your community, and the beautiful life forms that exist all around us. Maria provides so many wonderful, accessible ways to slow down and hold space for thought, creativity, emotional expression, and relationships. Growing Joy has something for everyone, so if you want a Happy Plant Lady's wisdom, humor, and (mental) warm hug, I can't recommend this more highly!

[Natalija Linkevičienė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sklandžiai parašyta knyga, paminėti įdomūs moksliniai terminai ir įvairios praktikos,bet tik paminėti. Nepatiko,kad viskas labai paviruštiniškai "pačiupinėta". Knyga iš kurios nieko naujo, naudino ar įdomaus neperskaičiau. Apie kambarinių augalų priežiūrą informacijos pateikta tiek pat kiek ant etiketės perkanta augalą. Botaninių žinių apie augalus 3 klasės vadovėlyje apie psasaulio pažinimą daugiau. Jeigu ieškote gražios, bet tikrai išsamios ir naudingos knygos apie augalus ir meilę jiems, rekomenduoju FOTOSINTEZĖ: patarimai ir istorijos iš augalų gyvenimo ( R. Tomlingas). Ar ši knyga naudinga kaip savęs pažinimo? Meilės sau ugdymo? Ne daugiau nei socialiniuose tinkluose rašomos įkvepiančios citatos,afirmacijos. Vertinu 3 ☆, nes vis autorė apie save rašo, lyg ir biografija gavosi.

[Sophia Muta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up on a whim from my local library. It has not been a book on my TBR ever, but looked like it could be a fun read before I start sowing some seeds for my summer garden. I am not a plant aficionado (although my brother is and has a ton of amazing indoor plants) so some of the content about indoor plants did not relate to my current self (but maybe my future self will have an indoor greenhouse some day).

I did learn about taking time with nature and slowing down my normal routine. I learned about the joy of sharing plants and sharing plant-y stories. I also learned that I need to do a much better job at finding ways to connect with nature throughout the work day whether that be listening to nature sounds or adding some more plants to my office.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of us who love plants, we know the joys and the struggles they can bring. I have enjoyed Maria's Podcast and was excited when I heard she would be coming out with a book, and it did not disappoint!

I loved how Maria talked about how she used to struggle with not keeping plants alive, it made it that much easier to connect with the book. My plant practice has grown since starting the book. Taking time each day to enjoy my plants, see what both they and I need to grow, be healthy, and happy.

I would recommend this book for anyone. New to plants, or had their collections a long time. There is something for everyone in this book.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book for those new keeping houseplants or those that have years of experience. Growing Joy will help you be remember to be mindful & present as you care for plants, which will become an important aspect of your daily self care routine. I appreciated Maria's writing style - if you listen to her podcast, Bloom & Grow Radio, you will hear her voice as you read this book! If you are a new plant parent, Maria has also included a clear & succinct section on basic plant care & the common mistakes and misunderstandings to avoid. A great read to remind us about the importance of including nature everyday in our lives.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a joy to read! It really felt like a conversation with a good friend. The author seamlessly intertwines personal stories, self help practices, and plant care tips into a fantastic book. The reflective practices made me think about my self care and daily routines in a different way. Not only did it make me reflect differently about myself but my approach to plant parenthood as well. I highly recommend this book for plant beginners as well as plant experts. There is something in it for everyone!

[Sharon Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of Growing Joy. Let me tell you what fun it was to read this book! Maria’s style of writing makes you feel like you’re chatting ear to ear with a fellow plant lover. So many relatable points and even more new ways discovered to weave plant love into our daily lives which are far too often laced with distress from a chaotic world. Caring for plants balances our souls and this book will have you giggling and oooh’ing and ahhh’ing throughout the pages.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has got to be one of best books I received that felt like a gift filled with so much planting information and practices to finally get my butt from just thinking about doing; to actually planting, cultivating and growing beautiful plants. I have garnered the knowledge to carefully take care of and correctly extend the life of my plants while feeling such a profound feeling of mindfulness, joy and time with my thoughts.

You can’t even imagine the happiness a plant’s impact can have on you from the initial planting to its establishment of a full grown plant in all of its glory.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really unique take on self-care! Maria Failla uses plants as a tool to slow down in a world where we're all over the place trying to succeed and please everyone. She uses a ton of personal examples to show how learning to care for your plants and incorporating that knowledge into a weekly/daily schedule can give you the time you need to press pause and re-center yourself.

Really great if plants are your thing!

[Willow Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me giggling, tearing up, laughing, being insightfull, nodding in agreement and feeling nostalgic. Maria flawlessly links the natural world around us with our human inside life, making all the necesaary puns, the metaphors, the parallels, and the lessons relatable. This book is a joy to read. Grab a glass of your drink of choice, find a plant to hang out with and get comfortable, because it's hard to put this book down!

[Joan]

I do not remember disliking the way a book was written more than Growing Joy. Does the author know any other words other than “freaking” and “ suck it up”. Shows her use of the English language poorly.
This could have been a sweet book regarding the meditative relationship between nature and a person.
Too bad the author could not have been a bit above the slang jargon. Wish I had not wasted my money.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I found the book to be very straightforward and I appreciated its brevity. At times the book felt repetitive, either repeated phrases in the same chapter or repeated themes throughout the book entirely. One feature I found very helpful and interesting was the journaling and mindfulness prompts throughout each chapter of the book.