If you’re a plant lover, you’ve probably come across Chantel, the brilliant mind behind @channygrayhome on Instagram. Over the past few years, she has built a community of over half a million plant enthusiasts. But there’s so much more to her than her incredible follower count.In this episode, I’ll take you behind the scenes of my chat with Channy—where we talked about her plant history, her love for DIYs, her big move from the Arizona desert to lush Iowa, and how she juggles being a plant mom and a mom to three kids.In this episode, we learn:[03:15] How Channy and I met at a Botanical Garden[07:28] What has Channy’s plant journey been like?[15:14] Add serenity to your life in 2025 and beat the winter blues with Wind River Chimes![16:56] Start your kitchen garden today by grabbing a copy of Kitchen Garden Living by Bailey Van Tassel[19:10] What does pest prevention mean for Channy?[21:12] Channy’s new plant soap for pest control![23:57] What does a bubble bath for plants look like?[25:07] How to balance motherhood and plant care[28:17] Top tips to make plant care easy and fun![30:06] Decorating with plant cuttings[32:03] Lechuza pon vs LECA[33:54] How did Channy get into DIY projects?[35:30] Moving to Iowa and preparing for changes[38:02] What does Channy’s family think of her plant collection?[40:38] What it feels like to have 500k+ followers[43:00] What are her future plans for Channy Gray Home?[44:30] Where can you find Channy on social media?Mentioned in our conversation:Growing Joy Ep 240: How to Move with Houseplants with Becca De La PlantsGrowing Joy Ep 226: How to Repot HouseplantsGrowing Joy Ep 109: Passive Hydroponics 2.0 and the LECA VS PON DebatePlant Soap by Channy Gray HomeLECHUZA-PON Plant SubstrateLECALearn more about Channy's top houseplant care tips,check out the full show notes and blog here!Follow Channy Gray Home:WebsiteShopInstagramFacebookTikTokThank you to our episode sponsors:Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Quarto: The Water-Smart Garden by Noelle JohnsonGrab a copy of Kitchen Garden Living at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Quarto.com, or Amazon.com to get inspired and grow organically.Follow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
