PlantRx
PlantRx is the Costa Farms houseplants podcast, hosted by Justin and Michelle, who answer common questions about indoor plant care. Each episode tackles plant dilemmas, debunks widespread myths, and shares practical advice drawn from their combined decades of experience. Michelle is an IPM manager at Costa Farms in North Carolina, focused on natural pest control including beneficial insects, while Justin is a horticulturist based in rural Oregon with a horticultural science degree. Listeners can submit their own houseplant questions by email for the hosts to address on the show.
Episodes
Plant Rx: Podcast What's in a Name? The Pothos Problem
Is a pothos really a pothos? As Justin Hancock and Marcos Garcia discuss in this episode of Plant Rx, the answer is a perfectly reasonable "sort of." They dig into the sometimes-confusing world of common and botanical names, including why the plant most of us call pothos is actually an Epipremnum and how botanical research shook up its family tree. Justin explains what a true Pothos is, how Scinda
Plant RX: National Indoor Plant Week: Do Houseplants Really Do All That?
Indoor Plant Week has been celebrating houseplants since 2007, raising an important question: What exactly were we doing with ourselves before that? In this episode of Plant Rx, Justin Hancock and Marcos Garcia dig into what makes an indoor plant an indoor plant, where our houseplants come from, and why some are much better roommates than others. They also take on a few persistent plant myths, inc
Plant RX: The Dorm Room Plant Survival Guide
Dorm rooms don't exactly scream "homey," but a few well-chosen houseplants can fix that fast. In this episode of Plant Rx, Justin Hancock and Marcos Garcia dig into bringing plants to campus, from picking varieties for small, dimly lit rooms to settling the age-old debate: one statement plant, or a whole crew of little ones? They talk about how plants can ease stress, give roommates something to b
Plant Rx: Summer Plant Care 101: Heat, Watering, Humidity, and Fertilizer
It's summer, which means your houseplants are hot, thirsty, and possibly judging your life choices. In this episode of Plant Rx, Justin Hancock and Marcos Garcia tackle the biggest summer plant-care questions, from heat stress and watering woes to humidity myths and fertilizer basics. You'll learn why plants may appear to "hit pause" during extreme heat, how to transition houseplants outdoors with
Holiday Plants 101: Poinsettias, Christmas Cactus, Norfolk Island Pine, and Amaryllis
It's our special holiday episode of Plant RX, and we're talking about the four stars of the season: Poinsettias, Holiday cactus, Norfolk Island pine, and amaryllis. Justin, Michelle, and Marcos break down what makes these plants "holiday plants" in the first place, plus the behind-the-scenes details that make them showstoppers. You'll learn why the red on a poinsettia isn't actually the flower, ho
Pothos Naming Debate, Spider Mites vs. Spiders, Fast-Growing Houseplants
Justin and Michelle talk about the common name confusion around Epipremnum species — is it always "Pothos," or should we be more precise? Listeners will learn why common names can be messy, how Costa Farms approaches naming for plant parents, and why philodendrons add another layer of confusion. The hosts cover how to tell the difference between a spider mite infestation and a regular spider. T
Overwatered Plants, Variegated Leaf Browning, Golden Crocodile Care
Justin and Michelle talk about what to do when you bring home a houseplant that's been severely overwatered. From simple drying tricks to "root surgery," listeners will learn practical steps to save their plants and what warning signs to look for. The hosts cover browning on Thai Constellation variegated leaves. They share how to tell if it's stress, disease, or just the plant adjusting to a new
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Monstera deliciosa, Fruit & Fenestrations, Easy-Care Plant Draft
Marcos, Justin, and Michelle talk about Monstera deliciosa—from how to pronounce it, to where it comes from, to why its leaves develop those iconic fenestrations. Listeners will also hear the truth about its fruit: what it tastes like, how to ripen it safely, and whether it's worth the hype. The hosts cover Monstera care tips, including staking, light levels, watering, and dealing with aerial root
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Watering Xanthosoma, Pruning Monstera, and Growing Pothos Faster
We love houseplants. And we want you to, too --- so we've put together this podcast where we answer common questions and share tips to help you be successful. Michelle, Senior Integrated Pest Manager, and Horticulturist Justin answer questions from the houseplant community. In this episode they cover: 1) Michelle and Justin talk about watering Xanthosoma (aka Caladium lindenii, aka Phytotaenium li
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Pruning Pothos, Spiders & Plants, Growing Aloe Vera, & Fertilizing
We're passionate about plants --- and helping you enjoy your houseplant experiences. Can't get enough about houseplants? Dig into Plant Rx, the official Costa Farms podcast focused on talking about indoor plants. Michelle, Senior Integrated Pest Manager, and Horticulturist Justin answer questions from the houseplant community. In this episode they cover: 1) Michelle and Justin talk about pruning B
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Propagating Pothos, Predatory Mites, & Houseplants in Heatwaves
Can't get enough about houseplants? Dig into Plant Rx, the podcast from Costa Farms dedicated to talking about indoor plants. Michelle, Senior Integrated Pest Manager, and Horticulturist Justin answer questions from the houseplant community. In this episode they cover: 1) Michelle and Justin share tips for propagating Pothos (Epipremnum) and whether they like to start Pothos cuttings in water, san
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: English Ivy, Bacterial Leaf Spot & Pothos + Flowering Houseplants
Attention houseplant lovers! Check out Plant Rx, the podcast from Costa Farms dedicated to talking about indoor plants. Michelle, Senior Integrated Pest Manager, and Horticulturist Justin answer questions from the houseplant community. In this episode they cover: 1) Michelle and Justin share tips for growing English Ivy (Hedera helix cultivars) as a houseplant. (Neither recommend growing it as an
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Watering & Repotting, Pest Scouting, and Bringing Plants Outside
We've launched this houseplant-themed podcast to help you enjoy more success with your favorite indoor plants. Two of our team --- pest expert and Sr. IPM manager Michelle and horticulturist Justin --- answer your most pressing plant questions. In this episode, we cover: 1) Whether you should water your houseplants right after repotting them. Justin and Michelle mostly agree that you should --- bu
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Plastic vs. Clay Pots, Thrips vs. Fungus Gnats & Growing Coffee
We love houseplants --- and we love sharing our knowledge/passion/love of plants with you. That's why we put together this podcast! Two of our houseplant Whether you call them houseplants, indoor plants, or interior plants, Costa Farms is here to help you enjoy (more) success with your plants! So we've put together a podcast where we answer your most common houseplant questions. Hosted by Michelle
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Growing Calatheas, Indoor Caladiums + Houseplant Ferns
Whether you call them houseplants, indoor plants, or interior plants, Costa Farms is here to help you enjoy (more) success with your plants! So we've put together a podcast where we answer your most common houseplant questions. Hosted by Michelle, Senior Integrated Pest Manager, and Horticulturist Justin, we love taking plants. In this episode: 1) Calathea Care: Michelle and Justin share their sec
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Ficus lyrata in Planters, Houseplant Soil, Low-Light Houseplants
Attention houseplant lovers! Check out Plant Rx, the podcast from Costa Farms dedicated to talking about indoor plants. Michelle, Senior Integrated Pest Manager, and Horticulturist Justin answer questions from the houseplant community. In this episode they cover: 1) Whether you can grow a Fiddleleaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) as an outdoor container plant on your deck, patio, or porch. Spoiler: As long as
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Repotting, Dealing with Scale Insects, + Pots w/ No Drainage
Love houseplants? So do we! That's why we launched this podcast. Two of our experts --- IPM Manager Michelle and Horticulturist Justin dig into the indoor plant questions you send in! In this episode they cover: 1) The debate over whether you should break up the rootball when you repot your favorite houseplants (Justin is for it; Michelle not so much). 2) How to treat your indoor plants for scale
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Manjula Pothos Variegation, Dealing with Whitefly + Overwatering
Two houseplant experts from Costa Farms answer your most common questions about indoor plants! Michelle is a senior manager of Integrated Pest Management (so she works to prevent issues with pests and diseases on the farm) and Justin is a horticulturist. They're both serious plant lovers, too! In this episode of our houseplant podcast, they talk about: 1) Variegation on Manjula pothos... what does
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Earth Day!
Love houseplants? So do we! That's why we launched this podcast. Two of our experts --- IPM Manager Michelle and Horticulturist Justin dig into the indoor plant questions you send in! In this episode We're doing something a little bit different! To celebrate Earth Day, Justin and Michelle are sitting down with our Sustainability Specialist Erika to talk about what Costa Farms is doing to be more s
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Growing Cordyline, Millipedes, + Scindapsus 'Moonlight' Watering
Love houseplants? So do we! That's why we launched this podcast. Two of our experts --- IPM Manager Michelle and Horticulturist Justin dig into the indoor plant questions you send in! In this episode they cover: 1) Growing Cordyline (aka Ti Plant) as an interior plant. Hint: This pink variegated houseplant loves warm, bright conditions. 2) Dealing with millipedes in your houseplants. The good news
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Rooting Philodendron Leaves, Soil Mold + Repotting in the Winter
Enjoy more beautiful and healthy houseplants with the help of the Costa Farms team! In this episode of our plant podcast, IPM (integrated pest management) Manager Michelle and Horticulturist Justin talk about: 1) Whether you can propagate philodendrons (such as Philodendron 'Birkin') from just a leaf. Spoiler alert: You can't from just a leaf. 2) What to do when you see mold on top of the soil of
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Global Green Pothos Leaves, Cats + Houseplants, and Pothos Totems
Enjoy more beautiful and healthy houseplants with the help of the Costa Farms team! In this episode of our plant podcast, IPM (integrated pest management) Manager Michelle and Horticulturist Justin talk about: 1) How to keep your Global Green Pothos (Epipremnum aureum 'Global Green') looking its best. Hint: Bright light is best to keep its variegation from fading on the older leaves. 2) Finding a
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Guttation, Aphids on Houseplants, + Growing Baltic Blue Pothos
Enjoy more beautiful and healthy houseplants with the help of the Costa Farms team! In this episode of our plant podcast, IPM (integrated pest management) Manager Michelle and Horticulturist Justin talk about: 1) Why pothos (and other aroids) may drip water from the tips of their leaves -- and what you should do about it 2) Dealing with aphids if you see them appear on your indoor plants (from org
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Cold Damage, Powdery Mildew, + Yellow Leaves on Houseplants
Get answers to your houseplant questions! In this episode of Costa Farms' Plant Prescription podcast all about houseplants, our team members Michelle and Justin tackle questions you write in with and talk about common indoor plant misperceptions. This time, they cover: 1) Cold damage on Scindapsus trebuii 'Moonlight' (and other houseplants) 2) Dealing with powdery mildew on Begonia maculata 3) Kee
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Quarantining New Plants, Root Rot, Ficus lyrata Leaf Drop, +More
Enjoy more beautiful and healthy houseplants with the help of the Costa Farms team! In this episode of our plant podcast, IPM (integrated pest management) Manager Michelle and Horticulturist Justin talk about: 1) Their recommendations for quarantining new plants (tip: it all has to do with how comfortable you are with pest scouting) 2) Dealing with root rot on Monstera adansonii and other tropical
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Red Earth Star, Springtails in Houseplants + Xanthosoma Dormancy
In this, like every episode, Costa Farms IPM Manager Michelle (IPM means she works with beneficial bugs!) and Horticulturist Justin help answer your most common houseplant questions/problems. The Q&A Michelle and Justin highlight this time include: 1) How you can keep your earth star colorful (if it's gone from red to green) 2) What you can do if you see springtails in your plant's potting mix 3)
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Coconut Coir for Houseplants, Treating Sooty Mold, + Plant Tags
Enjoy more beautiful and healthy houseplants with the help of the Costa Farms team! In the sixth episode of our indoor plant podcast, we share: 1) Information about our potting mix (hint: It's coconut coir and shredded wood, two renewable resources) 2) What it means if you see sooty mold, a benign black fungi that grows on honeydew (the droppings of several different kinds of insect pests) 3) What
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Overwintering Hibiscus, Controlling Mealybugs, Grow Lights, + More
Enjoy more beautiful and healthy houseplants with the help of the Costa Farms team! In the fifth episode of our plant podcast, we share tips for: 1) Overwintering tropical hibiscus in cold climates (yes, you can grow them from year to year, even in Minnesota!) 2) Combatting the dreaded mealybug on houseplants (it can be a long fight) 3) What you can do with your shingle vine (Rhaphidophora hay
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Distilled Water, Sunburn, Peace Lily Flowers, & More
Grow happier houseplants with the help of the Costa Farms team! In the fourth episode of our plant podcast, we talk whether you really need to use distilled water for Calatheas and other indoor plants, go over how to treat sunburn on your plants leaves (unfortunately rubbing Aloe on it won't quite do the trick), clear up why you might see in your plant's soilwhat looks like, but definitely isn
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Begonia maculata, Beneficial Insects, & Anthuriums
Grow happier houseplants with the help of the Costa Farms team! In the third episode of our plant podcast, we share tips for keeping polka dot begonia (Begonia maculata) happy and healthy, talk about why you might consider using beneficial insects in your home to combat pests (and why we use them at our farm. Hint: one of the reasons is that it's part of our sustainability efforts), and discuss gr
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Low-Light Houseplants, Spider Mites & Monstera
Get expert recommendations for low-light houseplants (including pothos, ZZ plant, sansevieria, and aglaonema), tips to get rid of spider mites on your houseplants (want to do it the natural way? Try Persimilis!), and find out how to get your Monstera deliciosa to grow faster. Plus, learn about growing Anthurium clarinervium from seed, and more. In each episode Costa Farms IPM Manager Michelle (IPM
PlantRx Podcast from Costa Farms: Repotting, Fungus Gnats, and Raven ZZ's
Welcome to the Costa Farms podcast. Michelle and Justin jump into helping you solve common houseplant questions/problems. In this episode, they cover: When should you repot your new houseplant? Do you need to do it right away? Should you do it right away? How do you deal with fungus gnats in your houseplants? Are there natural ways to get rid of these insect pests? What do you need to do to get yo
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