Lately, I’ve been hearing so many people talk about Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory—this idea of letting go of control, shifting your mindset, and ultimately finding peace. And you know what? I realized that I went through a similar shift when it came to my plant care journey, and I want to share it with you in this episode. I'll talk about how we think about our plants, our plant care, and how that shift in mind can bring so much joy, not just to our plant parenthood but also to our lives.

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] Concept of ‘Let Them Theory'
• [01:27] My most popular episode!
• [02:54] I just launched my Growing Joy with Plants Masterclass!
• [04:29] What’s the root cause of your doubt?
• [07:35] Overwhelm and misinformation
• [08:58] How to reframe your “plant killer” identity mindset
• [09:50] How does social media affect your plant care mindset?
• [12:28] How to celebrate plant care
• [15:30] Add moments of serenity throughout your day with Wind River Wind Chimes!
• [18:12] Pick a positive thought about 
• [19:01] Treat every plant misstep as a learning experience
• [20:18]  Take on a growth mindset
• [22:21] Evolving plant parent personalities
• [25:00] How to be a confident plant parent
• [27:09] Develop a relationship with your plants
• [31:43] Celebrate plant wins!

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Why We Struggle with Plant Confidence

Plant care isn't intuitive anymore. Most of us are living in urban environments and are separated from nature. When I was just starting out, I lived in a 500-square-foot apartment, and I couldn't even tell you if there were trees on my block! No wonder I struggled with keeping plants alive.

As adults, we're not used to being students anymore. We feel like we should just know things, right? But plant care is this beautiful opportunity to embrace being a learner again. Besides, with all the information (and misinformation!) floating around on social media, it's easy to get overwhelmed or set unrealistic expectations for ourselves.

Shifting Away from the “Plant Killer” Identity

We need to prune the term “plant killer” from our vocabulary. I used to identify as one too, but I've never met a single plant expert who hasn't killed plants. If someone hasn't killed a plant, it's only because they've never brought one home!

Instead of “plant killer,” let's use terms like:

• Plant learner
• Happy plant parent
• Plant parent in progress
• Evolving plant parent

Every “Failure” is a Learning Opportunity

When I have a plant that's struggling now, I ask it, “What were you here to teach me?” Was it about watering? Light? Pest control?

As long as I've learned something, that plant has been a success story.

When I saw my fiddle-leaf fig, Figaro, drop two of his biggest leaves after a cold snap, my first reaction was, Oh no! I failed him! But then I stopped myself. No, this was actually an amazing opportunity. This was a sign that Figaro needed a new pot and a fresh start.

The same goes for pests. If you get spider mites, you get to learn how to treat them. If your plant gets yellow leaves, you get to investigate why. We’re in a lifelong relationship with our plants, and the best thing we can do is stay open and keep learning.

Understanding Your Plant Parent Personality

One of the biggest turning points for me was realizing that our plant parent personality can shift over time. I used to be a totally mindful plant parent, spending 30 minutes a day with my plants. 

Now, life's different, and after moving to a new home in Florida, I've shifted to being more of a low-maintenance plant parent. And that's okay!

The first step is choosing plants that match your current lifestyle and needs.

Building Real Confidence in Plant Care

Here are my top tips to becoming a more confident plant parent:

1. Know your lighting environment (bring out that compass and check which direction your windows face!)
2. Throw away those one-size-fits-all care cards and learn to read your specific plants
3. Build a consistent routine—even if it's just checking in on your plants once a week
4. Celebrate every win, no matter how small (yes, even that single new leaf!)

The Beauty of Imperfection

You know what? I don't want perfect anymore. Perfect is boring! I have a dead plant in my office right now, but I also have 180 other happy houseplants growing. That's real plant parenthood—it's not about perfection; it's about growth and learning.

Remember, plant friends, this is a lifelong journey. We don't have to know everything right this very moment—just as our plants grow one leaf at a time. At times, we need to let go of the older leaves so that new growth can take place.

It is great just that you're here, trying. And I'm proud of you.

Mentioned in our conversation:

•  Growing Joy with Plants Masterclass
• Growing Joy Episode 43: Your Brain on Plants
• Growing Joy Episode 200: Common Houseplant Pest Identification and How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies and Mealybugs
• What's Your Plant Parent Personality?
• Understanding Natural Light
• Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE)

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Wind River Chimes

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Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

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