How Plants Communicate: VOCs, Mycorrhizae & the Hidden Language of Plants: Best of Growing Joy

Plant friend, I'm so excited to bring you this Best of Growing Joy series, a throwback episode to 2020. In the pandemic, I let my plant nerd freak flag fly extremely high. New York Botanical Garden had only in-person classes at the Botanical Garden in the Bronx, and in the pandemic they brought those classes online. I took every class they had to offer: soil science, plant science 101, and this class on tree communication with a professor I loved, Dr. Elle Barnes. She gave this fascinating class on the secret world of plant communication, particularly trees.This is the replay of the episode I did with her after taking her course because I was so fascinated. I found her entire course incredible and awe-inspiring and wanted to bring a sliver of it to our community. A couple years later, I wanted to bring it back in case you might've missed it way down the feed.In this conversation, Dr. Barnes and I explore the wild world of the "wood wide web" and how plants use fungi and VOCs—volatile organic compounds—to communicate. It's gonna blow your mind. You're never gonna look at trees the same. So buckle up. In this episode, we learn:How and why plants communicate with each otherThe “fake news” that VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are all bad for usHow plants use VOCs to communicate with each other and themselvesThe above ground plant communication systemIf plants ACTUALLY clean the air, and how and why we might have been mislead with this notionIf VOCS are all badThe difference between a VOC that comes off of a plant and one that comes off of a carpetThe truth about the scent of fresh cut grass (and why it smells that way)What the scent of a rose actually is (it's a VOC!)How plants use VOCs to attract pollinatorsMaria's OBSESSION with The OverstoryHow plants and animals have evolved together“The enemy of my enemy” theory when it comes to how plants attract certain pollinatorsThe “Wood Wide Web” and the underground plant communication systemHow fungi help trees and plants communicate with each otherDr Barnes' most “mind blowing” fact about trees and VOCWhy Monstera are conditioned to look for darkness and not lightVOCs and the Ozone Mentioned in our conversation:Dr. Barnes's first episode on Growing Joy: Mind Blowing Facts from Intro to Plant ScienceThe Science of Tree Communication Course at NYBGThe Overstory (Maria's absolute favorite book) Next time you smell a rose, basil, or the forest after rain… which VOC fact will you think about first?Check out the full show notes and blog to learn what’s really behind your favorite natural scents and how plants use them to survive! 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: @growingjoywithmaria Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.