Podcast Summary: All Of It – “Plantcare Calls As Spring Approaches”
Date: February 28, 2024
Host: Matt Katz (in for Alison Stewart)
Guest: Chris Satch (“Plant Doctor”; Professor at New York Botanical Gardens, Founder of NYC Plant Help)
Episode Theme:
Practical, science-backed advice on plant care as winter shifts into spring. Chris Satch fields listener questions about indoor and outdoor plants, climate change impacts, seed starting, pruning, repotting, and more.
Main Theme & Purpose
As spring approaches and temperatures fluctuate, the episode helps plant enthusiasts navigate the changing season. Listeners call in with practical concerns about reviving their greenery, starting seedlings, dealing with plant confusion amid erratic weather, and more, while Chris Satch offers hands-on wisdom rooted in plant science.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Plant Awareness of Seasonal Change
[03:33 – 06:35]
- Plant Rhythm & Sensing: Plants, like humans, have circadian rhythms. They can sense lengthening days and temperature changes, triggering growth.
- Indoor vs. Outdoor: Indoor plants will soon show new growth as days become longer. For outdoor plants, early bloomers (witch hazel, crocuses) start showing up; outdoor microclimates may cause variation.
- Quote:
“They actually know a lot more about what's going on than we do.”
— Chris Satch [03:47] - Urban Microclimates: NYC’s unique geography, with its rivers and ocean proximity, makes it milder than nearby upstate areas, affecting planting zones.
2. Climate Change Impact on Plants
[06:35 – 07:40]
- Plants are already exhibiting changed behavior—e.g., cherry blossoms budding too early and risking damage from late frosts.
- Broader Impact: Unseasonal frosts affect not just city flora but upstate crops, influencing food prices and yields.
- Quote:
"...if we get a late season frost or a surprise frost because the climate is unstable... that does affect Food prices. And that does affect apple yields, apple picking, all the other things..."
— Chris Satch [07:17]
3. Listener Q&A Segments
a. Starting Daisy Seeds Indoors
[07:48 – 10:20]
- Daisies can be started indoors now or within the next week or two.
- Use regular potting soil in seed trays; compact the soil, plant according to packet instructions, water with warm water, and keep somewhere warm. Heat mats can help.
- Some seeds need light to germinate—scatter tiny seeds like chamomile on top of soil.
- Quote:
“You want to make sure also that the seed tray is in a warm area, that it's not getting a cold draft.”
— Chris Satch [09:08]
b. When to Start Seeding Indoors
[10:20 – 11:35]
- Early March is ideal for sowing seeds indoors, especially for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.
- Some plants (bulbs, garlic, tulips) are best planted in the fall but can still be sown now with lesser results.
c. Planting Old Bulbs
[11:35 – 12:16]
- If old bulbs are sprouting (showing green), they can be planted outside now, even if they weren't vernalized.
d. Reviving a Gardenia Exposed to Cold
[12:16 – 13:32]
- “Brown” typically means dead; if any part remains green, there’s hope.
- Cut off frost-damaged leaves—if no new growth appears in a month, it’s likely dead.
- Quote:
“Brown usually means dead.”
— Chris Satch [12:24]
e. Pruning and Repotting
[13:32 – 16:13]
- Prune if the plant has outgrown its space or is growing awkwardly.
- Repot when soil degrades (color changes, weird smell, muddiness), or if it’s been a couple of years.
- Let plants dry slightly before repotting for easier handling.
- Quote:
“The general rule is whenever the media goes bad and you can kind of tell by the color of the medium... when it starts to have, like a weird smell, it's definitely time to repot.”
— Chris Satch [15:23]
f. How To Get Robust Seedlings
[16:19 – 19:31]
- Leggy seedlings mean not enough light—plants are “living solar panels.”
- For strongest seedlings:
- Provide as much direct light as possible—ideally an unobstructed south-facing window, plus grow lights as needed.
- Transplant when seedlings outgrow trays (about 4–5 inches tall).
- For non-cold-hardy seedlings, transplant into bigger pots until after last frost.
- Quote:
“There's no such thing as a low light plant. ...A plant is a solar panel.”
— Chris Satch [17:05]
g. Do Plants Like Company?
[19:31 – 20:38]
- Plants can communicate via underground fungal networks; being close benefits them by slightly improving microclimate/humidity.
- Quote:
“Trees have been communicating through mycelial fungal hyphae networks between tree to tree... Plants do communicate… they do better when they're next to each other.”
— Chris Satch [19:47]
Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes
- On plant confusion:
“Some trees do get confused by odd weather patterns... you might have a cherry blossom tree that randomly is making flowers even through the dead of winter.”
— Chris Satch [05:54] - On seed starting techniques:
“When you get the bag of soil and you first plant things, it's very loose. You want to compact it, and you want to make sure that you water it right after you plant it with warm water to help with germination.”
— Chris Satch [09:00] - On social plants:
“Plants definitely are social creatures whether we care to admit it or not… It also helps the microclimate, like the humidity around there be better.”
— Chris Satch [19:47–20:20]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [03:33] – Plant awareness of seasons/circadian rhythm
- [06:35] – Climate change impacts
- [07:48] – Daisy seed starting Q&A
- [11:35] – Bulb planting advice
- [12:16] – Rescuing frozen gardenia
- [13:46] – Pruning & repotting
- [16:19] – How to get robust seedlings
- [19:31] – Do plants do better when grouped together?
Closing
Chris Satch, the “Plant Doctor,” generously shares accessible, science-informed plant advice deeply relevant to city living and a warming climate. Whether you’re an aspiring green thumb or a longtime plant parent, his blend of practical guidance and plant science provides both reassurance and actionable steps for thriving through seasonal transition.