Podcast Summary: “Meterse en un jardín | Tareas para tener las plantas bien cuidadas durante el invierno”

Podcast: Hoy por Hoy
Host: Àngels Barceló
Guest: Eduardo Barba (botanist and gardening expert)
Date: 25 November 2025
Theme: Practical advice and insights for keeping plants healthy during the winter months — with a mix of botany, storytelling, and calls from listeners.

Episode Overview

The episode delves into how to care for plants during late autumn and winter, focusing on both the emotional aspect of botany — highlighted by the dramatic rediscovery of rare plants — and practical gardening tips for this cold, low-light period. The episode combines educational advice, personal anecdotes, and live listener questions to illustrate how everyone can better tend to their household and garden plants as the seasons change.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Botanical Adventures: Rediscovering Rare Plants

• The Rafflesia hasselti Story (00:42–05:24)
  • The episode opens with a moving story: after 13 years of searching, a team of botanists finds the rare Rafflesia hasselti bloomed in the jungles of Sumatra.
  • Quote:
    “Resulta que un equipo de botánicos llevaba 13 años buscando una de las plantas más raras del mundo… Y ahora quiero que escuchen el momento en el que este equipo de botánicos encuentra la planta y además la encuentra en flor.” – Àngels Barceló (00:42)
  • Eduardo shares his own experience in Namibia, where he and a colleague rediscovered a species of plant not seen for decades:
    • Quote:
      “En medio de esa aridez, de ese aparente páramo, aparecía esta hermania... cuando llegó Dave, empezó a bailar porque era esa hermania que no se había vuelto a ver desde hacía docenas y docenas de años, o sea que esa emoción existe.” – Eduardo Barba (02:34–03:59)

2. Winter Plant Care Fundamentals

• Activity in the Garden Never Fully Stops (05:24–07:37)

  • Even as temperatures drop and leaves fall, root systems can still grow, and some plant activity persists.
  • Insight: Adjusting care for microclimates is crucial, as winter at the coast isn’t like winter inland. But all plants feel the reduced light hours, lowering their metabolic rate.

• Light Management for Indoor Plants (06:30–07:37)

  • Place indoor plants as close as possible to windows during winter to maximize light.
  • Quote:
    “Eso va a hacer que la planta tenga mayor absorción de energía. Entonces, arrimar las plantas de interior a las ventanas que tengan mejor iluminación, eso va a hacer que la planta esté mucho más sana, mucho más vital en estos días.” – Eduardo Barba (07:12)

• Watering in Winter: Precautions and Habits (07:37–10:39)

  • Be even more careful with watering: only water when the substrate is dry several centimeters deep, as plants’ water needs decrease with light.
  • Practical tip: Use a bamboo stick or finger to check soil moisture — avoid watering on a strict schedule.
  • Quote:
    “El riego no se puede temporalizar… tocamos o metemos esa varilla de bambú … y cuando ya saco veo que si todavía queda la mitad de sustrato húmedo o no, la riego.” – Eduardo Barba (09:10)

• Heating and Humidity Concerns (09:37–10:39)

  • Central heating dries the air — monitor plants near radiators, as increased evaporation can damage them.
  • Quote:
    “La calefacción reseca mucho el ambiente.” – Àngels Barceló (10:06)
  • Keep an eye on humidity; dry air can affect both people and plants (“las narices se resecan”).

3. Outdoor Plants: Watering and Microclimates

• Don’t Stop Watering Completely (10:39–12:21)
  • Even if it rains, check potted and garden plants — roots still need some moisture.
  • Quote:
    “Eso es un error, porque hay que tener en cuenta que siempre la planta va a necesitar un punto de humedad en ese sustrato, en esa tierra.” – Eduardo Barba (11:25)
  • Sectors under rooftops or eaves may not get rain — water them appropriately.

4. Listener Call — “Pata de elefante” (Beaucarnea recurvata) Care

• Question from Maribel in Valencia (12:29–15:30)
  • Her "pata de elefante" has droopy leaves that touch the floor and tips turning brown.
  • Eduardo’s advice:
    • The drooping is normal due to the plant’s adaptation; leaves act as a “parasol” for the stem.
    • Lifting the plant could help keep leaf tips from browning by avoiding contact with the floor.
    • Potential issue: underwatering — increase dose, but let the substrate dry between waterings.
    • Reduce water more in winter due to less sunlight.
  • Quote:
    “Quizás es tan poquita agua la que le estás echando que quizás eso sea la consecuencia de esa reducción de la superficie foliar, esa consecuencia de que las puntas de las hojas se pongan marrones. Así que cuando vuelvas a regar, métele un poco más de dosis.” – Eduardo Barba (15:01)

5. Fertilizing and Pruning in Late Autumn and Winter

• Fertilizer Use: (15:30–16:59)
  • Only fertilize if the plant is showing new growth/activity, and at a lower dose.
  • Many plants benefited from an early autumn (September) fertilizer.
  • Quote:
    "Las plantas de interior ahora hay que abonar siempre y cuando veamos que hay actividad." – Eduardo Barba (15:46)
• Pruning: (16:59–18:37)
  • Do not prune if the plant is not fully dormant.
  • Identify the species before pruning, as timing and method depend on it.
  • Accept the “nude” look of winter plants rather than pruning for mere aesthetics.
  • Quote:
    "La desnudez en las plantas también es bonita y tenemos que acostumbrarnos a esa estética..." – Eduardo Barba (18:14)
  • Always ask “Why am I pruning?” and consult a pro or nursery if unsure.

6. Late Fall Planting and Adding Color

• Bulbs and Winter Flowers (18:37–18:54)
  • Now is a great time to buy and plant bulbs or flowering plants (e.g., cyclamen) to brighten up balconies and gardens — natural color is encouraged.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the thrill of rediscovery:
  “Cuando llegó Dave, empezó a bailar porque era esa hermania que no se había vuelto a ver desde hacía docenas y docenas de años.” – Eduardo Barba (03:47)
• Practical wisdom:
  “El riego no se puede temporalizar… tocamos o metemos esa varilla de bambú…” – Eduardo Barba (09:10)
• Accepting winter’s aesthetics:
  “La desnudez en las plantas también es bonita y tenemos que acostumbrarnos a esa estética.” – Eduardo Barba (18:14)
• On learning species-specific care:
  “Si yo no sé la especie, no meto la tijera.” – Eduardo Barba (18:21)

Important Timestamps

• [00:42] – [05:24]: Rafflesia hasselti rediscovery & personal botanical expeditions
• [05:24] – [07:37]: General winter plant physiology and light guidance
• [07:37] – [10:39]: Watering practices and heating/humidity issues indoors
• [10:39] – [12:21]: Outdoor garden plant watering strategies
• [12:29] – [15:30]: Listener call: Beaucarnea recurvata (“pata de elefante”) troubleshooting
• [15:30] – [18:37]: Winter fertilizing, pruning dos-and-don’ts
• [18:37] – [18:54]: Planting bulbs and adding winter color

Key Takeaways

• Keep plants as close to available light as possible in winter, especially indoors.
• Be extremely cautious with winter watering: always check substrate moisture first.
• Watch out for the dehydrating effects of heating; increase humidity if needed.
• Outdoor plants, even in rainy climates, may still need occasional watering.
• Fertilize only active/growing plants, and at a lower dose in winter.
• Prune only when the species and dormancy status warrant it — and accept the winter look!
• Add bulbs and cold-season bloomers for natural winter color in gardens and terraces.

Episode tone: Warm, friendly, expert, and practical, with occasional humorous banter and relatable real-life anecdotes.
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