Show Notes
This is the big houseplants spesh! Diarmuid and Paul have chosen some great entry level plants, as well as some slightly challenging ones for the more experienced plant mom/dad. Many of them are almost indestructible, so if you're prone to killing your plants, these are the species for you. Chances are you are over-watering, so there's advice on how to care for them. There are also tips on how to choose the right spot in your home and how to cut through the marketing jargon. Plants featured: Aspidistra (cast-iron plant), spider plant, Aloe vera, Schefflera (umbrella plant), Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen), Alocasia (Yucatan Princess), Tillandsia (airplants) and a Phlaenopsis orchid.
More from DIRT with Diarmuid Gavin and Paul Smyth
The lads are back for a Christmas special episode, with talk of Christmas trees (and the debate over tasteful vs exciting decorations), Christmas movies and traditions, the decline of tinsel, and of course plenty of nonsense.
Diarmuid and Paul predict what the gardens of the future will look like. It's likely fewer people will own cars so perhaps driveways will be reclaimed as green spaces. Will VR and the metaverse mean we can travel back in time to see the likes of Hadrian's gardens at Tivoli? Diarmuid also tells the story of his balcony bath. Yes, he actually is bathing outside even though it's winter. And as a follow up to last week's episode, we hear how Diarmuid interpreted the story of Mary Eleanor Bowes in garden form.
Diarmuid and Paul are urging you not to be overzealous with your raking of leaves. If you want to get rid of them from outside your home you can collect them in a refuse sack, punch holes in the bag, leave it for a year and you'll have brilliant compost for potting plants. Diarmuid tells the amazing tale of Mary Eleanor Bowes who was the original (unintended) feminist hero and who's story he has interpreted for a National Trust garden in England.
Diarmuid and Paul help Go Loud tech guru, Paul Bonass, with a very BIG plant problem. His partner, Luke, won a massive philodendron and it's taking over their apartment. Diarmuid is upset with his podcast hero, Joanne McNally, for saying Dermots can never be sexual. The lads talk about their favourite ever gardening books. Might be of use if you're doing your Christmas shopping soon!
Diarmuid has failed to get out of doing a landscaping job for his scary agent. So he's bringing Paul over to London to help him. The lads are also discussing the move to a peat-free garden industry. "Our bogs are our rainforests" and we need to do what we can to save what's left of them. As consumers we can opt for peat free products wherever we can, while the industry can use alternative compost made out of things like coconut husks.