Plants Always Win Podcast

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  • Ep 51 Our Top Plant ID Apps

    Ep 51 Our Top Plant ID Apps

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    These two free plant ID tools can help you level up your observation and identification skills, spot invasive species, and even engage in citizen science to track what is spreading in your area. If you garden, hike, or just want to know whether that weird thing in your yard is a native, a weed, or a problem waiting to happen, this episode is for you.

    Sean sends Erin to do a trial run of the apps he actually trusts, including the built-in photo matching tools on smart devices, iNaturalist, and EDD Maps. They explain why a confident-looking app result is not the same as a correct identification, how to improve your odds with better photos, and how to improve your own skills by learning to think about location, season, leaf shape, branching pattern, and flower stage.

    You’ll discover:

    • Why free tools often beat paid plant ID apps
    • How iNaturalist turns your plant photos into citizen science
    • What EDD Maps tracks beyond plants, including insects, diseases, fungi, and wildlife
    • How to increase your chances of an accurate match

    Links

    iNaturalist

    “Identify plants, animals, fungi, and more while adding to a living atlas of life on Earth.”

    EDDMapS

    Find, map, and report invasive species in your area.

    Plants Always Win: Resources

    Find all our favourite gardening resources in one place. 

    Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? 

    Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. 

    Discord: https://discord.gg/K6wF9dY4Ja
    Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com
    TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast
    YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast
    Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com 

    Credits
    Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin

    Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays

    License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH

    Timestamps

    00:12 Introduction
    01:11 What’s Growing On? Erin’s Harvest + Japanese Beetles
    03:26 What’s Growing On? Sean’s dividing perennials and purging hostas
    06:53 The World’s Tallest Sunflower
    09:52 What Is Your Favourite Plant Identification App?
    10:27 Built-In Smart Device Photo Matching
    12:06 Knowing the Basics of Plant Identification
    13:30 iNaturalist for Native Plant Tracking
    20:22 Himalayan Balsam in Thunder Bay, Ontario
    23:48 Correctly Managing Invasive Species
    27:43 EDDMapS for Invasive Plant Tracking
    34:50 Final Thoughts and Best Practices for Plant ID Apps
    38:00 Growing More Fruit Trees and Shrubs in Central-Northern Ontario
    42:35 Outro and Contact Us

  • Ep. 44 Internet Plant Science with Dr. Vikram Baliga

    Ep. 44 Internet Plant Science with Dr. Vikram Baliga

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    The internet is a minefield of questionable plant hacks, rage bait, and—sigh—banana water. Good thing The Plant Prof is here to shed some science on the matter.

    Vikram Baliga, a.k.a. The Plant Prof, is a professor of horticulture and the host of the podcasts Planthropology and Deep Roots. He is that rare being in the world of science: an academic who has also honed the skill of communicating with non-academic audiences. As he says, public taxes pay for science research. The public deserves good, true scientific information.

    Today’s conversation ranges across education and misinformation in the digital age, the evolution of science, and the importance of experimentation. Then we get practical with tips on compost tea, a nuanced discussion on using synthetic or organic fertilization methods, and garden hacks that actually work. Of course, we also have to take a few minutes to get excited about Vikram’s information–packed children’s book, Plants to the Rescue: The Plants, Trees, and Fungi that are Solving Some of the World’s Biggest Problems.  Have a listen; class is in session!

    Find Vikram Online at:

    Vikram’s Book:

    Plants to the Rescue , published by Neon Squid Books

    Timestamps

    00:14 Intro
    00:30 Meet Vikram Baliga, The Plant Prof
    02:33 Vikram’s Podcasts: The Planthropology Podcast and Deep
    Roots
    03:37 The Challenge of Public Science Communication
    10:42 Plants don’t read our textbooks.
    12:20 Plants Always Win Stole its Name from Planthropology Merch
    13:04 The Evolution of Science and the Freedom to Experiment
    15:56 Vikram’s Home Fertilizer Hack Experiments: Rice Water, Banana Water, Oatmeal, Cinnamon, etc.
    18:36 How to Make Compost Tea
    21:22 Synthetic Commercial Fertilizers vs. Organic Fertilizers for Containers, Planters, and Gardens
    30:48 Vikram’s New Kids’ Book: Plants to the Rescue
    36:50 Gardening Hacks that Actually Work
    40:04 Things That Make Your Gardening Life Easier
    40:41 That Time Sean Hacked his Leg Open 
    42:32 The Best Way to Grow a Garden is In Community
    44:52 Find Vikram Online
    45:43 Outro and Contact Us