1. EachPod

The Plants Are Plotting

Author
Jess Lorentz
Published
Thu 28 Aug 2025
Episode Link
https://shows.acast.com/messy-minded-podcast/episodes/the-plants-are-plotting

Plants don’t just sit there quietly photosynthesizing—they plot. Jess and guest Scott (a Master Gardener) dig into the wild science of plant communication, defense, and even fungal conspiracies. From mimosas playing peek-a-boo to trees whispering underground, you’ll never look at greenery the same way again.

https://extension.umn.edu/master-gardener/become-master-gardener



Music by Geoff Harvey, Open-Music-for-videos, BackgroundMusicForVideo, Cyberwave-Orchestra, NikitaKondrashev

Sound effects by: Messy Minded, Biting, "Crunchy, B.wav by InspectorJ -- https://freesound.org/s/332407/ -- License: Attribution 4.0", AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/


References & Further Reading:

  • Gagliano, M., et al. (2014). Experience teaches plants to learn faster and forget slower in environments where it matters. Oecologia.
  • Simard, S.W. (1997). Net transfer of carbon between tree species with shared mycorrhizal fungi. Nature.
  • Wohlleben, P. (2016). The Hidden Life of Trees. Greystone Books.
  • Sheldrake, M. (2020). Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures. Random House.
  • Money, N.P. (2011). The Triumph of the Fungi: A Rotten History. Oxford University Press.
  • National Geographic (2019). Zombie fungi mind-control ants — and could help humans too.
  • Science.org (2018). Plants can learn without brains.
  • Stamets, P. (2005). Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World. Ten Speed Press.
  • University of Minnesota Extension. Master Gardener Program.



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