Tag Archive for: Plant Food

VIDEO: 6 Container Gardening MISTAKES | Growing Joy with Maria

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Balcony gardening is a rewarding but sometimes tricky endeavor, especially for beginners. In this video tutorial, Maria shares six common mistakes that she and many others have made while gardening in containers on balconies. She also highlights how Espoma Organic products can help prevent these pitfalls and ensure healthy, thriving plants.

1: Choosing the Wrong Plant Varieties

Many beginners choose plants that are too large for container growth. Maria advises selecting micro, dwarf, or patio-specific varieties like ‘Patio Baby’ eggplant or ‘Tidy Treats’ cherry tomatoes. These are bred to be compact and manageable, ideal for small balcony spaces.

2: Using the Wrong Potting Mix

Standard garden soil is not suitable for containers as it can be too dense and poorly aerated. Maria recommends using Espoma Organic Potting Mix, which includes perlite and wood bark for proper aeration. This ensures that roots receive enough air and water, crucial for healthy plant growth.

 3: Inconsistent Watering

Balcony plants need regular watering, and failing to plan can lead to wilted or dead plants. Maria suggests using self-watering planters or multiple watering cans to maintain consistency. This strategy, along with early morning watering, ensures plants get the hydration they need.

4: Not Fertilizing Regularly

Container soil loses nutrients quickly. Maria uses Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus, an organic starter fertilizer at the time of planting to minimize transplant shock and boost initial growth. Throughout the season, she fertilizes monthly with Espoma’s specialized granular or liquid fertilizers such as Garden-tone, Flower-tone, Grow, or Tomato! liquid plant food.

5: Forgetting Plant Tags

Keeping track of which plant varieties perform best is essential. Maria emphasizes saving plant tags or using aesthetically pleasing labels. This simple step helps replicate success in future seasons.

6: Misunderstanding Light Exposure

Light availability is often overestimated. Balcony gardeners must consider shadows from buildings, railings, and trees. Maria advises using a compass to determine the direction of exposure and observing the balcony throughout the day to identify sunlight duration. Southern-facing balconies get the most sun, while northern ones are more limited.

Maria’s guidance is a blend of heartfelt experience and practical advice. By using Espoma Organic products and being mindful of these six common mistakes, balcony gardeners can transform small spaces into a gardening paradise. With the right organic soil, fertilizer, and planning, even a modest balcony can yield joy and an abundance of plants.

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How to Repot Rosemary and Blue Ginger Using Organic Soils 🌿 | Summer Rayne Oakes

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 Learn how to repot Rosemary and Blue Ginger plants with Summer Rayne Oakes, using organic soils and fertilizer from Espoma.

In this easy-to-follow guide, Summer creates a customized soil blend ideal for Rosemary—a Mediterranean herb sensitive to moisture—by mixing Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix, Espoma Organic Cactus Mix, and Perlite for excellent drainage. She then tops the soil with Espoma Organic Bonsai Mix to provide a protective layer that helps retain moisture and prevents rapid drying.

Additionally, Summer shares essential tips on repotting Weeping Blue Ginger using Espoma Organic Cactus Mix, perfect for plants that prefer higher humidity and ample root space.

For optimal plant health, fertilize your container plants regularly with Espoma Organic Grow! Liquid Plant Food.

 

Learn more about Summer Rayne Oakes here:

Website: homesteadbrooklyn.com

YouTube: @summerrayneoakes

Facebook: facebook.com/homesteadbrooklyn

Instagram: instagram.com/homesteadbrooklyn

Twitter (X): twitter.com/sroakes

 

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Espoma Organic Potting Mix Espoma Organic Cactus Mix Espoma Organic Bonsai Mix

Grow! Liquid Fertilizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Seed Starting Tips with Farmer Nick 🌱

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Starting seeds is an essential part of gardening. It’s a great way to get a head start on the next season and ensure there are always fresh plants ready to replace spent ones—a method known as succession planting. Follow along with Farmer Nick as he shares his top tips to set seeds up for success!

1) Start with High-Quality Organic Potting Soil

The foundation of strong seedlings begins with the right soil. While seeds can germinate in regular potting or garden soil, a high-quality organic seed starting mix—like Espoma Organic Seed Starter—is specifically designed to be lightweight, allowing roots to spread easily while providing essential nutrients to support those first delicate sprouts.

Pro Tip: Always moisten the soil before planting. This keeps seeds in place, provides immediate hydration, and helps ensure an even pack in seed trays.

2) Provide Warmth for Germination

Once the seeds are planted, maintaining the right temperature is key. A heat mat can speed up germination by keeping the soil warm, but it also dries out the mix quickly, so it’s important to keep the soil consistently moist but not overly saturated. A misting bottle is a great tool for gentle hydration.

Pro Tip: Using a smart outlet to control the heat mat allows for easy scheduling. Nick typically runs his mat for about 8 hours overnight, when temperatures drop. Once most of the seedlings have sprouted, he removes them from the heat mat.

3) Light is Essential for Growth

While light isn’t necessary for germination, it becomes crucial once seeds sprout. A grow light helps seedlings develop strong, sturdy stems rather than becoming weak and leggy.

Pro Tip: Always plant a few more seeds than needed. Not every seed will germinate, and extra plants can be thinned out or shared with fellow gardeners.

4) Don’t Forget to Label!

It may sound simple, but labeling seeds is a step many gardeners—Nick included—tend to overlook. Without labels, it’s easy to mix up cucumbers and zucchinis, leading to a fun (but avoidable) guessing game when the plants mature.

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By following these seed-starting tips, gardeners can set themselves up for a successful season, ensuring healthy seedlings that are ready to thrive in the garden.

For the best results, start with a high-quality organic seed-starting mix like Espoma Organic Seed Starting Mix. When it’s time to repot your new plants, switch to Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix for optimal growth. And don’t forget to feed your plants with a high-quality organic liquid fertilizer like Espoma Organic Indoor! to keep them strong and thriving!

 

Learn More about Farmer Nick here: 

Website: Farmer Nick.com 

Instagram: @farmernick

Facebook: @FarmerNick

TikTok: @farmer_nick

YouTube: @FarmerNickJr

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Potting Mix Bag Espoma Organic Seed Starter Premium Potting Mix Bag Espoma Organic Indoor! liquid plant food - Organic fertilizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: ANTHURIUM REPOT with Summer Rayne Oakes

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Watch as Summer Rayne Oakes from @homesteadbrooklyn shares her repotting process for a collection of Anthurium plants. She chooses Espoma Organic Potting Mix, Orchid Mix, and Perlite, to craft the perfect potting blend. Summer feeds her plants with Espoma Organic Indoor! liquid plant food to provide the right balance of nutrients to promote healthy foliage and blooms.

The Potting Mix serves as a nutrient-rich foundation for strong root development, while the Orchid Mix adds essential bark pieces for better aeration, mirroring the natural environment of Anthuriums. Perlite improves drainage and helps prevent root rot, making it perfect for these water-sensitive plants.

Get inspired by Summer’s approach to plant care and see how she transforms her Anthuriums’ new home.

Learn more about Summer Rayne Oakes here:

Website: homesteadbrooklyn.com

YouTube: @summerrayneoakes

Facebook: facebook.com/homesteadbrooklyn

Instagram: instagram.com/homesteadbrooklyn

Twitter (X): twitter.com/sroakes

 

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Indoor! Espoma Organic Potting Mix Bag Espoma Organic Orchid Mix Bag

Espoma Organic Perlite Bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Using Different Types of ORGANIC Fertilizers ??? with Wyse Guide

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Join Kaleb Wyse from Wyse Guide in this gardening guide as he prepares strawberry beds, plants onions, and fertilizes fruit trees using different types of organic fertilizer.

Strawberry Beds Preparation: Kaleb uses Espoma Organic Berry-tone to boost blooms and improve soil health. He also beds the strawberries with weed-free straw to protect the berries and reduce pest issues.

Planting Onions: Espoma Organic Garden-tone is applied to promote healthy green growth in the onion bed. Kaleb carefully selects long-day onion varieties for better growth and storage.

Fertilizing Fruit Trees: In his orchard, Kaleb uses Espoma Organic Tree-tone to support healthy growth and enhance fruit production. He also showcases the benefits of the open vase pruning method for better light and air circulation.

Enhance your garden’s health and productivity with Kaleb’s tips and the help of Espoma organic fertilizers. ?

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Learn more about Wyse Guide here:

? YouTube: www.youtube.com/@WyseGuide 

? Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyseGuide/

? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WyseGuide/

? Website: https://www.wyseguide.com/

 

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Growing Joy with Maria Blog: Minimalism and Plants

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Has your plant collection started taking over your home? Do you feel overwhelmed trying to care for all of them? Many plant parents go through phases of filling their homes with plants, but eventually, may feel fatigue, anxiety, and even shame over the size of their collections.

This might be the ideal time to adopt a minimalist plant parent lifestyle.

This blog is inspired by Episode 180 of Growing Joy with Maria Podcast, where host Maria Failla sat down with Stephanie of Mama Minimalist (former Sustainable Minimalist) to explore how principles of minimalism can be applied to plant care to build a sustainable plant collection.

When a Hobby Becomes a Burden

A key sign that your plant collection has become too large is when caring for your plants starts feeling like a chore rather than a hobby. You sigh, thinking about the next watering or repotting session, and no longer finding joy in the task.

Your plants are also likely to become nameless masses rather than individual living things you connect with. This overwhelm often results in neglecting plants, which leads to guilt and dismay. 

But don’t dwell on the past. Instead, use these feelings as motivation to shift your habits moving forward.

Tip: Try using Espoma Organic Indoor! Plant Food in your plant care routine to make your life a little easier. It helps your plants grow well, so you don’t have to spend lots of time worrying about them. This means less work for you and beautiful happy plants..

Breaking the Compulsion to Buy

Many plant parents experience strong compulsions to buy new plants, even when our spaces are already overflowing. Try putting up barriers between yourself and new purchases.

The number one tip is to pause – take a picture of the plant you want, leave the store, and reflect at home about whether you need another addition. Ask yourself how the plant will improve your life and consider the work of caring for another plant.

Taking time to reflect often helps to reduce that initial dopamine rush.

Decluttering Your Plant Collection

If certain plants no longer spark joy, consider responsibly rehoming them through gifting, donating, selling cuttings, or even composting.

Don’t forget to also declutter your plant care product supply. Have products stored that you’ll likely not use again or that don’t meet your current plant collection needs? Minimize that stash along with your plants. Consider restocking with trusted products that will help your plants thrive like  Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix or their Espoma Organic Indoor! Houseplant Food.

 

Biggest Minimalist Takeaways

A few of Stephanie’s top minimalist lessons include:

  • Evaluating “cost per use” rather than sticker price alone. A $100 wool sweater worn 50 times has a lower cost per use than a $20 synthetic sweater worn 5 times.
  • Valuing free space over stuff. Too much clutter can rob peace and turn homes into chaotic environments.
  • Understanding that memories reside in us, not objects. Appreciate your plants for their inherent qualities rather than solely as mementos or reminders of joyful moments.
  • Avoid multiples that contribute to excess clutter. In a world where goods are easily acquired, most of us do not require 5 spatulas or 16 winter boots.

When to Buy New Plants

Instead of using shopping to self-soothe negative emotions, plan purchases around positive events. Each new plant can become a living reminder of accomplishments, joyful milestones, or celebrations with loved ones.

While minimalism is not for everyone, having a plant collection and home that you feel happy to have and be in is still a lesson everyone can take from this lifestyle. At the end of the day, our plants thrive when we also feel connected to ourselves and our space.

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Fertilizing Vegetables Plants! ???with Garden Answer

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Join Laura @GardenAnswer as she takes you on a tour through her vegetable gardens. Experience the joy she feels bringing her harvest to the table and learn what it takes to maintain healthy vegetable plants.

Laura enriches her soil with Espoma Organic Land & Sea Compost, creating a nutritious medium for her vegetables. At the time of planting, she uses Bio-tone Starter Plus to provide essential nutrients for establishment. For ongoing care, Laura feeds her established plants with Garden-tone, ensuring they remain healthy throughout the season and yield a bountiful harvest.

Learn more about Garden Answer here:

https://www.youtube.com/c/gardenanswer 

https://www.gardenanswer.com/

https://www.facebook.com/gardenanswer

https://www.instagram.com/gardenanswer/

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VIDEO: The Perfect Flower Pot for Grandma || Wyse Guide ??

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There’s nothing better than the gift of greenery, and Kaleb of @Wyse Guide knows his grandma deserves the best! That’s why he uses Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix and Plant-tone to give these container plants a strong head-start to last for seasons to come. Follow along for all his tips and tricks for a beautiful addition to any home.

Bonus tip: We also recommend using Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus at the time of planting to help produce large root systems very quickly.  This will help ensure that new plantings get maximum water and nutrients from the soil to minimize transplant loss.

 

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Learn more about Wyse Guide here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/WyseGuide

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyseGuide/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WyseGuide/

Website: https://www.wyseguide.com/

 

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Growing Joy with Maria – Episode 120 Blog: Raised Bed Gardening

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Raised bed gardening is quickly gaining popularity among homeowners who are keen on growing their vegetables and flowers. In this article, we will discuss raised bed gardening, its benefits, designing a garden plot, plant propagation, and other gardening techniques you may find useful.

This blog is inspired by Episode 120 of Growing Joy with Maria Podcast, where host Maria Failla interviewed Nicole Burke from Gardenary to get personalized garden coaching, enriched with insightful perspectives on self-care, nature connection, and life overall.

Benefits of Raised Beds

Raised beds offer several benefits, making them an excellent choice for urban gardening enthusiasts. Here are some great reasons why raised beds might be just what you need for your garden:

  • Improved Soil Quality: With raised beds, you get to choose the soil, which means it can drain well, have a great structure, and be full of nutrients. A high-quality soil mix like Espoma Raised Bed Mix makes a big difference in your plants’ growth and health.
  • Easier to Manage: Since they’re up off the ground, raised beds are kinder to your back and easier to keep moist and weed-free. Less bending means it’s a great option for anyone with mobility issues, and the contained space makes it easier to manage.
  • Bigger Harvests: You can fit more plants in a raised bed, which means more tasty veggies for you to share! With increased planting density, you can optimize your growing space for a bountiful harvest.
  • Fewer Pests and Weeds: Being elevated helps keep pests and weeds at bay, and controlling them in a compact space is easier. The height can deter some pests, and the smaller area makes it more manageable to control weeds.
  • Creative Design Opportunities: Raised beds let you unleash your inner garden designer, and there are loads of possibilities to create something beautiful and functional! They offer flexible design options and can be adapted to fit even the tightest of spaces.

Designing Your Raised Bed Garden

When you’re planning your raised bed garden, here are things that you should think about:

Deciding the Size (because size matters!)

The minimum recommended size for a raised bed is 4×4 or 2×8 feet. It’s important to have a wide enough bed that can accommodate a trellis in the center to support vining plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, and squashes.

Choosing the Material

You can make raised beds from wood, bricks, or concrete blocks. Wood is popular because it’s cheap, easy to work with, and looks great in the garden! Consider using untreated wood to prevent chemicals from leaching into your soil.

Creating the Soil

Good-quality soil is a must for your raised bed! The right soil blend will support your plants’ growth and provide the necessary nutrients. Espoma Organic’s Raised Bed Mix is the perfect option. 

 

Choosing the Plants

Choose plants based on your overall garden plan, and consider their size, growth habits, and needs. Make sure to select varieties that will thrive in your climate and the specific conditions of your garden.

Gardening Techniques for Raised Beds

Plant with Purpose:

It’s crucial to plant mindfully to ensure a bountiful harvest. To get the most out of your garden, plant smart! Know the ins and outs of different plant families and their growth patterns, and be sure to plant them in the right season. Companion planting can also help plants grow better together.

Starting Plants from Seeds

Starting plants from seeds can be intimidating, but it’s cheaper than buying seedlings, and fun! Just use high-quality seeds, clean containers, and good potting soil, and you’ll be good to go. We recommend using Espoma’s Organic Seed Starter to ensure successful germination. Be patient and provide the right conditions for germination.

 

Growing Plants on a Trellis

Cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, and beans love growing on trellises, which can save space and look fantastic. Planting vining plants on opposite sides of the trellis can make your garden even more gorgeous. Trellises also improve airflow, which can help prevent diseases.

 

Pest Control

Planting marigolds and basil can help keep pests away from your tomatoes. Plus, keeping your garden tidy, not over-fertilizing, and using organic pest control methods can help keep your raised bed garden pest-free. To help your plants grow strong and healthy, consider using Espoma’s Garden Tone as a natural, organic fertilizer.

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Raised bed gardening is an excellent option for urban gardeners with limited space and mobility and can provide bountiful harvests with creative design options. Learning about the benefits, principles, and techniques of raised bed gardening can make your gardening more enjoyable and give you a chance to get back in touch with nature!

 

Featured Products:

Grow! Liquid Fertilizer

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VIDEO: Planting Hanging Pots with Mom?? || Wyse Guide

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Want a Mother’s Day gift that keeps on giving? Consider planting for Mom or anyone special in your life. Or maybe you just like to decorate with hanging plants? Watch Kaleb from @WyseGuide demonstrate how to properly plant your own hanging potted plants.

Kaleb uses Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix and adds some extra nutrients to the soil with Espoma Organic Plant-tone.

 

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Want some other ideas for Mom? Check out these other ideas:

Grow A Garden Spa for Mother’s Day

DIY Mother’s Day Planter with Garden Answer

Mother’s Day Container Garden

 

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