Tag Archive for: Cactus!

VIDEO: Prepare Your Plants for Winter Storage with Wyse Guide!

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Preparing outdoor container plants for winter is a seasonal challenge for gardeners in colder climates. Watch Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide as he shares a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at his winter plant storage techniques.

Preparing Plants for Winter Storage

Kaleb demonstrates the process of transitioning plants like figs, succulents, and cacti from outdoor containers to indoor pots. His method emphasizes:

  1.  Removing root-bound plants gently and trimming where necessary.
  2. Using the proper sized container and balancing root space and top-heaviness.
  3. : Using the right soil mix for specific plants.

One standout product Kaleb uses for his succulents is an organic potting soil mix like Espoma Organic Cactus Mix, which provides an ideal growing medium for succulents, cacti, and citrus plants.

The Plant Room

Kaleb’s storage room is a converted, insulated space tailored to meet the needs of plants during Iowa’s cold winters in Zone 5B. Equipped with radiant heaters, LED grow lights and fans, this room mimics outdoor conditions while protecting plants from frost.

Key features include:

  • Grow Lights: LED grow lights ensure proper light distribution for optimal growth.
  • Temperature Control: Maintains optimal ranges—70-75°F for warm-zone plants.
  • Air Circulation: Fans reduce pests such as scale and spider mites.

Additional Tips and Tricks

  • Pest Prevention: Organic sprays like neem oil and horticultural oil are applied to eliminate pests before bringing plants indoors.
  • Succulent Care: Kaleb repots succulent arrangements into individual containers and propagates new plants through cuttings.

Whether you’re overwintering succulents, ferns, or citrus plants, Kaleb’s method, enhanced by tools like Espoma Organic Potting soils, ensures a healthy and thriving indoor garden all winter long.

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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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VIDEO: DIY – BOTANICAL NIGHT LIGHT Fairy Garden ??? || Summer Rayne Oakes

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Looking for a cute DIY plant project to brighten up your home? ?? Join  @summerrayneoakes  as she combines Espoma Organic Bonsai Mix, Cactus Mix, and Perlite to create a unique potted diorama.

Summer feeds her cactus plants with Espoma’s Cactus! Liquid Plantfood. It provides the essential nutrients ideal for all succulents and cacti to grow and thrive.

 

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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Growing Joy with Maria Blog: Succulent Care 101

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Succulents are controversial plants in the houseplant community. The trouble with succulents is that they’re often described as “impossible to kill.” This sets up unrealistic expectations—when the inevitable happens and they die, it only reinforces the idea that you’re a failure at plant parenting. 

This blog is inspired by Episode 190 of the Growing Joy with Maria Podcast, where host Maria Failla interviewed succulent expert Andrea of Justsuccit.com to give you tips for growing happy, healthy succulents inside your home.

One very common misconception is that when a succulent starts stretching or etiolating, meaning growing leggy and elongated, that it’s happy and thriving. Actually, the opposite is true—stretching is a sign that the desperate succulent is searching for more sunlight!

So why do succulents die? There are three main reasons:

  1. Overwatering – This doesn’t mean watering too much at once, but rather watering too frequently. Succulents prefer a thorough watering followed by a complete drying out period before the next drink.
  2. Inadequate light – Most succulents require several hours of direct sunlight daily. A bright window alone won’t cut it. Southern-facing windows or grow lights are best.
  3. Lack of airflow – Succulent nurseries actually use fans on their succulents! A small fan indoors can help mimic their natural environment.

Caring for succulents isn’t extremely complicated, but you do need to get a few key things right.

Before watering, check the soil

When it comes to water, always check the soil moisture first by sticking your finger in the pot. Wait until the soil is completely dry and the plant looks thirsty before watering again. When you do water, give the plant a thorough, deep drink until water drains from the bottom. Then allow the plant to almost fully dry out before repeating.

Place your succulents in direct sunlight

Providing adequate sunlight is critical for succulents to maintain their compact shape and vivid colors. Varieties with more intense colors require more light. Outdoor full sun is ideal, but indoors, you’ll need a bright southern-facing window or grow lights.

Place your succulents in fast-draining soil

Succulents require a fast-draining medium like Espoma Organics Cactus Mix to prevent root rot, but you can create your own by amending regular potting soil with perlite, pumice, or bark. One thing—always use containers with drainage holes! Without drainage, you’re just asking for trouble.

Feeding your succulents

While succulents don’t need frequent feeding, giving them a nutritional boost during their growing season can be beneficial. Espoma Organic Cactus! provides essential proteins enhanced with kelp extracts, humic acids, and microbes in a balanced form suitable for indoor succulents.

Succulent Propagation

Propagating succulents is fun and helps them multiply. The easiest method for beginners is leaf propagation.

Carefully twist off fresh leaves with the base still attached. Let the end callus over in a dry spot, then look for baby plantlets or roots emerging as a sign of growth. Once the mother leaf shrivels up, plant the baby in your fast-draining soil and water a bit more frequently than mature plants.

Beginner Friendly vs Advanced Succulents

Some succulents are easier to care for than others. Beginner-friendly plants include:

  • Jade Plants
  • Snake Plants
  • Haworthia

More challenging “advanced” succulents include:

  • Lithops
  • String of Pearls

What have you learned? With some specialized care related to water, sunlight, and soil medium, you can absolutely grow succulents indoors. Understand their needs, make adjustments, and you’ll stop killing them in no time. Be mindful and patient—their adaptations can teach us important life lessons. Open your heart and let your succulents embrace you!

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Planting a Succulent Head with Garden Answer

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Looking for a unique way to display your succulents? Let Laura from Garden Answer show you how! Head over to the greenhouse with her as she plants a beautiful succulent arrangement in a head-shaped planter.

For the perfect growing medium, Laura trusts Espoma Organic Cactus Mix. She also recommends feeding her succulents with Espoma Organic Cactus! liquid plant food. This special blend is packed with natural proteins, kelp extracts, humic acids, and a unique combination of beneficial microbes, ensuring your succulents thrive.

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: Planting A Succulent Buddha Bowl with Summer Rayne Oakes ?

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Revitalize your outdoor space or that sunny spot by your window with a hardy succulent arrangement. Follow along with Summer Rayne Oakes as she crafts a beautiful, relaxing succulent Buddha bowl. Summer blends Espoma Organic Cactus Mix, Bonsai mix, Perlite, and Horticultural Charcoal to create the ultimate growing medium for her succulents.

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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The Gift That Keeps on Growing: Why Green Gifting is the Way to Go

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The holidays are right around the corner, and gift shopping is in full swing. Not sure what to get the gardener in your life? We’ve got you covered. Even for those less horticulturally inclined, a low-maintenance plant can be a welcome addition to their home or office. Plant presents are going to be all the rage this year, and when you pair them with a bottle of Espoma Organic Liquid Fertilizer, they’ll only continue to grow for holiday seasons to come. Here’s our guide to meaningful plant presents and why green giving is a great option for the holidays!

 

5 Recommendations for a Meaningful Plant Present

     1. Aloe Vera

Health is wealth, and just one aloe vera plant can bring significant medicinal benefits! Aloe can be used to treat burns, improve digestion, nourish skin, and more. These super air-purifying succulents are also easy to care for, and they only need bright natural light and infrequent watering (typically every 3 weeks, but longer in the winter). Gift aloe vera with good wishes for your recipient’s health, and pair your present with Espoma Organic Cactus! Liquid Fertilizer to keep the love growing. 

 

     2. Christmas Cactus

If the name isn’t enough of an indicator, Christmas cactus plants make great holiday gifts! They’re low-maintenance like aloe vera, thriving in bright sunlight and with spaced-out watering. Christmas cacti are known to bloom red, pink, orange, or cream flowers right around the end of December, year after year. With a bottle of Espoma Organic Cactus! Liquid Fertilizer and care instructions, a Christmas cactus is a living, reblooming reminder of love. That’s a gift that truly keeps on giving!

 

3. Peace Lily

The peace lily is an oh-so aesthetically pleasing present to put on your shopping list. With dark green foliage and elegant white flowers, the peace lily is a visually striking addition to any space. It symbolizes purity, rebirth, and tranquility and is a great way to express your genuine support for someone. The peace lily is also easy to care for because the flowers will droop as a signal that the plant needs more water. With visual beauty and simple maintenance, the air-purifying peace lily is a lovely gift that will last beyond the holiday season.

   

 4. Philodendron

Looking for something with more of an artsy touch? Philodendrons are a frequent feature in modern art, making them perfect for a creative plant lover. The plant symbolizes health, growth, and beauty, so they make ideal gifts for someone entering a new phase in life. Philodendrons vary in appearance, but their low-maintenance nature makes them a common pick for plant parents. Amp up the love by gifting a heart-leaf philodendron variation and include a bottle of Espoma Organic Indoor! Liquid Fertilizer to keep the plant thriving for years to come! 

Tropical, philodendron Hederaceum Micans' Houseplant With Heart Shaped Leaves

 

5. Poinsettia

This wouldn’t be a proper plant-centric gift guide without mentioning the poinsettia. More than 100 varieties of poinsettias are available today in a wide range of colors, but you can’t go wrong with classic red and green. Poinsettias are easy to find around the holidays and not too difficult to care for—just be sure to limit their exposure to the cold, as cool temperatures can cause the leaves to drop prematurely. To make this festive plant present extra special, repot it in a decorative container!

 

Why Gift a Plant Present?

Sustainable gifts have been on the rise for years now, and what better way to go green than by supporting a local gardening store and gifting a thoughtfully picked plant? Plants make beautiful decor items, functional air purifiers, and unique reminders of love. With a symbolic selection, care instructions, decorative repotting, and a boost from an Espoma Organic Liquid Fertilizer, a plant present will leave a lasting impact on your recipient’s health and happiness… even if they are a bit difficult to wrap.

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We hope this plant-centric gift guide helps you incorporate a little fun and foliage into your holiday shopping this season. Have a plant present idea we missed? 

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VIDEO: Succulent Success with Garden Answer!

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Everyone loves an aesthetically-pleasing succulent arrangement, and with Garden Answer’s guidance, you can create one for your own home. Plus, with Espoma Organic’s Cactus Potting Mix full of the nutrients you need to set your succulents up for success, you can focus on having fun with the colors, shapes, and textures of these special plants! 

 

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: Houseplant Upkeep with Garden Answer

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Watch as Laura from @GardenAnswer pots her succulent cuttings, repots her begonia, and grooms her African violets with the help of Espoma! 

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Video: Lightbulb Terrarium with Garden Answer

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Looking for some creative terrarium ideas?

Watch as Laura from @Garden Answer uses a unique lightbulb to plant some succulents!

 

 

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Video: 7 Indoor Succulents for Beginners with Garden Answer!

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Are you ready to bring succulents into your home but not sure where to start?  Laura from Garden Answer has you covered! In this video, she shares her top seven beginner-friendly indoor succulents and simple care tips to help them thrive. Laura recommends starting with a high-quality organic potting soil like Espoma Organic Cactus Mix and feeding with an organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Cactus! Liquid Plant Food.

Learn more about Garden Answer here:

Espoma Organic Cactus! - Organic liquid fertilizer - organic fertilizer Espoma Organic Cactus Mix - Organic potting soil

 

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Tag Archive for: Cactus!

Cactus!

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