Tag Archive for: Growing Joy With Maria

How to Care for Ferns 🌿 | Growing Joy with Maria

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Many plant lovers have killed Boston ferns and sworn off ferns as houseplants, but little do they know that the secret is adding the right ferns to your collection and not the wrong ones.

This blog is inspired by Episode 243 of Growing Joy with Plants Podcast, where Maria talks about fern care, varieties that grow indoors, and simple ways to keep them looking their best.

Why Ferns Are Worth Another Try

Ferns have been around for millions of years, and they date back to prehistoric times. For a plant to survive decade after decade, it needs to be resilient, so it has adapted to changing environments and climates.

In fact, there’s a funny meme where the top picture is a fern growing out of a crack in a rock on the sidewalk, completely neglected, and is thriving, and the bottom photo is a fern indoors, in a pot, completely brown and shriveled. 

How to Care for Your Ferns

Best Light for Ferns: A great thing about ferns is that they’re a low-light-tolerant plant. They grow on the floor and in the shade. This makes ferns the perfect houseplant because we only have so much valuable real estate in our window sills, and most of our homes tend to be low-light.

How to Water Ferns: Your ferns do not want to dry out. Evenly moist soil is what is going to make ferns happy and avoid those crispy brown edges. Use glazed ceramic, plastic pots, or self-watering planters to ensure evenly moist soil. To extend your soil moisture by a few days, add a layer of sphagnum moss on top of the soil to slow down evaporation.

Choosing the Right Potting Mix for Ferns:
Soil plays a major role in fern success. Ferns need a potting mix that holds moisture while still allowing excess water to drain away. Starting with a high-quality mix like Espoma Organic Potting Mix helps maintain evenly moist soil and supports healthy root systems. Pairing the right soil with containers that have drainage holes makes watering more consistent and stress-free.

When planting or repotting ferns, mixing in Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus into the soil can help roots establish more quickly and reduce transplant stress, giving ferns a strong start in their new container.

Ferns need humidity: Any of the ferns that have super delicate, thin fronds (maidenhair ferns, heart leaf ferns, and some Boston ferns) are going to need high humidity (60% to 80%). ​​Put them in a terrarium or under a glass cloche, or keep them near a humidifier.

How to fertilize ferns: Ferns don’t need a ton of fertilizer, which makes Espoma Organic Indoor! Liquid Fertilizer the perfect liquid plant food for it. It’s super gentle and should be used when you see new growth on your plants.

Don’t be afraid to prune ferns: Ferns are like a pet that needs to be groomed occasionally. No matter how humid your home is, you’ll have fronds that turn brown, and you should feel free to remove them. 

Which Ferns Are Difficult to Grow?

Maidenhair ferns and Heart Leaf ferns are challenging to grow. They need so much humidity to grow and such evenly moist soil. They don’t leave a lot of room for error.

Which Ferns Are Best for Beginners?

Bird’s Nest Fern – The leaves are thicker, more succulent, more hearty. The leaves stick out horizontally and cover the soil, so it’s harder for the soil to dry out.

Rabbit’s Foot Fern – This is a super fun fern that has fuzzy rhizomes that grow on top of the soil that look like little rabbit’s feet.

Boston or Lemon Button Fern – This is one of the hardier ferns. It’s very resilient, so if it does get dried out and turns brown, just cut the entire top off, and it’ll just grow back.

Staghorn Fern – Because they’re “epiphytic” and grow on trees, they are a little bit more tolerant of drying out than other ferns. These are commonly mounted on wooden boards, but you can grow them in potting mix.

Troubleshooting Common Fern Problems

Browning on every frond – likely a humidity issue (or underwatering). 

Yellow leaves – usually a sign of overwatering. Make sure your pots have drainage holes, and the soil isn’t staying super wet.

Brown spots – could indicate low humidity or sensitivity to water minerals (use filtered water or distilled water). Fern spores also look like small brown spots, so they could be an indicator of a happy plant!

Balding (patchy, thinning appearance) – likely means the fern needs more light.

Are You Ready to Try Growing Ferns?

Moist soil and humidity are the name of the game. Keep ferns where you’ll see them every day. Use the right pots. Remember, these plants have survived for millions of years. They’re tougher than they look!

Recommended Espoma Organic Products for Fern Success

Choosing the right products can make fern care much easier. These Espoma Organic essentials support healthy roots, consistent moisture, and gentle feeding so your ferns can thrive indoors or out.

Espoma Organic Indoor! Liquid Fertilizer
A gentle liquid plant food ideal for houseplants like ferns. Use during active growth to provide nutrients without the risk of burning.

Espoma Organic Potting Mix
Designed to retain moisture while still draining well, this mix helps create the evenly moist soil conditions ferns need.

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus
Best used when planting or repotting, this microbial-rich formula supports root development and helps reduce transplant stress.

Espoma Organic Holly-tone (for Outdoor Ferns)
For in-ground or outdoor ferns that prefer slightly acidic soil, Holly-tone provides slow-release nutrition and supports long-term soil health when used according to label directions.

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10 Time-Saving Tactics for a More Efficient Garden | Growing Joy with Maria

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Has your garden started to feel like a tedious task on your never-ending to-do list? Here are 10 ways to avoid garden burnout by making gardening more efficient and simple, so you can enjoy it without feeling weighed down.

This blog is inspired by Episode 266 of the Growing Joy with Plants Podcast, where Maria chats with CaliKim, YouTube gardening educator and author of The 10 Minute Gardener. Together, they share time-saving hacks to help you enjoy gardening again—without the stress.

Start Small, Stay Consistent

One of Kim’s foundational philosophies is to break down large tasks into smaller, manageable ones (3-, 5-, 8-, 10-, or 30-minute jobs), which is the basis of her book. The 10 Minute Gardener also organizes these by season (early, mid, late, dormant), so you can adapt them no matter where you garden.

Practical Time-Saving Tactics You Can Try Today

3 minute tasks

3-Minute Gardening Tasks

  • Fertilizer Fridays – Every Friday, while your tea kettle is boiling or you’re sipping coffee, take 3 minutes to fertilize your plants with an organic liquid fertilizer like Espoma Organic Indoor! Houseplant Food. You can also water them or pick off brown leaves.

  • Swift Growth Seed Sowing – Keep a small basket of seeds handy by your back door or in your pocket. During a quick break, pop a few pea seeds along a trellis or lettuce seeds into a container to keep succession planting going.

  • Three-Minute Tool Tidy – Clean and oil a few garden tools, like pruners, that may be getting rusty or sticky.

5-Minute Gardening Tasks

  • Tie-Up Tuesday (and Thursday!) – Dedicate a few minutes twice a week to trellis plants like cucumbers. Keep tie tape or twine in your pocket so you can do this quickly while walking through the garden.

  • Shade Cloth Oasis – Pre-clip shade cloth to trellises so you can dash out and cover plants when the sun is blazing.

  • End-of-Season Cleanups – Pull out dead plants and toss them into nearby trash bins or pop-up bins to keep your garden tidy.

8 & 10-minute tasks

8- & 10-Minute Gardening Tasks

  • Summer Salad Station – Plant a container with salad greens, a tomato or cucumber, and herbs for a quick, ready-to-harvest dinner garden.

  • Hustle & Bustle Garden Bed Prep – In spring, refresh your garden beds with soil amendments like Espoma Organic Land & Sea Gourmet Compost and worm castings.

30 min tasks

30-Minute Gardening Tasks

  • Compost Pile Refresh – Toss together kitchen scraps and yard waste to build your compost pile. Give it a splash of water, then walk away and let nature do the work.

  • Tree Branch Trellis – Gather a few sturdy sticks and lash them together to create a simple, rustic trellis for climbing plants.

Be Consistent and Keep Things Within Reach

The key is to keep everything handy and accessible. You don’t need complicated strategies to make gardening easier. Keep a basket of seeds by the door, stash pruners in multiple spots, and have tie tape at the ready. Making tools and supplies accessible ensures you stay consistent and efficient.

Listen to the Growing Joy with Plants Podcast

For more time-saving tips, listen to Episode 266 of the Growing Joy with Plants Podcast!

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Espoma Organic Land and Sea Espoma Organic Indoor! liquid fertilizer

 

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Bird Friendly Gardening 🕊️🌸 | Growing Joy with Maria

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Bird-Friendly Gardening with Jen McGuinness, Ep 239

Do you love watching hummingbirds, chickadees, or sparrows right outside your window? One of the key benefits of having a garden is the wildlife that comes to visit your beautiful blooms. Our friend Maria Failla of Growing Joy with Maria gardens specifically for her local birds, because they bring her so much joy, and this blog shares everything she’s learned about bird-friendly gardening.

This blog is inspired by Episode 239 of the Growing Joy with Plants Podcast, where Maria sits down with Jen McGuinness, author of Bird-Friendly Gardening, about how we can make our outdoor spaces safe and welcoming for birds.

Why Should We Help Birds in Our Gardens?

Birds can help pollinate plants and eat harmful insects, which can help keep our garden healthy. But they need our help. Since 1970, about 3 billion birds have disappeared in North America because of habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.

But there’s a way you can make a difference right in your backyard.

What Makes a Garden Bird-Friendly?

A lot of people are probably thinking that bird feeders are enough when they want to help birds, but a bird-friendly garden means using your whole garden to support them by offering them food, water, and shelter.

A bird-friendly garden includes:

  • Native plants that supply seeds, berries, or attract insects (Hummingbirds especially love nectar from flowers)
  • Fresh water sources for drinking and cleaning themselves (and if you have a budget, you can add a solar fountain or mister to your birdbath
  • Safe shelter from predators and bad weather
  • Places to build nests, like trees, grasses, or birdhouses (thick bushes, trees, and tall native grasses are great)

Native plants = natural food for birds in the garden

Add Native Plants to Your Garden

Select native plants when building a bird-friendly garden. You can check your USDA growing zone or use the Audubon Native Plant Finder by simply typing in your zip code to get local recommendations. Garden center employees are also a huge resource that you can ask questions to.

Here are some bird-friendly flowers:

  • Coneflowers and asters
  • Sunflowers
  • Blueberry bushes and crab apple trees
  • Oak trees (they attract insects that the birds eat)
  • Native grasses like Big Bluestem

Using a nutrient-rich soil like Espoma Organic Garden Soil helps these plants grow strong and healthy, which then supports more birds and insects.

add fresh clean water to your bird friendly garden

It’s important to maintain your bird feeders

Make sure to keep your bird feeders clean to stop the spread of diseases like House Finch Eye Disease. Utilize squirrel guards to keep them from stealing from your feathered friends. Different feeders attract different types of birds, so ideally, have a seed feeder and a hummingbird feeder to ensure all your local birds are well fed. 

Note: Maria and Jen love monitoring birds using electronic bird feeders with cameras in them, which use AI to identify the birds that come to visit.

add nesting materials for birds in your garden

Don’t forget nesting areas

To help birds build nests, try leaving out:

  • Twigs
  • Pet hair (like chicken feathers or alpaca furs)
  • Feathers
  • Native grasses

start your bird friendly garden today

Start Small

You don’t need a huge property to create a bird-friendly garden. If you have a small space, you can plant native flowers in containers or hanging baskets. A beautiful hanging basket of fuchsia will keep your hummingbirds happy all summer long!

To keep your plants blooming and productive, feed them during the growing season with a gentle organic fertilizer like Espoma Flower-tone or Berry-tone, depending on what you’re growing.

Birds Bring Joy

Watching birds fly, sing, and raise their babies reminds us that our gardens are part of a whole ecosystem where every creature matters. And when we help birds, we help the Earth. Bird care is ecosystem care.

*****

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How to Care for Alocasia | Growing Joy with Maria

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Do you think it’s difficult to care for Alocasia? They are so easy to fall in love with because of their alien-like leaves and colors, but many plant parents feel confused when they suddenly drop leaves or look unhappy. This is particularly true if you’re not a Mindful Plant Parent (find your Plant Parent Personality Here). But the answer is no. Alocasia isn’t a difficult plant; it’s just particular. 

This blog is inspired by Episode 219 of the Growing Joy with Plants podcast with Maria Failla. After years of trial and error, she finally cracked the code on keeping Alocasia alive indoors, and now you can too.

Why So Many People Struggle with Alocasia

Alocasia isn’t “difficult.” It just has high standards. They are native to Southeast Asian rainforests, so they are used to high humidity, indirect light, and evenly moist soil. So most modern homes are not exactly a match. But if you can recreate that environment indoors, your Alocasia will gift you with its stunning leaves that you see all over Pinterest and social media..

How to Care for Alocasia

1) What light do Alocasia need?

Alocasia like bright indirect light

Bright, Indirect Light

This means “filtered sunlight,” not direct rays. Alocasias prefer to be a few feet from a sunny window or under a grow light. If it’s only holding onto 2 to 3 leaves, that’s a sign it’s starving for more light.

2) How often should I water an Alocasia?

Alocasia like even moisture

Keep the soil evenly moist at all times.

Alocasia like even moisture, so make sure you’re using quality organic soil like Espoma Organic Potting Mix. Let only the top inch dry out before watering. It stores water in little tuber-like roots that look like mini potatoes, so don’t be alarmed when you see them while repotting!

3) What type of humidity does my Alocasia need?

Alocasia like 50% to 70% humidity

High Humidity is Everything

Crispy tips? Curling leaves? That’s low-humidity talking. Alocasia loves 50%–70% humidity, which is achievable with a humidifier, a grouped plant setup, or a closed terrarium. Note that misting is not enough and can even cause fungal issues.

4) When do I fertilize my Alocasia? 

Fertilizer with Espoma Organic Indoor! liquid plant food

Fertilize When It’s Growing

Whenever new leaves appear, it’s time to feed. You can feed them using Espoma Organic Indoor! liquid plant food for greener leaves! Simply dump a capful into your watering can. Many Alocasia under grow lights continue growing through winter, so adjust your fertilizer routine to match the plant and not the calendar.

5) Do Alocasia go dormant? 

Not exactly….In winter, Alocasia may drop a few leaves. This is a natural rest period (also known as quiescence) and not a full dormancy. So don’t freak out if you see a few yellow or dropped leaves come wintertime. It’s natural.

Troubleshooting Common Alocasia Problems

 

1) Why does my Alocasia have yellowing leaves? 

Yellow leaves on Alocasia are likely due to overwatering. Trim the leaf and let the soil dry slightly before watering again.

2) Why is my Alocasia drooping or wilting?

Drooping or wilting is likely due to underwatering, overwatering, or low humidity.

3) Why can’t my Alocasia grow more than 3 leaves at a time?

It likely needs more light to support a larger leaf system..

4) Why are the edges of my Alocaisa leaf crispy and brown? 

This is usually due to dry air and humidity.

Favorite Alocasia Varieties to Try

If you’re ready to bring one home, here are the top picks for you:

  • Alocasia Ninja – almost black leaves with bold stripes.
  • Alocasia Cuprea (Red Secret) – copper-toned leaves with deep purple backs.
  • Alocasia Dragon Scale – pale green leaves with deep veining!
  • Alocasia Polly (African Mask) –  small, classic that you’ll see in so many garden centers.
  • Alocasia Lola – taller than Polly
  • Alocasia Watsoniana (White Vein) – Glossy leaves with striking white veins.
  • Alocasia Stingray – wild, tail-shaped leaves that really do look like a stingray.

The Alocasia isn't difficult to grow, give it a try! (graphic)

Give Alocasia a Try

The Alocasia is a diva… in the best way. It isn’t impossible to care for, but it just wants what it wants. Give it good light, humidity, and care, and it will grow and give you stunning leaves and be the envy of all your plant friends! Think of it as a little green alien that just needs the right home environment to feel at peace.

Listen to episode 209 of the Growing Joy with Maria Podcast

To learn more about Alocasia care, listen to Episode 219 of the Growing Joy with Plants podcast, all about Alocasia, with Maria Failla.

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VIDEO: How to 🌱 Grow a Whole Salad 🥗 in One Pot! 🪴 | Growing Joy with Maria

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Who says you need acres of land to grow fresh veggies? Maria, from Growing Joy with Maria, proves you can cultivate an entire salad—including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, and even edible flowers—all in a single pot! Her compact, balcony-friendly approach uses Espoma Organic products to ensure vibrant growth and delicious harvests.

Maria’s Top Tips & Espoma Essentials:

1) Use Quality Soil: Maria fills her container with an organic potting soil mix like Espoma Organic Potting Mix, creating a loose, nutrient-rich environment perfect for thriving plants.

2) Kickstart Healthy Roots: She incorporates an organic starter fertilizer like our Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus directly into the soil to enhance root growth and minimize transplant shock, thanks to a rich blend of natural and organic ingredients plus it’s enhanced with beneficial microbes, humates, and mycorrhizae.

3) Continuous Feeding: Maria ensures her plants have steady nutrition throughout the growing season by using Espoma Organic Garden-tone the ultimate organic fertilizer formulated for feeding all your favorite herbs and vegetables! 

4) Companion Planting: Adding edible flowers like violas, snapdragons, and sweet alyssum attracts beneficial pollinators, ensuring a beautiful and productive container.

5) Choose the Right Container: A large, self-watering pot with a trellis allows her microdwarf veggies to flourish vertically, maximizing space.

Try Maria’s easy, organic method to transform your balcony into a lush, productive garden space with Espoma Organic!

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VIDEO: How to Grow a Hummingbird Garden 🕊️🌿🌺 | Growing Joy with Maria

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🌿 Learn how to create your hummingbird garden using Espoma Organic soil and fertilizer. With the right organic products, you can support pollinators and grow a garden that’s good for your heart — and the planet. 💚

Spring is here, and Maria from Growing Joy with Maria is transforming her balcony into an organic hummingbird and pollinator paradise! 🌸🐦 In her latest video, Maria shares how she builds a vibrant, eco-friendly garden packed with flowers designed to attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies — all using organic fertilizer and organic soil to give her plants the healthiest start.

To create strong, thriving plants, Maria relies on Espoma Organic Potting Mix and Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus. These trusted organic products help her container garden hold moisture, support root development, and produce long-lasting blooms, making them irresistible to local pollinators.

Maria’s setup is renter-friendly and easy to replicate. She fills colorful grow bags and planters with organic soil, adding trumpet-shaped flowers like fuchsia, bee balm, salvia, and petunias — all favorites of hummingbirds. She even shares DIY tips for making hummingbird feeders and reflects on how using organic fertilizers helps protect pollinators and nurture the environment.

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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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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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Growing Joy with Maria Blog – How to Grow Citrus Indoors ??

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Growing citrus indoors, complete with flowers and fruit, may sound too good to be true. However, by choosing the right citrus varieties and providing them with the ideal growing conditions, you can indeed become a successful indoor citrus farmer.

This blog is inspired by Episode 210 of Growing Joy with Maria Podcast, where host Maria Failla chatted with citrus expert Danny Trejo of Via Citrus to talk about how to choose citrus varieties, set up the right growing environment, and how to effectively care for them.

 

Popular Citrus Varieties for Indoors

Some of the best citrus trees for growing inside include:

  • Calamansi – bears fruit year-round
  • Key lime – small in stature like calamansi, perfect for containers
  • Meyer lemon – a classic lemon variety that flowers beautifully indoors
  • Kumquat – sweet edible fruits

You can also consider unique varieties like the Buddha’s Hand with its unique fruit, the thorny Australian finger lime, or fragrant yuzu. Blood oranges require lots of light but their antioxidant-rich fruit may be worth the effort.

Prepping for Your Citrus Tree

Before bringing home a new citrus plant, make sure that you have the proper growing conditions it requires. Citrus trees originate from subtropical climates and do best with 6-8 hours per day of direct sunlight, warm interior temperatures, and plenty of humidity. 

Have an appropriate sunny window or consider investing in a grow light like the Soltech Aspect™ LED Growlight. These lights can help your citrus tree grow well, and you can place them wherever you need to.

How to Grow Citrus Successfully

Citrus trees require deep yet infrequent watering. Use a well-draining soil like Espoma Organic Cactus Mix, which is designed not just for cactus, but also succulents, palms, and citrus. Wait until the top part of the soil is dry, and then water the tree a lot until water comes out from the bottom holes.

Place your citrus in terracotta to allow excess moisture to evaporate. Notably, Danny offers a range of pots crafted from recycled materials for this purpose.

Small adjustments to your citrus care can make all the difference, so observe them closely. Leaves that curl upward typically indicate underwatering while leaves that yellow or brown at the tips signal overwatering issues.

Feeding Your Citrus

Fertilize citrus plants during the active growing season. We recommend pairing Espoma Citrus-Tone with Espoma Bloom! liquid fertilizer when fertilizing indoor citrus. Bloom! is an effective option that ensures your citrus indoor plants receive the necessary nutrients without the risk of unpleasant smells. Slow or stop feeding over winter when trees enter a period of dormancy. 

Pruning and Pest Prevention

Prune citrus trees in early spring to remove any dead branches and shape them for better growth habits. Before you bring your citrus trees inside in the late fall, keep an eye out for tiny bugs like spider mites and aphids on them. Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap to prevent bringing pests indoors.

 

From Flower to Fruit

Don’t feel sad if your citrus has lots of blooms but only a portion of them form into actual fruit. Citrus decide how many fruits they can make depending on how much light and nutrients they get. So just enjoy the wonderful smell of citrus blooms!

Humidity for Healthy Citrus

Keep the air moist (40-60% humidity) for your citrus plants during dry winter when heaters are running. Using a humidifier can help keep the higher humidity during dry seasons. Even though citrus slows down in winter, don’t expose them to sudden temperature changes or drafts. 

Are You Ready to Grow Citrus?

Growing citrus indoors can be a rewarding experience for indoor gardeners. Observe them closely, make small adjustments, practice patience with fruiting times, and soon you’ll enjoy homegrown citrus for gourmet dishes and cocktails!

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Growing Joy with Maria Blog – DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit

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As any experienced houseplant parent knows, emergencies happen. Maybe you discover mealybugs infesting your favorite plant. Perhaps a fungal leaf spot is spreading quickly on your Monstera. 

When these problems with your houseplants happen, you have to act quickly. You can’t waste time searching for the right tools to fix them. That is why a DIY houseplant first aid kit is very important.

This blog is inspired by Episode 208 of Growing Joy with Maria Podcast, where host Maria Failla chatted with certified horticulturist Leslie Halleck to talk about the important items to include in your DIY houseplant first aid kit so you can effectively address plant problems as they arise.

Must-Have Products for Your Houseplant First Aid Kit

Horticultural Oils

Horticultural oils like neem oil, peppermint oil, etc. work to “smother” soft-bodied insects and fungal spores on contact. Some oils also help prevent future infestations.

Remember that when using these natural oils, pay attention to application instructions as some risk causing leaf burn if left on too long. 

Fungicides

Sometimes those annoying fungal leaf spots and powdery mildews just won’t quit. For these or other fungal issues, use a fungicide like copper soap or a bio-fungicide spray made from helpful soil bacteria.

These products can stop fungal diseases in their tracks and prevent their spread. For similar insect issues, some companies now offer bio-insecticides with ingredients like spinosad to repel pests.

Insecticidal Soap

Made from plant-based fats/oils, insecticidal soaps effectively gets rid of pests that have soft bodies by breaking down their protective coatings when it touches them.

The good thing is that it usually doesn’t harm most plants. If you need to spray or clean up pests from time to time, it’s a good idea to start with insecticidal soap first before resorting to stronger methods.

Systemic Pesticides

When all else fails, it’s time to bring out the final boss—systemics. Unlike other treatments, systemics are absorbed by the plant after application to the soil, causing any pest that feeds on it to ingest the poison.

But this should be used as a last resort due to toxicity concerns, especially if you have curious pets. Still, they’re very effective at managing pest issues.

Hydrogen Peroxide  

Best known for disinfecting human wounds, hydrogen peroxide eliminates pest larvae in potting soil and also increases oxygen flow to plant roots to aid struggling plants. Always dilute it first before applying.

Rooting Hormone 

When restoring a plant that has experienced root loss or damage, using powdered rooting hormone can help it grow back faster after being replanted. It’s also useful to have on standby for propagating cuttings!

 

Tools to Add to Your Houseplant First Aid Kit

Sticky Traps

Sticky traps can catch adult fungus gnats and other flying pests. Put these traps just above the soil level to keep tabs on potential infestations. 

But if you find a lot of pests stuck to the traps all at once, it’s a sign to do something about it.  While sticky traps alone won’t completely fix the pest problem, using them with soil treatments can help prevent more pests in the future.

Gloves

It’s important to shield your hands from irritation and chemicals with quality gloves. Leslie recommends these types of gloves when gardening:

  • Nitrile gloves – protect hands and allow you to physically remove pests by squishing or rubbing them off of leaves.
  • Cotton gloves – a softer option for gently cleaning leaves and polishing plants.
  • Rubber/latex gloves – offer hand protection when working with oils and chemicals.

Scissors and Pruners

Invest in a pair of sharp scissors and pruners solely for your houseplants. Not only do clean cuts improve healing, but using kitchen scissors risks bringing diseases inside.

Repotting Mat

These portable silicone mats provide a temporary clean surface for potting and treating plants. They prevent spilled soil or plant debris from dirtying floors and easily hose or wipe off afterward. No mess, no stress!

Humidity Domes

Is your Calathea being a “diva” again and wanting more moisture? Consider creating a mini greenhouse effect by either using plastic wrap to cover the pots or by placing transparent domes over your plants. This extra humidity will help the wilting leaves become healthy again!

Grow Lights  

Supplementing natural light helps stressed plants recover faster. Compact LED grow lights provide therapeutic light when nursing plants back to health.

PAR Meter

Advanced plant parents invest in handheld PAR meters to precisely measure usable light reaching their plants.

Magnifying Glass

A small magnifying glass equipped with a built-in LED light lets you inspect plants close up for early pest detection. The sooner you spot those tiny insects or fungal spores, the quicker you can spring into action before major damage occurs!

Moisture Meter 

These secondary tools monitor moisture content in potting mixes. While somewhat unnecessary for experienced gardeners, soil probes help prevent underwatering/overwatering issues for new plant parents.

DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit Essentials—Assembled!

 

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Compile your basic houseplant products and tools into a houseplant first aid kit for indoor gardening emergencies. Store supplies in tackle boxes, label them clearly, and keep the kit easily accessible near your plants. Don’t wait until it’s too late; prepare your DIY houseplant care first aid kit today!

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