Join Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide as he expertly demonstrates how to care for ferns using Espoma Organic’s Potting Mix, Plant-tone, and Bio-tone Starter Plus!
Don’t miss these essential tips!
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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:
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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3 Tips to Help You Live SUSTAINABLY!
1. Save every jar (within reason). I use upcycled mason jars from nut butters and salsa all the time. They’re great for holding dried goods, propagating plants and much much more. Just make sure it doesn’t become an obsession…
2. Eat more plants! Animal agriculture (in a factory farm setting) has a highly negative impact on the environment, but you don’t have to go fully vegan to make a difference. Just incorporating more veggies on your daily dinner plate can be a great first step, and make sure to support the local farmers in your area.
3. Rethink your transportation. The majority of car rides are within 5 miles of your home, so to cut down on environmental and traffic pollution, why not try a bike or public transportation instead? And if you have to drive, think about investing in an EV as there are lots of federal rebate programs available.
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Our products utilize a vast array of renewable and sustainable ingredients that work in harmony with nature, preserve natural resources, and make a safer world for future generations. Learn more.
Planting Lilies is a great way to beautify your outdoor space.🌼Check out the video below as Summer Rayne Oakes From Flock Finger Lakes walks you through the planting process step by step.
Summer fills her outdoor containers with Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix and plants her Lily bulbs with Espoma Organic Bulb-tone to ensure her lilies have the best growing conditions to bloom successfully.
Learn more about Flock Finger Lakes here:
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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
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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:
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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Follow along with Laura from Garden Answer as she demonstrates how to plant multiple varieties of Lisianthus from seeds.
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3 Tips to Get GROWING! 🌱
1. Seeds!
Experiment with seeds! Yes, it may take longer, but it is incredibly rewarding and very cost-efficient. Plus you can start indoors with microgreens and level up to growing crops that can be transplanted (or succession planted) all throughout the growing season.
2. Lights!
Invest in grow lights. Not only will grow lights be valuable for your edible plants, but they also supplement the lighting for your houseplants during the darker winter months. Grow lights nowadays are very energy efficient and can blend in with most house lighting fixtures.
3. Check in!
Perform daily check-ins with your plants. This will allow you to be proactive and catch potential problems early and often. I do this for my indoor and outdoor plants (time permitting depending on the size of your garden) and it will save you lots of time and heartache in the future.
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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:
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:
More challenging “advanced” succulents include:
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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Brighten your holidays with the stunning Amaryllis! 🌺This festive plant is a holiday favorite, adding a splash of color to any indoor setting.
Follow along with Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide as he demonstrates how to plant and care for Amaryllis bulbs in containers. Kaleb provides his top tips to help you have amazing blooms over the holidays!
Kaleb uses Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix to plant his Amaryllis bulbs, providing them with a nutrient-rich environment for optimal growth. He emphasizes the importance of proper watering and temperature to foster vibrant blooms.
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