Spring is the perfect time to get seeds started and give houseplants a refresh! In this video, Laura from Garden Answer walks through planting onions and radishes from seed using her go-to Espoma Organic Seed Starter Mix and Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix—trusted for their high-quality ingredients.
But the gardening fun doesn’t stop there! Laura also repots String of Watermelon Succulents using Espoma Organic Cactus Mix, sharing expert plant care tips to keep these unique trailing plants thriving.
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!
Follow along with Laura from @gardenanswer as she walks you through a step-by-step guide on planting herbs from seed. Laura recommends using a high-quality organic potting soil mix, like our Espoma OrganicSeed Starter Mix, to create the ideal environment for seed germination.
1) Choose your herbs! – Everyone has their food preferences. choose the herbs that you want to grow and eat!
2) Growing Location – Choose a location that provides adequate sunlight. Most herbs require at least 6-8 hours of full sunlight for germination.
4) Gather Information– Understanding how to care for the seeds you’ve chosen is key to successful growth. Most seed packets include planting and care instructions on the back to guide you in properly planting and nurturing your herbs.
5) Prep Your Soil – It’s important to use a high-quality seed-starting mix like Espoma Organic Seed Starter. These mixes are lighter than traditional potting soils, promoting better root development for young plants. Adding water to the soil will help provide adequate moisture for germination and will help with the soil structure by preventing settling in your container.
6) Make Your Plant I.D. Tags – Labeling your pots before planting helps keep everything organized, ensuring you know exactly what to plant in each pot and preventing any mix-ups.
7) Plant your seeds!– plant at least 2-3 seeds per container you should always Refer to your seed packets for proper planting instructions.
Bonus Tip! – Skip the watering can! Laura recommends using a spray bottle or mister to gently water your seeds without disturbing them.
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:
Removing root-bound plants gently and trimming where necessary.
Using the proper sized container and balancing root space and top-heaviness.
: 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.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Housplant-1.jpg7201280Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2024-12-03 17:30:222024-12-03 17:30:22VIDEO: Prepare Your Plants for Winter Storage with Wyse Guide!
Join Summer Rayne Oakes as she gives her houseplants a stylish refresh! In this video, Summer demonstrates how to repot houseplants and add decorative touches to elevate their look. Along the way, she shares personalized plant care tips for each type of plant she’s working with. For the best results, she uses a high-quality organic potting mix like Espoma Organic Cactus Mix and recommends feeding houseplants with Espoma Organic Indoor!, a premium organic liquid fertilizer.
Join Summer Rayne Oakes from Flock Finger Lakes as she works to create a diverse garden by blending a variety of native and native-adjacent plant species.
Each plant choice contributes to the garden’s ecological value, from nitrogen-fixing Dalea to pollinator-attracting violets and rare asters. Summer uses an organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to provide these plants with the nutrients needed for successful establishment. Summer provides valuable insights into building rich soil, designing a visually harmonious layout, and managing weeds naturally to create a beautiful, pollinator-supporting garden.
Join Laura from Garden Answer as she shows how to plant a stunning fall container filled with a mix of annuals and hydrangeas. Along the way, she shares practical gardening tips while sprucing up a flowerbed and harvesting potatoes from her vegetable garden.
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.
Inspiring the next generation to care for our planet begins with connecting them to the magic of nature. Emmy Award-winning Plant Coach, Farmer Nick, has created an engaging new resource to do just that—introducing “Farmer Nick Jr.” This 10-episode series is packed with playful, interactive learning experiences designed to capture the imaginations of kids and adults alike.
Following the adventures of Farmer Nick and his friend, Plant, this free video series makes learning about the nature fun, entertaining, and memorable. From planting seeds to exploring how plants grow, each episode provides an opportunity for kids to learn the basics of gardening and plant care, all while fostering a deeper connection with nature. The series is not only educational but also entertaining, making it perfect for family viewing or classroom settings.
But it doesn’t stop there! Farmer Nick Jr. also comes with a companion workbook filled with additional activities and lessons to dive even deeper into the world of plants. The workbook is a perfect way to reinforce the lessons from each episode and inspire young learners to explore nature on their own.
This course is an invaluable resource for parents, teachers, schools, and youth groups aiming to inspire young minds to appreciate and care for the environment. Whether you’re looking to spark a love for gardening in your own kids or provide a fun educational tool for your community, “Farmer Nick Jr.” is a great way to plant the seeds of environmental stewardship. Share this engaging series and workbook to help kids discover the wonders of nature and cultivate their green thumbs!
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.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Farmer-Nick-Jr.-2.jpg315560Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2024-09-26 17:25:352024-10-08 16:24:43Introduce Your Child to the Magic of Gardening with Farmer Nick
