Agave Repot & Care Tips

VIDEO: Agave Repot & Care Tips 🪴 with Summer Rayne Oakes

July 22, 2025/in Blog, Container Gardening, Espoma Videos, Succulents, Summer Rayne Oakes

Follow along with Summer Rayne Oakes as she repots and cares for agave plants and succulents, including cold-hardy varieties that can withstand Zone 5 conditions (–20°F). She highlights the importance of using high-quality organic soils and fertilizers—like those from Espoma Organic—to help these resilient plants thrive.

Key Planting and Repotting Tips for Agave:

Soil Mix: Summer recommends blending Espoma Organic Cactus Mix with Espoma Organic Perlite and Espoma Organic Bonsai Mix to create a gritty, well-draining soil that helps prevent root rot.
Container Choice: Choose terracotta or fluted-edge pots to promote airflow and support strong root development.
Watering: Allow the soil to dry completely between waterings to prevent overwatering.
Fertilizing: Summer prefers high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Cactus! Liquid Fertilizer for steady, healthy growth and vibrant plants.

Take a cue from Summer and give your agaves the best start with Espoma Organic.

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Learn more about Summer Rayne Oakes here:

Website: homesteadbrooklyn.com

YouTube: @summerrayneoakes

Facebook: facebook.com/homesteadbrooklyn

Instagram: instagram.com/homesteadbrooklyn

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VIDEO: Planting Herbs and Berries in Containers 🌿🍓 with Summer Rayne Oakes

July 7, 2025/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Fruits & Vegetables, Summer Rayne Oakes

Watch as Summer Rayne Oakes plants herbs and berries in containers using Espoma Organic Potting Mix, Cactus Mix, Perlite, and Soil Acidifier.

No garden space? No worries! Summer shows us how to create a lush container garden filled with flavorful herbs and delicious berries right on your patio, balcony, or windowsill.

Summer highlights how easy it is to cultivate favorites like thyme, basil, oregano, cilantro, chives, strawberries, blueberries, and even dwarf huckleberries using containers. To ensure success, she recommends Espoma Organic products, including:

Espoma Organic Potting Mix: Provides balanced moisture and drainage, perfect for promoting healthy root growth.
Espoma Organic Perlite: Improves soil aeration and drainage to prevent root rot.
Espoma Organic Cactus Mix: Ideal for Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and lavender that prefer dry conditions.
Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier: Essential for acid-loving fruits like blueberries and huckleberries.

Container gardening not only maximizes your space but also creates visually appealing and edible arrangements.

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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VIDEO: Tulip Garden Tour with Summer Rayne Oakes 🌷

June 24, 2025/in Blog, Bulbs, Flowers, Summer Rayne Oakes

Watch as Summer Rayne Oakes of Flock Finger Lakes takes us on a tour of her stunning tulip garden at her Meadow House Gardens. Last fall, Summer planted over 4,000 tulip bulbs using Espoma Organic Bulb-tone, and today her garden bursts with color from more than 100 tulip cultivars.

In this video, Summer showcases her favorite tulips, including the elegant ‘Sarah Raven,’ captivating ‘Flaming Flag,’ and dreamy ‘Ume no Murasaki.’ She also demonstrates how she feeds her tulips with Espoma Organic Flower-tone, ensuring healthy, vibrant blooms all season.

Summer’s Tips for Planting and Caring for Tulips:

Plant bulbs in the fall using a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bulb-tone for optimal nutrition.
Water bulbs thoroughly after planting to help establish roots.
Feed tulips after sprouting with a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Flower-tone for lush blooms.
Avoid fertilizer contact with blooms or foliage to prevent burning.
Consider naturalizing tulip varieties that are known to return each spring.

Bonus Tip: In addition to tulips, Summer planted a variety of perennials throughout her garden beds. Summer recommends planting with a high-quality organic starter fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to reduce transplant shock and help promote strong, healthy roots for big, beautiful blooms.

Learn more about Flock Finger Lakes here:

Website: flockfingerlakes.com

Instagram – @flockfingerlakes

YouTube –Flock Finger Lakes

X – @flockny

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VIDEO: Euphorbia Repotting 🌵 with Summer Rayne Oakes

June 12, 2025/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Succulents, Summer Rayne Oakes

Join Summer Rayne Oakes as she repots her beautiful Euphorbia plants to prepare them for the summer outdoors. While Euphorbias and cacti may look similar with their spines and upright growth, they belong to entirely different plant families. Euphorbias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family and exude a white, often toxic latex sap. Cacti, part of the Cactaceae family, do not produce this sap and typically have areoles (small, cushion-like structures) from which spines, flowers, and new growth emerge—something Euphorbias lack. Often mistaken for cacti, Euphorbias are succulents native to Africa and require specific care.

Repotting:

Summer creates a well-draining soil mix using Espoma Organic Cactus Mix combined with Espoma Organic Perlite (70% Cactus Mix, 30% Perlite) to ensure excellent aeration and drainage, reducing the risk of root rot. To nourish the plants through the growing season, she applies Espoma Organic Cactus! Liquid Fertilizer every 4–6 weeks.

As a final touch, she tops off the containers with Espoma Organic Bonsai Mix, which helps protect the soil surface, reduces moisture loss, and adds a clean, finished look to each pot.

Summer also explains a common condition called “corking,” a natural process where the stems of Euphorbias become woody at the base due to aging, which is not a sign of disease.

Summer’s Euphorbia Care Tips:

Wear gloves when repotting to avoid skin and eye irritation.
Inspect roots and prune away dead or damaged areas.
Water thoroughly, then allow the top 1–2 inches of soil to dry out.
Fertilize regularly during the growing season, pausing in winter.

With Summer’s guidance and Espoma’s organic products, your Euphorbias will thrive outdoors this summer!

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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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VIDEO: Planting Daylilies with Summer Rayne Oakes 🌼

June 10, 2025/in Blog, Container Gardening, Espoma Videos, Flowers, Summer Rayne Oakes

Watch Summer Rayne Oakes of Flock Finger Lakes dig into one of the summer’s easiest and most rewarding perennials—daylilies! She plants standout varieties like the ‘Jersey Spider’ and shares helpful tips for getting them established in both containers and garden beds.

To give her plants the best start, Summer uses Espoma Organic Potting Mix, a rich, organic, well-draining blend that includes mycorrhizae to support deep root growth. Then she feeds with Espoma Organic Flower-tone, our organic slow-release fertilizer formulated to promote strong stems and lasting blooms.

Learn more about Flock Finger Lakes here:

Website: flockfingerlakes.com

Instagram – @flockfingerlakes

YouTube –Flock Finger Lakes

X – @flockny

Facebook –Flock Finger Lakes

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VIDEO: Spring Garden Awakening with Summer Rayne Oakes 🌿

May 20, 2025/in Blog, Bulbs, Flowers, Spring Gardening, Summer Rayne Oakes

Spring is stirring in the Finger Lakes, and Summer Rayne Oakes of Flock Finger Lakes is already deep into her garden chores. In this video, she takes us on an early-season walk through her ever-evolving landscape highlighting emerging bulbs, sharing design plans, and laying the groundwork for a bountiful, sustainable year ahead.

Summer uses organic products for all her gardening projects—including our trusted Tone line of organic fertilizers, premium Potting Mixes, and organic Liquid Fertilizers—to create healthy, thriving spaces across her property. When planting new bulbs like daffodils and tulips, she relies on Espoma Organic Bulb-tone to set them up for success. And whenever she plants something new, Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus is her go-to to support strong root development from day one.

For all her new garden beds, Summer builds nutrient-rich soil from the ground up with Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix, Land & Sea Gourmet Compost, and our premium Potting Mix—ensuring each planting area is full of organic matter, supports microbial life, and has optimum moisture-holding capacity.

From rewilding meadows and restoring forest edges to designing pollinator patches and building a 60-foot sustainable chicken coop, Summer’s garden isn’t just beautiful—it’s intentional. Her approach reflects a great mission: to nourish plants, support biodiversity, and build a healthier planet from the soil up. 🌱

Watch the full garden walk to get inspired for your own spring garden reset!

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VIDEO: Boost Your Blooms: 🌸 Fertilizing Hydrangeas the Organic Way with Skye Hamilton

April 29, 2025/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Flowers, Skye Hamilton, Spring Gardening

When it comes to hydrangeas, proper fertilizing is key to ensuring beautiful blooms and overall plant health. Skye Hamilton, gardening enthusiast and hydrangea expert, stresses the importance of fertilizing these stunning plants with a high-quality organic fertilizer as a smart investment in your garden. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, which often contain excessive nitrogen that encourages foliage growth at the expense of blooms, Skye recommends using Espoma Organic Holly-tone.

Why Holly-tone? Because it’s an organic fertilizer specially formulated for acid-loving plants like hydrangeas. Its slow-release formula ensures steady nutrient availability, promoting vibrant, plentiful blooms rather than just leafy growth.

Here’s Skye’s quick guide for successful hydrangea fertilizing:

Fertilize twice a year: once in mid to late spring and again in mid-summer.
Your first application should occur after leaves emerge but before blooms appear.
Apply the second round no later than July to avoid disrupting bloom cycles.
Missed spring fertilizing? Early summer application still benefits your plants.
Apply fertilizer during mild weather or in the evening shade to prevent root burn.
Distribute fertilizer along the drip line of your hydrangeas and gently work it into the soil surface.
Always water thoroughly after fertilizing to ensure nutrients reach the roots effectively.

With Espoma Organic Holly-tone, your hydrangeas receive exactly what they need, resulting in lush blooms and healthier plants overall. Go organic, bloom better!

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VIDEO: Houseplant Glow-Up: Repotting with Style 🪴✨ | Summer Rayne Oakes

December 3, 2024/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Summer Rayne Oakes

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.

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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VIDEO: Planting Camassia with Summer Rayne Oakes!

December 2, 2024/in Blog, Bulbs, Espoma Videos, Flowers, Summer Rayne Oakes

Camassia, a native North American bulb, is a stunning spring bloomer that thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3-8. Often underutilized these bulbs are known for their striking blue, lavender, or white flowers.

In this video, Summer Rayne Oakes of Flock Finger Lakes shows how to plant Camassia bulbs and shares her top plant care tips. Summer recommends mixing in a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bulb-tone when planting. This practice ensures these bulbs get the nutrients they need to produce big, beautiful blooms.

Learn more about Flock Finger Lakes here:

Website: flockfingerlakes.com

Instagram – @flockfingerlakes

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X – @flockny

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VIDEO: What You Need to Know Before Planting Garlic This Fall 🧄 🍁 || Wyse Guide

November 19, 2024/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Fruits & Vegetables, Kaleb Wyse

Watch Kaleb Wyse from Wyse Guide share his top tips for planting garlic in the Fall.

In this video, Kaleb demonstrates how to prepare the soil, plant garlic cloves, and protect them for the winter. He also offers valuable insights on choosing the best garlic varieties, spacing cloves properly, and caring for your garlic throughout the seasons.

Kaleb recommends using an organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus and a rich organic compost such as Espoma Organic Land & Sea Compost. He mixes these into his raised garden beds, already filled with Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix, to add organic material and essential nutrients that support strong root growth and ensure a bountiful garlic harvest next summer.