winter storage | Espoma Organic

VIDEO: Planting Spring Bulbs in Containers 🪴🌷 with Summer Rayne Oakes

January 6, 2026/in Blog, Bulbs, Espoma Videos, Summer Rayne Oakes

When the garden beds are resting, container gardening keeps the joy of planting alive. In a recent video on her Flock Finger Lakes channel, Summer Rayne Oakes shows how she extends the season by layering spring-flowering bulbs in containers, tucked inside her chicken and duck run. Using Espoma Organic Potting Mix and Espoma Organic Perlite, Summer creates a well-draining, root-friendly environment that helps bulbs overwinter successfully and burst into bloom come spring.

Summer’s Top 3 Tips for Planting Bulbs in Containers

1. Start with a High-Quality, Well-Draining Soil Mix

Healthy bulbs begin with the right foundation. Summer uses Espoma Organic Potting Mix as her base because it’s lightweight, rich in organic matter, and formulated specifically for container gardening. It holds just the right amount of moisture while still allowing excess water to drain away—critical for preventing bulb rot during winter storage.

To further improve drainage, she blends in Espoma Organic Perlite, which keeps the soil loose and airy. This extra oxygen around the bulbs encourages strong root development and helps containers handle fluctuating winter and spring conditions.

2. Layer Bulbs

One of Summer’s favorite techniques is layering bulbs by size and bloom time. Larger, later-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils go deeper in the pot, while smaller, early bloomers like snowdrops are placed closer to the surface. This creates a succession of blooms from early to late spring—all in one container.

Planting bulbs a bit closer together in containers also creates a fuller, more impactful display, making pots look lush when they come into flower.

3. Protect Containers While Letting Them Chill

Bulbs need a cold period to bloom, and Summer’s chicken and duck run doubles as a cold greenhouse thanks to added panels. Containers stay protected from harsh weather while still experiencing natural temperature changes. A light soil topper can also help discourage curious critters from digging, especially when overwintering bulbs in shared garden spaces.

Let’s Get Growing

Layering bulbs in containers is a simple, rewarding way to extend the gardening season and enjoy months of spring color. With Espoma Organic Potting Mix and Espoma Organic Perlite, you’re giving bulbs the well-draining, nutrient-rich environment they need to thrive—naturally.

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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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Final Fall Plantings & Tips for Bringing Plants Inside for Winter 🍁🪴 with Wyse Guide

November 18, 2025/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Kaleb Wyse, Trees & Shrubs

Fall might feel like the end of the gardening season, but as Kaleb from Wyse Guide shows, it’s actually a perfect time to plant and bring in your favorite tropical plants for the winter months.

In this project, Kaleb refreshes the front of his home with hydrangeas, using Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to support strong root growth, then replants a massive elephant ear and pots it up in Espoma Organic Potting Mix so he can enjoy it again next year.

Kaleb’s late fall gardening tips:

1. Plant for Roots, Not Blooms
Kaleb takes advantage of fall’s warm soil and cool air to give hydrangeas time to establish. Adding Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus helps new shrubs settle in quickly and build the strong root systems that lead to better growth next spring.

2. Build Healthy Soil & Keep Watering
Hydrangeas thrive in rich, well-draining soil, so Kaleb amends where needed and uses drip irrigation to keep moisture consistent on his sunny, south-facing porch. Even with drip, he checks soil weekly and waters during fall—and even winter warm-ups—so new roots never dry out.

3. Store Tropicals to Enjoy Them Again
Instead of letting frost take his elephant ear, Kaleb trims it back and pots it into Espoma Organic All-Purpose Potting Mix. Over winter, it rests indoors with minimal watering, ready to return outdoors next season.

Even as the season slows, there’s still so much you can do to care for your garden. A little fall planting, some root-focused feeding, and thoughtful winter storage of warm-season plants can set you up for an even more beautiful spring.

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

December 3, 2024/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Kaleb Wyse

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.

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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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