Thursday, March 28, 2024

A Weekend In Palm Springs With Kids

A Weekend In Palm Springs With Kids

Palm Springs, California may not scream “kid-friendly destination” but we recently had THE BEST vacation there with our family (our kids are 9 and 13). So here’s a quick rundown of our favorite must-see attractions in Palm Springs as well as info about where we stayed, what we ate, and what we’re excited to check out next time. Because we definitely will be back!

Did I mention we also brought our nine-pound chihuahua with us? So most of our suggestions are dog-friendly too!

Why Vacation With Kids In Palm Springs?

We chose Palm Springs for a lot of reasons. First, our East Coast-born kids had never been to California! Of course, there are lots of options for California vacations. But we wanted to avoid the hustle of a bigger city like Los Angeles or San Francisco, and we liked the idea of introducing them to the unfamiliar desert geography.

Continue reading A Weekend In Palm Springs With Kids at Young House Love.

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Thursday, March 21, 2024

Growing Joy with Maria Blog – How to Grow Citrus Indoors πŸŠπŸ‹

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!

 

 

The post Growing Joy with Maria Blog – How to Grow Citrus Indoors πŸŠπŸ‹ first appeared on Espoma.

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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Tree Philodendron – Care Guide

Tree Philodendron – Care Guide

The tree philodendron, which was formerly known as the hope philodendron or philodendron selloum, is one of our FAVORITE houseplants. It’s a low-maintenance, tropical plant that adds tons of visual impact. It’s also a great alternative to a fiddle leaf fig.

What Is A Tree Philodendron?

The tree philodendron (Thaumatophyllum Bipinnatifidum) is a large tropical plant native to South America, primarily Brazil. However, it isn’t even technically a philodendron anymore! In 2018 it was reclassified out of the genus Philodendron and into the genus Thaumatophyllum due to its size and DNA. However, it is still colloquially referred to as a philodendron. You may still find it listed as a Philodendron Hope or Philodendron Selloumm, but Tree Philodendron is now the preferred name.

It’s known for its distinctive split leaves and long stalks. Like all tropical plants, it enjoys warm and humid environments, and when used as an indoor plant, it will thrive in medium-to-bright areas of your home.

Continue reading Tree Philodendron – Care Guide at Young House Love.

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Friday, March 8, 2024

VIDEO: DIY – BOTANICAL NIGHT LIGHT Fairy Garden 🌡🌸πŸͺ΄ || Summmer Rayne Oakes

Looking for a cute DIY plant project to brighten up your home? πŸ’‘πŸͺ΄ 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

Facebook: facebook.com/homesteadbrooklyn

Instagram: instagram.com/homesteadbrooklyn

Twitter (X): twitter.com/sroakes

 

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Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Growing Joy with Maria Blog – DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit

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!

 

*****

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!

Featured Products:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Growing Joy with Maria Blog – DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit first appeared on Espoma.

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Thursday, February 22, 2024

3 Tips for Anyone that Wants to Start Growing! 🌱🌷|| Farmer Nick

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.

*****

Learn More about Farmer Nick here: 

Website: https://www.farmernick.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmernick/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmernick/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCasGgFeyrf2V81w3KxnE4qQ

 

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The post 3 Tips for Anyone that Wants to Start Growing! 🌱🌷|| Farmer Nick first appeared on Espoma.

from Espoma https://www.espoma.com/gardening/indoor-gardening/2024-3-tips-for-anyone-that-wants-to-start-growing-%f0%9f%8c%b1%f0%9f%8c%b7-farmer-nick/



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