Sarah Jay, Author at Epic Gardening

Close-up of a man's hand holding a wooden spoon full of yellow fertilizer granules over a potted Philodendron King of Spades plant indoors. The plant has pinkish stems and large, deeply lobed leaves of a glossy, rich green color.

Should I Fertilize Houseplants in Winter?

Understanding the growth cycles of plants is a vested interest of Master Naturalist Sarah Jay. Here, she’ll give you all you need to know about fertilizing houseplants in winter.

Vibrant light yellow Marigolds bloom gracefully, petals unfurling like delicate sunbursts. Each flower boasts a golden center, surrounded by layers of intricate, feathery petals. Lush, green leaves serve as a verdant backdrop, framing the radiant blossoms.

Seeds

24 Seeds to Grow in 2024

When Texas Master Naturalist Sarah Jay isn’t marveling at the wonders of her surrounding native ecosystem, she’s learning as much as possible about growing her own food. Here, she outlines the top 24 varieties to grow in 2024 via a list developed by Epic Gardening’s Kevin and Jacques!

Close-up of Springer hang watering system in a greenhouse to control greenhouse humidity. There are many different types of lettuce with green and purple leaves growing in the greenhouse.

Basics

How to Control Humidity in a Greenhouse

Understanding humidity is one of the most important parts of growing in a greenhouse. In this piece, experienced gardener and Master Naturalist Sarah Jay explores the topic and provides 5 ways to control humidity inside your greenhouse.

A small unheated greenhouse is filled with tropical plants on a garden patio surrounded by trees.

Gardening Tips

Why and How to Use an Unheated Greenhouse

Unheated greenhouses may not seem like a great option, but there are so many reasons to use one. In this article, Texas Master Naturalist Sarah Jay walks you through how you can best utilize your unheated greenhouse.

A closeup of a Japanese maple tree with colorful leaves in the garden. The tree has a powerful thick trunk forked towards the top. The leaves have autumn shades of orange, red and yellow. Many leaves fell to the ground.

Trees

25 Japanese Maple Varieties with Stunning Foliage

Japanese maples are excellent additions to the garden, with so many cultivars to consider. Texas Master Naturalist Sarah Jay discusses 27 different varieties you can plant in your yard.

A close-up captures the vibrant beauty of a fiery purple-red poinsettia flower. Velvety, scarlet poinsettia petals unfurl like flames, their edges aglow with hints of fiery orange. Tiny yellow bracts peek from the center, adding a touch of sunshine to the fiery spectacle.

Flowers

Broken Poinsettia Stems: How to Fix Stem Breakage

Stem breakage seems to be the plague of poinsettia growers everywhere, but the fix for this is actually pretty simple. Master naturalist Sarah Jay covers the methods for dealing with a broken poinsettia stem here!

Close-up of rosemary oil in a small glass flask on a wooden board. Fresh branches of rosemary lie next to the rosemary oil. Rosemary has oblong stems covered with slender, needle-like leaves that are arranged in dense, linear clusters. These leaves are small and dark green. Rosemary oil has a golden hue.

Herbs

5 Simple Steps for Making Rosemary-Infused Oil from the Garden

Rosemary is an incredible herb with multiple applications in and out of the kitchen. This article shares a recipe for making rosemary-infused oil from gardener and herbalist PNW Ana.

Close-up of many blooming potted orchids on a sunlit windowsill. Orchids produce clusters of large, elegant and intricate blooms. The blossoms come in a myriad of colors, shapes, and sizes, with intricate patterns and unique structures. Flowers of such colors as deep and soft pink, combined white-pink, purple, white-yellow and others.

Houseplants

How Much Light Do Orchids Need?

So much about caring for plants originates in the conditions of their natural habitat. With this foundational concept in mind, Master Naturalist Sarah Jay has the skinny on orchids and their various light needs.

A close-up of an Angel Wing Begonia, adorned with dewdrops. Rich red flowers blossom gracefully on soft branches, their delicate petals unfolding. In the backdrop, lush green leaves with white spots create a serene, textured canvas.

Houseplants

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Angel Wing Begonias

When Texas Master Naturalist Sarah Jay isn’t documenting wildlife on the prairie, she’s tending to her favorite houseplants. Here, she discusses Angel Wing Begonias, which you can find at your nearby nursery.

Close-up of a flowering roselle plant in a garden against a blurred green background. The plant produces a large, trumpet-shaped flower with delicate crimson petals and a prominent central stamen. The petals are slightly ruffled. Next to the flower on the stem there is a calyce, which is the fleshy, cup-like structure that forms after the flower has bloomed and encases the seedpod.

Flowers

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Roselle

Master Naturalist Sarah Jay knows roselle is everyone’s favorite source of hibiscus tea. Beyond that, it’s an amazing plant with unique foliage and flowers. She’s gathered everything you need to know to grow roselle at home here!

Close-up of two raised beds made from pressure-treated wood in a sunny garden. Raised beds are low. Young zucchini, cucumber and lettuce plants grow on them.

Gardening Tips

Pressure-Treated Wood in the Garden: What You Need to Know

The question of whether or not to use pressure-treated wood in the garden is a hard one to answer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t educate yourself on the ins and outs of what it is and how it’s used!

In the vibrant autumn scene, a variety of flowering plants come to life. These blossoms showcase a striking range of sizes, from petite to grand, and their vivid hues span the spectrum from radiant yellow to warm orange. Their graceful green stems and leaves elegantly complement the burst of color.

Flowers

7 Reasons to Let Your Fall Flowers Go to Seed

Why would a gardener let their fall flowers go to seed rather than deadheading them? There are plenty of reasons for doing so, from providing habitat to including them in your holiday decorating. In this article, gardening expert Sarah Jay explains why you may want to let your flowers go to seed this year.

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Sarah Jay

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