Year: 2017

More Smiling PLANTZ Customers

by Barry Powers

We love our happy PLANTZ.com customers! Mr. Allen Caden was kind enough to send us a photo of his family and their new Fiddle Leaf Fig! He said, “We are very happy to have this plant, it is fresh and looks wonderful!” Enjoy your new indoor plant, Mr. Caden!

A Happy PLANTZ Customer in Michigan!

by Barry Powers

Mr. John Stanley from Traverse City, Michigan recently received his new Bamboo Palm from PLANTZ.com and had these wonderful things to say about his experience:

“I thought it might be tad risky buying plants online. But I needn’t have worried. My Bamboo Palm arrived carefully packaged and ready to enjoy. My home is in a converted church so I have plenty of tall windows to let in the light. I have the Palm next to my desk in my work area. The plant radiates health and I am sure that I will enjoy it for years to come…”

We are so glad to hear that you love your new plant, John!

Another Happy PLANTZ Customer!

by Barry Powers

Maria Hersey recently received her two new indoor plants from PLANTZ.com and had these lovely words to say about her experience:

“I love my plants from PLANTZ!  Steve and his team at PLANTZ are simply fantastic!  I recently purchased two beautiful Parlor Palms for my home, which were delivered to my front door in perfect condition.  I loved the helpful videos for unboxing and detailed instructions for how to take care of my plant over time.  I received a call from a PLANTZ team member to see if I was happy with my plant and if I had any questions.  If you are looking for a high quality product, excellent customer service and professionalism plus, PLANTZ should always be your first choice!”

Thanks, Maria! We’re so glad that you love your new plants! (Also, be on the lookout for the Parlor Palm! Coming soon to the PLANTZ.com online shop!)

I Love Amazon

by Barry Powers

There’s a lot to love about Amazon – it’s an awesome online buying experience with an extravagant array of products that can be delivered in a very, very short period of time – sometimes in the same day.  And, if you’re a Prime member, like me, there are even more options for getting goods in your hands quicker than anyone could have imagined just a few short years ago.  It has changed the landscape of many retail models and continues to add products and services that will put additional pressures on traditional distribution channels. 

While there’s plenty to love about buying goodies on Amazon, selling on it is a different story.  And I’m asked nearly every day “why aren’t you selling plants on Amazon?”  Truth is, we tried; but the parameters placed on delivery times became unsustainable for us.

You see, our top priority is getting a healthy, great-looking plant to your doorstep in a reasonable amount of time and we’ve developed industry-leading packaging and shipping techniques to do that. This means it may take few days to process plants and make sure they’re ready to ship.  There are a number of factors we consider when preparing a shipment, including 1) soil moisture (we can’t ship it if it’s just been irrigated and is too wet), 2) anticipated time in transit (we try to avoid shipping very long distances when your plant may spend a Sunday in a FedEx location), and 3) your weather (yep, if it’s expected to be very hot or very cold in the destination location, we will hold a shipment for more favorable conditions).

Our “seller agreement” with Amazon did not allow us to take these factors in to consideration and it compromised our ability to achieve our goal of landing a beautiful plants on customers’ doorsteps – so we stopped selling on Amazon.

There are other companies selling plants on Amazon and I wish them luck.  If you’ve ordered a plant from us or you’re considering it, you won’t find a company who’s more fanatical about getting a plant to you in great condition, and that means the plant needs to be ready for the trip.

Have a green day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Stanford

The Importance of Indoor Plants for Apartment Dwellers

by Barry Powers

As the population increases and more people flock to cities, humans are getting further and further from nature – and it isn’t good for our health. While the children of yesteryears grew up playing in the dirt and soil in the backyard, which lead to a healthy level of diverse bacteria exposure, today’s kids are roaming in a much more sterile concrete jungle. Living in a city or high-rise apartment away from trees, plants, and soil can lead to some disadvantages, but indoor plants can help combat these issues.

Exposure to nature helps diversify the bacteria in our bodies, which help to fight off infection and inflammation. The bacteria that humans have are actually similar to those in plants, as we both carry trillions of goodand bad bacteria. Plants also help make humans healthier by removing toxic chemicals from the air and improving air quality be removing carbon dioxide. Simply viewing plants can even help reduce stress levels. In Japan, the practice of shinrin-yoku, or nature therapy, is actually used to boost mental health and lower blood pressure; it is done by simply taking a walk in a forest or natural area.

Adding plants to your urban household can help diversify good bacteria while cleansing the air of harmful toxins. Here are a few of our favorite plants for apartment dwellers:

  • Areca Palm – The Areca Palm is a great choice for apartments with a lot of natural light. According to NASA’s indoor plant and air quality study, they are actually considered the best air purifying plant. Areca Palms are great at removing formaldehyde and are as effective as an electric humidifier. At PLANTZ.com, you can order your very own Areca Palm in two sizes: 5-feet tall in a 10-inch grow pot or 6-feet and over in a 14-inch grow pot.
  • Kentia Palm – The elegant cousin of the Areca Palm, the Kentia Palm does not require as much light while still effectively purifying indoor air. These palms can go nearly a month without watering when using sub-irrigation, making them a better choice for a forgetful plant parent. The Kentia Palm is highly effective in removing volatile organic compounds from air. Our Hawaiian-grown palms are available in two sizes: 5- to 6-feet and 6- to 7-feet tall.
  • Bamboo Palm – Also known as the “Cham Palm,” the Bamboo Palm will tolerate a bit of shade in your apartment, but prefers moderate to high amounts of light to thrive. These versatile palms have a wonderful reputation for filtering out indoor air pollutants, especially benzene and trichloroethylene. Perfect for smaller apartments, the Bamboo Palm is available from PLANTZ in two sizes: 3-feet and 5-feet.

Do you live in an apartment? Would you like to live a healthier life? Order your very own air purifying indoor plants from PLANTZ.com today!

Welcome Home, Figgie!

by Barry Powers

We are always thrilled to hear from PLANTZ.com customers! Suzanne Kyker recently purchased a beautiful Fiddle Leaf Fig from us and had this to say about her new plant:

“My new Ficus Lyrata, or Figgie as I have named him, is awesome! He’s doing well and adjusting to life on Treasure Island! Here’s a snap of him in his new home!”

We’re so glad that you love Figgie, Suzanne!

Happy Memorial Day!

by Barry Powers

It has been said, “poor is the Nation that has no heroes, but beggared is the Nation that has and forgets them.” Visiting our national cemeteries is a way of remembering our heroes.

Those who lie in eternal peace in our national shrines did not sacrifice for fame or for rewards; they served and sacrificed for the greater good, for their comrades in arms, and for all of us—so that we and future generations can enjoy the fruits of liberty, justice, and the freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Many of those buried in our cemeteries gave what Abraham Lincoln called, “the last full measure of devotion.” We owe them our profound gratitude, and we must pass that sense of obligation on to the next generation.

On this Memorial Day, may God bless the memory of those who gave all for America. God bless our Veterans and their families; and, may God continue to bless this great nation.

Dr David Shulkin, VA Secretary

Attention-Grabbing Indoor Plants: Large Plants for Big Spaces

by Barry Powers

Do you have a large space in your home or office that just… needs something? A big, beautiful indoor plant could be a great addition! Indoor plants that grow over five feet tall quickly grab attention and add a dramatic touch to any interior space.

These height and volume of these green plants captures the eye and will immediately make any space feel lush. Below are a few of our favorite plants for larger spaces:

  • Lisa Cane – The Lisa Cane is a perfect choice for those who have high ceilings but not a lot of floor space. These plants are tall, but not very wide, so they fit well in corners and tighter areas. An elegant plant, the Lisa Cane has deep green strap leaves and green stems. In addition to being one of the best performing indoor plants in lowly lit spaces, they also require very little maintenance. Lisa Canes are available in two sizes: tall (5 to 5 ½ feet) and taller (5 ½ to 6 ½ feet).
  • Ficus Lyrata – The trendy “plant of the moment,” the Ficus lyrata is known for its large violin-shaped leaves which give it the nickname of the Fiddle Leaf Fig. These in-demand plants are a favorite of interior designers and decorators thanks to their ability to take a prominent place in the décor of a large space. Fiddle Leaf Figs are available in three varying heights (ranging from 2 ½ feet to 5 ½ feet tall) and two styles – bush and standard tree form.
  • White Bird of Paradise – With lengthy, dramatically arching leaves, the White Bird of Paradise has long been a favorite of interior design professionals. These tropical plants require a lot of sunlight to keep them happy and do well in both indoor and outdoor settings. When they are grown outdoors in the South, they can produce rather odd looking buds which closely resemble a bird’s head (thus its name). The White Bird of Paradise is available in two sizes that range from 3 ½ to 6 feet tall.
  • Bamboo Palm – The Bamboo Palm can bring color and warmth to any room in the house or office. These plants were given their name for their likeness to bamboo with clumping and stems with shedding leaves. They require moderate to high levels of light in order to thrive, but can tolerate some lower light levels. When left to their own devices outdoors, Bamboo Palms can grow up to 20 feet high. These beautiful palms are currently available on our site between 3 and 5 ½ feet tall.

Do you have a large space that would be the perfect home for a new plant? Order your indoor plants today from PLANTZ.com! We will ship your plants directly to your doorstep and save you the trouble of finding a car large enough to get these big guys home! Contact our team today for any additional information.

Top Indoor Plants for Apartment Living

by Barry Powers

From making a living space feel more alive and welcoming to purifying the air, there are many reasons why indoor plants should be incorporated into your home. However, keeping these green friends alive may be challenging for those who live in spaces where natural sunlight may be limited.

To make the task of keeping indoor plants alive an easier one for those who live in apartments, PLANTZ has compiled a list of a few beautiful plants that can withstand urban conditions.

  • Areca Palm – The Areca Palm, or Dypsis lutescens, is one of the most well-known and beloved indoor plants on the market. These palms make wonderful outdoor plants and thrive indoors when lighting conditions are high. They are also known for their remarkable ability to cleanse indoor air of harmful airborne toxins. According to NASA, they actually have the 8th highest removal rate of formaldehyde. The Areca Palm is sometimes called the “Butterfly Palm” because of its soft, fine-textured yellowish-green fronds, as well as the “Party Palm” thanks to its vast use in decorations for parties and weddings.
  • Lisa Cane – If space is tight in your apartment, the Lisa Cane is the perfect indoor plant for you. This plant will grow to be tall, but not very wide, making it the ideal plant for smaller spaces. They also require very little maintenance and perform well in lower lighting conditions, making them ideal for a new plant parent.
  • Ficus Lyrata – Commonly known as the Fiddle Leaf Fig, the Ficus Lyrata has exploded in popularity in recent years. With large “fiddle” shaped leaves, these plants are the perfect statement piece for larger spaces. They do require bright indirect light, so place it in a well-lit room and it should thrive. The Fiddle Leaf Fig is actually available in three different heights and two styles (tree form and bush) so that plant-lovers can choose the right size for their available space.

These three plants would make wonderful additions to your apartment, but does the idea of dragging them to your building and up flights of stairs sound terrible? Don’t worry! At PLANTZ.com, you can order your new indoor plants, containers, and accessories online and have them shipped straight to your door! Visit our online shop to order your plants today!

Indoor Plants: The Fashion-Forward Fiddle Leaf Fig

by Steve S

Have you ever been flipping through one of those beautiful decorating magazines and had a broad-leafed plant catch your eye? Did a plant in the background of a movie attract your attention? If you answered yes to these questions, there’s a very good chance that the magical “plant of the moment” that you keep seeing is the fiddle leaf fig.

The fiddle leaf fig, or Ficus lyrata, has been subtly featured on the covers and in spreads of magazines as well as many other places in the world of pop culture in the past few years. Many love it for its unique structure, as it is tall and columnar and gives customers quite a lot of plant for their money. The big, dramatic leaves of the fiddle leaf fig actually give it its name, as they resemble the shape of a violin. These plants are fairly tough and adapt relatively easy to new conditions. Once they become acclimated, they can grow to be over six feet tall.

There are some fiddle leaf fig owners who say that they cannot keep one alive for very long, but this is typically due to keeping them in the wrong conditions. Here are a few tips for helping your fiddle leaf fig thrive:

  • Light – Fiddle leaf figs need bright and consistent lighting conditions in order to thrive. They should be placed in front of a sunny window and turned every few months once they begin to lean towards the sunlight South-, east-, and west-facing windows are best. North-facing windows rarely cut it enough for this plant.
  • Soil – Peaty, well-drained soil is the fiddle leaf fig’s favorite.
  • Water – Only water the Ficus lyrata when its soil is dry after checking it with a soil probe. Over or under-watering could cause issues such as the browning and dropping of leaves, root rot, or plant death.
  • Pests – Fiddle leaf figs are susceptible to fairly common pests, such as mealy bugs, scale, mites, whiteflies, and aphids, but on a healthy, growing fiddle leaf fig they are rare. In the event a bug finds its way to your fig, simply wipe it down with a soapy wet rag.

For more information on the beautiful fiddle leaf fig and other indoor plants, contact the green team at PLANTZ today!