Service Description

Tell us about a plant that surprised you with its growth, flowering, or behavior.

This past summer I grew pumpkins in my garden. I am gardening in a new location for the first time (I recently moved to the house I am in) and I was unsure of how things would go for the first year. I used a large container for my mini pumpkin plant, and was not sure how they would do. I had never done pumpkins in containers (only in the ground) and I worried that there wouldn't be enough depth or that they would dry too quickly. But it was my best option and I figured it would be a fun experiment. They ended up doing incredible! I was so surprised to see them vine out over the container and fill the area they were in. I ended up with lots of mini pumpkins for fall decor which was very fun. I was thrilled with the results. I am excited to try them again next year.

Describe how you handle watering when a plant owner has provided detailed instructions that differ from your usual methods.

I would follow the plant owners instructions on watring. Watering depends a lot on the location, pot size, temperature of the room, sun patterns, etc. And once plants are adjusted to a specific routine, it can be a shock to disrupt that. I would trust that the owner knows their plants best and I would follow their instruction. The only exception might be if I were to notice a plant was not doing well and suspected it may be due to the watering routine. In that case, I might ask the owner if they had noticed the issue with the plant and ask if they might be open to suggestions on a different watering method. It would be important to offer this advice with a kind, nonjudgemental attitude and allow the owner to make the call. I would only proceed with a different method if the owner approved of the method.

You notice tiny insects crawling on the underside of a client's leaves. What would you do?

If I noticed insects crawling on the leaves of a clients plant, I would first notify the client. I might send them a photo of the insects on the plant and ask if they had noticed the insects before or if this is something new. I would then ask if they have a method they would like me to proceed with or if they would like some suggestions on how to care for the plant. For tiny insects I would suggest isolating the plant from other plants, manually removing what I insects can be removed, potentially removing leaves if they are heavily affected, and then spraying the leaves with neem oil. Depending on how long I am caring for the plant, I would continue to monitor how the plant is doing, continue with a method I suggested or that the owner asked me to proceed with, and then continue to update them as appropriate with the plants progress.

What information would you want from a plant owner before agreeing to care for their collection?

I love details and instructions. I do well with more information. I would want any specific information related to care. I would want to know how often to water, mist, and fertilize the various plants. Are there humidifiers that need filled? Do leaves need cleaned during visits? Are there any plants that are finicky or need extra care? If so, describe any unique situations. Are any plants having issues with watering or pests or funguses currently? If so, what steps are you currently taking to care for those plants that you would like me to continue with? Would you like me to prune plants as necessary to improve their growth?
I would also like to know specific information on the location such as instructions on entry or parking. Where to get water for the plants? Are there specific times that would be best to water? Where can any necessary supplies be found?

What kind of plant-care visit would you find especially enjoyable, and why?

I truly enjoy all plants. I love indoor plants and have a good collection of my own. So I would love a cozy indoor plant care visit. I would take time to water and care for the plants. I also love to clean and dust leaves to make them look beautiful and keep the plants happy. I also love outdoor plants and gardens. I love spending time outside caring for outdoor plants.
It think what would make a plant-care visit enjoyable is having clear instructions. If i know what the expectations are, I am happy to do all I can to meet those expectations. It would bring peace of mind to know I am following the owners desires for their plant collection. Having lots of different varieties of plants to encounter and care for would be great fun! I'd love to gain experience with new varieties of plants and see them grow.