Orchid Workshops

The first Saturday of every month, Kifumi Keppler owner of Exotic Plants, hosts an Orchid Workshop. She teaches the audience the skills and know-how on orchid care and re-blooming.

On Saturday, July 7th was one of our biggest workshops in Exotic Plants' history! With over 75 people present, people from all over the Sacramento area came to learn what Kifumi had to offer. With audience members partaking in the large raffle and the lucky few who won stunning orchids to take home, it was the cherry on top of a very successful workshop.

Exotic Plants provides the community with fun, informative and exciting knowledge in plant care FREE of charge. Why? Because we know how important it is to have beautiful, aesthetic and air purifying plants in homes and offices. We know that there are people out there that struggle on keeping plants alive and looking good, or others who would like to learn new tricks on expanding their "indoor garden". That way everyone can achieve fresh and alive indoor plants. 

To learn more about how to care for your indoor plants, Please call us at 916.922.4769 

It's Grammatophyllum Season ....

Now is the time of year these beautiful indoor Grammatophyllums are in bloom! Exotic Plants has ordered a full stock of these stunning orchids from one of the most exotic, tropical places on Earth: Hawaii.

If well cared for these large, shooting orchids, are known to thrive indoors in the greater Sacramento area. The Grammatophyllum orchid is known to be one of the most exquisite, unique and full orchids available.

Grammatophyllums are happiest in a cool house, and need good air circulation, they love a breeze, and don’t seem to be super concerned about the soil they are in, but want water often, that drains easily. They have large bulbs that store water and often need a large pot or transplanting if they are thriving and growing quickly.

When you water your orchids you'll need to maintain a moist medium but don't want to have a soggy medium.  To check this, place your finger about an inch into the orchid medium and if it is dry then you will need to water your orchid.

Fertilizer should never be used when your Grammatophyllum orchids are blooming because this could keep your plant from flowering well.  If you think your orchid needs fertilizer you can use a nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium mixture of 20-20-20.

Because they are easy to care for  and have long lasting blooms, Grammatophyllum orchids make a great gift! As with any of our plants or blooms ... they quickly bring beauty and life to a home or office.

Shipment will arrive soon. However, the stock will not be full for long. So be sure to come in or give us a call! We’re always glad to deliver … 916-922-4769.

Lucky Bamboo and Money Tree's for The New Year!

The New Year is here and it’s time to welcome new energy into your life. A good start is a beautiful, live, oxygen producing plant from Exotic Plants. Live plants have long been used in Feng Shui to welcome good energy into your life or living space. The Money Tree Plant is rumored to boost financial prosperity when placed in the South East corner of your room or home. And best for a business if placed near your source of income, such as your cash register.

Money Tree Plants are a fairly simple plant to care for. They need a moderate to warm interior environment, good light, and a weekly watering. With these conditions they should thrive and provide new energy for your environment.

The Chinese believe small gifts of bamboo to be lucky. Thus, the name Lucky Bamboo started for small bundles of cut bamboo that are given as gifts. The bamboo plant is considered lucky because it has always been a strong and hearty plant that thrives and grows in most any conditions. It is thought to bring health, happiness, love and abundance. It is also a symbol of new energy because of its light green and refreshing color. Consider giving Lucky Bamboo as a gift or a gift to yourself this year.

Lucky Bamboo is often planted in rocks and water. Making it easy to care for. And thrives in most any light conditions as long as water is provided regularly. Be sure to note, it is very important to keep the plant cared for, trimmed and upright. Neglect means you may be neglecting these important energies you need in your life.

The Lucky Bamboo represents all five of the important Feng Shui elements. Wood is represented by the bamboo. Earth is represented by the rocks they are planted in. Water is represented by the water it is growing in. Fire is often represented by the red ribbon tied to it. And Metal is maybe represented by the pot it is planted in, but placing a coin in the container is best.

You can find Lucky Bamboo and Money Tree Plants for the New Year at Exotic Plants now!

Green Wall Idea

We are just crazy for our new Woollypocket product. A new container product for indoors or out ... literally a pocket that hangs easily on a wall or railing for an immediate lush planting effect. Made in the USA with 100% recycled materials, Woollypockets are great for planting in unconventional spaces, just about anywhere. They are modular pockets, with built-in moisture barriers to protect your wall or railing, with a woolly fabric design that wicks moisture to the right places, and they can be hung however you design. They can create simple rows of lush plants, complete green walls, or modern designs and columns of tropical plantings. Great for today's modern home and office environments or more traditional spaces near pools or balcony railing. Come in soon to Exotic Plants for a hands on look at this new and terrific pocket for plants!

The Fiddle Leaf Fig

Our beautiful fiddle leaf fig trees seem to be a popular plant for home and office this fall. They are a lush, green, interior plant with large, waxy leaves that are available in small table top sizes to large 6' and taller trees that add beautiful, live color to larger spaces. And best of all they are easy to care for when they are kept warm and in good light. These plants prefer medium to high light, but not direct sun. Since these are tropical plants, they thrive and enjoy being warm. They are less likely to drop leaves or develop brown spots if kept warm and consistently watered, but not over watered. A good drink once a week is all they need. If you find the soil still damp or it is sitting in water, wait till next week to water. Over watering is sure to create root rot and dropping leaves. If you find your fiddle leaf fig loosing color over time make sure it is being fertilized mildly a few times a year and not in direct sun for too long, these are common causes of their bleaching out. With proper care of these easy and sturdy plants, you can expect them to thrive in your home or office for many years. Stop in soon to check out these easy beauties or call Exotic Plants to deliver 916-922-4769! Also makes a great house warming gift! You haven't gone green until the plants arrive!

ZZ Plants

The ZZ Plant

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia - its botanical name.

We seemed to get asked everyday about this interesting interior plant. Slightly difficult to find around town, but Exotic Plants has a great connection with a grower on the coast that keeps us in good supply. These easy to care for plants are great for today’s more modern homes and offices; but also hold their own in a Tuscan container, oriental pot, or country basket.

ZZ Plants have long leafy stalks that keep their shine naturally. They vary in height from around a foot to about 3 feet tall. As far as care goes … they are easy. They like a little bit of water weekly, but like to be kept on the dry side, some people recommend watering every other week. And they handle low light conditions well; they can flourish in good light, but seem to burn in super direct sunlight. A great plant for those who forget they own houseplants or travel a lot. They are slow growers but growth speeds up when in brighter light conditions and their waxy leaves are nicely resistant to pest or insects. Interestingly enough, this plant’s origins are from East Africa, but can easily be found in Sacramento at Exotic Plants Ltd. We carry many sizes from an inexpensive 4” potted ZZ to a lush 14” potted ZZ plant. Visit us soon for your special ZZ Plant, 1833 Howe Avenue, Sacramento in The Cost Plus Shopping Center at Alta Arden. Hope to see you soon!

Summer is slowly coming to a close as families return from vacation and children return to school. A great way to keep that vacation feeling in your home or office, is the addition of a tropical bromeliad. If you can't be there, Exotic Plants can bring a little touch of the tropics to you with brightly colored tropical Bromeliad plants. These long lasting plants with vibrant blooms are grown in many colors and are easy to care for.

They need bright light and warm indoor temperatures. Add water to the cups of the leaves once a week, and just a touch to the soil, not too much or it will cause the roots to rot. In one week, most of the water should be absorbed by the plant. If not, wait a week before watering again.

In a few months the colorful bloom will begin to die. When you're unhappy with its look, simply remove at the base of the stem with clean scissors. By this time you may already have a "pup" or new shoot growing from the mother plant. The secret to getting a new flower with color is Ethylen gas. In the wild, animals and insects live in the bromeliad cups, and their dead remains, along with decaying leaf matter, create Methane gas. In the home, we can provide this by cutting up an apple and putting a couple of pieces into the cups. Then placing a clear plastic bag over the plant to intensify the effect ... encouraging a colorful bloom. Hope that provides some insight into Bromeliads, be sure to visit Exotic Plants to see our large selection of these tropical beauties. And don't forget ... We deliver in the greater Sacramento Area!