Most common plant care mistake

Do you know the most common mistake in plant care?  Overwatering. 

You can spot it before it kills your plant by watching for symptoms.  

The damage you see in the above leaf was caused by too much watering.

These two photos show an infected plant stem which also comes from overwatering.

Luckily, it's not too late for this plant. Cut off the affected stem & leaves with a sterilized scissors & reduce watering.

It may end up looking like this beautiful, healthy plant.  

Create a Hanging, Live Plant Display

Looking for a way to satisfy that itchy creative green thumb?

Try mounting a plant to hang on a wall.  It's simple and fun, and you'll have a beautiful living display.

Kimberly, our Shop Manager, provided these easy-to-follow directions:

Materials:

Wood: Choose a piece of wood or a branch with one flat side that will look good with the plant you want to mount.

Plant suitable for mounting such as a staghorn fern, an orchid with thinner roots, a bromeliad or a bird's nest fern.

Sphagnum moss that has been soaked in water, twine or wire, screws, sheet moss, nylon fishing line.

Instructions:

1)  Drill 2 screws on the front side of the wood.  (See photo above for general location.)  They will serve as anchors when you later tie the plant onto the wood.

2)  Place a mound of sphagnum moss on the wood. 

3)  Remove your plant from its pot and carefully brush off the excess soil.

4)  Place the plant on the moss and top with a layer of moss to hold the soil in place.

5)  Wrap one end of your twine or wire around one of the screws.

6)  Stretch the twine or wire across the mound and wrap it around the 2nd screw. Repeat in the other direction.

7)  Cut a couple of pieces of the sheet moss and cover the mound.

8)  Secure the finished mound to the board by winding nylon fishing line around the board and the mound 4 or 5 times.

9)  Create the hanger by placing a screw in each side at the top of the wood, leaving enough space between the wood and the screw head to wrap twine or wire around it.

10)  Attach the wire or twine to each screw to create the hanger.

11)  Water the plant by holding it over a pan or bucket and gently pouring water onto the mound.

12)  Hang the plant in a space with the right light.

Enjoy!

Free Vivarium Workshop

FREE Vivarium Workshop!
Saturday, August 15th

Learn how to build a tropical, living vivarium for your reptilian or amphibian pet!

In this workshop, we’ll show you how to:

     *  Create a sustainable ecosystem that can last for years
     *  Make a natural, healthy environment
     *  Set up a tropical, attractive home for your pet

The workshop is given by our plant technician Amber Wushke, a reptile enthusiast, who says vivariums are “living art.”

Amber has built three vivariums for her geckos, none of which have needed to be taken apart or re-built.  Her oldest vivarium has been active for more than a year and a half.

The workshop is held on the Exotic Plants showroom premises where you can see a stunning array of unique orchids and other plants you won't find anywhere else.

Please call to reserve your seat as this is a very popular workshop.  Seating is limited!  916-922-4769.

Date:  Saturday, August 15
Time:  12 – 1:30 pm
Location:  Exotic Plants
1833 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95825

RSVP at 916-922-4769.

Free Terrarium Workshop

Free Terrarium Workshop
Saturday, July 11th
12 - 1:30 pm

Love terrariums?  Want to create or learn to maintain one?

Then this is the workshop you've been waiting for!  You'll learn:

      * How to build a terrarium

      * Best plants to use

      * Maintenance

      * Water & light requirements

      * Design ideas

The workshop is given by Kifumi Keppler, owner of Exotic Plants and expert in plant care & aesthetic design.

If you like, you can create your own terrarium during the workshop and Kifumi will be available to help you and answer questions.

Purchase a terrarium container from the shop or bring your own.  We also have many plants and supplies that you can buy here to include in your masterpiece such as gravel, sand, charcoal and decorative materials.

Come be part of  the fun.   

Admittance is FREE!  (Materials are available for sale.)

Call to reserve your seat now!  Seating is limited.

916.922.4769

Saturday July 11th, 12 - 1:30 pm

Location: Exotic Plants, Ltd.  

1833 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95825

Our next Free Workshop!

What do you want to know about plant care?

• Watering
• Lighting
• Re-potting
• Pruning & maintenance
• Planting materials
• Pest control
• Containers

Here’s your chance to learn it – our Plant Care Workshop.   And it’s free!

Join us on June 6th  when Exotic Plants owner and founder Kifumi Keppler gives this informative workshop on how to take care of indoor plants.  She started her company over 42 years ago and is an expert in plant care.  She is also a funny, lively speaker so you'll have a good time learning how to take care of your plants and keep them healthy all year round!

The workshop is held on the Exotic Plants showroom premises where you can see a stunning array of unique orchids and other specimen plants you won't find anywhere else. Have fun while learning, and perhaps you'll even pick up a plant bargain at our Tent Sale! (10 am - 3 pm).  Please call to reserve your seat as our workshops are very popular and seating is limited!  916-922-4769.

When:  Saturday, June 6
               12 - 1:30 pm

Cost:  FREE

Where:  Exotic Plants
                1833 Howe Avenue
                Sacramento, CA 95825

RSVP at 916-922-4769

Our special for May & June

Love plants?  Looking for the perfect containers to show them off?  Then this sale is for you!

                          15% off plants & containers 

                          during the months of May & June

Our stock is unique and changes daily so come in and check out what's in the store.  Our staff would love to help with what will grow well in your home or office.

(In-store purchase only.  No double discounts.  Some exclusions apply.  Expires 6/30/15.)

Dracaena Facts

There are good reasons why Dracaenas are so popular & it's not just because they're so attractive.

1) Dracaenas are slow growers.  There's no need to worry if the plant is going to out-grow its space too soon.

2)  They require less water than many other plants.  If you travel a lot, a Dracaena may be a good choice for you.

3)  These beauties tend to grow upwards rather than wide so they fit in locations where other plants may not.

4)  Dracaenas can grow indefinitely.  If they become taller than you want, you can cut them back and they'll branch out.

5)  Dracaenas with darker green leaves and the popular "corn plant" can tolerate lower light than others.

There are over 40 varieties of Dracaena! 

 

For example, this is a Dracaena Marginata Colorama.  If you have a place with bright light, this may be just the plant you're looking for.

Dracaena Marginata Character Trunks have large stumps that are the result of being grown and cut back for years.

Song of India Dracaenas love bright light and look great in contemporary settings.

Dracaena Janet Craig make good, no-fuss house plants.

You may know the variegated Dracaena Massangeana above as a "corn plant." 

This bright, beautiful plant is a Lime Light Dracaena.

Dracaena Warneckii is commonly called a "striped Dracaena."

The Dracaena Compacta looks exotic but it is an extremely durable plant if the light is good.

Like what you see? Come in and find the Dracaena that would look great in your space.