Houseplants 101 Put A Plant On It is a one-stop shop

BY OLIVIA GUTHRIE

At715 Elmwood, in the home of the old Yotality Frozen Yogurt storefront, Put A Plant On It botanical gift shop, is a vibrant haven overflowing with both rare and familiar houseplants—but that is by no means all it has to offer. Along with an abundance of living items for purchase, the store offers nonliving merchandise like jewelry, home decor, and plant accessories as well as a range of classes and services for plant parents.

The proudly certified nursery and grower emphasizes environment and community across presence, products, and services. For example, when a purchase is made using one of their insulated and reusable shopping bags, $1 goes to charity. Nearly all the store’s gift items (the shop also offers next-day delivery services within fifteen miles of downtown Buffalo) are crafted by local artisans; the store has collaborated with over ninety artists across WNY to date.

To start or maintain your indoor gardening journey, plant guru and Put A Plant On It owner Johanna Dominguez and her staff are here to help.

Why everyone should have houseplants

Indoor gardens require effort to build and maintain, but the physical and psychological benefits plants provide make it worth it. In addition to their positive effects on air quality and humidity, Dominguez notes how important they are for our minds as well: “The most [important] benefit plants and indoor gardening bring is mental health and peace of mind to care for something.” Seniors especially should note that the researchers at University of New South Wales determined that in people sixty or older, risk of dementia is lowered by thirty-six percent in those surrounded by plants daily.

At your service

Among the shop’s myriad services, Dominguez finds that seniors appreciate repotting and pruning the most, as it can sometimes be difficult to reach for or lift heavy pots. “We have also helped [seniors] by coming to their spaces and offering plant advice as to how to take care of their plants,” she says.

The “houseplant hospital” is another boon for plant parents with ailing “children.” The affordable botanical healthcare system has diagnosed and revived many plants for seniors—including some that have been passed through generations! “Many of these seniors utilized Menne’s when they used to offer it,” says Dominguez. “Now, we are the only shop in the area that offers hands-on services with houseplants.” Put A Plant On It also offers a houseplant sitting service, which means you no longer have to trust forgetful relatives or neighbors. Dominguez and her staff vow to visit your plants while you’re away, as often as needed, for $30 per hour.

Professional custom consults are available by appointment, which clients can book either by phone or in person. “We will go over plant by plant and talk about what is going wrong, what is going right, and any other needs,” says Dominguez. The shop charges $30 per hour for consults without labor, $60 with labor, and an additional $15 for each hour following the first, if necessary. Plantscaping consults offer expert advice for design and interior decorating with plants. When it comes to houseplants, there is always room to grow your knowledge. From tending your first to exploring new propagation methods, Put A Plant On It offers an impressive selection of classes. Visit putaplantonit.shop for the current schedule taught by expert staff. FY

Olivia Guthrie is a civil rights investigator and freelance writer based in Buffalo, NY. She is an Entertainment Journalist for Screen Rant and contributor to Buffalo Spree and Forever Young contact@ oliviaguthrie.com