Houseplants
“Plants help cultivate routine and can give you a sense of pride and achievement when your plant shows growth. I like to think that as our plants grow, so do we.”
One Clover customer, in fact, said plants have contributed to saving her sanity during the COVID-19 crisis.
“As staying home became the norm, I was looking for ways to beautify my home,” said Beth Muldowney. “I was an instant addict. So, I went from zero plants in March to about 25 now.”
Murphy’s love of plants is lifelong; she was born into a family home that was full of greenery and a yard that was full of flowers.
“In the back of my head, I always knew I wanted to do something involving plants. When I lost my job in the service industry in March, I took it as a sign that it was time to move on to something new,” she said.
Then during the summer, Murphy suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and had two surgeries to repair it.
“The experience really opened my eyes, convincing me that now was the time to follow my passion and not to take anything for granted,” she said.
“Plans for a plant shop have been in the works for quite some time, but once our partnership formed, we were quickly able to make more happen. We have loved plants for a long time and are happy to see that many others are connecting to them as deeply as we have,” Butner said.
Clover is offering contactless delivery and curbside pickup leading up to its opening.
One of Clover’s goals is to keep its carbon footprint as small as possible.
“We aim to create a space where people from all walks of life feel comfortable, from a first-time plant parent to an experienced plant collector. We upcycle and repurpose as many unique items as possible, making each plant and pot combination truly one of a kind,” Murphy said.
Once the shop opens, the Clover team hopes to provide a comfortable space where customers can relax with a cup of coffee and read a plant book or pot their own plant.
‘Extra peace of mind,’ Maranta Plant Shop
Another team — running the Maranta Plant Shop, 112 S. Second St. — is also looking forward to opening to the public to showcase their wares
“Plants are finally getting the hype they deserve,” said Michelle Alfaro, half of the team running Maranta. “People are spending a lot of time at home and now more than ever, so creating a welcoming space is very essential. I think we all can use a little extra peace of mind, and plants do that by bringing life home. They purify the air and have even been proven to lift people’s moods.”
Alfaro and partner Mag Rodriguez opened Maranta for a number of reasons, but chief among them was the realization there were no Black or Brown-owned plant shops in Milwaukee. “We were surprised but also inspired to change that,” Alfaro said. “Plants are embedded in our culture. Most of the popular plants in the market right now are native to our homeland, Mexico and Honduras. We hope that we can inspire more Black and Brown people to reconnect with plants and benefit from the positive effect they can have in our lives.”
Before opening Maranta, Alfaro worked as a financial representative for a credit union. Rodriguez is a managing director at Milwaukee-based startup accelerator Gener8tor.
Maranta was designed for the pandemic, and Alfaro and Rodriguez are working on how to make the transition into a “regular” business when the world starts to open back up.
“Through our collaborations with artists, creatives and entrepreneurs, we hope to share life and growth through our plants,” Alfaro said.
Feeling at home, Grow Plants and Home
The husband-and-wife team of Meridith Mueller and Jon Neubeck also opened a plant shop — Grow Plants and Home, 1025 N. Astor St., — during the pandemic. And they’ve also seen customers stop by for plant therapy.
“We have had numerous customers come into our shop and tell us they are not plant people, but they need something in their home to cheer them up or have some life in their space. Give them something to do. Or just brighten up their office,” Mueller said.
One of those people is Brittany Farrell of Wauwatosa. “I’ve been working remotely since March 2020, and with the increased time spent at home, I’ve been gradually finishing projects and improving
Snake plant starfish (from left), air plant Tillandsia and burro’s tail are shown at Clover Milwaukee this month. the decor to make it feel more like ‘home,’ ” she said.
A “plant guru” friend encouraged her to take the plunge into the plant world. “We take occasional ‘Foliage Friday’ field trips to Grow Plants and Home to check out their inventory and buy new plants. I find it calming to take care of the plants, and I’m enjoying learning about the different kinds and best environments for them to flourish,” Farrell said.
Before opening Grow Plants and Home, both Mueller and Neubeck were successful in prior careers (Joh was a software developer and Meridith was in public health) but wanted to take a different path. They thought about opening a shop for years and decided it was time to take the risk.
“We both lost our mothers to cancer recently, which really emphasized how short life is, and you need to do what makes you happy. We’ve both always had a deep appreciation for nature. Having a few plants in your home or office can really make it feel more welcoming and make you feel less stressed,” Mueller said.
“We started Grow Plants and Home in September 2020 so we can provide others with what our plants provide for us: a beautiful space where the lines between home and nature are blurred. We want to help our customers create inviting, calm and warm spaces in your home and office,” Neubeck said.
Their philosophy is that you don’t have to have a green thumb to own a plant.
“Just because you kill a plant does not mean you’re a bad plant parent or should not have plants. It’s about trying things out, gaining knowledge, and figuring out what plants are best for you,” Mueller said.
From Snack Boys to Plant Boys
Also on the east side, Plant Boys, 2028 E. North Ave., was originally opened as the restaurant Snack Boys in the Walker’s Point neighborhood three years ago by John Revord and Mitch Ciohon. The grand opening at the North Avenue location was set for March 2020, but because of COVID-19, they pivoted recently toward another business model.
In Milwaukee and other cities, onetime bars and restaurants have become marketplaces featuring goods from local artisans and craftspeople — and, of course, plants.
Growers running short
These new shops aren’t the only ones that have reacted to the pandemic-fertilized growth in the plant market. Big
Benefits of houseplants
It’s not just our imagination. House plants do offer scientifically proven health benefits.
According to the Healthline website, houseplants can:
• Help reduce stress levels
• Sharpen your attention
• Increase feelings of well-being
• Help you recover from illness faster
• Boost your productivity
• Improve your job satisfaction
• improve indoor air quality.
What plants are selling most?
At Clover Milwaukee: “ZZ plants,” or Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, and variegated rubber trees, or “Ficus Elastica Variegata.”
At Grow Plants and Home: Zamioculcas Zamiifolia (ZZ plant), succulents, Pilea Peperomioides, Stromanthe Triostar and Calathea Ornata
At Maranta: Monstera Deliciosa and Calathea Ornata.
box stores have noticed, too. This is is causing headaches for even established plant purveyors, such as Interiorscapes by the Plant Market, 5600 W. North Ave.
Luke Struve, Interiorscapes’ vice president, called it the perfect storm.
“Because of the pandemic, everybody is home and thought, ‘I want a plant in my home office.’ Demand went way up. But, also with the pandemic, most of the growers in Florida have staff shortages.”
Because of this, he’s having trouble getting plants for his clients. Even with many offices going remote, Interiorscapes has maintenance responsibilities for corporate customers. So, when a client’s plant dies, it must be replaced. That’s where things get difficult with larger stores of all kinds buying up the limited plants available.
“I have a group of growers that I typically buy from in Florida. They send out their availability list. I put my order together in an email, and normally all is fine and dandy. Now, they send out their availability list and within one hour, everything’s gone,” Struve said.
Advice for plant ‘parents’
Clover Milwaukee: “Proper lighting and a consistent watering schedule are two very important tips for any plant parent to follow — new or seasoned! Much like people, every plant has a different routine and will react differently to care techniques.”
Maranta: Don’t panic and be patient. If you really think about it, plants really don’t require much. As humans, the essential things we need in order to sustain are water, food, and light. Plants are the exact same. We are constantly creating plant care videos on our social media and using our platform to educate and advise.
Grow Plant and Home: Think about the light in your home first; this really helps dictate which plants will do well and can thrive in your space.
• Try to avoid overwatering your plant (this is the most common demise of plants). Most plants need to dry out 1 to 2 inches between waterings. Check soil with your finger or moisture meter to ensure plant is ready for watering. Always use room temperature water since cold water can shock the roots.
• Every plant is different — recognize the needs of individual plants. When you bring your plant home it may need time to acclimate.
• If your plant is struggling look for help; whether it be a nursery or reading a good plant book.
Cathy Jakicic is a longtime Milwaukee journalist who has written on a wide range of topics, but all things food related are her favorites.