I’ll admit that some of my pre-motherhood fear was triggered by the fact that I couldn’t keep a single houseplant alive. Not even a succulent. Trip after trip to Home Depot, I would walk in hopeful that this was the time I would pick out the perfect plant that would flourish. Spoiler: Everything died.
That is until I discovered the Potting Shed! We recently built a house and moved, and every single day we drove by The Potting Shed, but I never thought to stop in. I finally did, and what was I thinking waiting so long?? It is adorable, and everyone there is more than helpful! When you first walk in, there are so many beautiful things that it’s hard to know where to start. Upon further inspection, you’ll see unique planters of all sizes, local honey and jams, gifts, and home décor all while feeling the breeze blow in from outside where you get a subtle peak of the vast selection of plants.
After exchanging hellos and being asked how I could be helped, I was directed to the greenhouse to browse a large selection of indoor plants. The owner gave me a few minutes to look around by myself (which I loved. Hashtag introvert.) and then followed up with me to answer any questions. I told him my concerns with keeping plants alive, and he gave me a few tips, tricks, and secrets.
First, local is key! Plants are sold to different stores in varying tiers according to the type of business. For example, your big box home improvement stores get B rated plants, and places like Walmart get C quality. That means that local stores, such as the Potting Shed, get the best quality plants first, so automatically, you have a better chance at getting a lasting, beautiful flower or plant from the start.
Secondly, the Potting Shed has everything labeled. As you browse the greenhouse, there are labels with the name and needs of the plant boldly listed so that you can decide which one is best for your location. For me, I needed low-maintenance in a low-light area of my kitchen. I landed on a beautiful Neon Pothos, which only needs watering once every two weeks and does okay in indirect light.
Lastly, I knew that I wanted a planter that was more modern or industrial that was a little taller, but I wasn’t sure if my plant could or would go into it or if they had a planter in my style. To my delight, they had the perfect planter, and even better, if you purchase the plant and planter there, they will re-pot it for you! Major win! I usually just put my plant that is in the plastic down in a planter, and it has always looked a little off, but these two literally look like they belong together.
In just a short trip there, I learned so much about plants. Heath, the owner who assisted me this day, told me that they offer all kinds of services. You can come in with pictures of your area where you want plants and talk with them about the sunlight and water situations, and they can make recommendations for plants that will thrive. They have flowers, trees, herbs, ferns, plants, and everything that you could possibly need to go along with it. They are also a pick up location for other local businesses such as Hornsby Farm’s weekly baskets and Shana’s Place meats.
On my next trip, I brought my husband, and we picked out two tall planters and shrubs for our front porch. Lucky for us, they are having a sale on large planters (25% off!), and as usual, they helped us pick out exactly the right plant for our lighting area. Our Boxwoods will continue to grow, and I’m confident, thanks to the Potting Shed, that I can help my plants thrive.
The Potting Shed is officially a local staple in our house now; we will go there for plants, flowers, gifts, and planters. Our experience was wonderful!
The Potting Shed is located at 4137 Moores Mill Road in Auburn. Follow them here on Facebook for new inventory, sales, and more!
