en concordia

Meet Encelia californica is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name California brittlebush. It is also commonly referred to as "California coast sunflower"

There’s no planty rule book that says hanging plants have to trail down. It makes sense that they would, but it’s not your only or even your best option. Dracaenas and Tradescantia spathacea with their spiky stripes leaves and colorful undersides are top picks for placing in hanging pots that are too good to hide under stems and leaves! (But yes, dear Virgos and details upon details people, there should be a rule that says the bottom of a hanging pot must be pleasing to the eye ) Hanging pots, dracaenas and two varieties of Tradescantia spathacea in the shop now! 10 to 5 Monday through Saturday!

You gotta love a sunflower. They actually follow the sun moving their heads to join the sun as it passes across the sky. They do this every single day until they’re ready to go to seed. Then they quiet themselves and tilt their heads toward the soil. Sunflowers are native to North and Central America. They’re super easy to sow and will pretty much grow anywherethey’re incredible at removing toxins from the soil. And they’re equally incredible at impairing the growth of plan...ts they’re next to. Keep them away from peas and beans and most edible bush or vining plants! Cut them in then AModdly enough if you pick them in the afternoon, they wilt. Millions of sunflowers are planted each year and they’ve been in cultivation since 1000BC. Not such a basic b***h after all! (Especially the burgundy beauty!)

Yeah, it’s a bit of a zoo at my place, but it’s in sunny San Diego so bring all the noise! I have A LOT of raised beds and containers because I have D-O-G-S and they are not interested in avoiding the plants especially when squeaky toys are involved. So when I say you can grow in anything 2’ deep and 2’ to 3’ wide, I mean it. The growing season in San Diego rocks. There is some edible plant thriving any day of the year in our temperate climate. Top of the list plants to star...t now? Swiss chard, herbs, peas and jalapeños! Seeds and starts in the shop now! (If you so go to one of the many Tack and Feeds in SD for troughs, grab a bail or half bail of STRAW for top dressing!)

Merry Christmas from Shawna and Theresa (and Theresa’s doggos!)

Open Christmas Eve 10 to 3!

String of Hearts and Hindu Rope Hoya are top picks on every planty person’s wishlist! These two are in the shop alongside sure to please gifts and stocking stuffers! Hours December 23 10 to 5. Hours Christmas 10 to 3!

10 to 5 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this holiday week! #supportlocal #thankyou

We. Are. Very. Planty. So many happy healthy plants from floor to ceiling. We’re excited to take you and your indoor jungle through the cooler months coming our way!

Finding the light like a good Philodendron.

On the left we have a philodendron. On the right a pothos. They’re often confusedthey do a lot of the same things. They trail. They come in vibrant mixes of green, yellow and white. They grow to about the same sizes. Where they differ is in the effects of low light on the plant’s vigor. Pothos can tolerate low light well. Philodendrons will become leggy and grow tiny leavesthey begin to slowly dwindle. Low light just isn’t their thing. If you’re torn between the two, let light be your deciding factor .

Just a bunch of Hoya Kerrii hanging out with a splattering of Hoya Obovata. We’re actually keeping them in morning sun but by a Hoyas standard we’re keeping them cool even though we’re kind of keeping them warm. They like temperatures between 50 and 77 degrees. Which in the plant nerd world is COOL for Hoyas. Hoyas get classified as loving temperatures in the ranges of COOL, INTERMEDIATE, or WARM. Most of the Hoyas we collect like it COOL. Some varieties in the WARM range like it to be 70 to 95 degrees all the time. When you’re investing in Hoyas, definitely check out their temperature classification. San Diego generally does best with COOL varieties. Hoya Australis made their rounds through SD and gave everyone a headache. (Guess we’re just too cool for them?)

Watering + feeding the squad.

Medicinal Aloe vera plants are little chameleons of color. Outside in direct sun they blush in rust tones, losing they’re cool hues of bluish green. What they trade in coloration, they make up for in profuse torches of yellow flowers. Inside, in bright light in a warm window, they maintain refreshing tones of green, gray and bluealthough they probably won’t bloom indoors, it’s not impossible! You could move your Aloe vera from place to place giving it 8 hours of sunlight in ...various parts of your home. LOL working from home and up for a project? If not, then enjoy your green friend for its shape and hues alone. Aloe vera will move its leaf tips towards the direction of the light. If you like a symmetrical form, you’re going to want to rotate your plant once a week. We kind of like a little twist to our tips so we turn them less often. Aloe vera will pup from the base and form a cluster of individual plants. You can divide them once a year or let them stay together in an Aloe commune. Whatever you do, use cactus soil and water only after the pot is completely dry! Fabulous for burns and irritations, Aloe vera is one if the most abundantly used medicinal plant across the globe. Get one! See more

When do house plants go dormant in Southern California? We came into the shop today to find sappy droplets trickling from the leaves of our R. tetraspermas, Monstera deliciosas and most of the many varieties of pothos. The sappy excretions are from the process of guttation telling us that the plants are actively transpiring at nightthey’re still growing. And we’re still feeding them and watering them on a growing season schedule. Unlike so many other places, Southern Califo...rnia doesn’t see a period of dormant rest in our house plants until December. Our growing season is exceptionally long which is reason number one to provide an excellent soil substrate and regular feedings. Cooler temperatures may mean a longer period in between waterings and/or less water being needed at one time because moisture isn’t evaporating from the soil surfaceremember soggy is nobody’s friend unless you’re a heart leafed fern or a Venus fly trap. If you’re not sure what to do with your jungle this time of year, send us photos and questions and we’ll guide you through the growing season wind down! All planty questions are good questions. See more

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma enjoying bright light and a kiss of morning sunshine. We want you to have at least one Rhaphidophora tetrasperma in your jungle. They’re super easy to care for so long as you have them in the correct substrate. Soil matters and it does NOT have to cost $20 bucks per bag. We’ve got you covered at $9.99 for an organic potting mix blended in CA that’s oh so good for this climber. Fast draining, rich soil with plenty of aeration is essential. These green... goddesses won’t pout too much if they get a tad too dry, but they’ll throw a fit if they’re kept in soggy soil. Wondering how we can source the best in soil at such a great price? We’re not selecting soils based on adorable packaging and slick marketingthe same soils that are being shipped across the country adding unnecessary costs to you. Each of the soils we proudly offer are manufactured on the West Coast to CA standards. Why move soil 3,000 miles? We just don’t get it, but we get great soil and we’ve got for under $10 a bag. Soil matters and so does our carbon footprint. #rhaphidophoratetrasperma #indoorplants #californialove See more

Did you know that Neem Oil can be used as a systemic? What’s systemic pest control? Watering with a Neem oil tincture will impart the active ingredient for pest control into the plant. The pests that pierce and suck the life out of our green friends receive a fatal dose of Neem oil when they try to invade a plant that’s been watered with Neem. It’s our favorite method for protecting plants prone to invaders. Manual cleaning of infected plants is key, but a systemic approach i...s vital for treating the pesty problem. Neem oil is a natural non-toxic method that we’re happy to guide you through. We stock organic Neem Carrier Oilcarrier oil is more dilute and suitable for applying to our plants than essential oil. And it’s mix with water as you go. Human grade and useful on us, too! In stock now. For the plant nerds: Azadirachtin is the compound in Neem Oil that reduces insect feeding and acts as a repellent. It also interferes with insect hormone systems, making it harder for insects to grow and lay eggs. #neemoil #organicpestcontrol #houseplants See more

Feeling so happy about the cool temperatures! Expect your green babies to use water more slowly. And look around. Has the light changed in your space? Move those planty friends and reinvigorate your vibe based on how much light your plants require.

5 steps to chill: 1) add a plantdid you smile when you saw it? If yes, that’s your plant connection; 2) Burn somethingcandle, sage or palo santo. Did you close your eyes and breathe deeply when the scent hit your nose? That’s your mood match. 3) Eat something nutritious but delightfulspiced nut butters. Honey. Small tastes that stimulate pleasure; 4) Get a great bar soap. You’re bound to be washing your hands 1,000 times per day, make it uplifting! 5) CBD. CBD. CBD. On your skin or in your diet, this plant compound is doing wonders for so many and it’s not intoxicating! We got you, planty people! #happyplace #botanicalpickmeup #sandiegolifestyle

Monday reminder to all the planty people!

See you Monday 10 to 5!