By
Ameema Ahmed

Chelsea Thomas calls Plantae her “COVID project.” As a professional backpacking guide, she found herself with a lot of free time when Grand Canyon National Park closed during the pandemic. That, combined with the increasing popularity of houseplants during that time, made it a perfect opportunity for Thomas to embark on a new journey.

“I had a vision for something that was uniquely houseplants and related items,” she recalls. “I did a couple of pop-up sales in front of a friend’s boutique, and those were wildly successful.”

Thomas (pictured) operated as a home-based business for a few months but soon realized the demand for houseplants was higher than she’d expected. That led her to expand to a brick-and-mortar
location in downtown Flagstaff. 

Working with indoor plants, though, is nothing new to Thomas — she says she had about 250 houseplants at the beginning of 2020 and has always been interested in gardening and learning about plants. “I love the unique variety of houseplants and all the different care [methods],” she says. “I had no professional training. I just seemed to have a knack for indoor plants.”

Today, that knack has become a thriving, hands-on plant business. Every two weeks, Thomas takes a trip to California to select the plants she sells at Plantae. “Being in the greenhouse, seeing all the different varieties and all the different plants available, it’s just really wonderful,” she says. “I’ve had so many people tell me that Plantae is the coolest plant shop they’ve been in, and I think it goes hand in hand with me hand-selecting the plants.”

Rachel Luzzader, a Plantae customer from its inception, says walking into the store spurs an immediate feeling of calm and relaxation. “You notice all of the amazing plants, local artwork, jewelry, stickers and ceramics,” she says. “There are gorgeous pots in all different colors and sizes, cool apparel, soil, trellises, hangers and everything you need to have happy plants.”

Luzzader also appreciates the “highly knowledgeable” staff at Plantae. “They are friendly and excited to share their expertise,” she says. “I always learn something new.”

Taking care of houseplants can be intimidating, but at Plantae, the goal is to help anyone gain the knowledge to own a plant. “Even if you kill every plant, we will help you stop doing that,” Thomas says. “It’s a few simple things that you’re doing that are causing an issue, and just by learning about it, you can easily fix the problem.”

Thomas says the main problems people encounter with houseplants are under- or overwatering and not providing adequate light. “It’s really up to the plant holder how much effort they want to put into it,” she adds. “I would say the biggest learning curve is truly understanding what bright light means to a plant and how a plant’s root system works.” According to Thomas, a good starting plant for beginners is a golden pothos. “It is the quintessential houseplant,” she says. “This plant is so easy and so adaptable, it can live almost anywhere.”

Thomas is surrounded by plants at work and at home, and she emphasizes their benefits. “It just brightens up your space,” she says. “It’s alive; it gives you purpose. There are so many people who sit at home or at a desk for eight to 10 hours a day, so it’s kind of a way to bring nature indoors.”

If you’re interested in getting started with houseplants, Thomas encourages you to stop by and learn about taking care of them. She and her team at Plantae will have you feeling confident to start your journey as a plant owner.

“Our tagline says it all: ‘Exceptional Houseplants for Everyone,’ ” she says. “You can literally get a plant, a pot and the knowledge that you need to keep that plant alive just by coming to the shop.”

Business Information

Plantae
112 Historic Route 66, Suite 106
Flagstaff, AZ
United States