Do even artificial plants droop in your presence, sensing your limited ability to “care” for them? Have you found it impossible to find a happy horticultural medium between utter neglect and “loving” (aka watering) your indoor plants to death?
Few would argue that vibrant plants bring beauty and serenity to a home, yet many find this aspect of interior design either daunting or simply unattainable.
The owners of Crazy Plant Bae aim to help.
‘A way of life’
Teresa and Rachelle Thomas’ mother owned a plant shop in the 1980s, and the sisters grew up surrounded by thriving specimens.
“They were just a way of life,” said Teresa Thomas, a Master Gardener, florist and entrepreneur with a degree in agricultural business.
The Thomas sisters share their skills through Crazy Plant Bae, their store where everyone from beginners to experts can find the right plants for the right spots in their home or office, as well as the proper soil, fertilizer and decorative vessels, which range from kooky and quirky (planters in the shape of voluptuous derrieres) to sleek, elegant and minimalist ones that will bring glamor to your space.
The sisters’ journey into business began during the COVID-19 pandemic when family members were scattered around the country and started sending plant care packages to one another.
“I was laid off from my job in the hospitality and hotel business, and I realized I wanted a different lifestyle,” said Teresa Thomas, “so I started selling plants online. That was going well, so I talked my mom into letting me run a pop-up out of her catering and event facility, as it was closed due to the pandemic.
“That was going well, but when my mom wanted her business back, I had to move out.”
That’s when Teresa Thomas, the self-described “doer,” and Rachelle Thomas, whom her sister identifies as a “planner,” went into business together. The sisters opened their first brick-and-mortar Crazy Plant Bae plant shop in Treme in December 2021. They opened their second location in Lakeview in early October.
“People come for a donut (at District Donuts next door) and leave with a plant,” Teresa Thomas said of the new location on Harrison Avenue. “I want to encourage people to start their plant journeys.”
One way she does that is by keeping prices reasonable. An on-trend, easy-care Monstera Deliciosa starts at a thrifty $6.99. Air plants start at $3.99. Even rare collectibles that serious plant enthusiasts salivate over are reasonably priced: A variegated Burl Marx Flame Monstera is a steal compared with specialty plant shops.
The sisters said Crazy Plant Bae works with people of all skill levels. They invite school field trips to the stores, and staff will visits schools to instruct children about plants and foster an interest in the natural world.
Crazy Plant Be also offers in-home and in-store care and advice, residential and commercial rentals, and design services.
So many ways to kill them
Part of that advice can help you avoid some common pitfalls.
Improper soil and overwatering are the most widespread problems for house plants. For example, alocasias should not be planted in soil with a picture of a tomato on the front of the bag. They end up with soil that never dries out and compacts around their roots, leading to root rot.
Tropical houseplants require bright, indirect light and fast-draining soil. Ideally this means near and east-facing window.
Before watering, feel the soil. If it feels damp do not water. If the top inch of soil is dry or the pot feels light when you pick it up, it’s time.
By the same token there are also indoor plants that can survive in a closet and thrive on neglect, like the snake plant (aka sansevieria). It is both easy care and air purifying. CPB carries 15 different varieties and prices start at $9.99.
Humidity is also an issue. Humidity may be soaking us outside, but inside, our plants are drying out because of air conditioning — and heaters in the winter. Try misting them or placing them atop trays of pebbles with a thin layer of water.
Crazy Plant Bae, 716 N. Claiborne Ave., and 525 Harrison Ave., New Orleans.
(504) 315.5116, crazyplantbae.com, and @CrazyPlantBae
Workshops: Talk Dirty to Me, which is about soil conditions; terrarium parties; plant and sip gatherings; Plant Care101; and season-specific workshops. All can be scheduled as private parties or public events.
Inside Sources is a column that tracks trends and provides consumer information from experts in their home and gardening fields.
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