Community + Events Manager: Codi

1. First off, let's get a formal introduction to who you are, what you do (at Bloomscape), and how people can reach you (if they have questions).

Hi! My name is Codi, and I’m the Community + Events Manager at Bloomscape! I manage our influencer partnerships, ambassador program, and I also manage our virtual workshop program! I’ve been working with plants for a long time so it’s been a lot of fun to get to know the Bloomscape plant family and spread my knowledge with everyone.

2. You mentioned you've been working with plants for years. How did it all get started?

You’re absolutely right-- I’ve been working with plants for nearly 8 years now (even longer if you count my time as an organic farmer in high school and college!). I’ve been interested in plants and gardening my entire life since growing up in a little house in upstate New York surrounded by fruit trees and gardens. My first job out of college was with an educational non-profit that worked with LAUSD to set up science & gardening programs at public elementary schools. While there, a coworker suggested to me that I consider becoming a certified “Master Gardener”, and the rest is history! I got my certification and I definitely caught the gardening bug, and caught a green thumb as well! Over the years I’ve held a lot of roles in horticulture, from environmental consulting & establishing native drought-tolerant gardens in public use areas, to teaching gardening classes at youth detention centers, to working at a hydroponic urban farm in the middle of the Brooklyn Navy Yard! This all brought me to Bloomscape where I’m able to share what I’ve learned over the years.

3. It's no argument that plants can help elevate mood, improve air quality, and so much more. What is your personal favorite quality about having plants?

I think I like how plants remind me to establish a healthy routine for myself, and the fact that they encourage me to practice patience. Living in New York City, it’s really easy to let time get away from itself and to let your schedule fill up and become very busy. Plants remind me of the importance of routines, keeping track of my needs over the course of days and week, and they also remind me that some things take time, and that’s ok! Growth takes time, and not everything needs to happen in a New York minute.

4. For new plant moms out there, what are the 3 plants you recommend they start with, and why?

I always recommend pothos plants to new plant parents! They’re tolerant to just about any type of lighting and microclimate and they’re a good first stepping stone in learning the “habits” of plants such as what signs they’ll show you when they’re thirsty, what issues to look out for, and what typical growth patterns are. They don’t need to be watered too often and they’re very forgiving!

Another plant I love to recommend is the ZZ plant! This plant, similarly to the pothos, can tolerate just about anything! Instead of having proper roots, they have tubers, and rather than having a trailing growth pattern, they tend to grow up instead of out. They have beautiful bright green and shiny alternating leaves and they can tolerate the darkest corners in your space. ZZ plants need to be watered even less than pothos plants, believe it or not, they really benefit from what I like to call “selective neglect” haha.

Lastly, I’d recommend a fur-friendly plant, which is the money tree! It’s very hard to find pet-friendly large plants and this one takes the cake! It’s super easy to care for, tolerates medium to bright indirect light, and can even tolerate low light (though it may grow a bit more slowly in these conditions.) Once they’ve settled into your home (expect them to drop a few leaves when they first arrive, this is normal, and they more than makeup for it in new growth!) they will become a gorgeous centerpiece. Legend has it that money trees also bring wealth and prosperity to whoever owns one! They’re “luckiest” when you receive them as a gift, but I think you’re allowed to give yourself little gifts too.

5. What are 3 must-have tools every new plant owner should have on hand?

For sure a watering can, mister bottle, and houseplant pruner or snip! We sell all of these items with the exception of the mister bottle at Bloomscape, and I don’t know where I’d be without them! Most first plant parents think they can get by just watering plants with a water bottle or something of the sort, but having a watering can with a large capacity and a narrow spout can make watering a breeze, and ensures that you won’t be going back and forth between the sink and your plants, nor will you end up watering the leaves!

Mister bottles are key for humidity loving plants, I would look for a mister bottle with a very fine mist to avoid problems such as leaf spot or powdery mildew. Mist your plants 1-3 times per week. Some can even tolerate a daily mist!

Lastly, houseplant snips or pruners are SO helpful to own. They’re great for trimming crispy leaf edges, removing dead or yellowing growth, or trimming or pruning your plants to propagate or encourage branching! Having a high-quality pair of snips really makes a world of difference, and it means you’re causing less potential harm or trauma to your plants when you prune.

6. Bloomscape offers advice and help to all its customers, which I think is amazing. Are there any specific features that you'd like to point out (that we should take advantage of)?

We have a really fantastic team of experts on the Plant Mom team that can answer any and all of your plant questions, whether or not it’s a Bloomscape plant! At Bloomscape, we really want to help every plant parent feel comfortable no matter where they are on their plant care journey, and we provide the resources to get you there.

Additionally, we just launched a plant care app called Vera by Bloomscape! It’s available to US customers (on both Apple and Android) and you can add plants from the plant library, seek care advice, and set watering and fertilizing reminders and schedules. It’s a total game-changer.

7. What is one misconception when it comes to taking care of plants?

Honestly, the biggest misconception is that people just *naturally* have green thumbs. Plant care is a learning journey, and while some people may have a knack for it, it’s something everyone can learn! Don’t become discouraged if it doesn’t work out with a plant-- this is all part of the process, and what better way to learn than to figure out what doesn’t work! The other major misconception is that plants love water! They actually love well-draining pots and well-draining soil-- they hate to be sitting in standing water. If you’re having a plant problem, it’s more likely to be caused by overwatering than underwatering-- most people are inclined to think the opposite! Always let your soil dry out a bit between waterings.

8. In recent months, more and more plant companies are popping up and offering delivery as well. What makes Bloomscape stand out from the rest?

I really think that Bloomscape has so much to offer in terms of community. Our CEO, Justin Mast comes from 5 generations of greenhouse and floral industry knowledge, dating back all the way to his family’s roots in the Netherlands. His mother, Joyce, is actually Bloomscape’s “Plant Mom”! We take this love and expertise and use it to grow all of the plants we provide, and we help our customers with every plant parenting step along the way! Our plants spend much less time in transit or in harsh conditions than many other plant delivery services, especially those from big box stores, and with Bloomscape, you’re always guaranteed a mature and healthy plant, otherwise, we replace it for free within 30 days!

9. Are there any fun projects/campaigns that Bloomscape has in the works that you can hint about?

So many fun projects in the works! We just launched a new line of merch and a new line of plant care products. Both of these were a long time coming, and we’re so excited to be able to offer them to our customers. Additionally, we just launched our Edible Garden shop-- which includes veggies, herbs, and other fun & yummy plant treats. I think everyone is going to be very excited about our holiday offerings this year as there will be lots of goodies.

10. Lastly, who are your top 5 favorite plant accounts to follow?

There are SO many incredible plant people out there in the world, it’s hard to narrow it down to just 5! But these people create content that really resonates with me both as a plant parent & Bloomscaper, and personally as a human being in this crazy world! @thequeer_jungalow is a favorite, @theplantladycecilia is a member of the Bloomscape team and has an incredible plant Instagram, @planterrob is a Brooklynite who just started his own plant company that offers plants that are native to Africa, @hemleva is an artist who creates adorable plant pins & stickers (and so many other things), and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the incredible @plantkween, whose content inspires me daily!