Our installation crew disappoints us. Our supervisor is late to work and fails to have the paperwork ready when she arrives. One of our team members is blocking us in so we can't leave on our route. Occasions to criticize others arise many times during the course of a workday, yet few people know how to [...]
5 Signs it's Time to Replace Plants Maybe it's time for new plants? Many of us choose plantscaping because we love plants. When a plant suddenly dies in our care we grieve the loss, for in some unique way we have lost a friend. Perhaps harder yet for us is when a plant has [...]
Summer is upon and that means that it's time to talk about water. The plants inside that we take care of are using more water and it seems those exterior pots and hanging baskets can't get enough! The additional need for water seems to come on suddenly when we think we still have a couple more [...]
If you want fewer customers, just be as inflexible as possible. Being inflexible means saying "no" as often as possible to customers. It means being surprised by anything that differs from the norm: an unusual request or question from a customer, an angry caller or the accent of a non-English speaking customer. It's the "We've always [...]
Ficus benjamina (weeping fig), part of the large Moraceae, or Mulberry, family, are native to Southeast Asia, India and Australia. F. benjamina has glossy green elliptical shaped leaves and a light tan colored trunk. Mature plants may produce small, inedible figs. Ficus benjaminas are available in a wide variety of forms including multiple standards, braided, single [...]
The horticultural technician has a lot to do in a short time. We have a lot of tasks and they need to be done efficiently. Use the following checklist every visit to make sure you are performing a complete and comprehensive observation of your plants. Observe the foliage Are leaves pale (chlorotic), yellow, brown, or spotted? [...]
Hoya bella cascading plant Cascading flowering plants are often the highlight of an interior installation. The effect of trailing leaves draws the eye and sparks interest. My very favorite of these plants is the lovely Hoya bella, also known as the miniature wax plant. Hoya bella foliage looks gorgeous whether in hanging pots or [...]
Good customer service communications flow smoothly and effortlessly. We get a call, or our contact approaches us with a problem or a complaint and we let them know what we will do to correct things and deal with the situation. Simple. Yet sometimes you can tell things have gotten off on the wrong foot and gone [...]
You've seen them. Ficus lyrata, also known as the fiddle leaf tree, are so in right now. Designers love them, and the dramatic effect they can have on a room. Nearly every new client we get these days asks for at least one Ficus lyrata, and the customer is always right! Right? As many of you [...]
When you are having a conversation with your supervisor, client or fellow technician, do you pay attention with your entire body and mind? Or do you find yourself just catching key phrases and editing what they say through your internal filters? Active listening uses a variety of our senses, including sight and sound, in order to pay [...]
