The horrors of low light, offices too warm or too cold, and the indecisions of whether the Ficus really needs a drink this week are starting to fade as we enter early spring. Plants, in general, are coming out of their winter dormancy and we are on the cusp of the growing season for our [...]
Learn how to take a step back If you feel you’re on the verge of being stressed because of your job, take a step back. You might be burning out. Before it becomes full-blown, take these steps to avoid burnout: 1. Find time to play Even if it means forcing yourself. People on the [...]
Do you make the grade? Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Account Check-up...no matter what you call it, it’s still a report card. These reports can show up in your message box without warning. There is no time for cramming, you didn’t even know there was going to be a “test." They go straight to your [...]
Healthy Back Tips for Plant Technicians It's important to avoid back injuries while working Work shouldn’t be back breaking. A plant technician’s job can be strenuous. A typical day will involve lifting water buckets, carrying replacement plants, moving ladders and climbing up and down, crawling on your knees, moving chairs out of the way [...]
Writing a list will help you stay on track There's always so much that needs to be done and it's easy to be overwhelmed when you have so much on your plate. Don't worry, there are 11 helpful tips below to help you make the most of our time. Break down major tasks into [...]
When horticulturists in your company begin to "talk shop," do you sometimes feel like you're standing on foreign soil? Do you frown in puzzlement when they toss out phrases like vascular bundles, air layering and sucker growth? If so, you're not alone. The language of horticulture, while sometimes confusing, is essential for effective communication. To tackle [...]
Over the years, rising overhead costs have forced interiorscapers to delay replacing plants in order to control expenses. Old plants, hanging onto life by one or two leaves, will ruin an account; but, aging plants, maintained properly to stay full, can be beautiful for many years. To extend a plant's life without sacrificing plant quality, it [...]
Great managers inspire their plant technicians Managing interior plant technicians can be very stressful. It takes a lot of effort to make sure your technicians are knowledgeable about their work and servicing the accounts with ease. Good leadership is essential, but what are the characteristics of a good manager? Here are 20 characteristics of [...]
It's important to learn botanical nomenclature Chamaedorea seifrizii, Dizygotheca elegantissima, Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckei,' Yucca elephantipes, Nidularium innocentii var. lineatum and Aspidistra elatior Those Latin names can be technical tongue twisters; difficult to pronounce and remember! Learning scientific names can seem more like an obstruction than a useful tool to the new interior plant technician. In truth, a basic understanding [...]
Be on the lookout for yellow plant leaves What’s going on when you find yellow leaves on the plants in your care? The truth is that there will always be yellow leaves, it’s only natural. There are so many reasons for yellow leaves! Determining the cause and then attempting to stop the problem will lessen [...]
