How did Bloomscape start?

Bloomscape was founded by Detroit-native Justin Mast in 2018. Justin comes from five generations of greenhouse growers and floral industry innovators. In fact, the Mast family’s history in horticulture and greenhouse growth can be traced back to the 1800s! As a kid, selling pants came naturally for him – instead of a lemonade stand, Justin started a “plant stand” with a cart of geraniums on a street corner in Michigan. That spark led him to create a greenhouse experience for a new generation of plant lovers.

Explain to us more about your services and what are your core offerings?

Bloomscape is the modern online garden center delivering the largest variety of quality houseplants directly from the greenhouse. Bloomscape is the only plant company that ships plants (of all sizes!) directly from the greenhouse to the consumer’s front door. Indoor plants are where Bloomscape started but in the past year, we’ve launched several new collections, including Edible Garden (herbs and veggies) and a plant care app, Vera by Bloomscape. Our latest addition is a line of outdoor porch and patio plants and tools.

What inspires your team?

Our team is energized and inspired by our customers and the joy we are able to bring them. People love plants and caring for them and we love being able to help them in their plant parenthood journey.

Tell us a little bit about the sourcing of your plants.

We have a large greenhouse/fulfillment center in Grand Rapids and strong greenhouse relationships around the country. These deep relationships are what sets us apart from others and allows us to ship plants of all sizes anywhere in the country.

What’s in store for the future of Bloomscape?

Our north star is to be the gardening center of the future, serving a new generation of gardeners. Our current focus is: Outdoor gardening – We recently launched our first line of Outdoor plants, starting with container gardening. We will be opening more facilities across the US that mirror our fulfillment center in Michigan that will enable us to deliver plants to our customers in just a few days.

How has your industry changed since the pandemic began?

During the first few months of COVID, along with the rest of the world, we saw a lot of things change. Many people found comfort and became interested in plants. We are incredibly grateful that our plants offer that little bit of solace and joy via nature in their home. We were thrilled to be able to bring something so meaningful to people during a difficult time.

What are your team’s favorite plants right now?

Our team is loving the Mini Money Tree. This mini version of the beloved braided Money Tree is a charming pet-friendly plant topped with palmate leaves on a short, stout trunk. It is carefree and adaptable to low to bright indirect light and the perfect choice to add a tropical feel to a bookshelf, tabletop or desk. It gets its name because the Feng Shui practice believes it will bring positive energy and good luck to the owner – something we’re all about after this past year!

Best single piece of plant advice?

One of the most common mistakes that new plant parents make is overwatering their plants. We suggest you let the plant “tell” you when it needs water. There is so much variance within an indoor environment that it is difficult to schedule watering; it depends on the indoor temperatures, humidity, where the plant resides, etc. We recommend the touch test: push your finger into the soil until it reaches your middle knuckle. If the soil feels moist to the touch, do not water your plants and check again in a few days. If the soil feels dry, give your plants a good soak until water flows out of the bottom drainage holes. Set it back on the saucer, making sure there is never any standing water in the saucer.

If someone wants to purchase a plant but is nervous about it maintaining it, what plant would you recommend?

Succulents tend to be easier to take care of than other types of plants, as they require less water. Because of this, they make ideal houseplants for new plant parents.

The Hedgehog Aloe, Aloe Arista, Haworthia, and Echeveria are all especially easy succulents. A Prickly Pear is an intriguing cactus with bright green paddle-like pads that actually grow on top of each other.

A Prickly Pear is perfect for the person who wishes to add a bit of green to their home with limited time to care for plants. It’s easy to care for and is drought tolerant.

The Philodendron Brasil is incredibly adaptable and easy to care for. Its heart-shaped leaves have gorgeous variegation, and it’s a fast grower with impressive trailing vines. This plant is a great option for any situation and will adapt to nearly all light conditions.

The Tough Stuff Collection is perfect for beginners looking for low-maintenance plants, and is part of Bloomscape’s series of expertly chosen plants that come in small 4-inch pots, perfect for your desktop, windowsill or bookshelf. The Tough Stuff collection features a hand-selected trio of the Sansevieria, ZZ Plant, and Green Hoya, perfect for plant parents that need resilient plants – they’re easy and very forgiving and are perfect for less-than-ideal conditions.

Another fabulous trio of plants is Bloomscape’s Easy Peasy Collection, a group of three plants that are all low-maintenance and drought tolerant. This collection includes a miniature Ponytail Palm, Samurai Sansevieria, and Golden Hahnii Sansevieria. These three plants can all handle a range of conditions, from low to full sun, low humidity, and minimal watering. When at low light, the plants can go for weeks without much water.

How can incorporating plants in an interior environment benefit an individual?

The health benefits of indoor plants are numerous, from improved cognitive function and creativity to stress reduction. Plants improve our mental outlook by providing “gezellig” (a Dutch word meaning a feeling of coziness, comfort, and relaxation) and gives us a sense of well-being.

A Japanese study that explores Shinrin-yoku ( “forest bathing”) concluded that spending time around nature lowers stress levels, reduces blood pressure, and has an overall relaxing effect on the body. Interactions with your houseplants have the same relaxing and stress-reducing effects. In addition, many species of plants carry distinct scents that serve as a form of aromatherapy.

Plants not only affect our mental state but improve the quality of air in space. Houseplants not only increase oxygen, but are also natural air purifiers.

A huge thank you to Bloomscape for their insights on all thing’s plants. It is clear through the research that plants have a positive impact on us in so many ways. In addition, you no longer have to be a gardening expert to reap the benefits of bringing plant life into your environment. We now have access to resources like Bloomscape to help select the plants that work best in our spaces. Bloomscape has made plants more accessible, and if there is one thing we can get behind, it is spreading the joy of plants to everyone we know.