Sacramento's destination indoor plant store hosts Saturday party, workshops
For half a century, Kifumi Keppler has shared her passion about indoor gardening at Exotic Plants.
Courtesy Exotic Plants
Sacramento’s Kifumi Keppler is a force for nature. For half a century, Keppler has shared her passion about indoor gardening at Exotic Plants, a destination plant store like no other.
Saturday, Oct. 22, Exotic Plants will celebrate its 50th anniversary in business. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the public is invited to drop by and join the party. Tickets are free and may be obtained on eventbrite here.
“We are so excited to celebrate 50 years with our community!” the store posted online. “This will be a free event; we will have live entertainment, costumer appreciation sales, workshops and more! Thank you to every one of you who have supported our local business the past 50 years – we wouldn't be here without you!”
After stints in four different locations (including 10 years on Howe Avenue), Exotic Plants moved in 2019 into its much larger home at 1525 Fulton Ave., Sacramento, near Arden Way. With a 4,000-square-foot-building and 3,000-square-foot patio, this location has room for outdoor events (as well as outdoor tropical plants and succulents) as well as space for indoor workshops.
Known for its vast selection of indoor tropicals and orchids, Exotic Plants has built a loyal following, not only for sales but rentals. Need an instant jungle? This is the place.
Its clientele extend throughout California and Nevada. Besides live plants, the store also features a wide selection of plant-centric décor, terrariums and one-of-a-kind “moss art,” collages made of mosses, barks and other plant material.
From Boston ferns to moth orchids to rare anthuriums, the family-owned and operated store has seen plants come in and out of fashion. Keppler and her team continue to keep up with indoor plant trends while offering a wide range of species and varieties. From beginner to collector, there’s something in her jungle for every indoor gardener.
A native of Kyoto, Japan, Keppler arrived in Sacramento as a Fulbright scholar at Sacramento State. KCRA hired her as a film editor and producer. But, as Keppler recalls, she found her true calling in plants.
“I went through a lot of changes in the plant industry,” she said in an interview last year. “(When she started), it used to be wandering Jew, piggyback plant and Swedish ivy, lots of Boston ferns. I did a lot of designer homes with three to five plants in each room. Designers used houseplants in model homes because they helped sell the property faster.”
Designers switched to fake foliage, but many homeowners want the real thing. Plants naturally clean indoor air as well as lift people’s spirits.
Keppler made adjustments to her business, and kept Exotic Plants growing, too.
“A lot of people started after me in the plant business; it’s become more and more competitive,” she added. “But we were strong, and still are.”
Details: www.exoticplantsltd.com or 916-922-4769.
Comments
0 comments have been posted.Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
Local News
Thanks to our sponsor!
Sites We Like
Dig In: Garden Checklist
For week of Dec. 10:
Take advantage of these dry but crisp conditions. It’s time to get out the rake!
* Rake leaves away from storm drains and keep gutters clear.
* Fallen leaves can be used for mulch and compost. Chop up large leaves with a couple of passes with a lawn mower.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while they’re dormant. Without their foliage, trees are easier to prune.
* Rake and remove dead leaves and stems from dormant perennials.
* Make sure to take frost precautions with new transplants and sensitive plants. Mulch, water and cover tender plants in the late afternoon to retain warmth.
* Succulent plants are at particular risk if temperatures drop below freezing. Don’t water succulents before frost; cover instead. Use cloth sheets, not plastic. Make sure to remove coverings during the day.
* Clean and sharpen garden tools before storing for the winter.
* Brighten the holidays with winter bloomers such as poinsettias, amaryllis, calendulas, Iceland poppies, pansies and primroses.
* Keep poinsettias in a sunny, warm location. Water thoroughly. After the holidays, feed your plants monthly so they'll bloom again next December.
* Just because it rained doesn't mean every plant got watered. Give a drink to plants that the rain didn't reach, such as under eaves or under evergreen trees. Also, well-watered plants hold up better to frost than thirsty plants.
* Plant garlic (December's the last chance -- the ground is getting cold!) and onions for harvest in summer.
* Bare-root season begins. Plant bare-root berries, kiwifruit, grapes, artichokes, horseradish and rhubarb. Beware of soggy soil. It can rot bare-root plants.
Powered by California Local
