Ep. 409: How to Shop for Plants Like a Pro Gardener with Mark Thompson - Outdoor Mini-Series Pt. 3

Summary

Podcast Summary: How to Decorate – Ep. 409: How to Shop for Plants Like a Pro Gardener with Mark Thompson

Introduction

In Episode 409 of How to Decorate, Ballard Designs delves into the art of plant shopping with expert Mark Thompson. This episode, part of the Outdoor Mini-Series, offers a comprehensive guide to selecting, caring for, and integrating plants into both indoor and outdoor spaces. Released on April 15, 2025, the episode is a treasure trove of insights for gardening enthusiasts and home decorators alike.

Guest Introduction: Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson, co-owner of two renowned Birmingham, Alabama stores—Shop and General—joins the hosts, Caroline and Liz, to share his extensive knowledge in gardening and plant care. Mark's passion for plants began in his childhood, inspired by his grandfather’s vegetable garden, and evolved through his career in interior design and retail management.

Mark’s Journey into Gardening and Retail

Mark recounts his early experiences planting with his grandfather, stating:

“[...] it was like planting potatoes with my papa, seeing them grow and harvest” (01:54).

His lifelong love for gardening led him to open Shop, a beloved garden store, and later General, a café and general store that complements the gardening experience. Mark emphasizes the importance of creating a unique retail space to stand out in Birmingham’s vibrant gardening industry:

“We knew ours had to be special in some way to stand out” (07:16).

Shopping for Plants: Key Considerations

Mark offers valuable advice on how to shop for plants effectively, highlighting the need for setting the right expectations:

“Don’t always go in to the garden shop [...] think that I want this. Go in with an open mind” (14:08).

He advises buyers to consider purchasing smaller plants that have potential to grow and evolve, rather than opting for plants at their peak beauty, which might decline over time.

Selecting Healthy Plants

Ensuring the health of plants is crucial. Mark suggests checking for consistent watering and healthy roots:

“If the plant looks healthy, it probably is. If it doesn't, it's probably not” (19:09).

He recommends inspecting the roots by gently removing plants from their pots to ensure they are well-rooted and free from rot.

Houseplant Care Tips

For maintaining thriving houseplants, Mark emphasizes the importance of proper repotting, ensuring adequate drainage, and selecting appropriate light conditions:

“Repotting them really helps. Like an annual repotting, setting them up for success from the beginning” (36:54).

He also shares innovative solutions for drainage, such as using large platters or rubbermaid containers to catch excess water without harming the plant.

Outdoor Gardening: Enhancing Your Garden

Mark discusses his personal project of renovating a historic home in Forest Park, Birmingham, transforming an overgrown space into a structured, beautiful garden. He highlights the significance of patience and thoughtful planning in garden renovation:

“Starting to clean up and cut back things, but not necessarily digging up from the beginning” (47:23).

Dealing with Invasive Species

Addressing the challenges of invasive plants, Mark advises proactive management:

“If you’re gonna have a privet hedge, you’ve got to trim it so that it doesn’t bloom or bury” (51:18).

He underscores the ecological importance of controlling invasive species to maintain a healthy garden environment.

Enhancing Plant Longevity and Aesthetics

Mark shares practical tips for extending the life of houseplants and enhancing their appearance. This includes regular fertilization, appropriate watering schedules, and careful placement away from heating vents:

“Consistency with watering and taking care of things, making sure that they're draining well” (19:09).

He also discusses creative methods to beautify pot arrangements, such as using moss for aesthetic appeal during gatherings.

Personal Insights and Closing Thoughts

Mark reflects on his approach to plant care and the balance between maintaining plant health and aesthetic presentation:

“Don't overwater, make sure things have drainage” (56:14).

He concludes by encouraging listeners to enjoy their gardening journey, whether they are seasoned gardeners or beginners, and to embrace the beauty and challenges that come with nurturing plants.

Notable Quotes

• Mark Thompson (01:54): “It was like planting potatoes with my papa, seeing them grow and harvest.”
• Mark Thompson (14:08): “Don’t always go in to the garden shop [...] go in with an open mind.”
• Mark Thompson (19:09): “If the plant looks healthy, it probably is. If it doesn't, it's probably not.”
• Mark Thompson (36:54): “Repotting them really helps. Like an annual repotting, setting them up for success from the beginning.”
• Mark Thompson (47:23): “Starting to clean up and cut back things, but not necessarily digging up from the beginning.”
• Mark Thompson (51:18): “If you’re gonna have a privet hedge, you’ve got to trim it so that it doesn’t bloom or bury.”
• Mark Thompson (56:14): “Don't overwater, make sure things have drainage.”

Conclusion

Episode 409 of How to Decorate provides an in-depth exploration of plant shopping and care with expert Mark Thompson. From selecting healthy plants and ensuring proper care to tackling invasive species and enhancing garden aesthetics, the episode offers actionable advice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Mark’s personal experiences and professional insights make this episode a valuable resource for anyone looking to enrich their living spaces with greenery.

For more tips and insights, visit the show notes on howtodecorate.com/podcast or follow Mark Thompson on Instagram at @markgthompson.

Transcript

[Caroline]

Welcome to how to Decorate from Ballard Designs, a weekly podcast all about the trials and triumphs of decorating and redecorating your home. I'm Caroline. I'm on the marketing team. And I'm Taryn and I'm a product designer.

[Liz]

I'm Liz. I head up the creative team. We're your hosts.

[Caroline]

Join the expert team at Ballard Designs for tips, tricks and tales from interior designers, stylists, and other talents in the design world. Plus, we'll answer your decorating dilemmas at the end of each episode.

[Liz]

We love answering your questions, so don't forget to email [e-mail] now, on with the show.

[Caroline]

Okay, so we're back for episode three of our outdoor miniseries, and we have got Mark Thompson here on the show. He's the co owner of two iconic Birmingham, Alabama stores, Shop and General. His first store, Shop, is a beloved garden store that started it all. And in 2019, he and his partner Jay opened General, a cafe and general store. He's also been renovating his own gorgeous historic home in Forest in the Forest park neighborhood of Birmingham. Welcome to the show.

[Mark Thompson]

Hey, thanks for having me. It's really nice to be here.

[Caroline]

I've been begging you to come because my friend Zoe said that your house was fabulous and that you would be a perfect guest. So thank you for making the trip here.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah, I love Zoe. She's great.

[Caroline]

She is. So you've got a garden shop and we're talking all about gardening. But you know, what we have never talked about on the show before is how to shop for plants. And this occurred to me as I was shopping for plants last weekend. Yeah, because it's like the thick of spring. Everyone's gearing up to do all their planting, but it's very easy to go to the garden store to be mesmerized and just fill your cart up with stuff. So maybe before we get started talking about that, if you could kind of share, like, what led you to open your first store? Like, how did you get here?

[Mark Thompson]

Um, so as far as, like, how I got into this, it's definitely been a lifelong thing. Um, I know specifically, well, when I was really little, like, I would, like, plant potatoes with my papa, my mom's father, and, like, seeing them grow and like, he had a big, like, probably 3 acre garden that he kept, like a vegetable garden. And, like, it was a little away from the house and, like, going out there and like, planting and seeing them grow and harvesting and all that. So that was like, super early. And then when I was 12. My parents moved into a new, like, where they still live, like their forever home. And I remember, like, looking at, I believe it was better homes and gardens and like, seeing a drawing of a garden that was like. It was like, you can picture this, like, it was like three little, like, humps, you know, like, with a soft edge. And it had, like, things in the back and things in the middle and things in the front and, like, the layers of the things. And I show. I, like, tore out the picture, I believe and took it to my dad and said, like, dad, can we. Will you till me this up and I'll plan it? Like, I'm going to make this happen. And so he did. Along a fence line, he tilled me my three little humps. And I, like, went to the store with mom and we got zinnia seeds and just all these different seeds. And we started the seeds on the screen and porch and like, like, learned and read. And so that was when I was 12 going on 13. And that was the beginning. Like, that was when I started garden. So I've always loved it. Also always loved interior stuff, which is what I ended up going to school for, was interior design. But gardening just stuck with me. Like, even when I was in college, like, if I'd had a, like, a bad day or even a good day, like, it could have been either. But I would, like, pull into the garden center and like, one of my friends that knew, like, college is hard. Like, I'm supporting myself and like, like helping my friends even, like, have food on the table. And like, my friend would and be like, like, you do not need to spend money on plants. And I'd be like, but I. That's what I do.

[Caroline]

Like.

[Mark Thompson]

And my. I lived in Sandy Springs at the time, and my neighbors all called my yard the Sandy Springs Botanical Gardens through college. So I've just always loved it. And so then I guess, long story, I don't want to do like a. What do you call it, like a resume or whatever, but, like, went to school for interior design, worked in the home furnishings industry, like High Point and Atlanta Market and even Chicago and all those back pre 2008. And then I ended up working for the company, anthropology after that, after 2008. And when I was in anthropology, they have a plant budget that they have for. Or they did back then have a plant budget for each store and you, like, would spend your plant budget. And so I was shopping with a local nursery and ended up getting a job there on the weekends. So but to support my Habit. So, like, I figured, like, if I wasn't spending money and I was working there and I was getting the discount, like, I was making money to support my habit and getting a discount. So it was a win. Win.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

What a good. I know.

[Mark Thompson]

And they were really flexible because they loved me being there because I was into visuals and display and would turn the store upside down on a Saturday and completely recreate it. So I did that for three years, and then they asked me to manage one of their stores, and I did that for another seven years or so. And then that's where Jay, my partner, comes along and he wants to open a garden shop. He's also been in the garden shop industry his whole life. And so we were walking our dogs one night and shop where it is now had a for lease sign. And we just went for it. Basically. I called, we were talking about it, walking the dog Cedar, who's. We have two dogs, but our sweet baby angel is Cedar. And we were walking him, and I was like, that could work. And she was like, I guess so. Yeah. And so I called and the rest is history. Like, we signed the lease. I put in a super long notice with my job, told them that I was doing this, worked out the notice, and then at night, like, worked on the store, like, to get it ready and wow. So we. We knew garden Birmingham has a really big gardening industry. There's almost a little garden shop in every neighborhood. They're all really wonderful. And so we knew ours had to be special in some way to stand out. So that's why we have a little iconic English greenhouse. It's a Hartley Botanic greenhouse. And that was the first thing we chose to do because we gotta, like, look, like, strong and permanent if we're gonna go for this, because there was already such a huge. So that was fun.

[Caroline]

That is. That is an amazing story. So, okay, that was roughly 2017.

[Mark Thompson]

It was.

[Caroline]

Okay. And then you started the general store next door, which tell. So tell everybody about that.

[Mark Thompson]

So general. It's in an old grocery store. I know it was a grocery store through the 30s. The building is a really cool brick building that's got the flat front and the transom windows across that are, like the cool old glass. And it has, like, two doors and these big bulb glass lanterns that are all. It's all very original. And it had been a. In the 50s, it became a TV repair shop called Silvertron. And then in the 80s, it became a restaurant by the same name called Silvertron. So it was this iconic Birmingham cafe restaurant called Silvertron. And it was still open when we opened shop. It was 30 something years old and it went out of business and it was empty. And like, sort of like the entrepreneur in both of us couldn't like imagine, like it just sitting there empty. And I love food, number one. It's like, well, family, God, food, flowers, plants, design, like sort of in that order. But. But food wins like over a lot of things. And I love to cook and the kitchen. And so I think it was like my heart for like entertaining and having people over. And like, there is a little bit of a history of garden shops having cafes. Like Petersham, I think, has a little bit of a cafe and Touraine has a cafe. And so it wasn't too far fetched. Even Merrifield that Jay had worked at in Virginia had like a little outdoor cafe. So it wasn't too far fetched. And so we just kind of went for it. But it was in 2020, so there was some pause in there. But yeah, and that like, it's developed and changed, but it's. It has a retail element also. So that's the general store. It has like a little bit of like local grocery and like things that are food related, you know, like squeezers and zesters and wooden spoons and little spread and like little practical linen cocktail napkins and napkins and things you would use for entertaining. So it's sort of that, that aspect combined with the cafe, it sounds delightful to me.

[Caroline]

You wake up on Saturday or Sunday morning, go get your coffee, your breakfast, mosey on over to the garden shop, buy your plants, go home, do your planting.

[Liz]

I don't know why we're sitting here and not there when y'all come on.

[Mark Thompson]

Whenever.

[Caroline]

Yes, yes. The thing that I found so charming about it too, on Instagram, just looking at the. I've never been. So I have it on my list of places to go, but it's like kind of a gritty building. So I feel like that it's kind of an unusual spot and I love that about it.

[Mark Thompson]

So I think both buildings are a little gritty. That's a good word. It's interesting that you observe that. It's kind of a cool observation. I am, like, I grew up where my parents were hardworking. Like, not a lot of financial. Like, and so we, we made. Do a lot. Like I always say, like, mom, like, would cook rice for dinner and then we'd have rice pudding for dessert the next night. Like we were. She was resourceful, she was, she was creative. She was just awesome. So We. I learned from all that. But, like, our. Our places are put together. They're, they're. They are both not the best buildings. Like, they need a lot of work, really. But we have, like, you know, you paint a scene or you. You create these, like, moments. So it's got a lot of, like, magic that comes from the display and the imagination and the working within what you have. Like, working within your means to, like, create these little worlds, you know, so.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

And staying inspired to do that, it can be challenging, you know, after a lot of years, but it still is part of what's fun about it.

[Caroline]

Yeah. You have this beautiful mural sort of behind the, I guess, counter.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah. Which. That. I did not paint that one. I do like to paint that kind of thing. Yeah.

[Caroline]

Hayden Payne Paynes from Mixture.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Yes.

[Mark Thompson]

And so he painted that for Jared Hughes for an antique show in Birmingham. Our antiques in the garden show for. We used to do these vignette rooms. They were tall taste makers. We don't do it anymore. As the show has grown, we needed more space for antique dealers, but we used to use that space for that. And Jared was a taste maker and that was in his space. And we were, like, opening, and I had this big wall and I called and I was like, would you sell that, like, when this is over? And Hayden said, yes. And very cool. So it amazingly, my friend Lindsay Porter, who's an artist, I borrowed her canvas puller. It's on, like, drop cloth canvas that Hayden painted, like, in his living room here in Atlanta.

[Caroline]

Wow.

[Mark Thompson]

And I borrowed her canvas puller and like, pulled it tight and stapled it on. And I put trim around it, like real trim. And. But when I pulled it to the ceiling and looked down, it hit perfectly on those.

[Liz]

That's incredible.

[Mark Thompson]

12 and a half. I guess they're 12 foot ceilings. It hit, like, literally perfectly. And then I was able to, like, when I got the first layer, staple, like razor blade it straight and put the molding over it. And it, like, looks like it was painted on the wall.

[Caroline]

I assumed it was. Yeah. Very cool. That is.

[Mark Thompson]

And I had already.

[Liz]

It's amazing too.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah, he is. And I had already painted the walls, the breakfast room, green that they are. And it just happened to look like the two went together. And I'd already ordered the. It's green quartzite countertops, and I'd already done that, so it all just, like, went together.

[Liz]

Amazing.

[Caroline]

Organic.

[Mark Thompson]

Like, it was meant to be amazing because it was.

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah, Absolutely.

[Caroline]

Okay. Well, I have so many questions about shopping for plants And I am excited to ask you them because I feel like you're the expert. So like, what should we know before we go into the garden shop? Before we buy anything? Is there something we need to consider or can we just go in and like, stop start putting stuff in our cart?

[Mark Thompson]

I actually love that you're asking this question. First off, I grew up, my mom is a pro shopper and like, I like, I think uses it as therapy, like retail therapy, which people do, and they really do it in the garden shop.

[Caroline]

Like you did.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah, I did. So a couple of things that I would speak to on that point. One is expectations. And I've learned this as I've grown and gotten older. But like, don't always go in to the garden shop or the wholesale flower place for that matter, and like, think that I want this. Like, like go in with an open mind with expectations that like, you may find something that is better than what you imagined. So when you get there and you're looking for this exact thing and you don't have it, a lot of times you're discouraged or you leave that place and you don't even sometimes look around. I watch it happen with customers, but I've also done it myself when I was younger. I don't do it anymore. But go in with an open mind that you may find something better than what you imagined. Um, and that would be one thing. The other thing would be, and we may touch on this in different ways later, but the other thing would be to not be afraid to buy things small and let them grow. A lot of times, especially in like a big box retail store that's selling plants, they're going to have that item at the peak of its beauty. So as we know as human beings, when you're at the peak, all you can do is go down. I mean, you could get better in some ways. But like, truly. No, that, that sounded terrible actually, once I said it. But, but no, truly, like the peak, that means like that's the pinnacle and the technically downward is the next obvious place to go. So when, if I'm looking to throw a party, I may go and buy one of those plants that's like at its peak. Like, woohoo, look at me. Yeah, okay, but if I'm going to garden, I usually want to get something that is smaller, that maybe hasn't bloomed yet. Maybe there's some buds, maybe not. Maybe it's just like the leaves are emerging from this plant. But you read the tag or you ask the expert at the garden shop and you buy something that is going to grow in place, and you're gonna get to see all the stages of it. You're gonna get to see the magic of that plant growing. I've made that mistake.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Cause I guess in my mind, I'm thinking, if these are all grown at the same time, and this one is the biggest.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

This is, like, the healthiest, best amongst this whole table of basil plants or whatever it is. But that is, now that you're saying it the backwards way to look at it. Huh?

[Mark Thompson]

Well, and if you. If you're gonna use that basil that night for dinner and you're gonna clip it and, like, let it grow again, that would work in that case. But if it's like a hydrangea, and that hydrangea is in full, full bloom like that, that's it for the season. It for that season. And then you're gonna wait till next year to enjoy it again. So if it's March and you're going in to buy that hydrangea, get the one that's just barely emerging, like, where you get to see all the stages. I love the stages of a plant. Like, I love the sticks and the little tiny green leaves and then the bigger green leaves and then the buds and then the flowers, you know, and then even the other way around, like, when it's. They're, you know, the drying flowers. Oh, my gosh.

[Caroline]

A dry hydrangea.

[Liz]

Gorgeous.

[Caroline]

Gorgeous. Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

So I would say setting expectations and then not being afraid to buy things small. Patience is super important in gardening. The other thing is, like, in your mind, one question we get a lot is, like, low maintenance. I want it to be low maintenance. I want it to be low maintenance. Low maintenance really is like a lawn and some hedges that you maybe only have to trim once in a while. If you're really wanting to garden, it's not going to be low maintenance. You've got to. You either got to get out there, or you've got to hire somebody to get out there, but you've got to, like, want to do it and dig in. But, like, so knowing. Knowing what you're getting into with things. And if you really want a garden, being willing to get in and do it.

[Caroline]

Mm.

[Liz]

You know, you t. You tapped into, like, I think that this is the healthiest plant. What are. How can we tell if a plant in the plant store or the big box store is healthy?

[Mark Thompson]

That's a good question. So the drainage, you know, is important, and water is important. So if it's. If it hasn't been watered consistently. That can put stress on the plant. So you might see, like, it may look perky right then, but you're like, oh, there's some dried leaves underneath. That could be a sign of some stress. Doesn't mean the plant won't improve or do okay, but you might have to cut it back. And that's according if it's an annual perennial. But if the plant looks healthy, it probably is. And if it doesn't, it's probably not. Like, they're gonna. If they've been overwatered, they're gonna look yellow and kind of falling apart and may not have many leaves left over. Watering is really, like, the easiest, quickest way to kill something sometimes. But then if it's, you know, been underwatered, it's probably gonna be brown and crispy and the leaves may be holding on, but they're not. So I'd say if it looks healthy, it probably is. Okay. You could also, if you're like buying a bunch of a shrub, you might take one of the plants out of the pot and like, make sure that the roots look healthy, that it doesn't. Like, if you pick up a plant by the trunk and it like, comes right out and like, a lot of the dirt stays in the pot, that's probably not rooted very well yet, or it's had root development problems, like root rot or something like that.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

So, like, you know, you want. If you want something that's got good roots started, it's probably going to be kind of hard to pull out of that pot. And then you want to loosen up the roots before you plan it. But, like, good healthy roots are, you know, the most important thing. So you might. If you're buying a lot of something or investing in it, you might want to check like. Like pull one out. Like, okay, are these roots strong? Are they good? Is it hard to get out of here? That's a good sign.

[Caroline]

Okay. Sometimes they have those, like, white. The roots are like white and they. It looks like there's like a spider web or something, you know, like they're all. Is that a good sign?

[Mark Thompson]

Somewhat? It is. If you're about to go put it in the ground at home, that's it. That means it's root bound.

[Caroline]

Mm.

[Mark Thompson]

Is like all that growing around in the circular pattern of the pot. So when you take the pot off, it looks like it's still in a pot. It's just this veiny looking pot. That's natural. That is. It's technically root bound. But if the plant's still healthy. And you're gonna put it in the ground. Then that's a good thing. That means it's got good, healthy root system.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

So that's when you, like. You wanna break it apart gently and, like, get those roots. You don't want them once you. If you dig the hole, they. You know, they say dig a hole like, one and a half times the size of the pot, so you like that soil around. And then you don't want it to just keep growing in that same spiral. You want it to, like, go down into the dirt. Down and out.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

So. So breaking up those roots, that's why you do that. You break them up so they'll get okay.

[Caroline]

Because I always worry when I'm breaking it up, I'm like, am I destroying these roots? And, like, you're not. Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

No. And, like, I mean, some people are probably more gentle than I might be, but. But, I mean, like, I'll, like, really get in there and rip them up. And, like, sometimes I'll, like, tap them on the ground a little, like to, like, loosen it all up. Like, I'll, like, do it this way first then.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

Like, sort of like to, like, naturally get them loose and then.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

Or like, on the side of, like, if you've already dug the hole, like, tap on the side of the hole and some of that so it will fall down into the hole and then just, like, nestle the roots on it.

[Caroline]

Okay, I like that.

[Liz]

I have a question about buying multiples. Okay, so say. You say I bought, like, four camellias, and I love them, and they're amazing. And there's one that just didn't make it. And of course, it's right in the center of the plantings, right?

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah.

[Liz]

So it's one, two dead.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And I. I love these camellias. What do I do about that space that's now empty?

[Mark Thompson]

You have a couple options. Okay. One is to try to find another one of comparable size. Doesn't have to be the exact same size. I actually had this happen with a row of cherry trees at home last year. And we had, you know, 13 cherry trees in a row. And one. There's always one died and didn't make it. And we replaced it. And we replaced it with one a little smaller.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

But it's. It's looking good. Like, this spring, I was like, oh. Jay and I both were like, this is looking good. Like, it's going to be fine. And the trunk's a little thinner, but. But. So you could buy another one and, you know, most likely it was a fluke. Like, maybe it got too dry. But when you Re. When you replant it, be diligent to, like, make sure you maybe amend the soil, make sure to compact it in and that there's not air pockets. Because sometimes that can happen. If. If it didn't get, like, planted well enough and there's air pockets, then it can dry out. So sometimes that's the cause. There's different reasons that it could have had.

[Caroline]

Right. Because you assume it's all got the same amount of water.

[Liz]

Right.

[Caroline]

Light. It's bottom at the same time.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah.

[Liz]

I did everything exactly the same as I did with the other ones.

[Mark Thompson]

That's a really, you know, but you never know. Like. Like, I can have a front door, and I have two plants in matching pots on either side of a symmetrical front door. And the one. This happens a lot to customers. The one on the right just keeps dying. Like, but, like, that area gets sun on a slightly different angle than the one to the left, even though it's only three feet. You know, we know it's three and a half, four feet over.

[Caroline]

Yeah, but it's so annoying.

[Mark Thompson]

But it gets a different amount of sun. So you may be getting, like, a different angle. There might be a tree above that's blocking the other two, but not that one. So it. You just never know, like, even if it has the same. But do make, you know, do your due diligence to make sure that it's potted correctly or planted correctly when you replant it and do that. Or you can look at it and say, okay, I have three left. I'm gonna leave those two because they're symmetrical. Either move that third over or get rid of that third and do a row of something different. Like, it might be the opportunity. Okay.

[Liz]

But it's okay to dig it up? To dig up the ones that are doing okay.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah. And transplanting is great. Transplant. I either usually do it in the winter or early spring, at least in the South. And this, you know, it's different in different parts. But in the south, winter or early spring, dig around it, like, further out and get, like, some of that extra soils and some of those extra roots, and then just dig your hole large again and move it over. We transplant things fairly often. Sometimes we'll transplant whole rows of things that we just decided we didn't like there anymore.

[Liz]

Okay, that's encouraging.

[Mark Thompson]

And they do wonderfully. Sometimes they do, like. Jay moved a row of. I say it was, like, dutsy I don't remember, but Jay wrote, moved a row of something like five weeks ago that looks better now than it did last year. Like you, it didn't skip a beat.

[Liz]

Wow.

[Mark Thompson]

Okay. So that's okay.

[Liz]

Okay. That's really, really promising.

[Mark Thompson]

Thanks. I had really. That's actually one of the things that, when I was coming here, I was thinking about is along with patience and letting things grow, like being willing to experiment, and it's okay to change your mind, and it's okay to. So. So that's one of those cases. Like, you can decide if it's a chance to improve it.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Okay. That's great.

[Caroline]

Okay. I kind of have a similar question, but reverse in that I bought. I had planted a bunch of antique roses, because I love antique roses, not realizing that I also had a deer problem. So I probably have planted like 12, and only one has survived. And now I need to move it, but I'm trying to figure out, like, what it does. It looks great where it is, but now it is out of context with everything else, so I need to put it somewhere where it's going to look better. So is it bad to move a plant that is doing really well, that is so established?

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

No, it's okay. I mean, there's always that chance of failure.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

And that's part of life.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

But I would say that just do it correctly. Okay. I always recommend getting as much of a sort of a diameter of the soil around and the roots around and go, you know, go deep and.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

And then dig your hole and plan it and move it where you want to. And then. And it should be fun, you know, taking some extra care, some extra TLC that first year to, like, if it's dry, to make sure it's watered, make sure you put it in a place that doesn't sit too low and stay too wet. Like, you don't want to move it to the wrong spot. But, like, if you intelligently move it to a similar spot, just that is better aesthetically.

[Caroline]

Okay. Is there a particular time of year? I'm assuming it's not now or now.

[Mark Thompson]

No, this is good.

[Caroline]

No, this is good. Fall is okay.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah, fall is good, too. And just in. At least in Alabama, and I think Georgia's similar. Our falls are quite dry. So if you do fall, I recommend here doing late fall. So you're starting to get back into, like, it starts to rain a little more in November and December. Okay. You know, so like, late October, not like early September. Yeah. Wait a little. Yeah. Well, yeah. Because otherwise if you move it in early September in the south, you're going to be watering. Watering it. That's a way to keep it.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Caroline]

Okay. What about pruning it back before I move?

[Mark Thompson]

Wouldn't hurt. Or. Or right after you move it?

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

One or the other. I don't think it makes much difference, but either right before or right after. And it might be easier to move if you do it before because you'll be dealing with, like, less thorns and less branches. So maybe before.

[Caroline]

Okay, great.

[Mark Thompson]

Thank you.

[Caroline]

Thank you for that reminder. I didn't even think to ask about that. But your dead camellia example, it's so sad, too.

[Liz]

It's so sad. It's just a twig. I need to get it up and out.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah, dig it up, move it, move it out.

[Liz]

I know, but now I have to go back to that same specific spot that I got it, which is once a year, the Oakland Cemetery has a.

[Caroline]

Oh, they have a great sale.

[Liz]

They have a great sale. And that's where I got them. So I'm gonna have to go back and.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Hound them at the cemetery.

[Mark Thompson]

Get you.

[Liz]

Get you another one. I know.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Okay. You talk about digging your hole and loosening up the roots. Is there anything else we need to do when we get home with our goods to make sure that they grow well?

[Mark Thompson]

I mean, mulch is important. You know, mulch helps in the summer, it helps to keep moisture in. In the winter, it helps to protect the roots. So mulch is important. Fertilizers can be important, and it's according to what you're doing. I'm not an expert on fertilizer. I won't pretend to be, but. But fertilizer, it can be really helpful, whether it's like a time release that you do granulates, like, if you're doing in the ground and, like, shrubs. We use holly tone a lot at home. It's a fertilizer that we use on our hollies and camellias and, like, a lot of just, like, green foliage to, like, give them extra nutrients. And then if it's potted plants, like your. Your potted stuff, I'm a big believer in liquid feed. With potted plants, we're watering the nutrients out. So every time you water, the nutrients is literally going out the hole in the bottom of your pot. So if you add the liquid feed back into that, then it's going to help, you know, to put that back in and. And continually restore it. So I'm a big with. With potted stuff. I like liquid feed. Best and then in the ground, like a time release or something like that. But fertilizers are good.

[Caroline]

How often are you doing liquid feed.

[Mark Thompson]

To your potted plants in the summer? I recommend twice a week.

[Liz]

Oh, wow.

[Mark Thompson]

I do. That's so much more.

[Caroline]

Oh, that's a lot.

[Mark Thompson]

So we have a local in Birmingham, we have a shopping, outdoor shopping mall that is really known for having beautiful potted plants. The Summit.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

And they do three times a week from what or did back when I was around there more often. And they're, they, they have like a big like premixed thing that they drive around with the blue water and like do it three times a week. So I recommend twice a week because it's hot most of the time. You have to water your plants every single day in the summer. So in this. I guess that would be a little better answer is in the summer, like when it's hot and you're watering more, the more you're watering, the more you should fertilize. So like in the winter, maybe once a week because you're watering less once a week.

[Caroline]

Even in the winter.

[Mark Thompson]

I would like with pansies and things like that and snapdragons and that are like, you know, profound bloomers if they're healthy. Like, yeah, I would do once a week.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

With those things.

[Caroline]

Wow.

[Mark Thompson]

Did not expect that it'll make a huge difference. I learned that at a really early age. My mom's dad, my papa lived with us and when he was recovering from a heart surgery. And we didn't leave the house much that summer. And mom planted like little bitty cell pack begonias. Like the cell pack is like six little ones in a pack. Like. And Dusty Miller with them.

[Caroline]

Oh, I love Dusty.

[Mark Thompson]

And those begonias were like the size of like a fairly large like a hundred dollar boxwood, 150 boxwood. Like huge. Because she was liquid feeding them multiple times a week. And that's the only reason they did that. And they were beautiful. Like insane.

[Liz]

Wow.

[Mark Thompson]

Okay, so it's like, if you like that, like, if you like that reward that like gratification of what you've bothered doing. Yeah, Liquid feed really works.

[Caroline]

That's the brand name.

[Mark Thompson]

No.

[Caroline]

Okay, what is the actual brand name?

[Mark Thompson]

There's different brand names.

[Caroline]

What would you use?

[Mark Thompson]

Peter's. Okay. It used to be Peters. It's Jax. Jack's Classic is what we use and what we sell. And that's what most small garden shops sell. But there's medical growth.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

Okay. They're similar this is really very similar things, but we use jacks.

[Caroline]

Okay. I assume that in a garden shop, there are people at the store that work there that are really taking amazing care of the plants, because you have inventory and you want it to look good and stay healthy so you can sell it. Right. So what are the things that they're doing to take care of the plants in the store that we should be doing at home that we're probably not, other than maybe liquid feed twice a week?

[Mark Thompson]

Well, you know, a garden shop like that usually is. The term nursery comes from taking care of it between. So it's like a. Like a. At, you know, the nursery that your child goes to, it's like they're taking care of those plants between the grower and the person who's going to purchase it and that. So, yes, we are taking care of them, but it's generally, it should be a short time period that we're taking care of them. Hopefully, like, they'll, you'll, you know, buy them from the grower and then sell them within a week or two. Hopefully. But when things do stay on the property longer, one of the important things is air, like, spacing them out. So, like, in the. If the cup is smaller, if the pot is small, then, like, giving it more air to breathe and to, like, move and grow. Because if the leaves are, like, all touching each other, then they start to get icky and, like, not healthy. So spacing things out. Deadheading is super important. And deadheading or cutting things back helps the plant to thicken up. Like, if you. You heard the term leggy plants. Like, if you don't. If you don't cut things back or deadhead them, then the plant gets leggy. Sometimes this can work to your advantage of, like, decorating in your house. Like, if something is looking a little leggy, trim it and take them in and put them in a little vase in the house. Like have bud vases and that kind of thing. Or if it's your basil, like, cut it and. Or your man, like, cut it and use it. Yeah. And. But it. It. It's good to cut things back and deadhead things. It's important. And then, yeah, watering and liquid consistency. And that can be hard, like life's busy. But consistency with watering and taking care of things, making things, making sure that they're draining well, but they're watered regularly, not stressing the plant.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Okay, let's talk houseplants for a minute. What can we do to really extend the life of our houseplants? And make sure that they're looking their best all the time.

[Mark Thompson]

I mean, that's. I guess that varies on what the houseplant is and what kind of person you are and how you're doing it. But if you're trying to really live with plants and, like, have the same ones, I would say you repotting them really helps. Like an annual repotting, Setting them up for success from the beginning, like, making sure that the pot that you're putting in it has drainage holes. I will always look for, like, large platters or plates that I can make into saucers. So I use, like, anything from, like, sweet little teacup saucers for smaller plants up to, like, big, like, turkey platters or, you know, whatever. But you if it. It's hard to find potted indoor pots that have drainage holes and saucers. They just, like, don't exist in the market. If you look at the cost, like, even of, like, a basic terracotta pot, the pot and the saucer generally cost about the same amount.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

Which is like. Like what? But it's, you know, the person that's making the clay is using about the same amount of clay to make that saucer as they are that pot that they're pulling up, you know, so it. It's the weight of the clay. So a lot of times it's hard to find, you know, the right one. So you kind of have to be creative and make that work for you. So, like, you might find a pot that doesn't have a drainage hole and drill the drainage hole and then find a plate at the antique store, wherever, that you can use as a saucer to create it. But setting it up for success is most important. Or the other option is to use your pot like a cash po. So just sitting the plastic pot inside the decorative pot and then taking it out to water it, but you don't want to water it and let it sit in water. It's just not good for most houseplants. And it creates bugs. And it can really be, you know, it'll send the houseplant downhill really quickly. So I would say that's most important. But then after that, making sure that your houseplant has the right light conditions, if it's like a ficus, needs more light than a dracaena. So the ficus, any sort of fig, whether it's a fiddle leaf fig or a benjamina or whatever kind of ficus it is, needs a lot of light. So putting, like, a lot of times you want to plant, if you're like Decorating, you want to plant in the corner, but if that corner has no windows and there are some windows like two feet over that get light, just move it over that two feet. If it really bothers you when companies coming, then shove it back to the corner again. But like putting them in the light when they need light and they're. And picking the right plant for the right spot. Like if you don't have light, then don't get a ficus, that sort of thing. So setting yourself up for success with the plant you buy and the way you pot it and knowing and the way that you water it. I've always, like, if you are going to do the cash flow thing, like get a big Rubbermaid container that you use just for watering and set your houseplant off into that water it, let it drain in there overnight, then just dump the water out and put the Rubbermaid under the bed or in the closet or wherever it lives. But that's an easy way. Like people say, like, take it to the bathtub, but you don't always want to drag that tree to the bathtub. Like get you a plastic container that works for the size and then you can take that and do it. But like setting yourself up for success with it.

[Caroline]

Huh.

[Liz]

Okay, that's great.

[Caroline]

Sorry, go ahead.

[Liz]

No, no, I'm, I'm making plans already to like change up my watering station in the house.

[Caroline]

This is great. Rubbermaid's genius. I wouldn't have thought of that. Yeah. Okay. Well, I have a, I have a fiddle leaf fig in my house and it's doing great. I just planted it in July. Do I need to re repot it? Like change out the soil or something? If it's doing well.

[Mark Thompson]

No, if it's doing great and everything is good and you don't feel like it's got any issues, then you're probably fine.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

As long as it's draining well and everything's going with good, you, you're probably good.

[Caroline]

So should I, you were saying, like repot your house plants every year or so. So should I only do that if it's doing poorly or like I try.

[Mark Thompson]

To do it before it goes downhill?

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

Like, be aware. Like, are you having to water it more often? Is, are the leaves like showing some drooping?

[Caroline]

Is it happy?

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah, if it looks really happy and it's doing well, it's probably okay. And you're probably doing everything right.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

Another thing I just thought of with houseplant care is heat and air vents. Yeah. Like stay, like stay away from heat and air vents if you can, or get like, something to redirect that heater air vent.

[Caroline]

Like, it'll drop the soil.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah. Like, in the winter, it can just really dry things out with the, like, especially gas heat, but any heat. And then in the summer, it can just be, like, too cold. You know, they like, ideal, like, perfect temperature. So it's better to not have a vent blowing directly on the houseplant if you can help it.

[Caroline]

What about fertilizer?

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah, fertilizer. Not as often as outdoor things because you're again, not watering it as much. But it is good to use. They make liquid feed that's like, for blooming plants. And then there's liquid feed that's more for green plant all purpose. Like, one's like a bloom booster and the other will say, like, all purpose. The all purpose is good for greenhouse plants. And doing that, you know, a couple times a year is great. Or you can also do granulates for that.

[Caroline]

My issue with. And I've talked about this on the podcast before, but my issue with my fiddle leaf is it is now doing so well that it's touching my ceiling and I've been too nervous to cut it and pot it. So I've been putting it off. It's time, though. So what do I need to do?

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah, Trimming things that are doing well, like that can be intimidating. I had a customer who I trimmed. She had two fiddly figs on either side of her fireplace, and I would trim them for her every year, like, for years because she was too nervous to do it herself.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

But it's not a big deal. You go into the joint, it's like if you have the leaves coming out and the little trunk, just follow that trunk down to the next set of leaves and just trim, like on an angle right above that set of leaves.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

Most likely it's going to put out two new shoots from there, so it's going to thicken the tree up.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

It'll end up being good for it.

[Caroline]

What can I do with the piece I just trimmed? Can I turn that piece I just trimmed off into a new plant?

[Mark Thompson]

Maybe that sort of thing is not as much my expertise. I'll. If I do it, I sometimes do it by happy accident. Okay. Like, just like, so you can enjoy it. Put it in a vase, put it like on a nightstand or on a chest in the foyer or whatever, but enjoy it. And if it happens to root, then.

[Caroline]

I stick it in some dirt.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah, if it happens or. Yeah. Or if you want to propagate it, like, read up on that and it's going to be different for each plant, how to do it. And there's like root stimulators that you can dip it in, that sort of thing. Probably not my expertise, but our, our.

[Caroline]

Co host, Taryn, who's not here, told me that I can just put it in some dirt. But I, again, I've been too nervous to do it, so I haven't actually done it.

[Mark Thompson]

It might just do, like, for me, those sorts of things are, again, maybe it's like setting my expectations.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

But for me, that's just, if it happens, it's a happy accident.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

Okay. I'm not a pro at growing things that way.

[Liz]

I want to talk about your house and the gardens at your house. So I've been following along on Instagram and you purchased a really incredible, incredible home that is a Spanish.

[Mark Thompson]

It's 1925 Mediterranean. Okay, I say Mediterranean. It sort of has like a. A little bit of a French Riviera look to me.

[Liz]

Yeah, it's very Sunset Boulevard. Like, it's really an awesome, incredible home. And I am so impressed with what you've been able to do with the grounds there. And so, just for our listeners, just so you know, like this from the before photos, it was completely overgrown, not cared for for a good long time.

[Mark Thompson]

So when we went to look at the house, we pulled into the driveway, sort of like swoops in and we pulled into the driveway and pulled up and went in the front door and looked at the house for the first time and we left. And then when we came back the second time to look at the house, we realized that this whole area to the left of the driveway came with the house. It was that overgrown. We actually thought. We thought it wasn't even part of our yard. And that that day, that second time, we explored and found that there was. The house was 1925. There was a 1925 giant rock fountain buried under ivy and kudzu and wisteria. And so we, we like started tearing through all that. And they're like, oh, there's these, you know, sort of semicircular shaped rock walls and there's stairs. And so we uncovered, like secret garden style, uncovered all of that, which was really fun. And sometimes we miss that time even though we still have a lot of work to do. But the romance of the finding those new things was really fun.

[Caroline]

Talk us through that because that is.

[Mark Thompson]

A lot of work.

[Caroline]

Getting all that stuff out, figuring what to do, and then turning it into what you imagine we took our time.

[Mark Thompson]

Which I would suggest, especially with a historic home, you have plenty to do anyway. So starting to clean up and cut back things, but not necessarily digging up from the beginning, we wanted to see if there was anything left from the history of the space. Like, we wanted to go through basically a year of like the four seasons to see like our daffodils going to come up is, you know, our hyacinth or great hyacinth or snowbells or, you know, like what's going to happen? Is there anything we're missing? Which really in our case there ended up not being so, you know, we could have not waited, but wanted to do that. We wanted to see like what was there and respected. The only really plant like that that came up was some day lilies that came up that first summer, which we have saved and have transplanted and you know, that's the only flowering, you know, plant that came with the house. But so taking your time, like I said, cutting things back more than digging things up to begin with. Like, see what your structure is and then starting to actually dig things up and like follow the roots of the wisteria to get rid of it. And Jay's been fighting wisteria for four years now and looking at the structure and then starting to see how you want to create it and make it your own. So this particular space, we were able to sort of make three rooms. There's like the center room has lawn that like, I roughed up the ground and put down the sod myself for the first time I'd ever done that. And then to the left has like a gravel path and alley of cherry trees. And to the right we did a row of camellias and a row of hollies on the right side that we're gonna probably do like a serpentine top too, as they grow. Oh, that's cool. So like seeing how the space develops and so creating those rooms and thinking about different textures like these. This area is going to have like a broad leaf. So I want this area to have a more of a soft, like contrasting to that so that your walls that you're creating with your plants are different or like I wanted to see the rock walls. They're like knee wall rock walls. So it was like really important to me to like not cover those up because we just uncovered them. So like we ordered camellias. My friend Zach Westall, who's a landscaper, actually helped me find some camellias that were like stilted, like a. Like a Standard. So there's a little trunk.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

So I can see past. And then that also allows me to underplant with some really fun stuff. So. And those are things that Jay and I talk about together. Like. Like. Like, he may be the one that planted most of the stuff, but we'll talk about, like. Like, oh, yeah, we want to see those walls. Or, like here. We're okay with covering the walls because you can see them here and here.

[Caroline]

Right.

[Mark Thompson]

So, like, you know.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Like, talking it out and. Yeah. Figuring out what you want. What. What about. Well, actually, I wrote down invasive. Like how you have wisteria. You have iv. There was another one that you mentioned.

[Mark Thompson]

Privet is really bad. And that's when we had to deal with. I can, like. I love a privet hedge. Like, you go like. Like New England and have a beautiful privet hedge. And we actually kept one of ours. A lot of that is like the main. A lot of things are, like, the maintenance of it. Like, I love wisteria. It's beautiful, it's romantic, but you can't let it take over. Like, if you're gonna have it, you've gotta, like, train that one vine that's gonna be your. And, like, you have to actively get rid of the other.

[Caroline]

Right.

[Mark Thompson]

And the same with a privet hedge. Like, if you're gonna have a privet hedge, you've got to trim it so that it doesn't bloom or bury. Because when it blooms and buries, the birds take the berries, and then there's new little privet everywhere. But if it never blooms because you're trimming it, then really, it's not gonna. You know. So we kept one of the priv. We'd have a huge arch that goes over, like, our portion of the city sidewalk. That's one of the whole yard was covered in privet hedges at one point. But we kept that one giant one that's like, you know, two stories tall and has an arch you walk through and. But we are keeping it trim. We don't ever let it bloom, and we pull up little ones that might come up around it. Gosh.

[Caroline]

So what. I mean, what do you suggest to people who do have something that's invasive and they're just be cutting it back? Do you need to dig it up? Do you need to kill it with a chemical?

[Mark Thompson]

Maybe all of the above. It's, you know, it's according to how bad it is and what the situation is. But, yeah, I mean, trying to get rid of it is not just important for your own Yard, but really for the ecosystem of your local, you know, place. And sometimes you might can do it yourself. Like, Jay's a go getter, and he gets out there with the pickaxe and the shovel, and he'll do that for, like, hours on a Saturday. I'm probably more. If I didn't have him doing that, I would probably call several friends and be like, let's have a wisteria digging party today. But. But you can do it differently. Hire a landscape company, hire people to do it, or, you know, we can warrior it. Okay. Yeah.

[Liz]

You have great friends if you're coming over. Wisteria digging party.

[Mark Thompson]

We have a friend, Bruce and Scotty Lanier, friends of ours that have a really cool old house, and they have a sweet potato digging party every year. That is so fun. And we all go. They plant the sweet potatoes and we all harvest them and have food and drinks out in the garden.

[Liz]

Oh, that's really fun. That is really fun.

[Mark Thompson]

But, yeah, wisteria might not be fun.

[Liz]

Harvesting is a lot more rewarding.

[Caroline]

I don't know. Getting out there with an ax a reason to, you know.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah. Get out.

[Caroline]

Take out some anger.

[Mark Thompson]

Absolutely.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Okay. We've talked a lot about gardening. What about plants? For people who don't like to garden, is there anything you can do if, like, you're not the gardener type?

[Mark Thompson]

Like, inside or outside or both?

[Liz]

Both.

[Caroline]

Should they just.

[Mark Thompson]

I sort of touched on it a little earlier when. If. If you really don't like gardening, like, then you're not gonna need to plant peonies and you don't need a perennial border. Basically, you need to go simple. And it's according to what your yard is like. I mean, if you have a wooded yard and you don't like to garden, just plant azaleas and, like, keep it natural and that sort of thing. If you have a more formal or smaller, More formal yard, hedges and lawn. And hire a darkman.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

Like, have it that way. Just keep it simple. Because, like, you know, obviously you have to mow the grass and you have to trim your boxwood hedge one or two times a year. But that's really. That's low maintenance.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

When. Especially if it comes to a more tailored space. So, yeah, I would say those are things outside, inside. Like, you know, I used to hate them when I started in the garden shop business. The place that I started had been in business since the 60s, and they would order tons of pothos, like the. The classic, like, vani pothos. And I was like, we. They would put Them like right up front, I was like, we cannot do this. Like, these things are so tacky, you know, but as I aged and grown, there is a place for it. Like, I would rather see a healthy pothos in a low light living room than I would a dirty, dusty, artificial plant. An artificial ivy. Like, if I just. I like ivy better inside. I think it's more, you know, sweet and English looking. But if I had to choose between a dusty artificial avy and a live fresh pothos, I'm going to pick the pothos.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah. So. So I think that, like, they are great and there's different varieties. Satin pothos actually is one of my favorite houseplants. And it's a really pretty silvery blue and it's a great low light houseplant that vines and I, I really love it now.

[Liz]

They're so easy to take care of.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Almost like they don't even need to do anything at all for them for any amount of time.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

Well, I trust part of it. You know, don't over water, make sure things have drainage. But also I actually love like in hosting a party, like being Southern, like companies coming, you don't have to be the person that keeps houseplants.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

You just don't. If your house looks great the way it is and it's clean and it. You don't have a dusty old fake ficus in the corner. Like, that's okay if you're not a houseplant person, but when companies coming, maybe you go buy a $40 palm to enjoy for two or three months till it dies. That's part of the industry.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

Like, you know, we're growing them for the purpose of. And it keeps the industry going. Like, it keeps the business going. So if you're not a. Don't feel guilty if that's not your thing. I don't think personally, like, just enjoy it. Like decorate with it and when it's gone, it's gone. Yeah. Or clip something from outside. You know, go. If you have the energy to do so. And you're not a plant person, but you want something green, go on a walk with your clippers. My friend Heather calls it a sip and snip. Take your glass of wine and your clippers and walk around and find a big piece of cherry laurel in the woods and cut it and put it in a clear vase. Like, you don't have to be a plant person if you're not, but if you are, you know, have fun with it.

[Liz]

No, I think it's great to just Give permission to like have something for a few months and, and yeah, let that be its time. It feels. There's a. There's a guilt associated.

[Mark Thompson]

There is. I feel guilty saying it, but I, but it is the truth of who I am. Like I'm more of a. I'm busy run into businesses. We have an old house and two dogs and have families and nieces, nephews and like we, we can't always do that. Now there are some things like we have a monstera that was. Or philodendron that was Jay's parents when he was not born yet. So we have. You know, there's a 40 year old houseplant in the corner of the dining room that just. But it's an easy house plant a little bit.

[Caroline]

Like I cannot let anybody do it.

[Mark Thompson]

And his mom has like other like babies of it and she gets it out and splits it and repots it and it grows. So you can if you're into it. Yeah, that's your thing.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

But also like we have this fountain on a stair landing in our house. It's original and it has two planter boxes like built into either side of the fountain. And I change those like three times a year. Like they just, they're in little black plastic pots. They slide down into that planter. It's so easy.

[Caroline]

Do you put like moss on top?

[Mark Thompson]

I actually don't. That is something to touch on. I. Moss is beautiful on top of plants and pots, but it's not always the best thing. Like if you don't see, like if you have a basket and you put your houseplant in it and you don't see that black plastic pot, if it sits low enough or the mouth is small enough. I wouldn't moss it at that point because it's going to be so much easier for you to take and put in that water and do your thing. So if you don't have to moss it, sometimes it's the best look. Or sometimes it's one of those things where companies come in and I want like, I take mood moss, the like big chunky moss and if I'm having a party, dip it into like a bucket of water and let it soak up and I pull it out and squeeze it like a sponge and dust it off and I'll put it on top of things because I want it to look lush like that. But for like daily living it's not the most practice, like having to take that off. You're much less likely to water that houseplant if you have to take off that moss. That's.

[Caroline]

Do you have to remove the moss to water it?

[Mark Thompson]

You need to at some point, unless you have the perfect drainage situation and a saucer underneath. But if it's in like, like a basket or something that doesn't drain, then yeah, you technically need to take it off to water it.

[Liz]

But I love that tip of like, just throwing the moss on there. If company's coming and you want that kind of full look.

[Mark Thompson]

That's what I do.

[Liz]

That's great.

[Mark Thompson]

Then also there's like, Spanish moss that's a little easier or like something that's not as difficult to like that you can just re. Fluff up. And that's. That's not a bad look either. But it's so specific. It's not as. It's not as vava voom as the mood moss or the sheet moss.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Caroline]

Because I have some mood moss on my fiddle leaf fig, and it's doing well. I have a saucer just water. It's a big pot and I just water right on top of it. Yeah.

[Mark Thompson]

And that's perfect scenario. So, like, that is. That's litter.

[Liz]

You.

[Mark Thompson]

Sounds like you have the best case scenario where you have a pot with drainage, you have a saucer, and then in. In that case, the moss may even be helping light mulch to, like, keep some of the moisture in. And you may not have to water as often because of it.

[Caroline]

Okay. I like it because it keeps my kids from trying to play in the dirt. Yeah, it like, covers the dirt where they don't realize there's dirt in there.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Yeah, that's great.

[Caroline]

So I don't want to move it, but I have sometimes worried that it would, like, mold or like, change your mouth periodically.

[Mark Thompson]

Like that's. That you actually bring. That's a good point. Is like, if you do moss it, then don't be afraid to take it apart. Make sure everything's good underneath. You know, fill the soil. That's when you can look and see if the roots feel too root bound.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

And then you can either change it out for fresh or maybe you put the same back. And sometimes I do that little water trick and like two or three times to, like, freshen it up, like clean it kind of. Or no, it doesn't really clean it. It just makes it look fresh again for another time.

[Caroline]

Okay, I'll try that.

[Liz]

Okay. I've got a question. How many times is too many for buying the same plant and killing it.

[Caroline]

Before you realize you.

[Liz]

Oh, my gosh, can't Keep it alive.

[Mark Thompson]

Lavender.

[Liz]

Okay. It's lavender. I love it. I bought probably buy.

[Mark Thompson]

What are you doing with it?

[Liz]

The wrong thing apparently.

[Mark Thompson]

But are you planting it in the ground?

[Liz]

I've tried everything. I've tried potting it in a bigger pot after I get it right. I've tried, I've tried, you know, moving it around different places. I've tried it indoors, I've tried it outdoors. I last year I tried it in a really huge pot outside.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah. So it's Mediterranean.

[Liz]

It's just not.

[Mark Thompson]

And this is a plant by plant basis situation. It's Mediterranean. So it's arid. Like it likes arid environment.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

It does. It's not going to want to be in your house except for a party.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

So. So inside. Inside's off the table. Except for a party. Ideally it would probably go in the ground if you have a ground type spot. When I plant lavender and I got this tip from a landscaper friend a long time ago, but when you plant it in the ground, dig that hole larger like we talked about earlier and plant put like gravel in the bottom.

[Liz]

Oh.

[Mark Thompson]

Of it and then fill it with good potting mix and pack it good, you know. But that's going to help with that air aeration of the. And the roots will grow through the gravel rather than just like into like our sort of southern clay ground where.

[Liz]

It could get more compact, the roots get more impacted.

[Mark Thompson]

So that, that will help. And if you're going into a pot, you may do the same thing like get a big enough pot where it can really grow.

[Caroline]

Do.

[Mark Thompson]

Okay, do gravel in the bottom and then plant it that way and that, that may help but not inside.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

Then try outside and try giving it some sort of like a more airy environment.

[Liz]

You know. I'm gonna give it another go. I actually just got another one this weekend.

[Caroline]

Probably get another plan until April.

[Liz]

I know, I know. It was so it's just been too hard.

[Mark Thompson]

Well, that too. I mean that's something small enough that you could bring in the house. So I always tell people that like yes, here it's probably the 1st of April. Look at the 5 day forecast. Kind of see like okay, we've always said like Good Friday or April 15, this sort of our date, tax day kind of thing. But, but, but if it's small enough to bring in and out like even like Boston ferns, like if you see there's going to be a big freeze, you can grab those two Boston ferns and put them in the garage of the foyer wherever to protect them. So it's okay that you did a, that you cheated a little. But yeah, try, try that. If you have a place in the ground, I would try that.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

But they're, they're, they're probably not ideal for our climate. You know, to an extent there's different varieties and that's part of it too. And I have no idea what variety you have been getting or if you've been getting the same one every time.

[Liz]

Lord only knows it's just whatever is at the, at the plant store when I'm, when I'm feeling the itch again.

[Mark Thompson]

I love a annual lavender called downy lavender.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Mark Thompson]

So then you don't have to worry about killing it, you know, because it is meant to die in our winter. But it gives you that look. I used to plant a giant row of it and it comes. You can buy in little 4 inch pots in the spring at any local garden shop. Usually it's downy lavender. It's a little bit more like frilly airy, but it puts off the tall purple and it has the smell. Okay. And so I, I love that one because it's like, you know, do it, enjoy it and then it's gone in the winter.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Caroline]

Well, that. Do they all need like full sun? I've never had success just because I assume like in, you know, Provence, it's like full sun.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah, they do. Like, it's gonna need pretty full sun or at least, at least four hours of good sun. Minimally. It's definitely not a shade plant.

[Caroline]

Okay. I think my yard's too shady for it.

[Mark Thompson]

There's not a lot of blooming shade plants. I mean, there's some or there. Or like they're more interesting, delicate blooms that aren't like in your face. But so like Terrenia is a shade annual that works. Or impatiens. But yeah, Lena is a good shade perennial bloomer. Like ajuga is a. Does really beautiful little purple blooms that have the look of like a lavender when they're blooming. And that's a great shade plant. Obviously the plant doesn't want lavender, but the blooms kind of do.

[Caroline]

Yeah. That's my biggest, like, frustration. I feel like I have so much shade and I want to plant like coneflower and peony and all these pretty things and then I'm. But they'll never grow.

[Mark Thompson]

Yeah. Maybe you can find yourself a sunny spot somewhere or eventually cut a tree down.

[Caroline]

Hydrangeas. There's some where they get like some morning sun but not like real morning.

[Mark Thompson]

Sun'S one of my favorites. Like I love geraniums and they really prefer morning sun. So if you get like three or four hours of morning sun, it's a good spot to do some potted geraniums.

[Caroline]

Okay. Well, Mark, thank you so much for joining us. This was amazing. So many great tips. Can you tell everyone where they can find you and follow you?

[Mark Thompson]

Oh, yeah, the stores and Instagram. Instagram's about the only one I really do. The store is Shop. Bham. And then my personal is markgthompson on Instagram.

[Caroline]

Yes. Shop with two P's and an E at the end.

[Mark Thompson]

Yes. S H O P P E, B H A M. Yes.

[Caroline]

All right. Well, thank you so much. This was great. This was the third episode of our outdoor miniseries. And then we have one more next week and that'll be the end. But this was a great. I mean, it's perfect. We didn't cover any of this, so you really nailed it. Thank you so much.

[Mark Thompson]

Thanks for having me.

[Caroline]

And that's our show. You can find all of the show notes on our blog howtodecorate.com podcast to send in a decorating dilemma, email your questions to podcastallarddesigns.net so we can help you with your space. And of course, be sure to follow us on social media. Ballardesigns.

[Liz]

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode. And please leave us a review. We'd love to hear your feedback.

[Caroline]

Until next time, happy decorating.