Pricing starts at $120, including delivery, for a 6 inch Phaleanopsis orchid arrangement in a decorative container with holiday themed accents like winter tree branches. You may substitute the orchid for a 6 ½ inch Poinsettia in a decorative container for $75. In general, we need 48 hours notice. Delivery area is within Austin city limits.
Plant Profile: Christmas Cactus
Did you know these succulents are called Christmas cactus because they bloom that time of year? Similar to orchids, these plants respond to the almost equal hours of daylight and nighttime. The cooler temperatures also trigger their blooming cycle. They are native to South America and are easy to propagate. To start new cacti, simply break a single section of your cactus off. Plant the section approximately a quarter of the way into light, sandy soil. Keep the soil moist, but not wet.
Events: Umlauf Sculpture Garden Party!
Executive Plant Leasing is proud to have participated in the 2008 Umlauf Sculpture Garden Party. We donated four orchid arrangements which adorned the seating area above the pathways. It was a successful and beautiful event overall. The proceeds support the Umlauf Sculpture Garden itself and their educational programs.
Events: Earth Day Event
Executive Plant Leasing participated in an Earth Day event hosted by Thomas Properties at 300 West 6th Street. We were on hand to explain our services and our efforts to make our business as green as possible. Our Green Thumbs use only organic fertilizers and pesticides for plant cleaning and maintenance. We collect rain water at our facility to water the plants on site. We minimize waste by retaining a space dedicated to plants and orchids that are no longer at a client site or are out of bloom. Executive Plant Leasing strives to provide the best service possible in an environmentally conscious manner.
Office Space: Keeping Employees Happy and Productive
We have all heard the economic news these days. The crunch is hitting everyone, but the good news is Austin is weathering it better than most. When our employees are working longer hours to produce more, we liketo reward them to keep morale up. This is why it’s important our employees like the space in which they work and receive some benefit from it. Plants add a tangible value to the work place. Studies show having a plant in the room reduces stress. It makes sense. After all, we didn’t evolve indoors. http://www.greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org/pdf/WhattoBuyMH.pdf
Plant Profile: ZZ Plant – Zamioculcas zamiifolia
I love these plants! They’re extremely sturdy and remind me of dinosaurs. They are in fact a dinosaur; they’ve been around since BCE. ZZ Plants are native to Eastern Africa and have become more popular in the past few years. This plant needs very little water and has earned the nickname “Eternity Plant” due to its potato-like rhizome. In periods of drought, it will drop all its leaves and can survive years until the necessary amount of moisture revives it. Even more impressive, its leaves will drop and dry up, but the rhizome in the leaf stays in tact waiting for a chance to make another plant. Watering is very important with this plant, while it can survive on too little, too much will kill it. Be careful with any cuttings of this plant as all parts are poisonous if consumed.
Office Space: Plant Containers
Along with the plants themselves, containers can say plenty about your personal style. There are so many choices available you may even forget what your original plan was. Metal no longer has to equal minimal, shiny and modern. There are new metal shapes which retain a bit of the minimalist feel, but warm it up with color, different finishes and decorations. A terra cotta style no longer has to be heavy with the amazing selection of polyfiber pots available. Even the traditional ceramic fishbowl look has moved forward with lightweight pots which mimic the original style and shape.
In The News: 200 Pound Orchid
The giant NYC orchid blooms again! We cannot tell you how happy we are this one is not in our charge. 200 pounds is a lot of orchid! Please follow this link for the full story.
Plant Profile: Tillandsia
I was recently introduced to a plant named Tillandsia, also called Air Plant. This is a very versatile plant and a member of the Bromeliad family. Bromeliads grow in several kinds of climates the most familiar in Austin being Spanish moss.
I was inspired by the structure and the varying green to silver colors of the leaves. These plants can look like succulents or grass lending them well to a variety of indoor landscapes. Tillandsia have a more natural, architectural look to them than many plants which grow well indoors. I have recently come up with a few different ideas for their use. Because they tend to be smaller, they make ideal desk plants Please see the mini gallery for some examples.
New Service: Home Service
We have had a few of our clients inquire about interiorscape services for their own homes. We are pleased to announce our Residential Interiorscape program. This service will work the same way as our reliable commercial service does and you get to enjoy the gorgeous plants in your own home. Our Monthly Orchid Service is an even easier way to get an elegant orchid arrangement into your home on a regular basis. We look forward to making your residence a place of comfort and pleasing design. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Plant Profile: The often overlooked Sanseveria
This plant, also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, has been relied upon in both indoor and outdoor plantings for years. It is very drought tolerant and can take full Texas sun for a few hours a day. Sanseverias are a plant superstar cleaning the air around you. They remind me of seaweed and I like to use them in interiorscapes to create a sense of movement. These plants also bloom, presenting tiny white flowers on a stalk similar to a Dendrobium orchid. A few different varieties are available ensuring a plant color which will work well into any design.
Events: Rainbarrel Program
Executive Plant Leasing uses as much caught rain water as we can. The City of Austin would like to help you use more rainwater for your home plants. Their program has recently changed. Now you can pick one up in town: Beginning June 1, 2008, rain barrels will be sold out of Waller Creek on Wednesdays only (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays out of the warehouse at 6014 Techni Center Drive, Building 2, from 8 a.m. until noon. Please call 974-2199 to check before coming to purchase rainbarrels.
Plant Care: Phaleanopsis Orchids
A Phalaenopsis, or Phal as we often call them, is also known as a Moth Orchid named for the shape of its flowers which are said to resemble a large moth in flight. Most Phals are epiphytic meaning they live their lives in trees. Phals like medium bright light, but no direct sun. They are quite hardy plants if taken care of properly. The best advice I’ve received is to water during daylight hours, orchids are more susceptible to bacteria growth at night. Take care not to get any water on or in the crooks of the leaves. Phals are especially prone to a leaf disease called brown spot which will kill your orchid. These orchids do not like to dry out completely, but do not keep them soggy. Think about their native habitat in trees. When it rains the crooks and crags hold in some moisture as does all the leaf debris which collects around the orchid roots, but this retains much less moisture than soil. These orchids can also go in a pot that would be too large for other varieties. A larger pot will help keep the orchid stable when those big, gorgeous, but heavy blooms take over.
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