Everyday People features the people who make the greater Ingleside neighborhood a special part of San Francisco.
Sitting cheerfully behind a white desk at The Plant Lady SF’s carefully curated greenery is shopkeeper Cooper Michael, who has spent the last few years providing the neighborhood with plants and precise plant care tools and advice.
Michael’s journey at The Plant Lady SF started in 2021 when strolling through the neighborhood. Getting coffee turned into asking the shop’s owner, Jeannie Psomas, if she was hiring. With Michael's prior employment background at another garden center in the city and passion for house plants that formed during the pandemic, the houseplant store quickly welcomed their newest employee.
“It's a tranquil place to work but it is not a simple, easy job,” said Michael, who uses they them pronouns. “It can be stressful to work at a brick and mortar but it is a very rewarding job.”
While items like tiny cat planters that display different emotions and predatory Swirkski ulti-mites are fan favorites, Michael said The Plant Lady SF’s attention to detail with in-store plant care and the selection and, like unique rare plants such as anthuriums and alocasias, keep people coming back for more.
“We pride ourselves in our ability to bring in really good quality plants and we pride ourselves on how much care goes into them,” Michael said. “We don't bring them in just to let them die on our shelves. We bring them in and make sure that they thrive and we more or less guarantee the health and wellness [of the plants.]”
The Ingleside Light caught up with Michael to see what working at an ever-growing houseplant store is like.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How did you become a plant expert?
I have been doing this now for almost five years, and the hands-on experience is definitely helpful. I am also accredited through UCLA which is due in part to my boss who wanted to set me up for as much success as possible so I am technically accredited as an indoor horticulture quote-unquote specialist. Also, it has become my hobby so in my off hours, I do spend a lot of time nerding out on my own with no pay incentive to do so.
What does a typical shift look like here?
Usually, I come in, I open up the shop, I get things ready to open so I'm vacuuming, kind of just tidying up, making sure that the general stuff is ready for when customers come in. Then I just water and chill and I'm basically here to help the customers that come in, answer whatever questions they need. General plant care.
What is something people tend to overlook while caring for plants and what advice do you have for them?
Plants are not a one-size-fits-all care. You have to be doing your research. Unfortunately, one care regimen will not work for all plants and that is just something that you have to take into account when you do get multiple types of plants. Also, everyone has a plant that is hard to grow or won't grow in your house, so don't feel discouraged if you're having tough times with certain species or certain types of plants. They just might not be for you.
Anne Marie Kristoff (she/her) is a recent graduate from San Francisco State University's journalism program. She enjoys writing about the arts, entertainment and nature.
