4 Final Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started As a Plant Tech [Part Three]

In my last couple of posts, with the help of my plant tech friends, I’ve written about insights we wish we had known at the start of our interiorscape careers, aiming to improve training programs for both new plant technicians and owners. If you missed these posts, you can find them here: 5 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started As a Plant Tech and 7 More Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started as a Plant Tech.

Since then, we’ve come up with four more details that would have simplified our early days as plant techs, plus a couple of suggestions for the management and owners of interiorscape companies.

1. I WISH THE MORE EXPERIENCED TECHS WOULD HAVE SHARED…

…all the unique tools they stumbled upon over the years, such as a soup spoon to dig in small pots, a cheap kitchen knife to trim bird-of-paradise leaves, a thin dowel to check water levels in liners and reservoirs, a turkey baster to remove excess water, and so on. Sharing such tips between experienced and new technicians would have been invaluable.

2. I WISH SOMEONE HAD MENTIONED…

…the crucial first aid items to always keep on hand. Sure, we all stash the standard first aid kit in our vehicles, but it’s the small pack of bandaids, anti-bacterial ointment, tweezers, and fingernail clippers that end up being used the most.

3. I WISH I’D UNDERSTOOD…

…the significant role the “plant lady” or “plant man” plays for the folks in the offices. It’s fascinating how much people look forward to your visits and seek your advice for their houseplants or even their landscaping. So, it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about plants.

4. I WISH I HAD A LIST…

…detailing the specific “ins and outs” of each account before my first visit. A good account introduction should go beyond basic details like directions, parking spots, and water sources. It should include the most proficient way to move through the premises, clarify which doors are off-limits and which invite a knock, and identify which people aren’t interested in conversation and those who enjoy a chat. The less time a new tech spends learning the “ins and outs,” the more satisfied the clients will be.

What Plant Techs Wish Management Knew

Now, I know the last two points aren’t exactly lessons we wish we had learned at the start, but they are things we wish management knew. Given their frequent mention in our discussions, I decided to include them here.

I WISH I COULD TELL ALL COMPANY OWNERS…

…that receiving instructions on how to do our work from those who haven’t done it themselves is not helpful. To the owners who think this is an easy job that anyone can do, and to managers who think they can take on interior landscaping because they have a horticultural degree or experience managing a plant store, we have this message:

If you want your plant company to succeed, it’s crucial to hire people with years of experience, create an environment that allows them to share their knowledge, listen to what they can teach you, and, most importantly, consider spending a couple of years in the field yourselves.

I WISH MANAGEMENT WOULD…

…look for and foster a “passion for plants.” Those who thrive as plant techs, turning it into a career, find that plants are something they really love. Their homes and gardens overflow with greenery. They help their neighbors with their gardening, read about plants and watch gardening shows, and are active in their communities—perhaps by starting bromeliad societies, advocating for organic gardens in schools, or building a personal collection of 500 orchids. They are plant people, and they are the backbone and foundation of our industry.