The sill’s tribute to city-dwellers with a green thumb
Hands (aka green thumbs) up if your WFH spot could benefit from some leafy greens. Imagine this: a friendly trio of succulents or a swirly edge leaf alongside your keyboard. The thing is, once you have one plant, you realize you need a bunch more.
Cue: The Sill. This company is here to make it possible to shop for plants at home without having to go to the nursery. They’ve been crushing the indoor plant game since 2012, on a mission to make it easy for even non-believers to become plant parents. Enter their offerings of pet-friendly options, plants for beginners, and even a subscription service that comes stacked with watering and sunlight directions.
So what we’re saying is, if you want to get a plant, this is the perfect way to do it. The Sill Founder, Eliza Blank will help any urbanite earn their green thumb.
Q
The Sill has removed the intimidation from becoming a plant parent. What inspired you to change the way we buy plants?
A
Eliza: When I moved from rural Massachusetts to New York for college, I found myself in a tiny stale apartment, missing home. My mom – an avid gardener herself – suggested I purchase some houseplants to perk the place up. This ended up being a more difficult task than I was prepared for: my local choices were incredibly limited, I didn’t have a car to drive to a nursery in the suburbs, and I wasn’t sure how I’d lug all the potting materials on the subway, let alone up the stairs of my 6th floor walkup. In that moment I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be great if there was a company that could help?
And The Sill does just that. We make the process of bringing plants into your home as easy as possible, and as wonderful as the plants themselves. We launched online in 2012, then only delivering locally in Manhattan and Brooklyn by foot! Fast forward 8 years, we now ship nationwide to the 48 contiguous states, and have five brick-and-mortar locations under our belt. I’ve always had big goals for the brand – we’re learning and growing with our customers daily to ensure we deliver on the best possible value and experience for them.
Q
We’re living through abnormal times and spending more time at home than ever. How can plants make a difference?
A
Eliza: We know that indoor plants enhance the overall appearance of any space, so if you’re spending more time at home than ever before, that’s always appreciated! But studies have shown indoor plants can also boost your mood, reduce your stress, and increase your creativity and productivity. They can even help improve the air you breathe. Personally, I find them incredibly therapeutic to care for. My husband is big on meditation, and I joke with him that plant care is my form of meditation… but it really is!
Faux Watermelon Peperonmia, $65
Q
When it comes to testing out our green thumb, what’s something we should know before ordering our first plants?
A
Eliza: Figure out what type of light your space receives! If you’re not sure what type of light you have, start by figuring out what direction your windows face, then check if there’s anything right outside that could block some of the natural sunlight streams in. Keep it simple and decide first, is the light direct or indirect? If indirect, is it bright, medium, or low? Once you narrow it down, it’ll be much easier to choose the best plant varieties that will suit your space.
Q
We’re curious, how do you ensure that plants arrive at our front door (or apartment building) still healthy and ready to grow? Interested to hear the inside scoop and how The Sill has mastered this.
A
Eliza: Not going to lie – shipping live plants isn’t always easy! Our team prunes, pots, and packs every single order by hand. Usually we get it right, but sometimes there’s things out of our control that happen once the order leaves our hands. Either way, we do everything we can to make sure your plant arrives healthy and happy at your front door – whether that’s incorporating heat packs during the winter, or sending some varieties of plants in their grow pots to ensure they ship safely.
And once your plant does arrive, our job isn’t over. We guarantee that we’ll be there to help you navigate your plant parenthood journey ahead! You can browse our blog, shoot us an email, or live chat us on thesill.com. We’re here to inspire confidence and empower you. I don’t believe people are born with a green thumb… plants take a little practice just like anything else that’s worthwhile!
Q
Real talk: How many plants are currently filling your home and which are your top picks?
A
Eliza: Honestly, I’ve lost count! Our team tests out every new plant we add to our line, so that’s my excuse: ‘I’m bringing it home for a IRL test run ???? . But my all time favorite houseplant is the heartleaf philodendron. I love its delicate heart-shaped leaves, their vibrant green color, and how they cascade down my shelves. I have mine in our Grant planter in terracotta – I’m not sure if ‘modern natural’ is a real design aesthetic, but it’s mine.
Philodendron Green, $23
Q
Last question. We talk about the internet’s best brands (and we trust that you’ve tried a few). During these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to support our go-to brands. Could you share a favorite brand or product of yours – and why?
A
Eliza: Right now it’s Trade coffee without question. As a CEO/Mom, coffee is my morning fuel. Trade makes my work-from-home morning routine so much more enjoyable. I miss being able to grab a cup of coffee from Think Coffee on my way to the office. I miss a lot of things! But Trade is such a wonderful brand – they introduce you to local coffees from all over the country. And of course, they deliver it right to your door.
