Roots

As someone who knows little about caring for plants or botany, the owner of Roots was a knowledgeable and caring guide who helped me make sure I got it right. She asked for pictures of the lighted spaces to make sure she could recommend the best plants for my apartment and counseled me on technical names and plant needs as I browsed the shop for my selections. This shop seems to specialize in house plants and had a great variety including very interesting tropical plants, a good number of mature floor plants, as well as artfully assembled terrariums. I’m supposed to water my plants and bring them back after six weeks for re-​potting. So happy to develop a continuous relationship with a friendly, expertly knowledgeable, local small business owner. Here’s another 5 star review. Thank you Roots.

Stopped in today to pick up a gift – the woman that worked there could not have been more helpful and kind. Despite my very limited knowledge she patiently helped me find the perfect surprise terrarium for a friend. Will definitely be back here in the future!

Fantastic local spot for plants! I picked up a banana tree, a succulent, a peace lily, and more and they’re all beautiful! Honestly, I’ve been to many different plant shops around the city and Roots has the best, liveliest, and most reasonably placed plants out there. I dunno how the place can stay in business with such prices. Would give 6 stars if I could.
Michele is the sweetest person out there, too.

This is by far the best indoor plant nursery for all your green thumb needs! Michelle was so helpful and informative in helping me learn about different pony upkeeps. There are numerous plants all over the store and she cycles new ones all the time! Her love and care for these plants know no bounds! Thank you for rekindling my interest in plants of all kinds and helping my home get one step closer to becoming more beautiful!

where do i even start? oh man shes so amazing and her dogs are incredible. phoebe locks eyes with you and just rolls over for petting, what a sweet dog. i got a succulent, a hanging plant, and a venus flytrap here and they all look so well-​loved and healthy.
michelle is such an angel. she is so loving and wonderful and regardless of how experienced you are as a plant caretaker she’ll be willing to help you with open arms. definitely my new resource for getting plants. 10,000/10 will shop again

Great shop with gorgeous plants and the sweetest shop owner who was very helpful and knowledgable. Love her two dogs too!

Michelle completely changed how I view plant shopping. As soon as I walked in she asked what I was looking for in a plant and where I’d like to keep it. She makes the experience so personal and inviting. I’ll be coming back soon to pick up some more. Long gone are the fears of just buying a plant and having it die. Michelle taught me what I needed to know.
If you’re ever in the area, stop by Roots and grab a coffee at Flying Pig next door. Some of the nicest small business owners you’ll ever meet.

My sister and I found Roots on Unilocal — we were looking for nearby nurseries so we could decorate our new apartment. Neither of us had much experience with succulents before but the owner was very sweet and explained how to take care of our new plants. At one point my sister commented that it was hard to find so much greenery in the middle of the Mission, and she gifted us a peace lily to take home! Not only is it a gorgeous plant, but it’s also supposed to be good for purifying the air.
Five stars for quantity and quality of the plants and for the owner being an awesomely generous person :)

Beautiful nursery! The owner was sweet, and very helpful
I’m a complete novice. But now feel confident my spider plant is actually going to grow!
Will go back to the store for all plant needs :)

Roots is a very special place for me. I first went to visit her in August of 2015. It was amazing. We got our very first mini terrarium that she built right in front of us. My boyfriend named it Planty.
Unsurprisingly, Planty got a new friend, a mini tree (I think a Begonia), in September, a month later. Planty also went in for some revamping (as I had killed all the ground cover). She also helped me repot my mini orchid that I’ve been growing from a stem for over a year. My orchid looks a lot happier now.
Then! In November, my boyfriend was getting ready to meet my parents for the first time. I called ahead and asked Michelle to put together a kit for my mother. My mother loves terrariums, and has wanted to build her own for so long! Later that day, my boyfriend picked up the kit, complete with all the substrate and plants, all packed up to survive a plane trip! It was so amazing, my mother squealed when she realized what he had brought her. I’d like to say Michelle basically guaranteed that my mother would like my boyfriend.
Now, in January. Another friend of mine is starting to get into terrariums, so where do I take her? Of course. You know it. Michelle again was so gracious and helped her put together a new terrarium, while I took in Planty (third time’s the charm?) and the begonia in for revamping.
We’re probably going to go in again in the next month to get her another terrarium (different type– the mini tree type!) and for me to repot my sister’s orchid, and my growing orchid!
Pro-​tips: If there is something specific you have in mind (i.e. mini tree terrarium, succulents, repotting your orchid, bonsai…), call ahead to let her know. She might be expecting a shipment with exactly what you want, and can tell you when it’ll come. Or she will just order it specially for you. Also you won’t waste a trip on wrong timing then. (:

An amazing little plant and terrarium haven in the middle of San Francisco. Michelle, the owner, is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. I first came into the store with a friend to create my first terrarium. Michelle guided me throughout the entire arrangement process and I left with a little piece of green paradise (and advice on how to keep it alive!) Worth visiting many many times.

Roots is not just a store, but a beautiful world of waxy green petals with the comfort of a living room. The space is tasteful but not manicured. Two pink-​bellied Maltese sprawled out on sofa chairs; loose plants and soil scattered across a workstation in the back; empty decorative pots strewn across a shelf; a cloudy fish tank hidden in a corner.
Beautiful terrariums are scattered between all sorts of plants, most of which still sit in unassuming plastic pots. The genuine, unpretentious and cozy nature of the place is a clear expression of the owner, who is not only extremely knowledgeable and full of intuitive explanations, but one of the warmest and friendliest people at first encounter. Roots is one of a kind.

Michelle is wonderful; her store is only blocks from my home and I feel so fortunate to have stumbled into her green paradise. She attempted to rescue one of my long suffering little plants, gave me fertilizer, care instructions for all of my plants and did not charge me a dime. I returned the next day requesting some more guidance and made sure this time to purchase one of her beautiful plants (which she recommended after briefly interrogating me on the temperature, light quality and humidity of my home).
I provide 5 star reviews rarely; if a 6^th star was possible, I would do it.

Incredible gem taken care of by the friendliest owner. The selection is just what I was looking for and Michelle is not only very knowledgeable, but the nicest soul and a great explained. Be sure to give the two cute little dogs a nice belly rub on your way out!

I love this store! And it such great value. I do not want to mention any prices, as the owner may decide to change them, but i guarantee you that especially on Terrarium, it looks like it is worth double what she charges. Much better alternative than taking flowers to someone.
Check it out!

This is such a fun store! Michelle is very knowledgable but not pushy. I love having a little outdoors indoors!

Absolutely love this shop, and the artistic flair of the staff. They are lovely to talk to and happy to make adjustments and custom orders. It is fun just wandering around admiring the fairytale succulent arrangements. The plants also come with a one month guarantee, which is reassuring as some of them the larger or more extravagant arrangements can be a little pricey. We saw some stunning custom tall white boxes with bright succulents being made that weren’t on display. If you have an idea in mind, ask for advice.

I bought a nice plant there today.
Michelle was super nice and helpful, she gave me a lot of good advices for my plants. She even gave me a little bit of soil for free and she offered me to come back in February to put the plant I purchased in a bigger pot if needed.
Really great experience and the plants are beautiful.

Such a cool little plant shop. Went here mainly to see what kind of terrariums they have and learned they will basically make you want you want. Maybe that is normal? Not sure, as it was my first time shopping for a terrarium. A lot of other interesting plants in the space, and there were too very friendly dogs lounging on the chair which gave the place an extra boost of good energy.
Great plants, friendly service and a good energy. One note, for some reason I thought this place was going to be much bigger than it was, so it isn’t a huge place but has a good variety going on.

Michelle is so sweet!
My friend recommended I come here to help revive some airplants I’d bought. Michelle immediately gave me tons of great advice, was very straightforward (a couple were basically dead, some others were dry but alive and she clipped off the dry stems), and was so helpful.
She didn’t even care that I hadn’t browsed her shop or that I’d bought my plants elsewhere. She just wanted to help. And then she gave me a free airplant since some of mine were dead! I said I hadn’t bought my plants here and she just shrugged.
Thank you Michelle for bringing a wonderful business to our neighborhood!