The Plant Chica

Different plants can completely change the environment around us, bringing us memories of people and places that have influenced our lives. When Sandra Mejia opened The Plant Chica, she took inspiration from her mother’s love of the native plants of El Salvador, wanting to provide those tropicals that remind people of home. 

“I feel like for the most part, a lot of immigrant people that come here to the US and live in really dry areas like Southern California, they try to recreate their homes from what their homes look like back at home.”

Sandra opened The Plant Chica in 2018, after leaving her job in the medical field, wanting to have a career that allowed her to spend more time with her son. What started as a little table on street corners selling plants grew into a full storefront that offers activities for the area - like their Adopt-a-Plant events.

“The reason why is one: to give plants a second chance, right? Plants that aren't doing so great. And then two: just to give out free plants because we believe that everyone should have access to plants…You know, they're not bad plants, they just need a little bit of love.”

Providing plants, especially varieties that are hard to find in the area, to her community is vital to Sandra, because it was something that she never had available.

“It's very important to me because I grew up here and we didn't have a ton of plant resources in my neighborhood growing up…And so that's why I'm very proud to have the space here because I feel like now I can provide that for the kids who do live in this neighborhood now.”

Visit The Plant Chica’s website and Instagram to learn more!

A film by Bettina Hanna.