Lately, I have been doing a lot of thinking, planning, planting, painting, rearranging, and, of course, starting three new projects before finishing the first one.
That is pretty normal around here.
Building Tangled Roots Potting Bar has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, but it has also stretched me in ways I never expected. There is so much more to running a small business than the part people see.
Behind the plants, parties, colourful pots, and smiling faces, there are websites to update, signs to make, supplies to organise, taxes to understand, displays to improve, and about seventeen browser tabs open at any given moment.
I spent nearly 20 years working behind computer screens, and while I was grateful to have steady work, I knew deep down that it was not the life I wanted forever.
I felt drained, disconnected, and unhappy more often than I admitted. I would sit at a computer all day while wishing I could be doing something creative, working with my hands, and connecting with people in a more meaningful way.
Starting Tangled Roots gave me a chance to build something that feels more like me.
I would much rather have dirt under my fingernails than spend another day staring at a spreadsheet. Of course, owning a business still requires plenty of computer time, which feels a little like the universe having a sense of humour.
Even so, this work feels different because I know what I am building and why I am building it.
My goal has never been to create just another place to buy a plant.
I want Tangled Roots to be a place where people can slow down, get creative, laugh, connect, and leave with something they made themselves.
Life gets loud and busy. Sometimes sitting at a table with a pot, a plant, and a scoop of dirt is exactly the reset we need.
More Plants Are Coming
One of the biggest things I am working on is expanding the on-site potting bar beyond succulents.
Succulents will always be a huge part of Tangled Roots. They are colourful, quirky, easy to personalise, and perfect for potting parties.
But not everyone is a succulent person, and that is perfectly fine.
I plan to begin adding houseplants and other plant varieties so guests have more choices when they visit. That may include leafy tropical plants, trailing plants, cacti, air plants, and other beginner-friendly varieties.
I also want to offer more pots, accessories, decorations, and possibly a few larger planting projects.
The goal is to give people the freedom to create something that fits their home, personality, and comfort level with plant care.
I am taking my time with this expansion because I want to choose plants that will do well here and keep the experience simple, welcoming, and fun.
Improving the Experience
I have also been working on better displays, clearer signs, travel-friendly potting kits, care guides, and ways to make the potting bar easier to enjoy.
When someone visits, I want the process to feel simple:
Choose a pot.
Choose a plant.
Add soil, moss, pebbles, and decorations.
Make a memory.
I am also putting together plant-free kits for travellers or anyone who would rather finish their project at home. Guests can choose a pot, soil, moss or pebbles, and decorations without having to take a live plant.
Every small improvement comes with a surprising number of decisions, but little by little, it is all coming together.
Making Room to Heal
I also want to be honest about something personal.
While I have been working hard to grow the business, I have also been dealing with some personal things and focusing on healing.
It has been difficult, and there have been times when I have tried to push through even when I knew I needed to slow down.
I do not share this because I want sympathy or because I see myself as a victim. I share it because small-business owners are still human beings.
We carry personal struggles, family responsibilities, worries, hopes, and emotions right alongside our business plans.
For a long time, I thought strength meant continuing no matter how tired I felt.
Now I am learning that sometimes strength means recognising when you need rest.
I plan to take a few weeks off during August to regroup, recharge, and give myself room to heal.
Taking a break does not mean I am giving up on Tangled Roots.
It means I care enough about the business, and about myself, to pause before I become completely drained.
Plants need time, care, and the right environment to establish their roots.
Apparently, people do too.
What Comes Next
When I return, I am excited to continue expanding the potting bar, adding new plant varieties, improving the space, and creating more opportunities for people to gather, create, and connect.
I have ideas for houseplants, hanging plants, terrariums, larger pots, beginner workshops, and themed potting experiences.
Some ideas will grow beautifully.
Some may need to be replanted.
That is part of building something.
Tangled Roots began because I wanted a life that felt more creative, meaningful, and connected.
It is still growing.
So am I.
Life’s a garden. Dig it.