Tula House — Local services in New York

It pains me to leave this review because the women who work at this store have been so lovely in the past, and I've never even written a bad review before, but I felt like this story was deserving of one. I bought a gorgeous (very expensive) dragon tree from here and the moment we placed it in my office, it gave us problems. The next morning I opened the door and there was a salamander in the room--not kidding, where on earth else in NYC could a salamander come from but a jungle tree--and the floor was littered with carcasses of tiny little white worms for weeks. When I reached out to Tula, they kindly replied that they would not be willing to take the plant back, but had suggested I use neem oil to fix the problem. The neem oil didn't work, and neither did the diatomaceous earth I scoured the internet for. The problem just got worse and worse, and one evening, we took a video of the tiny white worms crawling in the soil to prove to Tula this was a major problem. After speaking to three different people, one employee agreed we were finally able to bring the tree for treatment and repotting, which they tried to charge us for, but we refused because the plant had caused us so many problems, including us having to call and pay for an exterminator to ensure the bugs weren't coming from elsewhere. We took the plant home and though the worms seemingly disappeared, tiny, fuzzy white mealybugs started appearing on the stems of the plant. Though I tried my best to get rid of the mealybugs with neem oil, spray, and alcohol, they infected the other plants in my office to an unsaveable point, which resulted in me having to get rid of all of them. These were plants that were in perfect health and in my possession for several years before this. Again, I hate a bad review, but when we took the plant to get repotted at the store, we were met with such hostility and resistance from a male manager there that was shocking considering we'd been sold a diseased tree, and that we had kindly reached out for their advice prior to the hostile exchange. I also quarantined my other plants, but it was seemingly too late. I saw another woman post a review like this one a few months ago--I know this is a small business and I normally wouldn't post a review like this, but the hostility we were met with when trying to get our money back and even some help felt like it warranted a bad review. A few months later, I'm not only down the plant I bought from them, but all of the other plants I own as well due to Tula's...

Tula House is one of my absolute favorite plant stores in New York City. Seriously – I’m a weekly visitor and a frequent member of the Arid Room. As a cactus and succulent enthusiast, I can confidently say that Tula’s selection of plants is second to none.

They carry everything from uncommon caudex plants (it’s the most extensive selection of caudex plants I’ve ever seen in any NYC shop) to rare cacti and other beautiful, unique succulents in all shapes and sizes. The assortment of plants, planters, and gardening tools is incredible, and, as a big fan of handmade pots, Tula offers plenty of stunning options to choose from.

Now, the real highlight of the store – the staff.

The team at Tula House is among the most knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely kind people I’ve ever encountered. Baris, Amanda, Jess, and Campbell are incredibly talented and passionate about what they do. They’ve taught me everything from selecting the right soil mix and making my own soil, to choosing the right pot size and material, understanding watering frequency, plant behavior, ideal growing conditions, and how to optimize grow lights. And most importantly, Nitro, my dog, absolutely loves them for all the love and attention they show him.

Tula House has also become one of my go-to “plant hospitals.” Baris, in particular, has brought several of my plants back from the the dead. She consistently offers expert advice and guidance, time and time again – and trust me, there was a time when the plants were definitely winning the battle.

Tula House is truly a must-visit plant store in New York City - you won’t be...

Intimate is a rare adjective used to describe New York City, but a trip to Tula is just that: intimate. After following the leafy trail upstairs in the Bushwick warehouse, you’ll spot beams of light filtered with shadows of dancing fronds.

Chaos and noise and city smells will peel away as you step inside.

Your eyes will scan the green oasis before you, then be met by a smiling face, ready to listen to your botanical dreams, woes, and many, many questions.

But, before you do that, allow yourself to get a little lost. Awaken your senses. You’ll find a walk through Tula to be meditative, each plant different than the next.

When you’re ready, each member of the Tula family will treat you as they treat their plants: with individualized care, not only in the process of finding your new plant baby (whether it’s your first or 20th), but after it is settled in its new home, should any problems arise.

No two trips to Tula will be alike, nor will they end empty-armed -- large, leafy statement plants, cascading vines, flowering cacti, hanging carnivori, alienesque succulents, ornate ferns.

Sui generis, plants from Tula become art in your home. Living, breathing art. So too, will their planters. Tula selects handmade pottery with the same attention to detail and eye for unconventional beauty as they do plants.

Tula, house of...