Arium Botanicals — Local services in Portland

If you are considering spending your money at Arium, don’t. Do not support this business.

Here’s why:

1. It’s wildly over priced. Go literally anywhere else in Portland and you will find better prices. Also, start a plant exchange with your friends. We all have a ton of plants that can be easily propagated and shared with your pals!

2. There are plant shops and nurseries in Portland that do not take advantage of their customers and who are actual community builders, not capital C Capitalists. Businesses you should support rather than Arium: the Indigenous plant shop SymbiOp Garden Shop, the sprawling Portland Nursery, and, if you like higher end goods, Pistils Nursery.

This review has sprung from an experience I just had at Arium. I received several plants as a housewarming gift from my mother. Though they are beautiful plants, they’re not my style. I called Arium to see if I could bring them back to EXCHANGE them for other plants, not to receive money back. On the phone, it was confirmed that even though it had been more than 24 hours since the original purchase, it was alright that I exchange the plants for different ones because they were a gift. I brought the plants to the shop at the very soonest moment I could (three days later) and was treated as if I was trying to steal from them, as if the very thought of my exchanging these plants made me a horrible human. I was turned away from the shop by the manager with zero attempt of resolution or to retain me as a customer, the managers tone was harsh and condescending. This all coming from a business that touts community building and advocacy all over their socials. Why support a business like this? Why support a business that won’t support you back?

Needless to say, they have permanently lost my business and I sincerely hope you reconsider supporting them.

To those working under that manager and for this business-you should seriously consider quitting. Start your own business, build community, support those who...

Everything about Arium is on point! Love of plants and knowledge of plants radiate through them. It’s present the moment you walk in, from the variety, to the creativity of the space, even the fonts on tags and quality of packaging. Yup, we notice!

Their soils are magnifique, and that means everything, really. That said, they have a great selection, and not just starters!

Don’t you dare buy the one I’m saving up for! I definitely recommend getting one of their potted plants. If you want a plant to live, an established plant in a proper long-grow soil is it, and actually pretty rare, especially in Portland. And, they’re fairly priced. Well, you tell me. I got a $65 plant in a perfect pot and soil with attractive top-dressing, and, well, I’m keeping it, but I COULD sell it online for twice that, sans pot. So, yeah, fair prices!

I think they might be, like, collectively choosing to breathe deep and every day to love life, and to cheer for customers’ joy at a perfect find………partially because a part of them would like to cry seeing all these unique, beloved rare plants pass out of their care and into the unknown…

That day, some repotting had created succulent starters. A number of tiny pots were next to the cash register. A smallish sign said “free.” I’m materialistic. A few of those cuttings would be high-priced philodendrons in months… Then I noticed: each little pot had a proper little label with the full name of the plant and “free.” They’re sharing the love, and it’s...

The selection is great but I am reviewing because of the warm and above-and-beyond customer service.

I stopped in two weeks ago to invest in my first mid-sized cactus. I found a super cute blue myrtle cactus with a couple dry/burn spots that I decided to take home. Anthony, my cashier (and co-owner) was really wonderful and offered to give me a discount because of the cosmetic damage. They also beautifully repotted it for me right then and there!

Fast forward two weeks and my blue myrtle cactus was rotting. Turns out he just didn't take to his new pot. I looked on Arium's website for their return/refund policy and figured I'd be out of luck since I'd had the plant for two weeks. I emailed their help line and asked for help reviving the cactus and sent some pictures over. I recieved a fast and wonderfully empathetic response offering ideas about the deterioration cause as well as an offer to come by the store to exchange or get a refund.

When I arrived, Anthony helped me find a new cactus baby and got me all squared away. Anthony was amazing to work with from start to finish! Thank you Arium and thank you Anthony! Buy Arium's plants because they're beautiful but also because of the quality of assistance and knowledge their...