This lil shop is my go to when it comes to purchasing air plants. They truly have the best selection and all my plants that I have purchased here have thrived. They have plenty of other houseplants and succulents as well. Being on the Central Coast these plants are so healthy. So many to choose from and pricing is fair. Staff is always so helpful and knowledgeable whenever I am here. They also carry all the supplies you need for both indoor and outdoor gardening projects. You can even pick up a gift for your gardening or plant loving friend. What I love most is they are a non profit so every dollar spent here supports mental health services here in the SLO community. Easy to find right on Chorro Street across from the mission. Parking is a challenge since it's all on the street or nearby garage. I highly recommend a stop here if you are a plant Mama or Papa. read more

See all

I cannot think of one negative thing to say about this place. Everything in the store from A-to-Z is absolutely perfect and I don't think anything could get better. The staff are extremely helpful and very knowledgeable. The cuttings, the potted plants and all of the accessories within this business are so dang cute !!!! They offer very good prices for their potted plants. There are no bugs visible, nor root rot!! And they also have a clearance section for plants that are ready to find a new home They have the hugest array of different inside and outside plants different stringed plants, and so much more!!! if you're looking to gift plants or maybe get a little something for yourself this is the place to stop by read more

Growing Grounds Downtown - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Great selection of veggies and herbs. Succulents reasonably priced. Go out of their way to help you get what you need. Milkweed for your ravenous caterpillars! And a good cause. read more

I came specifically here for a houseplant gift after reading all the great reviews. All the plants were super healthy and lush. Cute little shop tucked in downtown SLO. I love the mission (that was another reason why I came here). Workers were attentive and helpful. Found an awesome jade plant very reasonably priced and a beautiful pot for it to go in to. The downtown area is cute and they are putting in a lot of improvements and additional parking. I wish we had more time to wander, just not in the summer when I'm sure it gets crowded. Until next time! read more

Absolutely adorable- stumbled across this plant shop on our way to get coffee & WOW the plants are lush & healthy, pots and accessories selection is fantastic & prices are very fair and it's a non-profit too?! Excellent all around! Staff were helpful but not obtrusive. We came back here twice! read more

See all

I literally stumbled upon this plant oasis tucked inside of an alleyway in downtown SLO! We were leaving the nearby mission and saw the signage, and spent a good half hour browsing the beautiful selection of plants and succulents. The great California weather always makes it so much easier to grow plants and I'm always deluded into thinking I can buy them and sustain them in Las Vegas - this has proven time and time again to not be the case, so I didn't buy any new plant friends. Great selection and reasonable pricing here. I especially like their air plant section, a plant that has never really captured my attention before. Lots of plants and accessories for sale here, as well as friendly and knowledgeable staff to answer your questions. The plants here are organized and labelled, so you can easily access care info to ensure they thrive at home. TIP: They also do planting and gift wrapping here, making it an easy one-stop gifting spot. Let them know what environment you're working with or how plant-savvy your friend is, and they'll suggest a plant and help you pick the right size pot, and put them together for you. If you'd like to get me something, I'm partial to calatheas. ;) read more

After visiting a few large nurseries full of sad neglected plants, we were elated to find the Growing Grounds. Everything is so healthy and lush! This place is neat, tidy, did I say healthy? These people know how to grow and care for plants, and clearly spend the time to do it well. We took home peppers, herbs, chard, strawberries, plus a gorgeous giant fern and a couple fun little guys, too. Growing Grounds is such a happy environment, I didn't really want to leave. I'm sure we'll be back soon. read more

This adorable hole-in-the-wall garden shop has every type of air plant you would ever need! Air plants are super trendy right now, and let me say that I have not seen another store with this many different species. The air plants are clearly labeled that specifies how it blooms and information for upkeep. It was hard to choose which one to take home! In addition, the clerk was patient and informative with my numerous questions about air plant survival (my green thumb is lacking). Definitely a wonderful shop to stop in for your air plant needs! read more

Growing Grounds Downtown - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Wonder stores with a lot of interesting plants and small pot. Everytime if I go to SLO area, will drop by and visit. Planning to go there to visit soon. Nice people working there. read more

So I've only been to Growing Grounds downtown during quarantine. Today I went for the second time because they have such a lovely space and the workers are SO knowledgeable and patient with customers. I am such a novice when it comes to growing just about anything and Lela was SO patient and nice explaining the difference between all the plants I was interested in. I went in thinking I wanted a beginner plant that I've seen all over social media (pothos) but she introduced me to so many more, easy-to-keep-alive plants that are perfect for indoors! I now have a gorgeous ivy on my shelf that I'll use as decor when her vines grow out :) no need to buy fake ivy from amazon now!! Lela also explained how to take care of my plant and what supplies I would need. After I get a bit more plant-acquainted I'll be back in to get some of the vegetable and fruit plants they have growing that you can harvest so easily! Better yet, this store is also non-profit. Love everything about this place! Don't forget your mask :) read more

This is a wonderful little shop. Great selection of pots and plants at great prices! Very friendly, knowledgeable staff! I'll be back.

always stop in here for my little succulent choices to expand my garden. It is a little hidden gem. This trip I got nothing the selection was low but it is winter. I also like that money goes to charity. How much a and to where exactly I don't remember but I know it says on their Facebook page. read more

Super cute not for profit shop! Great variety of plants and pots and super kind employees. Thanks! read more

Growing Grounds Downtown - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

I love this place. Really mellow vibes, beautiful flora, and an overall solid and respectable mission. Quick tips: - they can plant any of your flowers/plants for $0.50-$1.00 -they will help get you the right sized pot for you selection -they gift wrap...and it looks so beautiful! This has turned into my go to stop for birthday and event presence. I simply go there, find a plant that I like, pick out a pot that I like, and they take care of the rest. It's wonderful! They are so nice and so helpful! read more

Growing Grounds Downtown - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

See all

I was in SLO for work and wanted find some plant babies to bring home. I found this GEM on yelp and wanted to stop by hoping to find some goodies. My boyfriend and I were greeted by Janine who was beyond helpful and a great person to speak to all around. She spoke to us about the store and what they were all about. We loved the store and the fact that they supported those with mental illness helping them by having them help around the store. LOVE THIS! I had the hardest time deciding on which plants I wanted to bring home. I ended up going with a begonia and an elephant ear. I am so happy I found this store and that my boyfriend supports my plant addiction. I'll be stopping by one last time before I head home to find another plant baby and to support this amazing store! Kudos to Janine! Also, the paper bag we got to put our plants in was put together by a worker who suffers from mental illness and I personally wanted to say THANK YOU and you guys are AMAZING!! read more

See all

Love supporting non-profits and this one is extra special. Their message is ~ Hope through horticulture - nurturing plants and people. Helping support folks struggling with mental health issues. Nature does something to you. It awakens your happy cells. Gardening is definitely one of the things that always brightens my day. Wasn't planning on stopping in here but I couldn't pass it up when I noticed their adorable and narrow secret garden from the street. I picked up a few air plants that hang from shells and gourds and I was inspired to make my own little project at home by hanging them all from a beautiful piece of driftwood that I found on the beach. The lady who assisted me was extremely helpful and gave me tips on keeping all these beautiful plants healthy and strong. read more

See all

Alright, I have a plant problem. I loooooove plants, especially indoor ones. Growing Grounds is an amazing place to buy indoor plants! They have a wonderful variety, in various sizes, and they're always super helpful at informing you what the plant is, any requirements, or important details. They even sell the pots, and have a fun selection of air plants (not my jam, but they're cute). It's an adorable hole-in-the-wall place, where I easily can buy way too much. I think their prices are very fair. read more

Super helpful staff. Amazing selection of plants. The money goes toward a non profit that supports mental health work cooperatives. I would def come here again. They also told me about another plant store at the cal poly campus, cool! read more

I signed up for the Yelp event and had to drive to SLO to pick up supplies. Got there and couldn't find parking. Called them right at closing and a super nice staffer came outside to make sure I had my bag for tonight. Later they called me again just to make sure I had made it in time to get supplies. I am so impressed! And the fact that they help give employment, meaning and a sense of belonging to some of our vulnerable adults makes it even more precious! Growing seeds of empowerment in our Community! read more

While on a trip with my wife, we were strolling the streets of SLO while trying to visit as many nearby missions as possible and taking in what the town had to offer. It was a little earlier than GG's open time, so we peered in and I was overwhelmed with all the cool plants they had. We couldn't even see the entirety of their inventory because some of it was further back. LUCKILY, we killed enough time to make a stop on our way back to the car. The clerk was very helpful. Of course, my luck: I honed in on the one plant she wasn't sure she could identify. We looked around some more and she was able to do some research and come back to us with the name. Very helpful! There are some really neat and wonderful gift ideas and must-have additions to any succulent or air plant fan. If you're in town or nearby, do yourself a favor and drop by! read more

Great selection, friendly staff, and good prices. They have a lot of rare plants including an orange Philodendron so that's a big plus. The plants are THRIVING. I have never seen a rock plant bloom and they had two blooming ones. The succulents look like they are going to burst. The last thing that I love about this place is that all the proceeds go to supporting mental health organizations. They hire a lot of people who are recovering from mental illness. Big plus that makes me want to support them even more. read more

I bought the airplant and this store was very cute. The prices are very reasonable and they have a lot of variety's to choose. The staff are friendly. I would support this local business and definitely recommend. read more

Growing Grounds Downtown - My airplant and sea urchin plant holder - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

A small, cute, wonderful plant store. Great for fun garden shopping. Nice flower and herb selection. read more

Always great plants, and there is only one rude staff member. The rest all happily answer my questions and have often helped me with plant woes! About 25% of my plants are from here, always healthy and happy and never just a cutting without root like you get at some shows. read more

I had the best experience today at growing grounds! I needed a gift for my friends birthday and I stoped by knowing they had Beautiful succulents!they were so incredibly kind and helpful picking out plants and even planting it all for me in the vase I had. I will be telling everyone I know about how amazing this place is and coming back for more and more! read more

Growing Grounds Downtown - The beautiful arrangement they helped me make! - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Take a moment and walk up Chorro Street in SLO, just across from the Mission and check out this cute, open-air plant and gift store. Buy a gift or some plants....then pat yourself on the back for keeping your dollars in the local economy and at the same time helping to contribute to a local cause. Everyone benefits! Lots of strong, healthy plants and clever ideas abound. I always have them build a "Plant-ini" for my hubby on Valentine's day every year. read more

A plants and gifts store built around a driveway in downtown SLO. When you look inside from the sidewalk you would want to step in. And you should. You will leave feeling better after a few minutes whether you purchase anything or not. Great staff, great cause and great plants! read more

Growing Grounds Downtown - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Always have to visit here when I'm in town visiting my parents! Such a good cause... makes me feel better about buying even more plants!

If you are looking for lush, beautiful plants, mostly indoor (outdoor too) and more than a little inspiration, RUN to Growing Grounds Downtown in SLO. Finding quality houseplants in the Central Coast is not easy but this charming store, in a space between two buildings will fill your home with green and great vibes. Run by TMHA, an organization that "combines horticultural training to provide individuals with mental illness employment in a supportive environment where personal growth is realized" is such a blessing on more levels than I can say AND they have some of the best plants and gift items (hand crafted) around. I promise you will be inspired. Buy lots!!!! Thanks guys!!!! read more

What a sweet store, a great place to shop for a gift or a treat for my home. I recently went there for a thank you gift, and I was delighted with the selection. The cashier helped me find the perfect plant, and she even potted it for me and wrapped it nicely. I like that they sell seeds and healthy looking plants as well as garden accessories. read more

My fiancé and I dropped into Growing Grounds in search of a plant we had seen growing downtown.. With only a photo of it and our brief description the lovely woman helping us, Leela, brought out a gorgeous "Tiboichina Urvilleana" (Princess Flower). It is gorgeous and exactly what we were looking for! Not to mention, Leela's customer service was spectacular and she gave us detailed instructions to keep our new plant healthy and thriving. We were very impressed by the selection, service, and ambience. We will definitely be returning next time we visit SLO! Five stars doesn't begin to cover our experience :) read more

Growing Grounds Downtown - Loving the 'Princess Flower'! It bloomed two days after we potted it! - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

See all

If you want herbs, veggies or spices this is the place to go in SLO! Very small, cute and compact with great stuff! Little garden decours amongst the plants. Beautiful quality plants AND they can order any plant you request! Fabulous place :) read more

Very cool little spot! While shopping there we learned that they are part of a non profit that helps people with mental illness! Other than that great selection and very helpful! read more

this is such a wonderful place to get your plants - not only are they reasonably priced but your purchases help a great charity!!! Even though this is a 3 hr drive from me, I am definitely returning to buy more plants!!! read more

As you walk toward the front, there's a sign that reads, "Shhh... You Have Just Discovered 'SLO-Town's' Best-Kept Secret!" This sign best explains a non-profit nursery, that benefits people with mental disabilities by creating a therapeutic environment, AND giving them jobs. The man who was working with my wife and I informed us on our new Venus Flytrap, which we named Venus Williams. He was so sweet, gave us a bag of cookies on our way out, and even offered to watch our plant for us while we were out walking around for our honeymoon. Please stop by and visit this place!! read more

Staff is friendly, and spends time to talk about their products, including how to take care of plants.

I don't have a green thumb at all and I came into this place to hopefully find some help. Kristine was very friendly and knowledgable. She helped me pick out my first two plants and gave me tips on how to not kill them lol she was very helpful and I'm going to recommend this place to everyone. Btw it's a non-profit! A+ from me, I will be returning to give Growing Grounds more business. Thanks Kristine!! read more

We have been taking our dogs to classes at Jump Start Dog Sports for years. Our dogs have benefitted from various types of classes from Puppy Kindergarten, Home Manners, Obedience, Canine Good Citizen, Nose Work and NADAC agility. Instructors there work with you and your dog(s) to help them succeed in learning and applying the training material. The fields are beautiful, staff is friendly and our family has benefitted greatly from all of the training. I wholeheartedly recommend Jump Start Dog Sports for people who want their pet to be better socialized/better mannered all the way through those who are serious about competing in canine sports! read more

Never knew about this hidden secret until now! The plants are all very healthy and affordable, with a great selection! They have wholesale nursery open to the public on the second Tuesday of every month. Very helpful and friendly in selecting some new tomato varieties for our garden. read more

Really wonderful experience and great variety of healthy plants, helpful staff and gorgeous plants, herbs, vegetables, succulents, gifts, air plants, so much going on in there and all for a good cause. Pricing is phenomenal! Thanks! read more