We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gloria Jenkins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gloria, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

One day while at home recovering from eight injuries subtained from a fall. For, the first time I found myself resticted. I saw a man from Dallas featured on a local tv channel. He opened a terrarium business, which was a first of its kind in Dallas. The guess learned how to create their personal terrarium, while learning the basic care instructions. I witness some very unique terrariums, the attendees appeared to have a wonderful time. I’ve always had a love for plants artificial at first, than live plants. By the time the segment was over I started my research. I watched many terrarium creation videos which became my prime source for information. I started collecting glass containers of all shapes and sizes, purchased all supplies required.
I was so excited to receive my first shipment of supplies including terrarium tropical and succulents plants. I got started immediatley designing my garden oasis. The more time spent creating the less time I spent drinking which had become a normal routine after the fall. I did’t notice in the beginning the therapeutic value that came with designing plant arrangements.
Since the very first day of creating was the day my drinking was under control and not it controlling myself. I wasn’t aware of the therapeutic value until I noticed my glass of wine lasted longer and longer with each creation.
My first introduction to the public was Mother’s Day 2022 from my front porch. I was surprise with the outcome selling 33 glass terrariums in a matter of minutes.
I hosted my very first Wine, Dine, Terrarium Time event from my backyard September 2022. My eight attendees had a grand time learning how to build a terrarium with tropical plants. A psychotherapist was an attendee, who has recommended my workshops to her clients. The therapy I found in plants is actually what my guess found, even for my new plant mommies.
I now host workshops for all ages public and private. I’m partnering up with local non-organizations to bring my plant therapy workshops to all.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m Gloria Jenkins the owner of Positive Vibes Plant Lounge LLC, located in Hartford, Connecticut. My business specializes in plant therapy workshops for all ages and terrarium sales. I’ve always had a love for plants, starting with artificial ones. I always seem to create a decorative arrangement based on a color theme. I gradually purchased house plants not successful in the beginning but I continue to learn the needs of each plant. I decided to move to Florida. Once I arrived in Florida the beautiful plants and flowers were breathtaking, I immediately grew an attraction to the many different native plants. My collection grew fast, taking over my apartment. My green thumb grew with the knowledge learned. When I decided to leave Florida, I packed up my plants and drove north. Raleigh, North Carolina became our new home.
My roommate happens to be talented in landscape. I would go along with him to work, learning more about gardening outside for the first time. My neighbor would see me in the backyard pruning, planting, and watering. She gave me a beautiful rooted plant, she wasn’t aware of the name but she gave the care instructions.
Driving north in an SUV full of plants back to Connecticut. Some of my plants didn’t survive the different climax, but many did find comfort in our new home. The rooted plant given to me in North Carolina wasn’t looking healthy, so I gave a good friend a piece hoping hers would survive if mine didn’t.
My collection grew with the traditional house plants, displaying them throughout my apartment.
On Valentine’s Day 2022, I fell sustaining eight injuries. For the first time I found myself restricted, not able to do my normal activities. I found comfort in drinking more, slowly self destructing.
One morning while in bed I watched a tv segment interviewing a guy from Dallas, Texas. He had a terrarium business hosting workshops and sales of his creative terrariums. I thought how interesting that was. The attendees seemed to have had a great time. He had the most beautiful sand terrariums. I was immediately intrigued and started researching.
I was so confident about my skills to create terrariums I purchased all supplies, chose a business name and registered my business. My first test was Mother’s Day 2022, glass terrariums. I sold 32 in a matter of minutes from my porch that cold Sunday morning. Word of mouth and social media gave me some exposure.
I hosted my first terraium thearpy workshop from my backyard, transforming it into a garden oasis. Everyone had a wonderful time. A psychotherapist was in attendance who thought it would be a great alternative to her clients. At that time I realized the therapy I felt with each creation is the same gratification all attendees receive a very therapeutic experience.
I quickly realized glass terrariums were too delicate to transport, so I researched a substitute for the glass. I found a wall planter which was too expensive, so I researched how to make it myself.
I was pleased with the outcome of my research. I had my team come together with my vision, of my wall art terrarium, which can be hung or displayed. The wall terrarium became a big success, offering a wide variety of colors and sizes.

I’m so honored to bring my creation to others weather they attend a private or public workshop.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest challenges I faced throughout this last year, was creating a drainage system. The common arrangement has a drainage which prevents over watering. Terrariums do not have a drainage system therefore one will have to be created. A layering process is needed to prevent the roots from rotting, eliminates odor and bacteria.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Second learning which plants do well together. Plants don’t require the same maintenance therefore watering and light requirements are crucial to a healthy plant life.The key is to combine companion houseplants that suit one another. Group plants with similar growing requirements together.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: positivevibesplantlounge
• Facebook: positivevibesplantlounge
• Linkedin: positivevibesplantlounge
• Other: [email protected]