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"Planterra was one of the first companies to specialize in interior landscapes," says Shane Pliska, Planterra business developer. The West Bloomfield Township firm opened in 1973.Horticultural firm grows into own niche
Firm specializes In transplanting the great outdoors into interior landscapes.
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WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP -- His business cards say Larry Planterra and many people assume he named the company after himself. But Planterra founder Larry Pliska figures he has become so intertwined with the business he founded in 1973 that it's easier for customers to remember him with the firm's moniker.
"We're kind of niche company because we do specialized interiors and provide horticultural services for our clients," Larry said. "Planterra was one of the first companies to specialize in interior landscapes," said his son, Shane, who joined his father's company a couple of years ago. "We're pioneers."
Taking a tour of the company's greenhouses, Larry points out the palms, orchids, bromeliads, ficus trees and other tropical plants that comprise his $150,000 inventory. "Plants are amazing living creatures," he said. "They're adaptable to almost any conditions you can provide for them. More people are aware of the benefits of live plants in an office setting."
A Washington State University study found productivity increased 12 percent when people performed computer tasks in a room with plants compared with a room without greenery. Other studies have found plants cleanse the indoor environment and reduce stress.
Planterra helped install the gardens in the Renaissance Center in 1978 and came full circle when it worked with General Motors on the interior landscaping for the new Wintergarden. In between, the company has designed, installed and maintained interior gardens and plantings for hundreds of offices and other buildings in the Detroit area including the Somerset Collection, McNamara Terminal, Galleria, and Beaumont Hospital, Larry said.
"People are discovering that interior plants cut down on sick leave and contribute to a positive, warm and relaxed atmosphere," Larry said. "Real estate companies realize if they can have a view of greenery year round, that's pretty valuable in Michigan," Shane said.
Gregg Leshman, property manager for Friedman Real Estate Group in Farmington Hills, appreciates Planterra's design and creative skills on display at one of the buildings he manages.
"Interior plants make a statement about a building," Leshman said about Planterra's efforts at Franklin Place in Southfield. "It's definitely part of the mix that goes into attracting tenants. It shows you are not only taking care of the mechanical and tenant nature of the building, you are taking care of the aesthetics."
To extend its reach, Planterra has added a new product to its mix, the Plantaire system, a self-contained unit that uses plants, soil and water to filter the air. The units can be placed in offices, schools, and meeting rooms, Larry said. The company also has worked with firms struggling to incorporate plants into their offices even in lean times.
"What we have done is got creative," Larry said. "We are able to provide them with plants that fit their budget -- bigger plants, but less plants. Some of the plants that we use are living sculptures. Instead of a whole bunch of plants in an office, we can perhaps put in a specimen plant that makes a statement."
By adapting to their customers' needs, Larry expects annual revenues to grow 15 percent this year and reach $4.25 million. The growth can be attributed to Planterra's focus on three key components: customer service, aesthetics and horticulture, Shane said.
Neal Haldane is a Metro Detroit freelance writer
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