Meet the Team
Our Passion is Plants
Put A Plant On It is a botanically themed gift shop in the heart of the Elmwood Village of Buffalo NY. In addition to houseplants both rare and common, Put A Plant On It also provides houseplant consulting, houseplant sitting, and a self-serve potting station. All products in the store are made locally by Western New York artisans. Being conscientious of where our product comes from and supporting our local economy is at the forefront of our mission. Even our soil is made just over the border in Pennsylvania.
Johanna C. Dominguez
Johanna C. Dominguez is owner and head plant queen at Put a Plant On It. Her enthusiasm for plants grew from coming a long line of farmers that have farmed everything from pineapple, rice, bananas, chocolate, and cows. With her mother she traveled the world, living abroad until coming to the United States at 15. Growing up in 6 different countries gave Johanna a deep love of ecology, having lived in a variety of different environments. That nomadic lifestyle didn't lend well to keeping plants, but as soon as Johanna became firmly rooted in her home here in Buffalo, she quickly started accumulating plants.
Johanna's favorite plants include aroids (alocasia, philodendron, anthurium) and she enjoys learning from their growth. She grows and propagates most of her own plants in several small greenhouses and hopes to bring some of these hard to find plants to the people of Buffalo. Her other favorite plants are hoya and her love of hoya runs deep. She has over 130 different varieties of hoya which she also propagates for the shop. Johanna's knowledge runs as deep as a taproot and she thrives on sharing it with everyone who steps through the door with a smile and enthusiasm that can't be matched.
Micheala Malesky
Michaela has been with the team almost since the beginning and is second in command at the shop after Johanna. She has her horticulture degree from Niagara County Community College. She’s a curly haired bundle of energy who never stops moving, loves nature, animals, and of course everything having to do with plants. Michaela spends her down time caring for her 4 cats and her jungle that she likes to call home.
Papaya RIP
Papaya is a pearl cockatiel that came to us after someone found her roaming outside in Rochester. When they couldn’t find her owner her rescuers asked if anyone wanted a bird. Of course we said YES and we gave her a home! Papaya is MVP at the shop and makes everyone feel special. She enjoys head pets and will fly at you if you ignore her.
Chimichurri
Chimichurri is a hahns macaw which is the smallest of the macaws. He came to us from Jenn’s Exotic Pets in the Eastern Hills Mall and amuses everyone with his clownish antics. He has an affinity for stealing money – either from the donation bin or people’s wallets. He also loves zippers, hats, and dogs!
Mango
Mango is the original shop pet at the shop and is a canary. He mostly keeps to himself and loves himself in his mirror. Mango has since been retired and is living in an aviary with lot of finch friends!
Blueberry
Blueberry is violet Indian Ringneck Parakeet that we rescued from a horrible situation. When we got her she wasn't handled much and smelled terrible. She has adjusted to shop life wonderfully and is getting used to being pet and held. Her favorite past-times are shredding things, taking keys of laptops, straws, and deconstructing pencils.
Falcor
Falcor is our blizzard leopard gecko that resides in the tank in our counter. He is mostly nocturnal but can always be seen in one of his hides. The fun thing about Falcor is that he is a better prognosticator of spring than Punxsutawney Phil. You’ll know it is spring when Falcor is in his cool hide and officially winter when it he is in his warm hide!