Check Out Matty Cline’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matty Cline

Hi Matty, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
mj.cultivates is a homegrown Kansas City small business that began in March 2023, born out of a passion that took root during one of the most challenging times of my life. As an ICU nurse during the pandemic, I faced dark, traumatic days, and found solace in plants and creativity. Cultivating happiness through house plants became a form of therapy, and a way to find peace amidst the chaos and isolation. Encouragement from friends and family initiated the pursuit to share this cultivated happiness with others through mj.cultivates.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The path to starting a small business has been filled with challenges and obstacles. Navigating the business world is a multifaceted complex journey. The practices, products, designs, and services that mj.cultivates provides are within a broad and unique spectrum which has created limitations within consumer reach, product availability, e-commerce platforms, financial opportunity, local networking, marketing agendas, and advertising capabilities. Being without a storefront limits sales opportunity, and e-commerce platforms are structured in a way that creates conflict when the products and services are living, one of a kind, handmade designs. Local vendor events have been more lucrative than e-commerce sales and have allowed for a small but beneficial increase in local consumer reach. I continue to navigate through the obstacles and challenges of starting a small business each day. I am quickly learning and adapting to the business world and excited to continue to grow with my business vision.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a creative horticulturalist, mj.cultivates innovates through botanically ambitious and resourcefully imaginative designs—forever growing.

Dedicated to curating a variety of healthy and transition-ready ornamental house plants. We enhance spaces through innovative plant design and decor while building confidence in plant parenthood. Offering custom soil blends, providing essential plant care accessories, and fostering community through engaging events.

All design and decor pieces are created with a commitment to plants—crafted for plants, with plants, or entirely out of plants and organic materials. We apply cohesion between visual aesthetics and functionality, ensuring that both plants and their plant parents thrive.

Our design and decor is dynamic—constantly evolving in imagination, shape, size, and function. Designs include: Handmade Living Displays, Terrariums (Closed, Succulent, Make Shift, and Microterrariums), Pygmy Potted Plants, Herbariums, Trinkets, Charms, and Jewlery. We also offer Handmade Plant Care Tools and Accessories such as: Decorative Water Meters, Pots & Planters, Plant Hangers, and Plant Propagation Vessels, all made with a variety of materials and available for custom orders.

We provide hand-mixed custom soil blends enriched with hand-harvested and nutrient-dense worm castings. Currently, we are developing a range of foliage sprays and pest control remedies to further support creating a full spectrum commitment to plant health, essential plant care needs, and sustainability.

Our plant rehabilitation and support services are offered in-person, via Zoom, or phone. We assist with common plant problems, pest infestations, terrarium troubleshooting and reconstruction, along with creating custom decorative planters and terrariums tailored to specific in-home locations and other unique requests.

We offer a variety of engaging courses, including Pot Your Own Plant and Terrarium Construction Workshops, perfect for team-building within businesses and fostering collaboration and creativity. Our workshops are also kid-friendly, making them ideal for family events and celebrations. In addition to these courses, we provide Planty Party Favors as a fun addition to your gatherings. Custom courses are available for special occasions, allowing groups to explore their love for plants and design together. Join a vibrant community cultivating happiness through house plants.

What I’m most proud of is my full-spectrum commitment to plants, enriching the lives of both seasoned and new plant parents through thoughtfully crafted products, services, and designs that prioritize the health and happiness of both plants and their caretakers.

What sets mj.cultivates apart is the creative utilization of plants in all products and designs. Integrating organic materials and living elements into each piece, ensuring that they are not only visually appealing but also thoughtfully designed for plant health and longevity. This holistic approach reflects mj.cultivates’ as a unique resource through our dedication to creating meaningful connections between people and plants.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I believe Kansas City houses some of the most creative and inspiring individuals around. Hospitality & community is a growing atmosphere I can only imagine will continue to help support individuals locally and create powerful resource opportunities.

I believe there is a lack of small business collaboration, and in certain areas an unnecessary competitiveness.

Pricing:

• Ornamental House Plants various $5-$50
• Handmade Terrariums $10-$100+
• Wall & Tabletop Decor $20-$100+
• Support & Event Services $20-$500+

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mjcultivates.biz
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mj.cultivates?
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091788870769
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/S48oqx40u8
• Other: https://www.eventeny.com/company/mjcultivates/