Back Alley House Plants

10/14/2026

This Saturday, the Ames History Museum is hosting Ames: A Glimpse Inside, a self-guided tour of 11 properties scattered throughout Downtown Ames and the nearby Roosevelt & Brookside neighborhoods. Participating businesses include Back Alley House Plants (that’s us!), plus our upstairs neighbors Lott Music Studio, in addition to Cornbred Barbecue, Salon Roosevelt, First Christian Church (Disciples) - Ames, and City of Ames City Hall. Volunteers will be stationed at each stop from 10 am - 3 pm to discuss the history of the building and provide context for how these spaces are integral to Ames, both past and present.

If you’re curious about Ames history, architecture, adaptive reuse, or historic preservation, we hope you’ll stop by! Click on over to the Ames History Museum page for more information and a full listing of locations.

10/10/2026

Our prop swap table is set up in front of the shop until 4 pm!! There is already a TON of stuff populating it. Stop on by and snag something new or offload your extras. You do not have to bring anything to participate!

It is a busy day in Downtown Ames with the penultimate Main Street Farmers' Market, Nathan Fielder Eco-Lit Festival, Ames Pride festival, and Ames Community Arts Council studio tours throughout town. Head on out and enjoy the day!!

10/09/2026

I’ve picked some plants we have in the shop that I wouldn’t mind swapping minds with this Freaky Friday. Do any of them call to you too? Or do none of these tickle your fancy? Come down and see for yourself! If some crazy conscience switching happens just know you were warned…

In the order they are shown:
- Hoya Lacunosa ‘Moonshine’
- Senecio Macroglossus
- Anthurium (Big Michelle is NFS, but we have lots of Michelle hybrids!)
- Alocasia Scalprum
- Spider Plant Curly Bonnie
- Swedish Ivy
- Hoya Pubicalyx Splash
- Kalanchoe Beharensis ‘Fang’
- Anthurium (Pap 8x5) x (Dark Phoenix x RG Dress)
- Money Tree

10/08/2026

Join us tonight for Downtown Ames Witches Walk! Double Leafy Rewards on ANY purchase, plus lots of seasonal pottery and spooky items in stock. Snap a selfie or group photo with Casper, the Euphorbia White Ghost, or check out our book offerings where you’ll find lots of info on botanical cocktails, tinctures, and POISONS! 👻⚗️ If you’d like to adopt a tiny vampire, we have plenty of carnivorous plants in stock, and if bones are your thing, we also have lots of mini-Caspers. See you downtown tonight. 🧙‍♀️

10/06/2026

Fall-Winter Hours

We have a small adjustment to our hours with the change of seasons and the Farmer's Market winding down. Our fall-winter hours are Mon-Tue CLOSED, Wed-Fri 12-6, Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-6. We are also working on website updates to facilitate online shopping for local pickup, and even SHIPPING - stay tuned.

Thursday is Witches Walk!

Thursday night, October 8th, join us for Downtown Ames Witches Walk (https://downtownames.org/upcoming-events/witches-walk-2026/) ! We will be open til 8 p.m. with double Leafy Rewards from 5-8 p.m. during the event. We will also have a Goth Garden photo booth - pose with some of our favorite dark and mysterious plants. This is also the first event for the Downtown Ames Sip & Stroll ordinance (https://downtownames.org/sip-and-stroll-district/) , which allows 21+ individuals to purchase alcoholic beverages to-go from participating bars and restaurants, and enjoy them while you peruse downtown shops. There will be a costume contest at Della Viti, shop hop bingo, prizes, and more! We hope you haunt the store and say hello.

Saturday Prop Swap!

October has really snuck up on us! This summer was a doozy with aqueous drama in the shop basement after the big rains, and then we rolled right into August and Midwest Tropical Show. But, we really wanted to fit in a prop swap before the cold weather arrives, because we know we're not the only ones wondering how we acquired all of these plants over the summer. If that's you, or your aloe sprouted 239587 pups this year, split those bad boys and bring them on down to 501 Main this Saturday, October 10th, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (https://www.facebook.com/share/197zkGA39e/) In addition to culling our personal collections, there are many chaos propagations and random planters in the shop basement that we would love to rehome!

Prop Swap Info!
- Bring pest-free plants, cuttings, propagated pieces, pottery, plastic nursery pots, substrate in the original container, etc. (please, no super flimsy nursery pots)
- Take home something new!
- You do not have to bring things to participate! This is a FREE event for all, and everything is first come, first-served. This is a way for folks to share extra plants or plants that no longer bring them joy, and for others to try growing something new or grow their collection in a cost-effective way.
- We will have FREE repotting, up to 6" pots, please limit 3 pots, while dirt lasts. These can either be plants from the prop swap that you want potted into a new pot, or you can bring plants from home and we'll help you get them repotted before winter. Regular potting soil only - if you need specialty substrate like orchid or cactus soil, we will gladly assist you in finding the right product in the shop.
- Outdoor plants are ok! In the past, folks have brought geranium, iris, daylily, and more. I had a friend message me about some blueberry bushes she no longer wants - I told her to bring them on down and someone will probably adopt them!
- If we still have a lot of stuff left on Sunday, we may set out a table, but as of right now this is a one-day event. (https://www.facebook.com/share/197zkGA39e/) Anything remaining at the end of the swap becomes property of the shop, and we will redistribute the plants through other channels.

Other stuff this weekend!

Ames Pridefest (https://www.amespride.org/pridefest) : Visit and shop with with q***r and affirming organizations, artists, and other vendors. Enjoy live entertainment during the festival, and stop by a number post-Pride events throughout Downtown on Saturday evening.

Ames Artists' Studio Tour: (https://www.amesart.org/ames-artists-studio-tour.html) Visit art studios and workshops throughout the community to view the tools of the trade and experience live demonstrations.

Penultimate Farmers Market: (https://downtownames.org/farmersmarket/) It seems impossible that it's already mid-October and the farmers market is almost done for the year. I swear it was just May!

We are so thankful for everyone in this vibrant community, and we hope to see you out and about this week! The weather looks to be BEAUTIFUL! (No more rain for a while, plz!) Thanks for reading to the end!

Click here for an update from Back Alley House Plants!

10/02/2026

Happy Spook-tober!!!!
MUAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

We got some wonderful plants in this week! And pottery too.

Plants in order:
Philodendron hederaceum Lemon Lime
Alocasia scalprum
Aglaonema Pink Moonstone
Pothos Sun Queen
Calathea roseopicta Dottie
Philodendron Calkins Gold
Bromeliad Silver Vase
Aglaonema Silver Bay
14" Sansevieria zeylanica

Come in and see what we have in stock!

09/29/2026

We’ve really wanted to fit in a prop swap before the snow flies, so join us on Saturday Oct 10th from 10 am - 4 pm out front of the shop! Bring pest-free cuttings, plants, propagations, pottery or other gear you’re looking to offload. Take something new to brighten up your space! This event is FREE and you do not have to bring anything to participate. Not only does this give our community members the chance to rehome plants that no longer bring them joy, it’s also a good opportunity for the shop to share some of the propagations, rehab plants, and merchandise bric-a-brac we don’t have space to grow or don’t have a use for.

Can’t make it on the day of the event but have stuff you want to donate? Feel free to bring any plants or items to the shop during regular business hours until the 10th.

Please label your plants to the best of your knowledge, and we will also have tape and sharpies. If you bring your cutting in a container, make sure it’s one you’re ok giving away.

We will also have FREE repotting for plants - up to 6” pots, limit 3 pots, while dirt lasts. This can be repotting a plant from the prop swap or just one from your collection that needs some TLC. (This will be regular potting soil, not specialty soil for orchids, carnivorous, or cacti, etc.) Back Alley staff will be available to answer questions about anything planty or point you in the right direction towards a plant care product we recommend.

*Rain location will be indoors in the 401 Clark suite, which is the north through the entrance on Clark.

09/26/2026

Many spooky seasonal items out today, plus lots of new pots (spooky and non spooky). We are here Saturday til 6 and Sunday 12-6. Come haunt us!

Don’t forget, Octagon Center For The Arts festival is also tomorrow 10-4, rain or shine!

09/25/2026

This Friday we are showing off some beauties, both new and old. As plants move around in the shop you might be noticing something new every time you stop in — even if it’s been here for a while! Be sure to look hard, there might be something you love hiding in plain sight…

In the order they are shown:
- Philodendron Green Saw (WOW!!!!!)
- Monstera Borsigiana Albo
- Philodendron Birkin
- Philodendron Squamiferum
- Begonia Maculata
- Anthurium Andraeanum
- Aglaonema Beauty
- Peperomia Obtusifolia Variegated
- a towering leaf of a Monstera Borsigiana Albo
- carnivore galore

09/22/2026

Great tips! I would quibble slightly on the fertilizing - if your plants still receive strong light indoors from south- or west-facing windows, or you use supplemental grow lights, for most plants, I'd recommend to continue to fertilizing throughout the winter. You can use half strength or reduce the frequency, but continuing to fertilize throughout the cooler months will set your houseplants up for success in the spring. 🍂

Keep an eye on the forecast and bring houseplants back indoors when nighttime temperatures are consistently around 50°F.

Before bringing them inside, rinse off the foliage while the plants are still outdoors and allow them to dry completely to help reduce pest problems. Once indoors, keep returning plants separate from your other houseplants and watch closely for insects over the next few weeks.

Place plants in an indoor location with bright, indirect light. Keep in mind that even the brightest spot inside provides much less light than outdoor shade or even part-shade conditions. It's normal for some houseplants to drop leaves as they adjust to being indoors, but new growth should eventually replace them.

Adjust your care routine for fall and winter. Stop fertilizing during these months since most houseplants are not actively growing. You will also need to water less often. How frequently a plant needs water depends on factors such as light, humidity, and temperature, all of which change when a plant moves from outdoors to indoors. As a result, its watering needs will change as well.