Date: February, 2025
Location: Bend, OR
Zone: n/a (indoors)
Gardener: Fertile Liza of Somewhere That’s Green in Bend, OR.
Indoor Plant Care with Fertile Liza at Somewhere That’s Green
Indoor plant care is both an art and a science—and when it comes to blending horticultural wisdom with performance flair, no one does it quite like Fertile Liza. In this episode of Over the Fence, I had the pleasure of touring Somewhere That’s Green, a vibrant little plant shop tucked into the heart of Bend, Oregon. Fertile Liza—also known as John Kish when she’s not in drag—welcomed me into her lush world of greenery, sparkles, and no-nonsense advice for helping your indoor plants thrive.
Whether you’re just getting started with indoor gardening or you’ve got a home full of foliage already, this video is packed with tips to help you refine your indoor plant care routine. Fertile Liza takes us through a variety of popular houseplants, offering insight into their individual moisture needs, how to respond to seasonal changes in light, and ways to help your plants transition between indoor and outdoor environments with minimal stress. Her advice is practical, but always delivered with a wink and a dash of theatrical flair.
Why Indoor Plant Care Is More Than Just Watering
The notorious drag queen Fertile Liza walks us through Somewhere That’s Green, where she gives us the lowdown of different types of indoor plants and their moisture requirements, as well as seasonality of houseplants—whether that means positioning them to the shifting sunny spots within your home or moving them outside—and also the importance of “easing plants into” their new seasonal locations.
She also tells us her own story as her non-drag self John Kish, growing up in a very queer unfriendly place in Oregon, moving to different parts of the country to pursue drag and horticulture, and ultimately ending up in Bend, where she has become a figurehead of business, education, and theater with her Greenhouse Cabaret, which is adjacent to the plant shop. Her diligent work in greenifying Bend is paying off, and you can see her botanical handiwork at local spots like Spork, Anjou Spa, and The Flamingo Room.
In this video, we also talk about the emotional side of indoor plant care—how tending to greenery inside your home can be an act of healing, identity, and connection. For Fertile Liza, indoor gardening is more than just décor; it’s a living expression of resilience, creativity, and community. That passion is woven into every corner of Somewhere That’s Green, from the rare trailing vines tucked into sunny windows to the beautifully staged plant vignettes scattered throughout the shop.
We even touch on plant styling for small spaces, the importance of matching the right plant to the right person, and how your home environment can influence plant success. Whether you struggle with overwatering, low-light conditions, or just want to learn how to love your plants a little better, this episode offers something valuable for every plant lover out there.
She is an absolute plant diva of sophistication and knowledge, and I am so honored to have gotten the chance to be in her presence and talk plants with her.
If you’ve ever wondered how to improve your indoor plant care routine—or just want to be inspired by someone who lives and breathes both botany and bold self-expression—this episode is not to be missed. Watch the full video and let Fertile Liza show you how a bit of plant love (and glitter) can go a long way. You’ll walk away with actionable plant tips, inspiration, and maybe even a newfound appreciation for your own leafy friends.