Indoor gardening center ready to serve growing industry

WASILLA — It’s a good time to be in the indoor gardening business.

For those eager to get their spring starts going or potential entrepreneurs looking to equip commercial operations once marijuana licenses are issued this summer, Nathan Davis said he’s ready.

Davis, a Fairbanks native, moved to the Valley last fall and recently opened Green Thumb Garden Center, a one-stop shop in Wasilla for lighting, soil, filters and plenty more.

“And basically every nutrient on planet Earth,” Davis said Friday. “For indoor gardening, there are a thousand different ways to accomplish the same goal.”

Davis, who with a partner owns another store in Fairbanks, said the success of the Interior business along with a green light to expand from his manufacturer — Sunlight Supply — made the Valley a prime choice.

“We have gotten a great response with our Fairbanks location and here has been the same,” said Davis, who opened the doors in early February. “We pride ourselves on keeping a well-stocked, clean store.”

Davis said Green Thumb offers competitive pricing on everything gardeners need to get up and running with an indoor setup, from potting soil, nutrients, LED lights and tents. The 1,600-square-foot location on Mayflower Lane off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway has a tall bank of south-facing windows that sees plenty of sun.

“I do plan on hanging tomato plants in that window this year,” Davis said. “We couldn’t ask for a better location.”

And when artificial light is needed, Davis said Green Thumb’s selection of bulbs and ballasts is worth a look.

“We carry five different types of ballasts,” Davis said, adding that his inventory of reflectors also was worth a visit to the new store.

“Sunlight Supply makes some of the best reflectors anywhere,” he said. “With the recent (marijuana legalization) climate in some states, grow light manufacturers can’t make their products fast enough.”

Davis said plans for the spring call for the introduction of a new vendor — Alaskan Organics.

“They offer soils — or organic amendments — that use fish-processing waste products as well as oyster shells and sea kelp,” Davis said of the Kenai-based company. “I know there are a lot of organic farmers here that can appreciate that.”

An avid gardener who grows lettuce as well as carrots and peas to please his two boys, Davis said he is looking forward to the Valley’s longer growing season.

“The growing season in Fairbanks is shorter but it’s intense,” Davis said. “It’s over with pretty quickly though. I am looking forward to the summer here.”

Contact reporter Steven Merritt at 352-2269 or steven.merritt@frontiersman.com

Green Thumb Garden Center

5431 Mayflower Lane, No. 1

Phone: 907-888-2290

Web: www.greenthumbak.com

Hours: Monday through Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Sunday: 12-5 p.m.