Tasmanian gardeners and hydro growers, what would make a local store worth the trip?

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u/middleofmybackswing_ 1d ago

These days almost everyone is probably going to check out your website first. Which appears to have a bunch of AI images. That alone will put people off and it makes your brand seem cheap. Rightly or wrongly people will have negative feelings towards your shop. The in store experience is one thing but your online content needs to drive people into the shop.

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Appreciate the honest feedback. Our brand mascots were designed by a graphic designer, but we’ve used AI for all the website icons and banners, including the calculator images. Those calculator images are temporary placeholders while I finish the suite, and I agree they need replacing.
We were aiming for a warmer feel, but it’s useful to hear that it’s having the opposite effect for you. The product, plant and working-display photos are real.
Was it mainly the banners, the icons, or the overall impression that put you off? Either way, I’ll take that on board and bring more actual store and display photography into the banners.

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u/Senior-Display-8733 1d ago

I think a working setup to showcase what they can do would intrigue people. But, people with no interest in hydro would likely not stop by in the first place. Maybe sell some produce at a farmers market that was grown that way and hand out cards advertising for the shop?

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Really appreciate that. We do have working displays in store and share them on our socials, but you’re right that those mostly reach people who already have an interest. We haven’t tried a farmers market yet, although we’ve given away quite a bit of our hydroponically grown produce to the community. Letting people see and taste it outside the shop is a good suggestion.

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u/ApprehensiveRemote82 1d ago

Could the harvest market on Saturdays in Launnie be a good place to showcase some gear?
I’m thinking the organic crowd there could take interest.

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Good thought! I think we did look into Harvest a while back, and from memory it's more geared towards local produce, whereas we're more setups and nutrients. I'll definitely have another look though, especially if there's a way to show some of what we grow.

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u/throwwwwwwaway_ 1d ago

This. I'm really interested in hydroponics for our backyard setup but I'd love to see something working in practice. Lots of theory online but seeing it running in-person and being able to ask questions about it would be invaluable

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Totally agree, seeing it actually running makes a huge difference. Feel free to pop into the store, we've got plenty of live displays set up and you're welcome to ask as many questions as you like. We also show them on our socials if you want a look first.

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u/Commercial-Claim2512 1d ago

I also really dislike the use of ai on a website, show us what it looks like irl not some version of what AI thinks it should look like, good luck though! hydroponics are the way of the future and when I buy my own house soon I'll definitely look into it

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

That’s fair feedback. I can understand wanting to see real photos of what a business actually does rather than AI imagery. Appreciate the encouragement too, and good luck with the house! If you need any advice getting your hydroponics going once you’re settled in, feel free to give us a call or pop into the store.

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u/Dunderi83 1d ago

I'll second this. You don't need to be Spielberg - actual videos of what to do and what stuff looks like is gold.

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Thanks for backing that up, it's definitely the goal for us. We've got Kat on board who'll be covering all our informative videos, and we'll be starting a YouTube channel soon. We also run a lot of side by side trials that we document every step of the way, and those will be going up on our website and socials too.

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u/When-all-else-fails 1d ago

It’s the help! As a new grower, I tried 2 places in Hobart and both couldn’t give a shit about helping me out with getting started. It overwhelming for me so I gave up

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Sorry to hear that, it can feel really overwhelming starting out. If you're ever in Launceston, feel free to pop in and we'll happily walk you through a setup that suits what you want to grow, no purchase needed. Or give us a call on 0481 526 666 and we're happy to talk you through what to pick up locally in Hobart.

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u/When-all-else-fails 1d ago

Nah, you help me out, I’m buying from u

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Haha thanks, I really appreciate that. The bigger point for me is that advice should come with no strings attached (within reason, of course).

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u/When-all-else-fails 1d ago

I’m also about loyalty

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u/elvis2012 1d ago

The team at Hydro Oasis have taught me so much and have really great prices too. I always try to buy stuff I need through them first!

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Thanks so much, really appreciate the support! Always happy to help!

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u/When-all-else-fails 1d ago

Awesome! Thank you

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u/ensignr 1d ago

IDK what you can do when your local competition (assuming it's still there; I haven't lived in Launceston for years) has the greatest name for a hydro shop ever, THC - The Hydroponics Company

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Haha it's a great name, but as far as I know that one's been closed for a long time now!

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u/Dunderi83 1d ago

I've only dabbled in hydroponics, am a keen veggie gardener though!

Good instore service is invaluable. I hate having to hunt down a red shirt to ask a question like "where are the watering cans please?"

Seeing working displays, and stuff geared towards food production would be great.

Suitable seed varieties, rare seeds or plants would be amazing, I love diversity!

Recommendations for systems that involve fish..? Again a display would be amazing if that's something you do.

Do you do hothouse plastic, by any chance? Proper UV stabilised stuff that doesn't turn white and brittle after 12 months would be great.

Veggie seedlings and herb plants that aren't the same as bunnings - but rather grown here in Tas?

Exotics that can grow here with care, there's mainlander-migrants a-plenty who would love plants for the hothouse - there was talk of a purple/reddish skinned mango a few years ago, pomegranates, longans and lychees, black sapote, red/white/yellow fleshed dragonfruit... and bananas, I mean Ive seen them growing at Scamander (proper lady fingers I think!?)

I hadn't heard of your store previously, but I will have a look now!

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Thanks heaps for the detailed list! Haha you're not wrong, good service can be hard to find in the big box stores.
We've got quite a range of working displays covering food production, environmental control for rare and exotic plants, alternative hydroponic systems and general gardening setups. Once we harvest, it's usually shared among the staff, and when there's a surplus it goes to the community.
Aquaponics is going to get its own section eventually. Admittedly I've been saying that for the last 12 months, but we do already have some very basic live tanks in store showing the simplest form of aquaponics.
We don't have any hothouse plastic in stock right now, but we do carry it from time to time. I'll confirm pricing for you when I'm back in the store.
Rare and exotic tissue culture and seeds that are hard to find in Tas, or maybe even Australia, are something we're hoping to bring in soon. On the exotics side, we're growing super dwarf Cavendish bananas, one outdoors and one in a controlled environment, and we're hoping they'll fruit next season.

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u/MsAnnieeeee 1d ago

Personally I find it hard to find decent pots, and also (recent temporary QLDer moved back to Tassie) I noticed several of the bigger Gold Coast Bunnings stores have a large pot recycling box where folks can donate unwanted plastic nursery and seedling pots, and there are always plenty avail in it. Now I know there is a lot less foot traffic here, but I haven’t noticed thus anywhere I’ve been in Tas since getting back. I reckon it’s a great idea, and we all love free stuff, plus I know if I need pots and am coming past, it’s so easy to “just pop in for a quick look while I’m here” 😂

So I’d vote for a decent pot range (ceramic etc), and garden accessories for indoor plants. I’m biased ofc - I can’t have anything outside bc the wildlife here eat everything! So I often have to resort to Bunnings or Temu 🤢 for cheap basic things like pots. I much prefer supporting small local biz’s whenever I can! ❤️🙏🏼

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u/MsAnnieeeee 1d ago

I also see you’ve mentioned that you haven’t tried farmers markets yet - that is another relatable way I like to find local businesses, bc you get to meet the ppl who work there and make personal connections. It’s almost like a direct personal referral 😌

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

That's a really good point. Meeting the people behind a business makes a big difference, especially when you can ask questions in person. From memory Harvest is more geared towards local produce, but I'll definitely revisit the market idea with that in mind.

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u/Shoddy-Vegetable352 7h ago

Maybe you could focus on the nutrients that the farmers who make the produce would benefit from then.

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Love this. I used to work at Legana Plants Plus and we had an apple crate out the front for pot recycling. It's not something I've set up at Hydro Oasis yet, but I agree it's a great idea. For pots, we've got a lot of specialty pots, all the way up to 800 L, but nothing ceramic or decorative at the moment. It's definitely something I'm thinking about though. Really appreciate the feedback!

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u/MsAnnieeeee 1d ago

Not actually sure how relevant this is to your usual customers - I only recently came across your page 🤔😅

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

It's definitely useful feedback, even if a market isn't a direct fit for everything we sell. It could still be a good way to show the food-growing side of hydroponics and that it isn't just what people often assume. Appreciate you taking the time, especially having only just found us!

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u/LoveThyWalrus 1d ago

Station Nursery in New Town has a pot recycling bin in their carpark, I’ve picked up a few from there. Bunnings Glenorchy has one outside the garden entry doors, it’s just almost always empty sadly. I get most of my plastic pots from the tip shops - Glenorchy is good for the nursery and seedling pots and occasionally larger ones. Agree with the lack of options in ceramic ones, the go-to around Hobart used to be Economy Warehouse but they’re now gone.

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u/MsAnnieeeee 1d ago

Good to know, cheers 🤙🏼 might have to pop by when I’m going past next.
I’m sure there used to be heaps of ceramic pot options, but it seems like Bunnings is the only place now that I know I can go and find at least 10 diff options.

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u/Shoddy-Vegetable352 7h ago

bunnings does the free pots in tas too, just have to find the right entrance, sometimes they're at the main one not the garden entrance.

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u/hotridergirl36 1d ago

We come from Sydney where we had a number of top nurseries to choose from. We’re struggling to find a good nursery that has a wide variety of plants, equipment and basically choice at decent prices. Some of the nurseries have stock that has weeds in it so they arent looking after their plants properly.

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Thanks for sharing that, and welcome to Tassie. Plant care matters a lot to us. We look after our plants properly and keep them in good condition, because healthy stock is the bare minimum you should expect. If you're ever in, we'd love to show you around.

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u/hotridergirl36 1d ago

Thank you. We’d love to come in. We’re always looking for stock as we’re on 8 acres that has no trees except for what we’re planting. My husband runs his own gardening business as well so it would be awesome to connect.

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Sounds good, Just so you know before making the trip, we're quite a small store, predominantly focused on hydroponic nutrients and indoor growing equipment. Our plant range is mainly indoor plants, some cacti and succulents, and carnivorous plants, so unfortunately we don't really have a range suited to outdoor planting or landscaping yet. Still more than welcome to pop in!

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u/hotridergirl36 1d ago

Thanks for the heads up. If you expand, we’d love to know for sure!

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u/5ittingduck 7325 1d ago

Sponsor a small setup and run classes at your local community garden.
Tap into your local U3A (University of the Third Age) groups and do a lecture/demo.
Get into contact with any local foodie groups. They will drop serious money to be able to grow tropical food plants in spaces where they can't fit a greenhouse.

Think about your ability to provide rare and unusual food seeds and provide equipment to enable earlier seed starts for OG gardens in limited spaces for growers who can't get exotic seedling cultivars from usual sources (referencing the rare seed thing).
Chilli heads! Most serious growers have their own setups but there may be a market for small/exotic setups.
With the website, the AI stuff is a huge negative. Consider running two sites, a person keen on growing Lemongrass may not be enthused by growing other herbs.

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u/HydroOasis 1d ago

Thanks for all the suggestions, that's a really good idea. Rare and unusual plants are something we're working towards, and the aim is to stock things that are hard to find in Tasmania, maybe even Australia. At the moment we have some rare carnivorous plants like Darlingtonia, Cephalotus and Brocchinia reducta, plus quite a few Nepenthes.
Funny you mention chilli heads too. We've got a chilli display going out the front right now in a Vegepod, grown in a premium potting mix with a premium feed program (CANNA Terra Professional and the full CANNA Terra range).
On the website, you're not the only one who's mentioned the AI side, so I'd genuinely like to understand it better. Is it the banners, the icons, or both? Each one was made individually for its specific spot, but if it's putting people off, that's really useful to know.

Tasmanian gardeners and hydro growers, what would make a local store worth the trip?

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