Profitable Houseplants to Grow: Growing houseplants is not just a rewarding hobby but can also be a lucrative venture when approached strategically. By understanding the demand for specific species, aligning with care requirements, and considering growth potential, you can nurture coveted plants that can be sold or traded to offset costs or even provide a steady side income. Whether it’s trendy plants like Monstera Deliciosa or rare succulents, focusing on factors like proper care, propagation techniques, and building a reputation in plant communities can turn your passion for indoor gardening into a profitable endeavor.
Key Takeaways
- Rare variegated and uniquely shaped varieties of popular plants like Monstera and Philodendron can sell for high prices.
- Slow growing plants that propagate slowly remain in short supply, increasing their profit potential.
- Choosing plants suited for indoor growing is crucial for successful propagation and sales.
- Photograph plants attractively and write detailed descriptions to effectively market online.
- Joining plant trade groups provides community connections that aid sales.
- Specializing in one plant genus or type helps establish your expertise.
Introduction
Profitable houseplants refer to species and varieties that can be sold for more than the cost of the original plant and materials to grow them. Instead of just personal enjoyment, profitable plants provide financial incentives by fetching higher prices from buyers.
There are several key motivations for cultivating profitable indoor plants:
1. Offset Plant Costs
Many rare, in-demand houseplants like variegated Monstera and mature Monstera adansonii have high price tags for starter plants that are challenging for the average plant hobbyist to afford. However, by purchasing one starter plant and learning to successfully propagate extras through cuttings and divisions, you can offset and recover your initial investment while expanding your personal collection with more of these coveted plants. Essentially, propagation enables affordable access to elite plants.
2. Generate Side Income
For those with the time, passion, and skill to propagate popular houseplants consistently, selling the extras can become a lucrative side business. Devoting leisure time to a fulfilling plant-related hobby that also generates supplemental income is hugely rewarding. Even part-time sales of $500-1000 per month provide tax-free cash that can fund your own indoor jungle. Turn your plant obsession into profit.
3. Launch a Plant Business
Some talented indoor gardeners translate their plant care knowledge and propagation skills into full-time entrepreneurial businesses selling specialized houseplants online and at local markets. Choosing trendy, in-demand plants allows pricing at a markup. Building a devoted following provides steady sales volume to replace a 9-5 income. Turn your plant expertise into a money-making endeavor you enjoy.
4. Trade Plants with Fellow Collectors
Participating in plant trading groups enables swapping cuttings and divisions of cool houseplants with fellow collectors around the world. Trading allows access to far more rare varieties to experiment with. Friendships form with mutual plant addicts. And expanding your own personal plant collection through trades costs nothing more than postage and supplies. It’s a thrill finding new “wishlist” plants via trade.
While any healthy plant can be sold for some profit, certain intriguing species elicit high buyer demand that enables substantially higher pricing. Factors like unusual leaf patterns, small supply, and slow growth that limit availability drive profits.
This article will overview popular profitable houseplants worth growing to sell or trade along with tips for maximizing your plant proceeds. Let’s dig into the most lucrative indoor plant picks!
Factors That Make Houseplants Profitable
When choosing which types of plants to grow for profit, here are some key factors to consider:
Cost of the Mother Plant
Rare, in-demand plants often must be purchased at a higher starting cost. Make sure your projected selling price exceeds the original plant investment. Low-cost mother plants mean greater profit margins.
Growth Rate
Slow-growing plants that take years to reach maturity or full size remain scarce, increasing their market price. Faster-growing species require frequent propagation to maintain supply for income.
Propagation Difficulty
Plants that root easily from cuttings or divisions are ideal since new plants generate quickly. Avoid tricky specimens that rarely propagate successfully.
Care Requirements
Choose plants you can grow well consistently. Avoid fussy plants or those requiring intensive labor unless costs justify the effort. Start with easily cared for plants.
Buyer Demand
Trendy plants with intriguing aesthetics like variegation or neon leaves create bidding wars among buyers. Market demand signals which species will turn the largest profit.
By weighing all these variables, indoor gardeners can identify and select the most lucrative plants for profit.
15 Most Profitable Houseplants to Grow
Here are 15 top picks for houseplants that can bring in considerable profits:
Monstera obliqua ‘Peru’
The ultra-rare Monstera obliqua ‘Peru’ displays slender, tapering leaves with delicate holes that differ from the wide, heart-shaped leaves of its popular cousin, the Monstera deliciosa. Peru’s finicky growing habits mean mature plants are scarce, fetching astronomical prices between $1,000-$5,000. Even starter cuttings go for $300+ regularly. Its mystique among collectors is unmatched. Skilled growers who can nurture Peru’s challenging needs will profit handsomely from propagation.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Starter cutting | $300 – $500 |
Young plant | $500 – $1,000 |
Mature plant | $1,000 – $5,000 |
Variegated Alocasia ‘Dragon Scale’
The beautifully bizarre variegated alocasia ‘Dragon Scale’ flaunts iridescent green leaves with electric white veins reminiscent of a dragon’s hide. Its mesmerizing foliage drives high demand, especially for mature plants with leggy stems and larger leaves that garner $500. Even small starter plants fetch $100-200. propagate dragon scale alocasia in moist, rich soil with steady warmth and bright indirect light to profit from its otherworldly allure.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Starter plant | $100 – $200 |
Medium plant | $200 – $400 |
Mature plant | $400 – $500 |
Monstera adansonii variegated
Nicknamed “Swiss cheese vine,” the variegated Monstera adansonii offers all the jungle appeal of monstera in a trailing package. Its leaves showcase pops of white and cream in addition to the iconic monstera holes that resemble Swiss cheese. These rare variegated vines propagate readily from cuttings to multiply your profits. Young 4-6 inch starter plants sell for $100-200 each. Mature vines with multiple leaves can fetch $500 or more.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Cutting | $50 – $100 |
Young plant | $100 – $200 |
Mature vine | $300 – $500 |
Anthurium clarinervium
The anthurium clarinervium impresses with lush, heart-shaped leaves in deep green with dramatic white veining against a velvety texture. Slow but steady growers, mature clarinervium with established root systems sell for $200. Smaller 4 inch plants fetch $50-100. Bright, indirect light and high humidity coax the clarinervium to thrive. List frequently on sites like Etsy while supplies last!
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
4” starter plant | $50 – $100 |
Established plant | $100 – $200 |
Bonsai Trees
Bonsai appeal to meditative gardeners by mimicking aged, weathered trees in miniature form. Trained specimens with exposed roots and contorted branching command huge prices in the thousands from bonsai collectors. But beginners can also profit from $50 starter plants. Focus on shaping durable outdoor trees like juniper and maple. Be sure the species you propagate into bonsai aligns with buyer demand.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Starter bonsai | $50 – $200 |
Mature bonsai | $200 – $10,000+ |
Orchids
Lavish blooms on specimen orchids like cattleya, phalaenopsis, and jewel orchids seduce buyers into paying premiums, especially for rare moth orchids exceeding $1,000. But common beginner orchids offer profitable potential too when grown to maturity. Start with $50 standard hybrids like phalaenopsis and provide bright light, weekly watering, and winter cold exposure to foster bountiful blooming that fills orders.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Starter plant | $50 – $100 |
Established blooming | $100 – $300 |
Rare moth orchid | $300 – $1,000+ |
Philodendron tortum
The philodendron tortum’s lengthening green and white leaves unfurl like scrolls for an elegant effect. A climber by nature, mature tortum vines can hit $100. Starter plants, while still limited, go for $50 making profit potential high. Growing tortum requires bright indirect light and a trellis or pole for support as its vines reach 4-6 feet long. Propagate in late spring by stem cuttings.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
4” starter | $50 – $100 |
Vine cutting | $75 – $150 |
Mature vine | $100 – $200 |
Philodendron ‘Thai Sunrise’
Showcasing variegated leaves striped in bright yellow, the philodendron ‘Thai Sunrise’ beams cheer under all conditions. Its vigor enables steady propagation to multiply your plant inventory for sales. Small Thai Sunrise starters fetch $50-75 while mature plants with multiple leaves can sell for over $100. Take stem cuttings in summer when growth is fast to expand your profits.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
2” starter | $50 – $75 |
Established plant | $75 – $125 |
Mature plant | $100 – $150 |
Swiss Cheese Plant
In demand for its quirky leaves full of oval perforations, the Monstera adansonii or swiss cheese plant grows quickly as a houseplant when supported by a trellis or moss pole. Sold as starter plants and cuttings, swiss cheese plant varieties like this easy grower offer profitable potential in the $20-50 range for small plants. Provide bright indirect sunlight and propagate by stem cuttings.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Starter plant | $20 – $30 |
Established plant | $30 – $50 |
Hoya carnosa
With gorgeous waxy blooms, the hoya carnosa entices buyers but remains reasonably priced between $20-50 depending on size. Starter plants offer the most profit potential. Providing bright light, occasional watering, and high humidity convinces the hoya carnosa to flower readily, elevating perceived value. Trellises also encourage optimal blooming to fill orders.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Starter plant | $20 – $40 |
Established bloomer | $40 – $50 |
Variegated Monstera
The creamy splashed variegation on the iconic split leaves of variegated monstera deliciosa drives steep price tags, especially on mature plants. But even starter cuttings usually go for $100+ due to limited supply andcollectors trying to expand rare plant collections will shell out $500-1000 for multi-leaf specimens. Grow in a moss pole support and bright indirect light to encourage large foliage and profits.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Single leaf cutting | $100 – $300 |
Young plant | $300 – $500 |
Mature plant | $500 – $1000 |
Snake Plant
A new plant parent favorite, the snake plant or sansevieria offers profitable potential from its easy care and propagation. Known for tolerating neglect, snake plants root readily in water from leaf cuttings. Small 6 inch plants sell for $10-20 each. Large, multi-stalk specimens impress buyers at $30-50. Grow in any light with monthly watering and collect propagation leaflets all year for sales.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
6” starter plant | $10 – $20 |
Large established plant | $30 – $50 |
Philodendrons
Heart-leaf philodendron and vine varieties like Brasil and micans dress up indoor spaces with prolific trailing foliage and climb readily with support. Starter 4 inch plants run $20-40 on average. Mature plants with full vines and multiple leaves fetch $50-75. Philodendrons root easily from stem cuttings in soil or water, multiplying inventory for sale to eager plant collectors.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
4” starter plant | $20 – $40 |
Established climber | $40 – $75 |
Monstera Dubia
A rare, shingling monstera, the monstera dubia shows intriguing narrow leaves and a trailing growth habit. Its uniqueness fuels scarcity that earns high prices despite moderate growth rate. Small starter plants sell for $50 but mature specimens with longer trailing vines can hit $100-300 depending on size. Provide support or allow dangling as a hanging plant.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Starter plant | $50 – $100 |
Established vine | $100 – $300 |
Philodendron Pink Princess
Pretty in pink describes the philodendron ‘Pink Princess’ houseplant flaunting beautifully variegated green and pinkish leaves. Slow growing and hard to find, the Pink Princess commands premium pricing for its color pop, especially on larger plants. Leaf cuttings go for $100+ while more mature plants with multiple leaves fetch $500. Grow pink princesses in bright indirect light and high humidity to maximize profits.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Single leaf | $100 – $200 |
Young plant | $200 – $400 |
Mature plant | $400 – $500 |
Fiddle-leaf Fig
Always in style, the iconic fiddle-leaf fig tree offers profitable propagation potential from its large, oval lobed leaves. Small starter plants run just $50 but sculptural specimens standing 4-5 feet tall sell for $200 apiece from designers looking for dramatic statements. Provide bright light and even moisture to nurture quality fig trees that photograph well for listings.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Starter plant | $50 – $100 |
Established tree | $100 – $200 |
Stromanthe Triostar
The stromanthe triostar dazzles indoors with vivid green, pink and white striped leaves for a confetti-like effect. Young triostars sell for $50+ while mature specimens with multiple stalks hit $100 as excellent accent plants. Caring for this lush tropical foliage beauty in bright indirect light and high humidity results in a long-lasting living decoration that breed envy.
Size | Price Range |
---|---|
Starter plant | $50 – $75 |
Established plant | $75 – $100 |
Marketing Profitable Plants
Once you have propagated popular plants, savvy marketing and sales tactics can maximize your profits:
1. Sell Online
Listing houseplants for sale on online marketplaces expands your reach exponentially. Platforms like Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist enable selling to buyers across regions or countries. Photograph plants attractively in natural light against simple backdrops. Write detailed descriptions covering care, watering needs, light requirements, size, pot and plant details. Respond to inquiries promptly and package shipments with care. Join related Facebook groups to advertise new listings. Pricing competitively helps listings sell faster.
2. Create a Website
Launching a dedicated website to showcase your houseplants allows you to fully display your entire inventory in one place. Pick a domain name related to your nursery or plants. Use quality photos and descriptions for each specimen or variety you offer. Share your story and passion for plants in an engaging bio. Draw in visitors through social media promotions, SEO optimization, and Google ads. Offer online purchasing with shipping rates calculated at checkout. Refresh content monthly to keep attracting new visitors who may become customers.
3. Sell at Markets and Pop-ups
Local venues like farmers markets, art fairs, and flea markets enable selling plants in-person so buyers can see products firsthand before purchase. Interacting with customers builds relationships and loyalty. Bring eye-catching displays and signage to attract attention. Offer advice on plant care. Being able to export inventory from a website or Etsy shop to sync with live offerings saves time. Provide local delivery options. Accepting credit cards and Venmo makes checkout easy.
4. Offer Plant Sitting
Market customized plant sitting and caretaking services to local clients going on vacation. Services like scheduled watering, soil fertilizing, pest treatments, pruning and grooming provide plant owners peace of mind. Offer packages with different service levels. Providing digital photo updates during service shows progress. Extras like period repotting into decorative containers adds perceived luxury. Share your houseplant care credentials and expertise to attract clients confident in your skills.
5. Join Online Plant Groups
Participating actively in plant swap, trade, and enthusiast groups on Facebook and Reddit provides community connections and word-of-mouth referrals. Share your new inventory in group photo albums. Engage with wanted ads from buyers seeking specific plants. Successful transactions and positive interactions build your reputation. Run occasional giveaways or sales exclusively for group members. Groups provide a pipeline for finding buyers drawn to communities aligned with their plant passions.
6. Specialize in One Plant Niche
Focusing your product range and expertise on certain plant types or varieties helps attract serious collectors. For instance, specializing in rare philodendron plants enables stocking wide selections within that genus. Or build your brand around orchids or carnivorous plants. Join related groups. Share niche care tips. Becoming known as the expert source for a specific genus or family builds trust and sales. Targeted specialization also simplifies and focuses marketing efforts.
Dedicated branding, savvy social media use, and diverse sales avenues ensure profits from your propagated plants.
FAQs
What are the most profitable houseplants?
Some of the most profitable houseplants include rare Monsteras, variegated Philodendrons, Pink Princess Philodendron, Anthuriums, and rare orchids. Their desirability lets sellers markup prices.
Where is the best place to sell rare houseplants?
Online platforms like Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, and specialty plant sales groups allow access to the widest range of buyers for rare finds. Houseplant enthusiasts pay premiums to add uncommon plants to their collections.
How much profit can you make?
Profit margins vary hugely based on the particular plant variety, its size and growth, and market demand. But marking up plants 2-5x the original purchase cost is common. Exceptionally rare plants can sell for 10-20x their acquisition price.
What maintenance is required?
Chosen plants must be nurtured continually through proper water, light, humidity, and repotting care. Pay close attention to each plant’s needs for healthy growth. Pests and diseases must also be prevented and addressed as soon as noticed.
How often should plants be propagated?
As often as possible to maintain inventory! But 1-2 times per month is a realistic goal. Time propagations based on the plant’s seasonal growth patterns for best success.
Conclusion
While any healthy, homegrown plant can turn a small profit, certain intriguing varieties offer much higher earning potential for indoor gardeners who propagate and market them well. Rare, slow-growing specimens like variegated monsteras and pink princess philodendrons can sell for hundreds, allowing you to offset costs or turn your plant passion into a business.
Maximizing profits involves selecting trendy, in-demand plants suited to indoor cultivation, then employing creative marketing and sales strategies. With the right plants and business acumen, indoor gardening can finance itself and then some!