Finding Houseplants Online – Buying, Swapping, Gifting

We all need a little houseplant therapy during a year like this. It’s easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed by everything happening right outside our doors. Turning your home into a sanctuary is a direction many of us are taking.

As the pandemic drags on, I find myself looking to create a tranquil indoor space. The more green I’m surrounded by, the better! Keeping myself busy and caring for a living object like a plant really makes me feel grounded during times of uncertainty.

In this weekly blog series, I will be discussing all my experiences with buying, swapping and gifting. I will share with you how to find houseplants online specifically using social media!

String of Pearls

In part 1, I'll be sharing with you how I came to really love houseplants (obsessively so) plus how you can save money and find plants at reasonable prices. Even how to score a few freebies here and there!

How It Began...

The first houseplant that started it all was a lovely Jade pothos. It’s still thriving right now, just in a fancier pot! After that, I became absolutely fascinated with the glitz and glamour of String of Pearls. Now, I find myself seeking out a lovely Monstera plant I can call my own. The hunt is still on!

Pothos

My fascination with all things leafy led me right to, Facebook, specifically the group section. I noticed so many groups offering plant advice and help. I joined some and really started noticing different Facebook threads mentioning plant cuttings available for purchase.

More specifically, people willing to sell, trade or gift to other plant enthusiasts looking to expand their collections.

Bunny Ears Cactus

As plant parents, it’s so nice finding a community of people who are willing to offer tips. Some of the comments mentioned different groups that had the sole purpose of gifting, trading and buying.

Find Local Groups

Tip 1. When you use the Facebook search feature, look for plant groups that are specific to your area.

I'm from New England, so I came across a few really good ones that share tips on how to find plants in Massachusetts and the surrounding areas.

Boston Fern

New England Facebook Groups

• New England Houseplant Enthusiasts

• Massachusetts/New England Plant Swaps/Meetups

• Southeastern MA Houseplants Buy, Sell & Trade

• Boston Plant Swap

With the pandemic going on, many people offer contactless pickup right now with no interactions necessary for your safety. Some groups mention when and where there are plant sales and good deals going on in local stores and nurseries.

There's always a excellent chance you can get lucky and score some low cost plant cuttings or even freebies. Members are always looking for someone who's willing to give a plant a little love and care. 

Monstera Cutting

Do you have a set budget?

Tip 2. Look for houseplant groups that are price specific. Many of the groups out there mention a certain budget - for example there are even groups that are $5 and under.

It's super helpful if you're looking to get a good deal and not spend a fortune. The more you get into this hobby, believe me, it can be easy to do!

Tradescantia

Budget Friendly Groups

• Plant Purge USA $5 & Under

• Plants/Cuttings for $5 & Under USA

• $5 or Less Plant, Purges & Cuttings USA/Canada

• Plant Purge USA $10 & Under

• $15 or Less Plants Galore

It always feels nice when you have some leftover spending money to finally get that plant you've been looking for. I fall into the trap of becoming overzealous sometimes, and these low cost groups really help keep me in check. 

Share The Love

Tip 3: There are so many groups out there with the intent of sharing and giving to others. It feels great to trade plants with people who love them just as much as we all do!

In a world that can be filled with so much negativity, it's amazing to see people who are so giving and willing to help out!

More Great Groups

• Plant Gifting

• Plants and Accessories Purge USA

• HPH Buy Sell Trade

• Rare Plant & Plant Swap Trade

Even though they aren't plant specific - look for a buy nothing group that is in your town. I found this really helpful. Sometimes people are looking to rehome plants and useful accessories like shelves and planters.

I also found another group dedicated to gardening in my hometown. You can sell, share and trade houseplants and other outdoor garden related items directly from your own yard.

Next In This Series

Each Saturday, I will share with you different plants I've received as well as my personal experiences with acquiring plants through the mail. I cannot wait to share more with you all!

Tune in next week - I will be sharing all about mystery boxes and plant cuttings! Getting mystery boxes as a newbie is so much fun. It has that exciting element of surprise!

A little preview of what's to come next week

I'd love to hear your thoughts on finding houseplants online.

Specifically - Do you have a houseplant that's sitting right at the top of your wishlist? 

As always, thank you for reading and happy gardening. See you next week!

If you enjoyed reading this post, you might also like these:

• Guide to Gifting and Growing Amaryllis

• Winter Gardening Tasks

• Starting a Winter Vegetable Garden