There are people growing rare plants at home and reluctant their ‘children’ for hundreds of euros

In salons with filtered light and shelves that previously kept books a business as green as surprising: that of collection plants. It is not exotic plants without more, we talk about leaves with unique patterns and impossible hybrids; a niche where Some plants are worth more than vision proand where fans with a good eye -and best hand – They are turning their hobby into a business. If you want a rare plant, do not go to the nursery because you will not find it, you better go to Wallapop.

However, although the market is full of enthusiasts willing to pay surprising figures for some species, there is still the big question: Can you live from selling plants? We have talked to two of them to tell us more details about this hobby turned into business.

Fever to have more plants at home

During the pandemic, many launched Bake bread either sport at home. Others, on the other hand, found their passion between pots and cuttings. Interest in exotic plants or the Urban gardens I already came from before, and it makes all the meaning, especially in the cities. Filling the plant house goes beyond decoration, responds to the need to connect with nature. If we add it to the context of confinement, the trend exploded.

At the same time there was a boom of ‘plantfluencers’ on Instagram and the snowball has not stopped growing since then. It was precisely Through the book of @Plantitiscrónicaa well -known influencer, with whom I lived (on Instagram @Viviyverde), began in this of plants. Although with a much smaller account, today it has made the leap and cultivate rare specimens (especially Alocasia) that sells through Wallapop.

In Sergio’s case (on Instagram @Sergiodendron), his reference was Sidney Plant Guy. Setting in his videos, he learned until his Philodendron and Epipremnum They would give him almost monstrous sizes sheets.

To collect to cultivate

Collecting plants in floors has a problem: space. Precisely this is what led Sergio to sell some of his plants. In nature, many of these tropical species climb the trees in search of the precious light. The moss tutor seeks to replicate these conditions. “They are plants that become giant immediately, my house was filled,” he tells us between laughs. When a plant becomes very high, it has to Cut it and extend the tutor. And what did he do with the part of the plant he cut? He didn’t fit him at home, so he started selling them.

Once he reached the maximum of tutors he could have, he started with the Anthuriumone of the most fashionable species in this plant collecting. He acknowledges that it is relatively new in the cultivation of this species, but has captivated him: “It is a very diverse genre. The special thing they have is that they are easy to hybridize between different species.” Sergio usually buy his plants in other countries in Europe and creates his own hybrids on his floor in Madrid, many of them sell them In Wallapop.

When asking how many plants he has at home he answers with another question: “What do you consider? In total estimated that you have more than 300 plants, 70 larger and the rest are small outbreaks.

For Vivi, going from collecting to sell was somewhat more intentional. After a time collecting and creating content on plants, he saw that there was a market and launched a growth store. He currently has two stores in one of the rooms in his house where he cultivates especially Alocasia. It has more than 200 plants on its floor.

I lived too Sell ​​in Wallapopbut on his Instagram we see that his store is more professional. It has its logo, the packaging is very much curled and it even has merchandising. One of the things you like best is to pack them. It is a very important part if you want to sell plants: you have to get perfect to your destination. “Shipments must be made Monday or Tuesday. If they are sent later, the plant can spend the weekend in a warehouse and arrive in poor condition.”

Another aspect to consider is legality. Selling plants within the European Union is legal And it does not require any permission, but if imported from other countries you have to have a phytosanitary certificate. “It’s a mess,” says Sergio. Since last year Wallapop informs the Treasury, So you have to declare income, in addition to being discharged in freelancers.

The most sought -after plants

What are the most expensive plants? Tropical plants are the ones that most attract these collectors, species such as Philodendron, Anthurium, Alocasia and Monstera They are the most common. But anyone is worth it, It must be a rare species and, if it has a unique, better variegation. In Botany, the variegation is the “state of the plant that shows tissues of different colors or of diverse constitution.” For example, one Albo Variegata Monster It is like the Monstera Normal (the classic ‘Costilla de Adam’), but with white spots. The whiter and pretty the pattern is, the more it will be paid for it.

But not all plants of the same type are worth the same. A Monstera Thai Constellation that can cost us from 60 euros (or more, depending on the size), than a Monstera Thai Constellation Miracle Tricolor that It can exceed 600 euros. The difference? That the second has the pattern in green, white and yellow, a rarity (or miracle, as its name says) that the price increases a lot.

Fever by Alocasia and Anthurium It is also booming. Exist 113 species of Alocasia And more than 1,000 of Anthuriumbut also New hybrids do not stop appearingsome created by these fans in their own houses. The weird the result is, if it has variegation of various colors or mutations … better than better. In Wallapop you can find some hybrid, although not of the most expensive. If we go to websites like Aroid Market (An Indonesian store) the thing changes. There are hybrids like this Anthurium variegado for more than $ 3,000.

Sergio has made his steps in this hybridization and has successfully crossing several species of Anthuriumalthough it recognizes that the result is unpredictable and very different plants can leave the same cross. They can also cross Alocasiabut there is less compatibility between species and it is more difficult to achieve it. In addition, “I kill everyone,” he adds with a laugh.

Speaking of Alocasiaone of those who is fashionable is the Alocasia Black Velvet Pink. It was the guilty plant that I would like to start growing at home, and it seems that it was good because Sell ​​the seedlings that cultivate for about 120 euros. Vivi also cultivates Anthuriumbut acknowledges having weakness for Alocasia. Navigating wallapop we find more rare and expensive specimens, all of them variegados, like this Alocasia Stingray Aurea for 750 euros.

If this seems expensive, in places like the United States or some countries in Southeast Asia there are specimens that cost more than a car. Two years ago a Monster Devil Monster In Thailand for $ 40,000. If someone is over $ 49,000, this can be bought Anthurium Papillilaminum Sinam Fire Varegado. As if you forget to water them.

A niche and very changing business

In this plants, rarity is very quoted, but as in everything, What is rare tomorrow can be of the pile. In the United States Walmart sells Monstera variegadas for $ 30 When a few years ago it was unthinkable to see them in stores (and less at that price). In 2019 a Philodendron Pink Princess I could cost hundreds of dollars. A couple of months ago I bought one in Aldi for 6 euros with ceramic pot included.

The sale of collection plants in Spain is behind other European countries. Vivi tells us that in the Netherlands and Germany it is usual to find some in physical stores, something that in Spain today is almost more rare than the plants themselves. These individuals have found on platforms such as Wallapop a way to earn money or, at least, pay hobby, The doubt is how long it will last.

It is a very changing market, but Sergio sees him quite a tour. “Plants are a very abundant resource and will continue to draw strange hybrids or strange mutations.” As in other markets, they will also arise New trends: “In Southeast Asia, the fern ‘horn of alce’ are carried a lot and in Taiwan they are crazy with some variegadas orchids”

Can you live on this?

The more we move away from what mainstreammore its audience is reduced. If we talk about rare plants, there are not many people who know them and even less that they want to buy one. In addition, the more expensive the least interested plant has, but it is also true that the offer is not very large. Sell, they are sold. “The rarest and faces are sold faster, especially the variegadas,” says Vivi. Sergio agrees: “Special plants fly, although you also have to know how to put the price and not be freak out.”

And the million -dollar question. There may be someone willing to pay hundreds of euros for a Alocasiabut another thing is if you really can live on this. Sergio believes no, at least not in Spain, in other countries like the United States he sees it more viable: “You could live in Instagram (such as influencer), but not of the sale of plants. Unless you become a store.” It has no intention of doing business, but He has made his hobby sustainable: “I pay the plants that I buy with the ones I sell.”

Vivi acknowledges that he has just begun and is far from being able to live from this, although he does not rule it out. It also agrees that it would have to become a store and have a more powerful infrastructure than what can be had at home.

It is not a very lucrative business, but it also has a passionate component without which it is difficult to succeed. Having hand with plants is something that is learned. Vivi had no idea of ​​plants when one day her boyfriend gave her a Sanse Already today cultivates Alocasia They are very complicated to maintain. Sergio is clear: “If you get alone for the pasta, you will not succeed. It takes a long time and effort to recreate the conditions.”

Cover image | Vivi Bilale (@Viviyverde)

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