growing

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. Collecting plants in floors has a problem: space. This was what led Sergio to sell some of them. Sergio’s hall is a real jungle. 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. On the left: one of Vivi’s cultivation stores. On the right, the orders of the week ready to leave. 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. Wallapop is full of rare tropical plants and some are nothing cheap. 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 … Read more