Has the "rare" plant bubble burst? | Share your thoughts | Plants as an investment 

I always enjoyed growing things. I'm a country boy, growing up i used to have my own patch of veggies and fruit which i had to take care of as a form of "childs play". This love for growing things returned later on in life, i started witj growing banana plants from a single leaf to massive things. They made me realise that it's the foilage that brings me joy, so I discovered all these "rare" plants that are around and available to keep. Needless to say aroids gave me all the life so I started getting things i loved just staring at. Mostly jungle plants. They weirdly make me feel at home even though they "shouldnt be in the UK" i guess. They help me feel connected to nature, in a weird spiritual way and such. I never looked at what is trendy and what is rare etc. I only grow plants i feel this connection with.

I truly wish the term “rare” would change to “collector”. Lately been trying to streamline as small plants get big! As we evolve our collection I think it is normal to want to try something new and pass along the old to someone who would appreciate it more. I do think the prices have come way down in the states (fl) but I have also become more active in local groups which is way cheaper than retail and I wish I tried it sooner! I am not a plant investor but the fastest growing plants for me would be Hoya and my alocasia have so many corms…I am up to my ears in alocasia and Hoya props! Most of my calathea type plants look like trash…I wish I knew to check for the root starter bag from commercial growers. Thank you for another great video!

It has definately burst for the trendies. But i just enjoy all the New great plantz that popped up due to this hype. I can see things now i have never seen before and for me my plantz are my chosen family so i will forever enjoy this life with greenies . Costs just all a lot less now . Thank you so much for this Video Momo . Greetz from the Black Forest/ Germany

From my personal experience,social media and the pandemic pushed up the “trend/hype! Since not being active on social for 18 months,I noticed my wanting and buying certain plants has changed drastically! Now I buy plants based on my own budget/needs not so much being influenced by what’s in and popular,taking responsibility for myself BTW not blaming anyone or anything! Cheers 🪴❤️

Q#1 - I have been with tropical plant hobbies for over 30 years. Orchids, spiders, jade, whatever drew my eye to it basically. And I always looked for cuttings or small plants, as they get very large quickly on me. So smaller meant I could keep it longer. Q#2 - My grandparents raised me for the most part of my life and they always had plants around the farm and we had lovely outdoor gardens and a veggie garden. And some of my extended family kept beautiful plants as well. And I helped out as much as I could when I could. I loved learning about different things. My biological mother had me for a short time and she fancied herself a houseplant expert. They quickly became one of my many chores to keep her home presentable. Do the laundry, cook the meals, mow the lawns, clean the house, and never talk back or else. Hence biological not mom. That’s a conversation for a therapist. Q#3 - Plants are personal, and for me to nurture and grow. I share my plants to those who I think would truly appreciate them and try to care for them. I wouldn’t give one to someone just because they want one for the sake of, they want to pack another one into their collection. Or I donate to schools that have a plant care program for the students. I will trade for cuttings of plants I don’t have to try and learn about and grow or trade for planters/cache pots. That way I’m not spending a ton on pots when I need to separate or repot my own plants. Q#4 - I certainly hope the ridiculousness of this craze has passed. I am still flabbergasted by the insane prices and poor quality of plants that are out there. This whole thing has caused a massive problem for poachers and I won’t buy anything from overseas. I wait for someone to be cultivating the plant for resale. Yes, I may wait for 5 yrs, but I’m patient and frugal (it’s in my blood). Q#5 - Calathea/Alocacia. I love and hate them both. But soon discovered growers propagate them in little death bags, and everyone says leave a plant in its nursery pot don’t disturb the roots for at least a year. Every single one I have bought almost died or did dye because of the root bag causing rot at the base of the plant. So, what did I learn? Calathea and Alocacia get pulled from the pots as soon as I get home and wash the roots clean, remove the bag and clean well. Then into LECA. Bob’s your uncle and Fanny’s your aunt. They grow like crazy. Q#6 - Rare plants to me are plants that are recently discovered in the wild and samples are taken for study then if deemed a potential good houseplant, cloned and propagated for distribution. No one but a trained botanist should be removing plants from the wild if rare or endangered. I don’t think I have any rare plants in my over 200 collection. I donated and traded for pots my whole succulent collection when I heard about people ripping the national parks apart stealing them to sell privately at stupid prices. And I won’t buy another one, because I don’t want to support this market. As for my plants I have some plants that are easy to get here but difficult in the UK for example. Q#7 - I do think they should be available to everyone, but with the descriptor experienced or advanced hobbyist recommend and no warranty, because the risk of failure is on the purchase and shouldn’t be on the grower because the purchaser failed to give it proper care, however if the plant is infested say with thrip eggs in the leaves when the purchaser receives it or it arrived dead, then the seller has to accept full responsibility. Q#8 - No Rare should be dropped. Because we as the general public shouldn’t be driving or supporting the sale or these plants. Wait for botanists to do their jobs and if it moves to bee tropical plant approved wait for it to be cloned to be good healthy samples to be sold to us. By not buying these “rare” plants we force the growers to release plants at a steadier and more controlled pace. Q#9 - Growers who are small volume but with a good healthy stock getting paid enough. Yes I pay $25 - $50 dollars for plants from a local grower and I get young well rooted plants two or three leaves. But I know they are healthy stock, raised in a control environment. Their greenhouses are not open to the public so not pests can be introduced. They do have plants that are much more expensive, but I set my own personal max for any plant I purchase. I think I said I am frugal before. Q#10 - I am absolutely okay with tissue culture. Genetic diversity in the wild should be recorded and studied. The tissue culture takes samples of collected plants and allows growers to mass produce plants for the general public. As for the naming of plants, I agree the indigenous people who have named plants should be respected and we should be using their original names.

I was never home. Then the pandemic hit. Now I’m always home 😂 It was unexpected. I’m grateful. Being home means being with my loved ones (including my plants). My collection started during the pandemic and has evolved to include more uncommon plants because I love watching them grow and change. The fact that they’re new to me makes it all the more exciting. I take no issue with people who change out hobbies and I’m thrilled for collectors who are saving money on plants these days. Feeling more alive with my house planty goodness all around me is awesome. So much to learn. So my to try. So much to connect with others about (at least with those who share this passion).

I got into plants pre covid because I lived with someone who had a lot of plants who worked in the plant industry. They were the first person to tell me that the prices will fluctuate based on demand and nothing is really rare. With that mindset, I've only got plants I find interesting and rewarding (like it changes in shape or something over time etc). I never buy plants due to a trend because I dont want my decisions to be based on external factors or I will change my mind down the line when they go out of style. Plants are like pets, you dont just get them cuz someone else has one. You get them cuz u want them and can nurture them.

I have alot of commn plants like pothos and beginner level philodendrens but I've now started going for more native plants (I live in Australia) as many grow well in pots and since I have a ton of good light areas in my home many of these plants LOVE full sun unlike many tropical plants. They're going to be my more unusual plants from now on I think as not many people think of growing bottle brushes & box lilli pilly indoors (which you can eat the berries!)

Question #3 . I struggled with this question . In my mind when I am purchasing, researching etc “ rare plants” I justify it by telling myself I will sell cuttings .. to be honest, I rarely do that!

Yes in my area of east Tn in the US , plants are becoming readily available in greenhouses close by for very reasonable.

I had a rant about rare plant crazes about a year ago, after watching a popular utuber talk about buying a rare plant that she later found out was poached from the wild and was done illegally, yet she showcased this plant. It was then I thought the whole rare plant trend was out of hand, and this same person was spending thousands and later admitted she had gotten into debt because of this. I think with social media, people may feel under pressure to have the latest trend in "rare" plants and that in turn pushes prices up. Thankfully I've noticed some of those plants are at more affordable prices for those of us who like plants for their aesthetic quality over how much they can get by propagating them.

Thank you for this video. For me personally, I only buy plants that best for my own home environment. I don’t do rare plants.

Hi again Memo, from NZ. Thanks for another mention lol Was thinking about the word 'rare' and actually how much I struggle with that idea...to me it feels really elitist and driven by price. Here in NZ we are so cut off and rely on the smallish community of people who import then sell. So when I see planty RU-vidrs from round the world show casing and then price check what I need to pay here, it's pretty high for heaps of plants still. A plant is a plant, I can wait for the bubble to burst here and get some more wish list goodies. That cupra you gave Claire is so cute!

I would LOVE a video on the issue of poaching of houseplants.

It seems like the plant's that were artificially being pushed as "rare" are now coming down to appropriate prices. I think the best way to predict houseplant prices is just to join some TC groups on facebook and you can see what is being mass produced (even by people at home!) There is definitely still hype and large price tags, especially for Anthuriums which seem to be having a massive craze at the moment.

Grew up with plants an gardening. Mom had a huge Thaumatophyllum Selloum (spelling ugh) an 300+ African violets. I think the boom is over but it’s opened up a whole new world of plants for us old dye hards. Enjoyed this video an questions.💚

Great video, thanks for sharing.

I found this video very informative. Just a brief story: I purchased a little cutting over a year ago for $30 US. The seller just had it marked as Philodendron Spec. It was cute and I was into the new plant collector phase of my journey. It NEVER put out more than 2 leaves and I have almost killed it twice. Currently I have it under a humidity dome and it is slowly showing some signs of growth. Thanks to your video I now know it is a Philodendron Lupinum. So, I thank you very much.

The "rare" plant bubble has definitely burst. Prices are rapidly falling due to the un-avoidable economic principle of supply and demand. And to be honest, I predict continued downward price pressure, although price "pops" for a few trendy plants here and there. TC, commercial growers, small businesses, and locals who sell cuttings have flooded the market with supply. And demand has fallen due to return to work and/or the office, inflation and economic concerns reducing discretionary spending, burnout from maintaining plant collections, and greater discernment with additions to one's collection. I don't see much change in these factors.

Hi from the U.S.! I'm so glad I found your channel. Not only are you informative regarding plants...your also entertaining!!😀

Enjoy this content. I’m like you, when I first get them I think yes will make a killing but as they grow I don’t have the heart to cut them. I did make money on my syngonium albo, but will only cut plants if they need it not for the money.

I refer to "Rare" differently depending on who I'm talking to. If talking to those that are outside of the more serious/obsessive collector groups, then I'm referring to plants that are not readily available or not often seen (often due to not being trendy). If I'm talking to a more serious indoor plant hobbyist, then I refer to "Rare" as those that are very expensive (£100-£1000+) for small plants or cuttings. Q7. Yes - The rarer plants of this type are very expensive and so those purchasing them usually have a specific interest and so will have researched it. For those at the cheaper end of the "dramatic" varieties (Calatheas, Ferns I'm looking at you) then I think they give those starting out with their interest some really good experience. Many online plant shops rate plants care difficulty etc on the plant description which is doing what they can. I find it far more concerning that people can buy animals without much regard for the research, suitability, commitment level they are bringing to the table

I really enjoyed this. There were some really great questions. Thank you for sharing 🙏

I got serious about houseplants last year, right after prices started dipping in the United States :)

This is a really well thought out and layed out video As for the environmental impact of plants/humans ect we do need to think about the future and try to be careful about where plants came from. I know there is a fair bit of tc hate but it's a way to get a plant with out damaging the environment And the bubble question. Yes. I got a alocasia last week that I'd seem very expensive pandemic and fot it at my local garden center for £3.50. There is a lot I'd only seen in pics about even in the slightly out of town wilko.

Loved it, thanks for doing this kind of videos for passionnate people, it's great to think and talk about these topics :) Cheers from Paris !

I know this has zero intellectual value to this conversation-but *your hair looks fab in this video!*

I have philodendron lupinum too. It grows painfully slow .

i definitely think the bubble has burst but i’m still gonna get some 😅

Hahahaha I totally agree with the auctions 😅@15:47 I am going to start ordering from these specialty small online shops. Like Leafy Soulmates

These aroids were never rare. Some are rare in the wild, however garden centers are full of plants that are extinct in the wild. The 'rare' aroids are relatively common in cultivation but in short supply relative to market demand.

The resin. ΜΑΣΤΙΧΑ ΧΙΟΥ. This is really a very rare plant. It thrives only on Chios island and some places in the Middle East, under specific conditions of climate and soil. Rare plants occur only in some unique places like some valley or riverbank or some spots high up on some tropical mountain and nowhere else. ΓΕΙΑ ΣΟΥ ΜΕΜΟ.

I think the houseplant market has always had a bubble it increased exponentially in size during the pandemic and I do think it has deflated back to the size it was pre pandemic. I don't think it has burst. There are highs and lows of the houseplant market like with any market there are highs and lows. I think there will always be a bubble for houseplants and it will increase and decrease over and over again.

Rare is such a weird word to use for plants, because people equate rarity with price. But there are plenty of rare plants that are essentially without monetary value, while the plants we consider rare are readily available on the online shopping platforms...they are just expensive. There are tons of variagated monstera out there, but a cheap cutting still costs $125+ in the US. Some of the wierd Ecuagenera plants I've looked up on their site are legitimately rare, but they are selling them for $20 because most people don't really care. As for the bubble, I think it has burst, but I still see certain plants that have retained value, mostly variagated (though some like the albo syngonium are suddenly super cheap). I think there will always be a high end market, but overall prices have dropped amazingly fast over a very short period of time. At the same time, there are more plant shops in Chicago now than I think there have ever been in the past, and though from talking to the owners they do have trouble keeping up with the constantly changing trends (spending a lot for a mother plant that six months later is worth 10% of what it was), they all seem to be selling and surviving. I've always had houseplants, but I didn't really start noticing the "rare" plant market until just post pandemic, like early to mid 2021. And it's a good time to get into it as a buyer because there is so much available and the prices keep dropping.

Judging by the prices and how many previously "rare" plants I could buy locally it's burst big time in Norwich. I bought two baby philodendron hastatum for £3.99 each in Notcutts a few weeks ago. Plus Prince of Orange, hairy philodendron, stingray alocasia and pink Princess were all at the sprowston nursery the same day last week. Ridiculous to claim any of these as rare now! I'm seeing everything everywhere. Alocasia zebrina for £15 etc

The rare plant bubble has not burst for those of us who have been keeping them for years and will always keep them, just push me into my greenhouse when i'm 90, god willing

I think there will always be a market for rare plants but inflation + lockdowns being over definitely affects the marketplace. I think it'll be cyclical and find a new crescendo eventually.

Nice! It’s on my Birthday 🎉

Κατάλαβα φίλε Μέμο ότι ξέρεις ελληνικά, όταν είπες το philodendron melanochrysum, ότι είναι δύο ελληνικές λέξεις το μελανό (black) και χρυσό (golden) with greek accent. I LIKE YOUR VIDEOS. WISH THE BEST.

Kalisperaaaaaa

It the rare plant bubble did or will burst soon, isn’t that a good thing? Wouldn’t that mean that people who want these plants especially the youth and elderly can get them easier and more readily? Better question is what will take its place? Maybe we’ll see a resurgence of gesneriads, orchids, or more landscape plants!

My Lupinum omggg same.

👍💌

Shouldn't the meaning of the word rare be taken into consideration when asking what "rare" means? That makes sense, since as a plant is cultivated and distributed throughout the world it becomes less and less rare and therefore goes down in value and price, becoming a common plant. Rare should mean not easily attainable. Some plants are going to be considered rare and subsequently turn into a common plant. We've seen this happen to a lot of plants in the plant community. A good example of this is the Philodendron Birkin.

I have a hybrid almost white spider plants I do have a video if u like to see hun

Q7 is tough. Seems elitist to restrict access to plants of all things. Everybody learns somehow. Does it suck that plants could die because someone is inexperienced? Sure. Put are we really going to gatekeep a plant because some other human has made up an arbitrary rule of ownership? I say no.

As long as I love the look of the plant I do t care if it’s rare or not. To me it’s a treasure. 💗🪴💗

I prefer to at least have the plants pay for themselves because I like free 😂 and I like plants 🪴 …👁👁my lupinum is pushing out a new leaf for the first time since my care of 1 month…I guess that’s my leaf of the year 😂