How to Sell Plants Online – All You Need to Know to Get Started

However, this doesn’t mean that attracting customers is easier or faster. If you were asking how to sell plants online, successfully, on platforms made for that specifically, then you’re in the right place.

How to Sell Plants Online?

1. Find the right online marketplace

This is the first step in the online plant selling process.

Somehow, it tends to be the hardest step for many people.

Some marketplaces are not that well-known. They also don’t have many visitors on a daily basis which lowers your chances of selling.

So it is crucial to choose an active marketplace that has plenty of both buyers and sellers.

Of course, I might be biased, but our platform offers you the chance to be seen by our numerous visitors. This would give you enough opportunity to get recognized in no time.

In case you are selling a plant that is very rare but popular, I also recommend listing it on the websites that are specialized in selling rare species.

This is probably the place your customers will check first in search of the mentioned rare plant.

Always make sure that the online selling service you choose is available in your area. Also, that shipping costs won’t be way too high for either you or your customers.

You might know this from your own experience, but high shipping costs can lower the chances that a buyer will be interested in your plant.

There are also many local online marketplaces and communities, which should be the first place where you will promote your little plant farm.

To say nothing of social media!

An adequate online marketplace will also protect you from potential scammers.

So even though most of these websites will ask for some kind of a small commission or a fee, I always suggest paying it and selling your products through these marketplaces.

Different plant marketplaces or websites like Plantly are always a great choice. And you never have to be afraid you won’t get your money.

2. Find the cheapest shipping option

As I have already mentioned, high shipping costs can make people give up on buying from you. So make sure you always choose a good but cheap shipping service.

Every country and every city offers at least 10 different shipping companies and all of them differ in price and delivery time.

You can also use different shipping services for different customers. Some of them won’t mind spending a bit more money on shipping if that means they will get a plant they have been looking for for so long a little faster.

Still, know to do your research and maybe even offer several shipping options to your customers.

3. Make great pictures of your plants and give a thorough description

The key to becoming a successful online plant seller is presenting your plants in the best way possible.

Make sure all of the pictures on your selling profile give people a great look at your plants.

Make sure they look beautiful and healthy from every single angle.

But do not deceive!

It has been proved to us many times that great pictures will always sell a product. So make sure all of them are taken in good light and simple background, so a buyer can see the exact state of the plant.

Also, always give brief descriptions of plants too since some buyers maybe won’t have as much knowledge as you do.

Tell them what family of plants this specific plant belongs to, what are the most important steps to taking care of this plant, whether it is an indoor or outdoor plant, etc.

This will help them make a decision whether to buy it or not.

But it will also save you a lot of time since people on these platforms tend to send you a lot of messages asking for different details and care tips about the plant.

You can also include a short care guide so you can be sure the plant buyers won’t be reaching out to you in the future asking for advice.

It will also make them feel prepared to take care of the plant you’re selling.

Clear pictures will make more potential buyers choose your profile over someone else’s. While a brief description and explanation of your plant and its needs will assure them that you know your plants and that you are not some kind of a scammer.

Updating your profile and plant offer from time to time will also make you a favorite of algorithms.

This means your offers will be popping up to people more often than those of people who are not transparent with the information and who don’t include pictures in their posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it legal to sell plants from home?

Selling plants within your country is completely legal, just like selling any other thing.

However, you could be meeting some obstacles in case you decide to ship your plants overseas.

Some countries may require you to have different types of certificates which can be a bit challenging to get and will probably cost some money.

Because of this, I would recommend sticking to your city or country and shipping your plants only inside of it because there is no way you’ll have any kind of problems.

At least this is what I recommend for the first time.

As long as the plants you’re selling are legal in your country, you are allowed to sell them online.

And once you develop your business further, getting certificates will be just another step to becoming the international plant selling star!

2. Do I need a license to sell plants online?

Whatever platform you decide to use for selling your plants, you will need to respect some of their conditions and guidelines. But usually, you don’t need to have a license. 

However, reputable platforms like Plantly will ask you for different types of information and confirmations in order to make sure your plants are ethically produced.

Some websites also prohibit selling some types of plants, which is usually the case with marijuana and plants similar to it that are illegal. So make sure to check if your plants are on that list too.

3. Where to sell plants online?

Younger generations of gardeners that have their own loyal customers often decide to set up their own websites for selling plants. This is a great option. Especially for those of you who have built a name for yourself in your local community or even city.

However, this can be quite challenging since you are the one that is responsible for everything in the whole process, so it can take up a lot of your time.

That is why I always suggest using Plantly.io which is one of the most popular plant marketplaces. Easy and 100% safe to use.

Whether you want to buy, sell or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!