Wild Interiors — All About Plant Swaps

Trade, barter, exchange, whatever you want to call it, for as long as humans have walked the planet, swapping has been ingrained into our social science. You can swap anything—wood for milk, goat for cart, dollars for a muffin, donkey for magic beans—or in our case, Monstera deliciosa for Philodendron gloriosum might hit nearer the mark. Regardless, a swap is made when two people find themselves in want of something which the other has possession of. Plant swaps have been around for a few years now, but here’s a refresher course in case your wondering “what is a plant swap”.

The New Community Gardening

Similar to community gardening, plant swaps are a way for a different niche of growers to gather, share tips and plants, and get to know each other. Whereas traditional community gardening brings those who are interested in direct, fresh produce together, plant swaps today are focused on bringing interior plant enthusiasts together. People who thrive on finding plant rarities and expanding their interior garden find that plant swaps are an excellent way to find plants or cuttings that are not available for purchase in a local or online store.

There’s yet another layer! Meeting up with other interior plant enthusiasts provides the perfect venue for sharing individual tips and tricks. “What’s the best way to propagate my monstera?” “Where can I find a custom potting mix for my new bromeliad?” “What kind of fertilizer do you use for your fiddle-leaf fig?” Whatever questions you can think of, plant swaps are the place to go to tap into a network of fellow trial-by-error growers. You never know if someone has run into a similar problem.

How it Works

Plant swaps can be in-person or online.
Pre-registration may be required.
A good rule of thumb is to not leave the swap with more plants than you brought. However, this rule can vary by plant value. The rarer the plant, the more value in trade. Usually, most interior plant enthusiasts have a general understanding of plant value, but some negotiating may be done to arrive at a fair trade.
Don’t bring diseased or infested plants to trade!

Finding a swap near you…

Hunting down a plant swap may be more difficult, depending on your area. However, there are a few ways you can track them down.

Try asking someone at your local independent garden center. If they don’t host a recurring swap at their location, chances are that they know of swaps in the area.
Hit the web! Here are a few places you can search for swaps: Blossm app, Plantswap.org, Facebook groups.

Playing Host

If there are currently no local plant swaps in your area, why not host one yourself? Start a group on Facebook for plant lovers in your vicinity and go from there!

Set a date that works for you and at least a handful of others.
Send out invitations listing the date, time, location, swap rules, and other details.
Plan to enforce swap rules and encourage a positive environment for plant lovers like you!

What to watch for...

Poor Plant Health

Roots - Healthy roots should be white in color. If the roots are dark in color, or if you can’t see them at all in the soil, it could be a sign of root rot.
Leaves - If you notice unusual leaf coloring, double-check to make sure that it is normal and not a result of poor health. Leaves should be green unless a uniform overall variegation pattern is present. Look for any physical damage or signs of pests such as bumps, feeding damage, or stunted/deformed new growth.
Flowers - Pests thrive in flower buds and blooms. Thoroughly check to make sure you see no growth distortions, mold or crawlers tucked in the blooms.

Incorrectly Identified Plants

If you are new to the plant swap scene and are attending without knowing any of the other people trading, you may want to brush up on your plant knowledge. Make sure you know what plants you are trading and what you are receiving in exchange. Misidentified plants are common amongst novice growers.

Protected Genetics

In general, make sure you know the legalities behind plant propagation. While many foliage species are up for grabs when propagating, sometimes specific plants are protected by patents and are illegal to propagate without paying royalties per cutting. Because we want to encourage the work of plant breeders across the globe, it is important to adhere to these laws. For more reading, check out these sites:

Have you been to a plant swap before? Share with us @wild_interiors on Instagram your plant swap adventures!