How To Save Money On Plants

Saving money on plants can be achieved buy obtaining them at a lower cost or free, and finding ways to take care of them for less money. In the first case, it is often easier to acquire a cheaper plant for more common plants than rarer plants. However, in some cases even exotic and hard to find plants can be purchased for a good price. In the second instance, plant maintenance may be adjusted or changed in some way so as to lower the cost of keeping plants.

Obtaining lower cost plants

Contact landlords: Since plants can be cumbersome, take up a fair amount of space and require upkeep finding companies and people willing to part with their plants or seeking to find a good home for their plants can help save money on plants. Larger buildings with plant lovers may be a good place to start calling.

End of a season purchases: To save money on plant purchases, try buying out of season. At the end of autumn and summer garden centers and other plant retailers may reduce their plant pricing to make way for more seasonable plants or products. Beware of sick, infected or damaged plants as they may not live long after you take them home. The same principle may hold true for online plant retailers.

Post wanted ads: Free wanted ad listings is another way to try and locate free plants. Many internet sites exist to post wanted ads, and some even specialize in plants and allow plant classifieds to be posted on their site. For example, http://www.plantclassifieds.com and http://www.usfreeads.com both allow plant classifieds to be posted on their websites.

Comparison shop: In addition to plant classifieds are plant venues each venue may offer different prices for just small variations in age and size of the plant. Classified ads may also help save money, and have listed plants for sale or free. Generally, local is better so you can see the plants before purchase, however if it is reputable seller that you have done business with before out of state shipping may be an option for harder to find plants.

Lowering plant maintenance cost

• Irrigation system

Water can be expensive especially if it is not included in your condo fees, renters agreement or municipal services. To save money on plants using water, rain water buckets can be used to collect water and water routes can be redirected to flow into garden beds during rainfall. Many watering and irrigation systems exist including plant bulbs that slowly release water as the plant needs it. These water bulbs can save money on plants by reducing evaporation.

• Fertilizer

Fertilizer is often needed for garden plants so obtaining inexpensive fertilizer for your garden can also help save money on plants. Farmers may drop of manure for a fairly good price or you may choose to compost food waster and other biological matter to reuse in your garden. Be sure to apply the manure several months before growing season as it can damage plants when fresh.

• Lighting

To save money on plants lighting is also a factor. Natural light is always cheaper and can be amplified using positioning, and reflective material. For indoor plants, locating plants near windows and/or rooms that are often lit out of necessity may also assist in keeping plant maintenance low. For indoor vegetable gardens, cost effective fluorescent lighting that has greater light output and lower heat output also saves money on plants.

• Repotting

If plants need to be repotted search for discount pots or reuse old ones. Garden centers may also discount their soil in winter, especially in more temperate climates. Buying pots in bulk is also a more cost effective way to purchase pots. Also, the same rules of acquisition that apply to the plants in section I of this article can be applied to the obtaining of plant containers. Sometimes, if using a green house, garden soil may also be used for potted vegetables.