Who grows bedding plants or trees for sale?

snoozy · #1 11/28/05, 07:29 PM

I get a newsletter from this website www.freeplants.com about plant propagation, making cuttings and such, and selling to plant stores, nurseries and also to the public. I was just wondering who on this board does this? It is a successful business for you?

snoozy · #2 11/29/05, 01:51 PM

Nobody?...

Pony · #3 11/29/05, 03:24 PM

I get the newsletters, too, and have thought of following the suggestions, but never seem to get around to it.

The site seems to be down right now, BTW.

Pony!

MELOC · #4 11/29/05, 03:26 PM

i am very interested in this topic. too bad the site is down. i am considering starting this for profit.

bonsai jim · #5 11/29/05, 03:49 PM

I do but with my own twist- I do a lot of propagation for future bonsai use. It's a longer term proposition...

Jim Stone
Seki Bonsai

TxCloverAngel · #6 11/29/05, 04:40 PM

I do this on a smaller scale (for now) I start trees /plants from cuttings & seed. And take them to the flea market. they always do GREAT! but to tell ya the truth, trees from seed take a LONG time to be ready to sell.. I also am thinking about buying this system to see his "secrets" .

If he could show me a faster turnaround I'd be very happy because the profit margin on these plants/trees really IS great! all it takes from me is a little time & very VERY little money. and the wholesale contacts would be worth the price of the program!

I'll let ya know what I think when I get it ( tomorrow is my B-day I think thats what I'm gonna get!)

You do the same

snoozy · #7 11/29/05, 05:07 PM

This link should get you to a whole bunch of links:

http://www.freeplants.com/plant-prop...the-basics.htm

snoozy · #8 11/29/05, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonsai jim

I do but with my own twist- I do a lot of propagation for future bonsai use. It's a longer term proposition...

Jim Stone
Seki Bonsai

Pardon the pun, but is the bonsai market big?

MELOC · #9 11/29/05, 06:43 PM

i thought about trying to graft pear and apple trees. we have bunches of wild hawthorn or thornapple. i think it is the same family as apple and pear and i will try using that as a root stock if i can. that should be faster than seed. i may try to graft several varieties to some trees for s and g.

mountainman_bc · #10 11/29/05, 10:09 PM

I don't think you can graft apple and pear. Apple- Malus and Pear- Pyrus. You can always try and I may be wrong. But I know rootstalks for pears are not the same as apple rootstalks, and there are so many apples to choose from.

woodspirit · #11 11/29/05, 10:23 PM

I've been selling them for years. I haven't heard of that site though. I'll check it out. I grow all kinds of Trilliums, hosta's, ferns, all kinds of perennials and some nursery stock.

Lindafisk · #12 11/29/05, 10:59 PM

I used to know a couple of people who would start bedding type plants in small plastic pots and sell them at their yearly garage sale-they always saidthey did good with them. I have lost touch with them or I would find out more!

3girls · #13 11/30/05, 12:48 PM

I bought the materials from Freeplants.

I am currently finishing the infrastructure to run a small backyard nursery, holding several sales per year. I am very pleased with all parts of the material I got and still receive on the forum (one joins after purchasing the videos). At first, I was alarmed at the home-made nature of the videos, but after watching them a couple times and beginning to absorb the info there, I realized I'd hit a goldmine for me. Just about every big multi-acre wholesale place started the same way.

The material is not only valuable on the techniques of growing, but also the marketing. There is a brisk business between forum members, and plenty of the members are doing quite well.

I am at the stage in life where I do not want to grow huge, just do what I am able on my own. I will hold my first sale this spring, and take multitudes of cuttings on an annual basis thereafter. There is a calendar with the materials listing chores and plant propagation suitable for each month.

I have always been fascinated with the idea of making new plants from the old. I am also experimenting with breeding daylilies. There are so many possibilities. I hope to get started with perennials, also. My emphasis will be on the small ornamental shrubs and daylilies with the other things to be available as people come to buy the plants.

For those who love plants and get a kick out of something for nothing, this is a great thing. It takes about three years to get a good start, and only a few will ever be wealthy. It is, however, a good business to add to several others in order to make an income for your property. By the way, it doesn't take much property to get started!

Good luck!!

dlangland · #14 11/30/05, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snoozy

Pardon the pun, but is the bonsai market big?

All I know about bonsai's although I have reading on the subject for yrs. but there is just oh, so much information...Every time I find a perfect wild specimum, I end up either relocating it for my windbreaks/shelter belts or giving them away to friends/family. I have a Ficus Bonsai, not my first choice, but it was only 3 dollars, and it is a beauty, although it was rther neglected. A friend has had a something-juniper for a few yrs. now. He goes on and on about how rare it is, but it's not. I red the tag, my memory is just not that good. He keeps saying I can't do that with wild seedlings which just makes me more determined. He paid between $50 and $60 for it, but from what I understand it's a process that takes many years. I would like to learn just for fun. Deb

snoozy · #15 12/01/05, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3girls

I bought the materials from Freeplants.

I am currently finishing the infrastructure to run a small backyard nursery, holding several sales per year. I am very pleased with all parts of the material I got and still receive on the forum (one joins after purchasing the videos). At first, I was alarmed at the home-made nature of the videos, but after watching them a couple times and beginning to absorb the info there, I realized I'd hit a goldmine for me. Just about every big multi-acre wholesale place started the same way.

The material is not only valuable on the techniques of growing, but also the marketing. There is a brisk business between forum members, and plenty of the members are doing quite well.

I am at the stage in life where I do not want to grow huge, just do what I am able on my own. I will hold my first sale this spring, and take multitudes of cuttings on an annual basis thereafter. There is a calendar with the materials listing chores and plant propagation suitable for each month.

I have always been fascinated with the idea of making new plants from the old. I am also experimenting with breeding daylilies. There are so many possibilities. I hope to get started with perennials, also. My emphasis will be on the small ornamental shrubs and daylilies with the other things to be available as people come to buy the plants.

For those who love plants and get a kick out of something for nothing, this is a great thing. It takes about three years to get a good start, and only a few will ever be wealthy. It is, however, a good business to add to several others in order to make an income for your property. By the way, it doesn't take much property to get started!

Good luck!!

My place is a hole in the forest, so I don't get that much sunlight. But I read somewhere that cuttings in fact don't need sunlight for most of their rooting time -- is this true?

I've got a neighbour with loads of sunlight who might be interested in this project.

kemrefarms · #16 12/01/05, 11:33 AM

I am curious about any licensing. Can anybody just start selling plants out of their yard or do they need to get some sort of peice of paper from some overpriced government agency so they can buy their favorite cookies , paint their parking spaces etc.....oh , other than the usual business license? Are you supposed to collect sales tax? Just curious so I know who not to sell to....(giggle)

snoozy · #17 12/01/05, 01:30 PM

Selling out of your driveway, I can't imagine you need any kind of license, but you'd want to check (anonomously) with your Dept of Revenue. You are liable to collect sales tax. But you could go blythely along not doing so until a revenuer caught up with you, and then you could plead ignorance and abject earnestness to do the right thing thence forward.

But you didn't hear from me...

bonsai jim · #18 12/01/05, 02:03 PM

Bonsai is a pretty small market if you are just going after the hard-core enthusiasts. If you are selling "mallsai" then you can do a bit better.

Ultimately I want to teach it so this will be just a supplemental offering.

They aren't just junipers- or one type of plant- it's a process... so just about anything I grow can be used for landscape purposes or indoor...

dlangland-

That's probably the type your friend has (mallsai) - "Creeping Japanese Juniper" or juniperus procumbens. They are the mass produced - overpriced version of the real thing.

Keep the faith- some of the best bonsai are created from naturally dwarfed trees- that stumpy looking thing that's been grazed on by your animals or bush-hogged back every year might have potential...

In Texas you need an license from the Department of Ag as well as business license to collect sales tax. These are also your pass to get into the better wholesale nurseries...

Jim Stone

3girls · #19 12/02/05, 12:42 PM

I suppose you could get away without a license for the occasional yard sale. Beyond that, one needs a nursery license from the state ag dept. One also needs a Fed Tax ID# if you are filing as a business. The ag inspection can be helpful to find out if your are "clean" or not. The law reads that plant sales have to have the license. I will apply for mine just after the first of the year. The only limits to this business of plant propagation are your stamina and the market. There's lots of markets out there. Several people on the Freeplants forum are selling to wholesalers! The object is to stick as many cuttings as you can on a year round basis. It's a good business, but like any other, takes work.

Linda H · #20 12/07/05, 02:23 AM

just makes me more determined. He paid between $50 and $60 for it, but from what I understand it's a process that takes many years. I would like to learn just for fun. Deb[/QUOTE]

I have a buddy in California who owns a bonsai nursery. He's been addicted to bonsai for over 30 years. He has a website and also a chat forum which might interest you.

http://www.neehaibonsai.com/

Linda