Earn money propagating plants, how much money can you
make?
Yes, you can certainly earn money with plant propagation! How exactly would you do this and how much can you really make? Lets discuss the the what, how many, and how long of earning money propagating plants.
Here is our video on this topic:
What should you grow to earn money propagating plants?
Here are some ideas but they are merely a list of what we propagate. The plants we grow actually take at least 2 years to turn into money as they are slower growing. Keep in mind you may want to also propagate some faster growing plants like Hydrangeas, Hosta, perennials, etc. For purposes of this article we are taking about 600 hardwood cuttings in January. Taking 600 helps us to end up with right around 500 healthy plants. We are going to attempt to root, 100-125 Andromeda, 125 Green Giant Arborvitae, 125 Emerald Green Arborvitae, 125 Viburnum, and 125 assorted Junipers, Dogwoods, Azaleas, and Rhododendrons.
Supply List
Rooting Hormone: Hormodin 3 Rooting Hormone
Professional Titanium Pruning Shears
Viagrow VPER4-2 4 cu ft Perlite 2-Pack – White
Some of the plastic totes we use with the side holes added that are mentioned in our article Propagate Plants All Year
How many plants can you propagate?
You can grow many plants in a fairly small space. If you grow plants in #1 trade gallon containers you fit about 340 plants in a 10’x10′ area according to this plant spacing calculator. Thus for many if you can spare a 40’x50′ spot of 2,000 sq ft you can fit around 4,000 #1 size plants and some isle ways in a space this size.
How much time does propagating 500 plants take.
Let’s assume you have the supplies on hand and easy access to the plants you will take cuttings from. We find it takes about an hour to prepare and stick 100-125 plants. So, again to stick 600 cuttings in a hope that they will yield 500 rooted plants, you will spend about 6-8 hours to start 600 plants for a net of 500 plants. Keep in mind this is not hard work and you do not have to do it all in one day.
We can see it takes about 6-8 hours to propagate and root 500 plants. Then you must consider you will spend time potting them up, watering them, weeding, and selling them. Our best guess is you will spend at least another 10-20 hours on these plants by the time you sell them. Reading below we can also look at some minimum and maximum values you might receive for these plants. We can then also get a good estimate of what you can earn per hour propagating plants.
How much can 500 propagated plants earn for you.
The big questions here are what are your other costs for soil mix, pots and fertilizer and how large will you grow the plants. For simplicity we estimate cost for a #1 trade gallon plant we will spend about $1.00 for the pot, soil mix, fert etc and closer to $2.00 for a #3 trade gallon pot or bag. The good news is all the cuttings are free.
Lets see what these 500 plants could bring you when you sell them. As mentioned the second part of how much you can earn is based on how large you grow your plants. Worth mentioning is also where you are selling your plants as in some parts of the country plants are worth more than others. We can use somewhat of an average, selling retail right on your driveway. We will assume these plants are something common like a Emerald Green Arborvitae.
Here are the values we think are reasonable:
4-6″ Rooted cutting = 500 x $2.75 if sold in smaller quantities – no pot or dirt required = $1,375 profit and you can sell these in less than a year of growing.
#1 Trade gallon plant = $12.00 less $1.00 in costs = $11.00 profit x 500 = $5,500 total profit with about a 2 year total growing time.
#3 Trade gallon plant = a low of $20 up to $30.00 in some areas. Lets use the $20.00 low less the $2.00 of cost is an $18.00 profit X 500 plants is a nice $9,000. profit. This is very similar to the results were we show a Plant Nursery Side Hustle that earns $10,000 per year.
Here is a quick summary of what you might make.
What do you earn per hour propagating plants?
Now, look at the total time of about 25 hours to take cutting, pot up, care for and sell these 500 plants divided by the expected profit. The minimum profit is $1,375 / 25 hours = a nice $55.00 per hour earned for your time. Letting the plants grow out to the #3 Trade gallon size gave a $9,000. Then lets divide that by 30 hours since you had them longer – more watering and weeding! But look, your $9,000 profit divided by 30 hours of work earns you a huge $300.00 per hour for your efforts! WOW!
Our Plant Nursery Start Up Series
How to Start a Plant Nursery – With super low start-up costs.
How to Get Free Plants – Your secret start up advantage
Propagate Plants All Year – Always be propagating
Make Your Own Potting mix – Inexpensively for your nursery
Propagate plants by Dividing A Great Way to Increase your Nursery Plant Inventory