How to Make Money with Plants: A Retirement-Friendly Guide

L earning how to make money with plants! Retirement is the perfect time to turn your passion for plants into a profitable venture. Whether you’re looking to supplement your income, stay active, or explore a fulfilling hobby, learning how to make money with plants can open up exciting opportunities.

With decades of experience in plant propagation, business, and nursery management, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. How can the ideas in Growing Our Retirement work for you as a good Plant Nursery Retirement business? When you are Starting a backyard plant nursery you are doing the following.

• You will be buying plants in bulk, wholesale direct from growers. You can grow these out or pot them and sell them as small plants. Lots of people lacking time and space buy bulk seedlings for $1-2.00, re-pot them and resell them in less than a year for $10-12.00 each
• You add value by growing plants to a more desirable size. Larger plants bring higher prices from consumers.
• If you grow plants from your own cuttings that you root yourself you are doing one of the hardest parts. You make money with plants just by growing new plants.
• You add time, labor and care. Getting a plant to grow when it is small takes effort and you are rewarded when you are successful. We don’t find this takes all that much work but it can take 1-5 years to grow a plant to a desirable size.

Why Plants Are a Great Way to Earn Money in Retirement

Plants offer a unique and flexible way to generate income, especially for retirees. Here’s why:

• Low Startup Costs: Starting a plant business doesn’t require a massive investment. You can begin with just a few cuttings, small containers, and some basic tools.
• Scalable Business Model: You can grow your business at your own pace, starting small and expanding as you gain confidence.
• Seasonal Demand: Plants are always in demand, especially during spring and summer. Seasonal sales can provide a significant income boost. You don’t however have to work 12 months per year to earn a good income.
• Sustainable and Enjoyable: Growing plants keeps you active, connected to nature, and offers a rewarding sense of accomplishment.

How to Make Money with Plants – watch one of our many videos.

You make money with plants because they appreciate quickly

With plants returning 3-800% returns over 1-5 years what happens to a hypothetical $1,000 investment over 1 year, then 2 and 3. No stock or bond we know of offers these types of returns. We look at plants as an investment and for us a Retirement Investment. Looking at the chart below and reinvesting some of your profits here is what you might expect in profits and in building the value of all the plants you will own. The starting point is a $1,000 investment that covers the cost of 250 plants, pots and related expenses. We assume you will lose some plants and sell some plants in a year to buy more. Here is just a modest plan to make money with plants from just a $1,000 investment.

A three year plan from a $1,000 investment

Your profit after year 3 is a total of $4,620 on an investment of $1,000 and you did get your $1,000 back too. When you reinvested your $1,000 again we can take this out a few years and see how it compounds. By year 3 you make at least $4-5,000, more if you reinvest some of your profits in the first 3 years. You can take these same principles and earn $50,000 per year or much more. All you need is some space, effort, time, and some start up capital.

Now, what would happen if you invested $5-10,000?

Nursery plants as a retirement investment can produce a steady income! It can also help you diversify from stocks and bonds and build your net worth over time. It’s a growing source of both income and your assets are almost always growing. Pun is intended.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Money with Plants

Here’s a simple roadmap to start your plant business:

1. Choose the Right Plants: Select plants that thrive in your climate and are in high demand, like Japanese Red Maples or arborvitaes.
2. Learn Plant Propagation: Master techniques for propagating plants using cuttings and bare root stock. (Check out our YouTube channel for tutorials!)
3. Start Small: Use affordable supplies and small containers to minimize upfront costs.
4. Market Your Plants: Build a local customer base through farmers’ markets, community events, and online platforms like Marketplace.
5. Scale Up: As your confidence grows, expand your nursery with more plant varieties and larger production.

Hire some help!

Other important points on the work required to run a retirement plant nursery and to make money with plants in your retirement. There are several variables you can control to change the physical requirements of your operation. Of course you can hire in some help. You can also grow smaller plants. We grow plants in trade 1 to 10 gallon pots. Over time, part of our plan may become to drop the 5 to 10 gallon plants. They are heavier, take longer to grow and we might not want to grow them someday. We might also grow less plants and even stop planting all together. Even after stopping new plantings we would have a strong income for 2-4 more years letting the plants grow and selling them all off.

Make money with plants combined with a Side-Hustle

Certainly you can make money with plants which can be combined and is a even a natural extension of an outdoor lifestyle. Cutting and selling firewood, or doing some small, local jobs for neighbors are great retirement add ons. See our pages on Retirement Side Hustles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Do I need a lot of land to start a plant business?
A: Not at all! Many successful plant businesses start with just a small backyard or even a patio. Using small containers allows you to grow plants without breaking ground.

Q: What are the best plants to grow for profit?
A: Popular options include Arborvitaes, Dogwoods, Spruce, Japanese Red Maples, and perennials like Lavender or Hosta’s. Choose plants that are in demand locally.

Q: How much money can I make selling plants? A: Your income depends on the scale of your operation, but even small-scale nurseries can generate thousands of dollars annually.

Start Making Money with Plants Today!

If you’re ready to start your journey, we are here to help. For additional tips and resources, check out the rest of our website, explore our YouTube channel for step-by-step guides on plant propagation, nursery management, and more.

Don’t wait—turn your passion for plants into a profitable retirement business today!

See more of our Backyard Nursery articles and videos.

Backyard Nursery Resources
Starting a Plant Nursery
Starting a Backyard Plant Nursery
Plant Propagation
How to Start a Plant Nursery