What to Order for Spring Plant Sales

Spring is the season in which our industry sees the majority of plant sales. (It’s a great time to begin your sales if you’re selling plants for the first time.) Generally, the weekends before and after Mother’s Day are the best weekends for plant sales. Because of that, In this blog we are going to walk you through what you need to order to have a successful spring.

To decide what plants you’re going to grow, you need to look at the environment you have available to grow them in. Look at your space and consider these things:

How much floor space do I have?

How much table space do I have?

How many baskets can I hang?

How much light does my greenhouse get? 

Are there areas that receive more shade than others?

Just as important is, “What will my customers want to buy?” Hotter climates will want to focus on more heat-tolerant plants. Rural areas may see better sales of landscape plants, while urban areas could see a higher demand for indoor and potted plants. 

You’ll also want to consider how much time you have to grow your product. All this information will lead you to decide which pot size or baskets you’ll be growing in. Typically, we recommend a variety of size options.

Pot and Basket Size Options

Six-packs

Six-packs are tear-away trays, also called “insert trays,” with a perforated plastic that allows you to pull the tray apart into groupings of six cells. Each cell has approximately five square inches of growing space, which makes these packs some of the quickest turnaround time sellers. Most items take just a few weeks to fill out a six-pack.

Six-packs or four-packs are typically used for vegetables and  bedding plants like Coleus, Petunia, Begonia, Marigolds, and Dusty Miller

Four-inch pots

Four-inch round or square pots are another quick turnaround size to grow. Most items take about 6-8 weeks to root into a four-inch pot.

Typical usage for four-inch pots would include landscape plants like Lantana, Coleus, Setcreasea, and Petunia. We can often put smaller houseplants and succulents in them as well. Some vegetables are also great sellers in four-inch pots. 

Gallon pots

Gallon pots are about six inches in diameter and almost seven inches tall. Depending on the product, it can take 7-10 weeks for a gallon pot to be finished.

Gallon pots are the best choice for growing larger landscape plants. Lantana and coleus will finish off at a more desirable size for premium retail sales in a gallon versus a four-inch pot. If you want to sell larger vegetables, these are also a great choice. Almost all perennials will perform better in a gallon pot than any other size.  

Hanging baskets

Hanging baskets are one of the top sellers in the spring. Baskets are sold in a variety of sizes. We sell ten and eleven-inch hanging baskets the most.

Trailing plants, specifically those with blooms, make beautiful hanging baskets. Be sure to have a mixture of full sun, partial shade, and full shade plants! To see what specific plants are typically grown in hanging baskets, check out our blog on the best plants to sell in the spring!

Floor pots/ planters

For a more premium-looking product, you choose floor pots. Floor pots are available in sizes ranging from ten to fourteen inches in diameter. These pots typically have a more premium finish.

Floor pots are typically used for combination planters or items. 

Combination planters typically display a variety of colors involving blooming plants mixed with foliage items. When choosing the plants you’ll use for combinations, make sure you’re using plants with similar light and water preferences. You can see a list of combo trays we have pre-designed for you here on our website. Combination planters are also an excellent way to use any excess plants left over from planting your hanging baskets.

Many houseplants will be great high-end retail options in these containers. If you go with smaller gallons, they will not bring in as much money. 

Three Gallon pots

Three-gallon pots will spend the most amount of time in your greenhouse, but they make a statement. Grow items with larger widths in these pots and price them well.

Angel Wing Begonias are one of our favorite items to see grown in three-gallon pots. They are a premium crop that will help set you apart from the box stores.

Tip for Success

The best thing you can do to set yourself up for a successful spring season is to pre-order your plants, pots, soil, and fertilizer. Since spring is the season the industry sees the most plant sales, it is also the season where things sell out quickly. Have your plants, pots, fertilizer, and soil ordered by early December, or you may be stuck with whatever’s left over.