The Best Plant Subscriptions
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Whether you're buying plants from your local nursery, or getting them delivered straight to your door, amassing a collection of plants takes a lot of time, effort, and plenty of care. The most dedicated green thumbs likely know this already, but still, nothing beats the rewarding feeling of having a beautiful jungle of greenery. Plant subscriptions offer a convenient way of achieving this goal at a pace of your choosing, all without having to leave your home. Whether you're looking for hard-to-kill plants or pet-friendly picks, there are several plant subscription boxes that are suitable for plant enthusiasts of all levels.
There are a variety of plant subscriptions that each offer their own unique benefits. If you're just embarking on your own plant journey and don't want to overwhelm yourself, a quarterly succulent subscription box could be a good place to start. Conversely, if you're an avid green thumb who loves to grow their own plants, plant seed subscriptions are also available to satisfy this desire. Outside of the contents of each plant box, we also took price, plan flexibility, and shipping into account to help ensure you make a decision that works for your budget. Prepare to level up your aesthetic when you sign up for one of these exceptional plant subscriptions.
Best Plant Subscriptions of 2022
Best Overall: The House Plant Box
Best for DIY: My Garden Box
Best on a Budget: Rooted
Best for Pet Owners: Lively Root
Best for Succulents: Mountain Crest Gardens
Best Variety: Horti
Best Overall: The House Plant Box
Subscription Plans: 12 monthly boxes; Two quarterly boxes; Monthly, quarterly, biannual, and annual plans available
Free Shipping? Yes
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Hawaii and Alaska)
Pros & Cons
Pros
14 plans to choose from that specialize in particular plant types
Budget-friendly options start at $16
Can choose a different plant box each month
Pet-friendly options
Cons
Plants for each box are pre-selected
Why We Chose It
The House Plant Box is our pick for the best plant subscription thanks to its abundant subscription plan variety (the most of any other subscription service we could find), budget-friendly prices, and a huge selection of plant species to choose from. With 12 monthly plan options ranging in price from $16 to $100, and two quarterly options that cost $45 per month (two plants included), your hardest decision will be choosing which type of plant subscription you want. The good news is that you can choose month-to-month shipping, and try out a different plant box each month of the year.
Basic monthly subscriptions start at $16 per month and include boxes for pet-friendly plants, succulents, aquatic plants, cacti, air plants, rare specimens, pre-potted terracotta options, and even DIY seed boxes. If you want to splurge, premium monthly plans ($45 per month), include two six-inch potted houseplants or pet-lover plants (Ferns, Pachira Braid, Pilea). There's also a 10-inch monthly plant box ($100) that includes large plants like Chinese Evergreen Silver Bay, Dracaena (dragon plant), and Monsteras.
The quarterly boxes arrive every three months and include two 6-inch plants ranging from palms and ferns to smaller versions of the Snake and Dracaena. While there are a ton of boxes to choose from, you don't have the option to pick your plant each month. So if you already own a nice selection of plants, be sure to choose a plan that specializes in a species of plants you don't already own to avoid getting duplicates.
Best for DIY: My Garden Box
Subscription Plans: Six subscription boxes; Monthly, quarterly, half-year, and yearly plans available
Free Shipping? No
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Hawaii and Alaska)
Pros & Cons
Pros
DIY options with perfectly portioned ingredients for easy assembly
Subscription boxes for young and old
Multiple plants per delivery
Offers discounts for long-term plans
Cons
Lack of free shipping bumps price up
Why We Chose It
If you love to garden, partake in DIY projects, or are looking for a fun way to introduce kids to the joys of horticulture, My Garden Box offers solid plant subscriptions for aspiring gardeners. The My Garden Box ($50 a month or $550 annually) plan comes with one or more plants, decorative planters, a care card, gardening tools, and more. For the kids, the Tikes Garden Box ($35 a month or $340 annually) includes one plant, beautifully illustrated instructions, simple care tips, and pre-portioned items to make assembly a breeze.
My Garden Box offers six different subscription options, with four separate payment plans for either month-to-month, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual deliveries. Each plan also offers incremental discounts that are dependent on your subscription length commitment. While an interactive DIY garden is a great idea, it's important to bear in mind that this plant subscription requires just a little extra work to ensure your plants thrive.
Best on a Budget: Rooted
Subscription Plans: Two monthly plans
Free Shipping? Yes
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Hawaii and Alaska)
Pros & Cons
Pros
Plans start at $20 a month
Choice between mystery plants or pet-friendly plants
Easy care plants in every delivery
Can cancel subscription any time
Cons
Three-month subscription minimum
Why We Chose It
If you are looking for a budget-friendly, pet-friendly, low-maintenance plant subscription, look no further than Rooted. With monthly subscriptions that come in at $20, this is one service that's hard to beat. There are two subscription options: Mystery Jungle and Furry Friends. Both plans are shipped monthly and cost $60 for a three-month subscription, or $120 for a six-month commitment. However, if you prepay, you'll get 10% off your order, saving you some extra cash down the road.
The Mystery Jungle Box is delivered the first week of every month and comes with a mystery plant in a four-inch diameter grow pot and a care card with details for your new plant baby. The Furry Friends Box also offers the same things as the Mystery Jungle Box, except your four-inch plant is safe to be around any furry friends. While the three-month minimum is certainly a commitment, shipping is free, and you can cancel any time before the next billing cycle.
Best for Pet Owners: Lively Root
Subscription Plans: Three quarterly plans; three gift subscription boxes
Free Shipping? Yes
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Hawaii and Alaska)
Pros & Cons
Pros
Pet-friendly plants include blooming Bromeliad, ZZ, and Money Tree
Pet-friendly, rare, or easy-care boxes available
Offers quarterly gift subscriptions
Has a 30-day replacement policy
Cons
No monthly subscriptions plans
Why We Chose It
Plant and pet lovers are sure to love Lively Root's pet-friendly plant subscription. Each plant box comes with one medium-sized plant shipped in a growers' plastic pot. You can either pay $50 for a month-to-month plan—with a three-month minimum commitment—or pay $200 upfront for the year. Whether you're ordering your first houseplant or adding to your existing collection, this subscription offers beautiful pet-friendly options, including blooming Bromeliads, Money Trees, ZZ Plants, and more.
In addition to the pet-friendly plant subscription, the company also offers Easy-Care and Rare & Special subscriptions, all of which are quarterly plans. While being locked into a quarterly plan by default might not be ideal, these subscription plans are less intimidating for new plant owners. No matter what subscription plan you choose, each plant comes with care instructions and is backed by Lively Root's 30-Day Happiness Guarantee that promises a replacement plant if your original plant arrives dead or damaged.
Best for Succulents: Mountain Crest Gardens
Subscription Plans: Monthly plan with four tiers
Free Shipping? Yes
Nationwide Delivery? Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
Monthly plans offer up to five succulents per delivery
Free succulent tool kit with new subscription
Over 700 succulents available for purchase
Bonus mystery plant included with every delivery
Cons
Succulent pots aren't included
Why We Chose It
In addition to having over 450 succulents available on the website, Mountain Crest Gardens offers a monthly succulent subscription packed with exceptional value. Known as The Ultimate Succulent Club, each monthly box comes with two to five succulent plants (depending on which tier you choose), an extra mystery plant, and a care guide. Your first box also comes with a bonus succulent tool care kit that includes a spray bottle, mini rake, brush, snippers, and other succulent gardening must-haves.
The company's monthly succulent subscription is divided into four tiers, all separated by price and the number of succulents that come with each delivery. You can select a two ($18), three ($21), four ($23), or five ($26) succulent plant box plan which all include the free mystery plant. Bear in mind though that the plants are shipped in growers' containers, so you will need to purchase planters separately. Each delivery is backed by a 14-day refund policy guarantee and a promise not to duplicate the plants in your delivery for at least a year.
Best Customization: Horti
Subscription Plans: Rare plant box option; One, six, and 12 month plans available
Free Shipping? Yes, only for six month and yearly plans
Nationwide Delivery? Yes (except Hawaii and Alaska)
Pros & Cons
Pros
Full customization of delivery duration, plant type, and pot color
Hand-painted terracotta pots included
ASPCA-approved plants are perfect for pet owners
Choose between hardy plants, pet-friendly, or Horti's mystery pick of the month
Cons
Free shipping only applies to higher subscription tiers
Why We Chose It
Horti stands out from other subscriptions on this list due to its variety of customization options. From the delivery frequency, to the pots themselves, this service gives you plenty of control over your new plant pals. Horti offers one, six, and 12-month plans, ranging from $20 to $240 depending on which plants and pots you choose. The available plant types Horti offers are hardy plants ("New to planting"), pet-friendly greens (ASPCA approved), and mystery options ("Horti's pick").
Something unique to this subscription is the choice of a six-inch terracotta planter. The plain terracotta option is the cheapest option ($22), while white ($28) or multicolored pots ($32) drive up the total cost. If you'd prefer to skip the terracotta pot, you can opt for the "Nakey Plant" subscription ($30), which is exclusive to the monthly plan and includes two plants in plastic growers' pots. While free shipping is only available for six and 12 month plans, monthly subscribers can skip or cancel their subscription before their next order.
Final Verdict
While researching plant subscription boxes, we reviewed over a dozen online nurseries, and The House Plant Box always stood out as one of the best for having the most subscriptions plan options with varying delivery frequencies, a wide array of plant species (succulents, pet -friendly, cacti, aquatics), and budget-friendly prices.
Additionally, The House Plant box is the only subscription service we could find that offered free shipping nationwide for not only the subscriptions, but for individual plant and seed purchases as well. So whether you are new to plants or a bonafide gardener, The House Plant Box is sure to have something to fit your aesthetic, budget, and delivery frequency preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's Included in a Plant Subscription?
Every plant subscription plan should include a very healthy plant that is well-packaged for safe shipping, and an informational care card detailing what's needed to keep the plant healthy and alive. Some services like Mountain Crest Gardens also include extras like planting kits with your first order for free. However, some subscriptions like Horti may offer these add-ons such as terracotta pots at an additional cost.
When Should You Fertilize Your Plant?
It's best to fertilize your plant every two weeks from March through September. During October through February, indoor plants don't need fertilizer because reduced light and temperature result in reduced growth. Additionally, fertilizing your plant at this time could potentially do more harm than good.
Methodology
We researched and compared nearly 30 plant delivery companies to ascertain which services provided the best value. We took into account factors that matter most like price range, shipping policies, nationwide availability, subscription options, customer service availability, and sustainability. Subscriptions that offered a variety of plans, multiple customer service lines, and budget-friendly prices were awarded extra points during our scoring phase. Plant subscription services that also included free shipping and practiced sustainable methods rose above other services. Any companies that didn't offer plant subscriptions didn't make past our initial round of research.
