Trades 101: A Lesson in Sharing
Wowsers, you guys! Trades are becoming a hot topic and I am here for it! Trading is one of my favorite things to do! Trades almost always wind up with two people super happy about their new plants, and also gives the opportunity to purge some plants that you haven’t been in love with for a long time. Today we’re going to talk about how to find a trade, and the proper etiquette when accepting or denying a trade.
Important Lingo
ISO = in search of
NFS = not for sale
partial trade = the exchange of a plant for another plant plus cash/art/macrame/other goods.
direct trade = trading a plant for a plant
$$ shipped = the price of the plant including shipping (ex. $45 shipped means the plant, including shipping, is $45)
top cutting = the topmost leaves on a plant that have been cut off for propagation. Only one cut should be visible on the stem. Top cuttings root faster, and push new growth faster because it is already a full plant without roots.
mid cutting = a cutting taken between the top cutting and the base of the plant. Will have two cut marks on either side of the node/aerial root. Mid cuttings root slower, and grow slower because they have to create new roots and push out new growth from a node instead of an already growing growth point.
Finding a Trade
First, obviously, you need to decide what you have to offer and what you’re looking for. Make sure that the things you are offering are at the same value as what you’re looking to trade for. For example, I traded one of my large albo cuttings for a top cutting of a BMF (Burle Marx Fantasy) and a top cutting of a verrucosum! I was thrilled with this exchange because I truly felt that the value of the trade was equal. Remember that just because a plant means a lot to you, emotionally, doesn’t mean it’s more valuable to someone else.
How do you find a trade? There are several avenues to consider when searching for the perfect trade. Are you willing to ship your plant? Are you willing to do a locals-only trade? These two questions are very important, although very similar, because this gives you the idea of where to start looking. If you’re not willing to ship your plants (I’ll make another post on how to pack plants for shipments in the future), then your local facebook groups are a great place to begin your search! Making a post saying, “Looking for a trade for my (insert plant here). I am ISO (enter list here).” Always put your location, and if you are willing to ship it. Keep in mind that a lot of local groups do not allow for shipping since they are meant for locals-only. It’s a way to keep people from other parts of the country from snapping up local offers to sell elsewhere. The general rule of thumb with shipped trades, is that each person will pay to ship their plant to the recipient. Since they’re going an equal distance, the costs should even out.
If facebook isn’t your thing, instagram can be another great resource. Make a story post saying the same thing as above, and wait for the responses.
My favorite new way to find trades is through @_plantmonster on instagram! They’ve created a form (click here) that you fill out that matches people and the plants they have with trades! For example, you’re ISO an Albo cutting, and have several PPP to offer in exchange. Fill out the form and you will be matched with someone who is looking for what you have, and that might also have what you’re looking for! I’ve started propagating a lot of my plant babies so that I can participate in this program more! Definitely sign up if you’re hesitant. Generally, though, these are shipped trades, so be prepared to be matched with someone not local to you. (Special shoutout to @_plantmonster for doing this. They have really done something amazing with this idea and I’m so grateful to them for finding a way to help the plant community be more of a community.)
@bushylady on Instagram has also created this document (described as “a live resource to find someone to trade with or to join a community of like-minded plant lovers!”) to help people find suitable trades that has many more ways than I have listed here. She is the creator of the #propdontshop hashtag, another resource where you can click the hashtag on instagram and find related posts, resources, and a vast array of information about trades! I love finding people in the community with like-minds and appreciate her efforts to make trading an easier, more accessible process.
Accepting/Denying Offers
There isn’t always going to be an offer you like, and you should never feel obligated to take it. Even if it’s the plant you were ISO, that doesn’t mean the one offered is what you were looking for. For example, if you’re ISO a PPP (Pink Princess Philodendron) and someone offers you one with little to no variegation, you can politely decline. “Thank you, but I’m looking for one with a little more pink” would suffice. Or “Thank you, your plant is beautiful! It’s just not the size I’m looking for right now.” However you do it, be kind. Nobody likes rejection, but I’ve found that if you let them know you appreciate their time and compliment their plant (they bought it, so I’m sure it means something to them!) that you won’t run into any issues!
Accepting offers is the most exciting part!! It’s easy to get heart eyes over a plant that someone throws out there as a potential trade, but remember that once you accept someone’s offer… that’s it. No matter what other offers come in, you have already agreed to one. So be picky! Make sure that you are really comfortable with the trade and ready to commit before commenting! I’ve never had anyone be disrespectful when I’ve said, “Can I think on this for a few hours and get back to you? I’m very tempted.” The truth is, sometimes I don’t know what I want when it comes to a trade, I’ll know it when I see it. That’s okay to say, too!
So I Agreed to a Trade… Now What?
Congratulations! You’ve selected a trade! Now comes the fun of making friends!!!! Are you meeting up with your trade person to make the exchange? Bring them an extra cutting for free! Are you doing porch pick up and never once seeing their face? Leave a thank you card with the plant! Use that card to make a connection. Put your instagram handle on there! Thank them for their time and trade! Tell them how excited you are! Do something special to make this moment one that they’ll remember. Reputation is everything, and the nicer you are to others, the nicer others will be to you. The plant community is vast and small at the same time. People talk, and reputations are build and destroyed based on how one person treats another throughout this process. Kindness is key, always.
If you’re shipping, please make sure you know what you’re doing, and if you don’t… ask for help. Like I said before, I’ll make a tutorial on how to pack plants safely for shipping but other things to mention: Is it cold where you are or where the plant is going? If so, you probably need heat packs. Do you have packing supplies? Boxes? Stuffing? LOTS of tape? Like a lot of tape? Like too much tape? Get more tape. To make shipping easier, you can go to USPS Click-n-Ship website and print labels from home! You will need to enter the size and weight of the box, so be prepared to do that. The weight must be accurate or it’ll show back up at your door like a boomerang. Don’t pack the plant for shipping more than 24 hours in advance. The less time spent in a box, the better. Once you’ve mailed off your trade, send the recipient the tracking information! It’s 10x more fun if they can see it coming!
Etiquette
As always, there are rules to the game you’re about to play.
Always be gracious and humble. You and your plants are no better than anyone else and theirs.
Respect the answer. If you’re told no thank you, that’s fine and their right to say. If they say yes, then that’s awesome and is to be honored. NEVER go back on a trade.
Update your trade partner on the process. “Packing the plant tomorrow!” “Shipping the plant today!” “Here is your tracking!” or even be honest if something goes wrong. “Hey the plant took a sudden turn for the worst and I wanted to see if you were still interested.” Give them the opportunity to change their mind if something goes awry.
Stick to your trades. Again for emphasis.
Have fun! This is how some of the best friendships are built. I like to send growth updates to the people I did trades with. Chances are, they’re going to want to show you, too. It’s fun to build friendships. This is what we’re all here for.
Don’t be a dick.
Ship quickly, don’t put it off for weeks. Don’t make them ask you when you’re shipping. Don’t.
That’s all I’ve got for now! If you have any questions, pop them in the comments below and let’s have a chat! I’m more than happy to discuss anything in this post, or anything else that may come up! Remember, this is all for fun and the love of plants! Happy trading!
