Archive for August, 2007

Unrooted Leaves

Leaves of the newest varieties often sell for as much as $1.00 to $1.50; older varieties bring about 15 to 35 cents each. There is a minimum of work connected with selling unrooted leaves. All you have to do is snip them from the plant, place them with a label in a plastic bag, seal the bag, and you’re ready to ring the cash register. Sales of unrooted leaves from just one or two plants of newer varieties may bring you enough cash to pay for greenhouse necessities-fertilizer, insecticides, etc.

Rooted Leaves

Given good conditions, African violet leaves root in a month to 6 weeks and they sell for about a third more than un-rooted kinds. Growers who sell rooted leaves can remove them and sell them direct from flats. If you want to pot them in small thumb pots you can add another 15 cents to the price.

Small Potted Plants

If you aim to sell potted plants, put them into thumb pots as soon as the plantlets are about an inch high. Should several small plants appear at the base you can separate them for this first potting or let them grow until shifted to a 2-inch pot. Weekly feedings of M strength fertilizer will hasten growth.

Selling Small Plants

You may be able to dispose of small named plants-even when not in bloom-at plant counters. Or you may have a friend in some type of retail business who might want to handle a few plants on a commission basis. Small dress shops, variety stores, dry cleaning shops-all are possibilities. Then too, you might offer your violets in dozen or more lots to other greenhouse growers. Many of the larger greenhouses do not grow their own African violets and are delighted to purchase well-grown stock at a price low enough to give them a fair mark-up.

Small plants are easily shipped in paper pots or by removing them from their original pot and wrapping the root ball in foil. The plant is then placed in a cellophane or plastic bag and wrapped lightly with newspaper. Thus packaged, it will reach its destination in a safe and sound condition, barring long exposure to severe cold weather, of course.

Buying landscaping stones

If you need to purchase your landscaping stones, you should have no problem. Most garden stores and outlets carry great choices of stones. There are many private landscaping companies that sell rocks and stones and may even deliver them to your home.

Different colors and shapes

When it comes to decorating with landscaping stones, you will find any color or shape that you want. No matter what type of look you are trying to achieve, you will be able to get what you are looking for. There are perfectly round manufactured stones or you can stay with the more natural looking stone. These stones have the rugged look and come in odd shapes and sizes.