Plants have become expensive. A Monstera cutting suddenly costs 30 francs in the shop, and a fully grown plant even more. Yet these things multiply practically on their own.
The plant community has figured this out. Here, people swap, share, and give away like nowhere else. Welcome to one of the friendliest corners of the free-stuff world.
Why Plants Are Perfect for Sharing
Plants multiply. It's in their nature. A Monstera produces offshoots, a spider plant throws off babies, a Philodendron can be grown from cuttings. If you have plants, you'll soon have more plants than space.
What do you do with the tenth cutting from your pothos? Throwing it away feels wrong. Selling it is effort for a few francs. Giving it away is the natural solution.
On top of that, plant people are nice. I know that sounds like a generalisation, but it's true. People who are into plants tend to have a certain calm and patience. You notice it in the groups and at meetups.
What You Can Get for Free
Cuttings are the most common. Every plant that can be divided produces surplus. Monstera, Pothos, Pilea, Tradescantia -- the classics are practically always available.
Fully grown plants are given away when people move or can no longer manage the care. A large Yucca needs space and regular attention. When life circumstances change, it often gets passed on.
Balcony plants and garden plants appear seasonally. In autumn, when balconies are cleared out. In spring, when gardeners thin things out.
Seeds and bulbs are sometimes shared too, but less frequently.
The Plant Community
There are dedicated Facebook groups just for plant swapping. "Zimmerpflanzen tauschen Zurich", "Plant Swap Switzerland" -- that kind of thing. The atmosphere there is different from general free-stuff groups. Friendlier, more relaxed.
Instagram has a large plant community. Under hashtags like #PlantSwap or #Ablegeraktivist you'll find people who want to trade. This works in Switzerland too.
And then there are the physical swap events. In some cities, events are regularly organised where plant lovers come together and trade. Usually in parks or community centres.
What to Watch Out For
Health matters with plants. Pests can spread, and sick plants don't always recover.
Check the leaves: Are there spots or discolouration? Do you see tiny dots that could be spider mites? Are the leaves sticky from aphid secretions?
When you bring a new plant home, put it in quarantine first. Not directly next to your other plants, but separately. A few weeks of observation, and if everything looks fine, it can join the others.
With cuttings: Do they already have roots? A rooted cutting has better chances than one freshly cut. Ask how far along the root development is.
Tips for Picking Up
Bring your own pot or container. Many people give away just the plant, not the vessel.
For larger plants: Measure first whether it fits in your car. Squeezing a two-metre Yucca into a compact car is... an experience.
Ask for care instructions. Not everyone knows how much light or water a particular plant needs. If the previous owner cared for it for years, they have valuable knowledge.
Giving Away Your Own
If you have cuttings, offer them up. The demand is there.
What works well: Rooted cuttings in small pots. That's less risk for the recipient and looks nicer than a cutting in a glass.
A photo helps -- not just of the cutting, but also of the mother plant. That way people can see what their new charge will eventually look like.
And if you have several varieties: Offer them together. "Various cuttings: Monstera, Pothos, Pilea" attracts more interest than individual posts.
On the Value of Plants
In garden centres, plants are products with price tags. In the swap community, they're living things that are shared.
This difference changes how people relate to them. Someone who receives a plant as a gift often feels more responsible than someone who buys one. The plant comes from someone who cared for it. That creates a connection.
I have plants in my living room where I know exactly where they came from. The Monstera from Maria, the Tradescantia from the lovely couple in Oerlikon. These aren't anonymous supermarket plants. These are stories.
Conclusion
The plant community is one of the most beautiful corners of the free-stuff world. Here, surplus is shared out of joy for greenery and a sense of connection with like-minded people.
If you like plants, have a look around. On PIKITUP, in swap groups, at plant fairs. Your next green housemate might already be waiting somewhere for you.
Got plant stories? Write to me -- hello@pikitup.ch