But deciding which species to purchase and hauling the green goods home can be time-consuming and messy. That’s where the growing faction of plant subscriptions comes in, with monthly and quarterly options designed to take the guesswork out of when to plant that floral arrangement by your front door or whether a snake plant is too advanced for your beginner gardening skills. There are some subscription box plans devoted to building confidence as a new plant owner, while others focus on low-light areas or non-toxic plants that are safe for homes with pets. Below, read about the best plant subscription boxes. Based in New York City, Horti bills itself as a matchmaking service—one that pairs people with the perfect plants for their lifestyles. Horti’s ongoing subscription is specifically designed to help apprehensive new plant parents build confidence when tending to their plants, starting with more common, low-maintenance plant species and progressing to new, more time-intensive varieties. The commitment-free monthly subscription comes in pet-friendly or new-to-planting options as well as a general “Horti’s pick” catch-all option. Each delivery generally comes with a plant and a six-inch clay pot, with occasional accessories or exercises that will help aspiring gardeners grow their knowledge. (Subscribers who want to use their planters can forgo the pot or accessories and receive two “naked” plants instead.) Plans start at $23 per month. They are the cheapest in New York City, where subscribers can opt to pick up boxes from a Greenpoint location, and you can cancel your subscription any time before your billing date. Horti keeps in touch between deliveries, too. Just give customer service a call to troubleshoot any issues. Succulents are some of the most affordable houseplants out there, with little upkeep required and the ability to survive shipping. Succulents Box offers more than 300 organic varieties of the low-maintenance plants, with six different subscription options and a slate of practical accessories, too—not to mention prices that are hard to beat. Succulents Box subscriptions start at $5 per month, with discounts available to customers who prepay for three-, six-, or 12-month packages. Prepaid subscriptions also include a gift like a tote bag, puzzle, or planter with the first shipment. Choose from different quantities and combinations of succulents and air plants, and consider adding heating packs to your shipments if you live in a cold climate—they start at about $7. The most basic subscription offered by Succulents Box usually only includes a plastic pot and soil (if you ask for them) but higher-end options are available for those who want clay pots delivered with each monthly package. Subscriptions auto-renew unless they are purchased as a gift. Once you receive your succulent, unbox it as soon as possible, placing it in an area with plenty of air and, if possible, filtered sunlight. If your plant arrives damaged—a rarity, according to reviews, but still a possibility—Succulents Box offers advice on its website about problems with your plants and how to treat them. Sometimes, the hardest part of gardening is getting started. Knock! Knock!, a company founded in 2019, helps you skip the stress of finding the right plants for your front door by curating a seasonal subscription box of plants, sending dual plants that fit the climate and light level in spring, summer, and fall. When you sign up, you’ll answer a few questions about your location, and the amount of sunlight the area receives before the company ships the plants to you. Once you receive your Knock! Knock! package, it is best to plant and water it immediately. Since the company’s subscriptions don’t come with containers for your front porch beauties, Knock! Knock! recommends using a planter of 14-16 inches in diameter. The arrangements are intended to grow as they settle into their new homes, so don’t worry if the plant that arrives is a bit smaller than expected. Knock! Knock! recommends using Miracle-Gro potting mix to keep them healthy. Subscriptions start around $65 for recurring deliveries and $75 for single shipments. If the plant that arrives doesn’t perk up within five days of arrival, snap a photo and send it to Knock! Knock! for help—they’ll make it right, either with a new shipment or specific instructions for care. The Sill has been offering “self-care through plants’’ since 2012, starting entirely online and expanding to brick-and-mortar stores in New York and San Francisco. The company’s mission revolves around what plants can do for your well-being—promote a sense of peace and connection to nature—and its seamless delivery experience and multiple subscription options make it easy to outfit your home with low-maintenance greenery. Choose from two subscriptions: the Classic Plant Subscription, designed to ease new or seasoned gardeners into what the company calls “plant parenthood”; or choose from the Pet-Friendly Plant Subscription, which focuses on non-toxic plant species. Each monthly delivery comes with a ceramic planter and instructions for care—plus, the company’s customer service team is on call to help with any issues. Plans start at $60, and subscriptions can be paused or canceled any time after the first three months. If your plant arrives damaged—a rarity, considering the care with which The Sill packages its products—be sure to contact the company to make it right. Hardy products and top-notch customer service have made The Sill subscriptions so popular that it occasionally has to pause new sign-ups, so be sure to add your email to a waitlist if you’re interested in a subscription. Succulents Box, which specializes in air plants and succulents, stood out for its small, low-maintenance plant varieties and equally small price tag: At $5 per month, it’s a great choice for plant-curious consumers who aren’t quite ready to make a big investment of time, space, or money. Those who are seeking larger plants—especially ones designed to adorn your front porch or entrance—will appreciate Knock! Knock!’s curated seasonal subscription, which considers your area’s climate and light level before selecting the right seasonal plant and delivering it at the perfect time to start planting. And aspiring green thumbs hoping to grow their skills can look to The Sill, an outlet with a robust online store in addition to brick-and-mortar locations in San Francisco and New York, for plant subscriptions designed especially for beginners and pet parents. Horti, stood out as the frontrunner in nearly every category, offering specialty subscriptions for new planters and pet owners while earning a nearly universal slate of positive reviews for careful packaging, prompt customer service, and helpful tips on indoor gardening. Succulents Box stood out for its low price. While Knock! Knock! allows customers to indicate their preferences on style, sunlight, and climate, making it a top choice for filling outdoor planters. And The Sill emerged as an excellent option for those who might be nervous about maintaining houseplants for the first time, with plans for beginners as well as low-light homes and pet owners.
