There are ways to get free plants for your garden, and I don’t mean bribing the checker at the home improvement store. Nope, these are more satisfying anyway! The way to get free flowers and plants is to learn how to propagate plants that already exist, either from your own garden, or a neighbor or gardening buddies. Plant propagation means to basically cause the plant to multiply… thus taking one plant, and turning it into several, or even many! Free plants for the garden!
There are many ways to propagate plants, but many of them are too complicated for the average gardener, and usually take extreme patience and a greenhouse. I’m going to concentrate on the ones that are easy and within the ability of even a beginner. These methods include gathering seed, division, softwood cuttings, and leaf cuttings.
I’m not going to get detailed about seed saving, because we just did a post on that, but you should jump over to learn all about Growing Seeds Indoors, and How to Save Seed.
Who doesn’t love getting mail? It’s exciting to go to the mailbox not knowing what you might find inside Now imagine opening your mailbox to find free plant cuttings waiting to be potted up and nurtured It’s like receiving a special gift delivered just for you! Getting free plants in the mail is an easy way to grow your indoor or outdoor garden without spending any money.
Why Get Free Plant Cuttings?
Getting plant cuttings for free through the mail has many benefits:
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It’s free! This allows you to expand your plant collection without emptying your wallet.
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Access rare or unusual plants Many people share cuttings of cool plants not readily available at most nurseries
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Fill your garden with free plants. Why buy plants when you can get them for free? Getting several mailings can allow you to fill planters or garden beds for zero dollars.
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Fun surprise deliveries. Checking the mail is a lot more fun when you’re expecting a special delivery!
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Learn new plants. Trying new-to-you plant varieties helps increase your horticultural knowledge.
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Join plant trading communities. Connecting with other gardeners who trade cuttings can open up plant sharing networks.
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Eco-friendly reuse. Rooting cuttings reuses plant materials that would otherwise be discarded.
Where to Get Free Plant Cuttings
So how do you get your hands on free plant cuttings? There are a few options:
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Online plant groups – Facebook, Reddit, forums, etc. Many plant-loving online communities enjoy exchanging cuttings with each other.
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Friends or neighbors who garden. Fellow gardeners often have excess cuttings they’re happy to share.
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Local plant swaps or exchanges. Look for plant swaps advertised on community boards or events calendars.
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Large online retailers. Some mail-order plant sellers offer free plants or samples with purchases.
The most common way to get free plant cuttings is through online plant groups. Here are some tips for navigating plant swaps on Facebook or Reddit:
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Browse the groups and get a feel for how exchanges work. Read the rules first!
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Make your own post offering plant cuttings from your collection. Include photos and descriptions.
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Comment on other posts with plants you’d like. Ask to trade or if they’ll send you some free cuttings.
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Pack cuttings well for shipping and ship promptly. Use Priority Mail or another trackable option.
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Once you receive a free plant, post a photo and thank the sender publicly.
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Offer to pay shipping costs if you can. Free cuttings means just that – free cuttings! But offering to pay the shipping is a nice gesture.
The plant community is full of generous green thumbs who enjoy sharing their botanical bounty. With a little effort and etiquette, you can soon enjoy regular deliveries of free plant cuttings.
How to Root and Grow Free Plant Cuttings
Once your free plant cuttings arrive in the mail, you’ll need to root and grow them into full-sized, thriving plants. Here’s how to increase your success:
1. Prepare cuttings
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Trim any flowers, buds, or large leaves, leaving only a few smaller leaves.
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Trim the stem to 4-6 inches using clean, sharp pruners. Cut just below a node.
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Strip away the bottom leaves and nodes so you have a clean stem section.
2. Dip in rooting hormone
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Dip the cleaned stem in powdered or liquid rooting hormone. Tap off any excess.
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Rooting hormone encourages faster, more robust root development.
3. Plant in potting mix
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Poke holes in sterile potting mix with a pencil about 2 inches apart.
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Carefully insert each cutting, firming the soil around it.
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Water well until it drips from the drainage holes.
4. Provide a greenhouse environment
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Cover the pot with a plastic bag or cloche to create a greenhouse effect.
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Provide bright, indirect light by placing near a sunny window.
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Keep the soil consistently moist but not wet.
5. Rooting time
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Most cuttings take 1-6 weeks to root well. Keep them warm and humid until new growth appears.
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Prepare to pot them into larger containers once rooted.
6. Acclimate & transplant
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Once rooted, gradually expose them to normal indoor conditions.
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Transplant into pots with fresh potting mix suited to each plant’s needs.
Follow these tips and you’ll soon have a trove of free plants propagated from mail-order cuttings! It’s incredibly rewarding to nurture free plant cuttings into lush, thriving additions to your indoor plant collection or outdoor garden.
5 Easy Plants to Root from Leaf & Stem Cuttings
All types of plant cuttings can be rooted, but some species root quicker and grow faster from cuttings than others. Here are 5 easy, common houseplants and outdoor plants you can reliably grow from cuttings you receive in the mail:
Pothos
This ubiquitous indoor vine is nearly impossible to kill and roots readily in water or soil. Take 4-6 inch stem cuttings.
Philodendron
Similar to pothos, philodendrons produce thick, hardy vines perfect for cuttings. Root in potting mix.
Coleus
The colorful foliage of these shade-loving plants grows quickly from cuttings. Root in soil or cups of water.
Mint
Mint’s aggressive growing nature lends itself perfectly to plant swaps! Root 2-4 inch cuttings in potting soil.
Geranium
Both scented and zonal geraniums root easily from 3-4 inch softwood or semi-ripe cuttings. Root in sterile soil.
These and many other plants root well from mail-order cuttings. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different varieties.
Creative Ways to Use Your Free Plant Cuttings
Once your free plant cuttings have successfully rooted and grown, what will you do with your new free plants? Here are some creative ways to fill your indoor and outdoor spaces:
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Houseplant wall or ladder displays
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Mini fairy gardens with small varieties
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Kitchen windowsill herb garden
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Outdoor succulent or cactus garden
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Plant gifts for friends and family
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Donate plants to schools, nursing homes, or charity sales
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Plant swaps to pay-it-forward and trade for more unusual varieties
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Eclectic indoor pots and planters showcasing different textures
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Outdoor patio planting beds and container designs
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Fragrant indoor plant arrangements of scented geraniums, mint, etc.
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Moss pole or trellis planting for vining cuttings
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Classroom greenhouses, garden clubs, and plant labs for schools
Think outside the pot when putting your rooted cuttings to use! Playing with design ideas and uses for your free plants encourages your creativity.
The possibilities are endless when you have access to a regular supply of free plant cuttings delivered to your doorstep. Get connected with other plant lovers and get ready for the fun surprise of checking your mail!
How to Divide to Get Free Plants
Division is an easy process that splits one plant into several, best done in spring or fall. Any plant that grows with more than one central “stalk” is technically a candidate for division, but certain plants are easier pickings. In other words, plants that grow in “clumps”. Good choices? Most perennials without a taproot, such as hostas, day lilies, iris, grasses, phlox, coneflower, black eyed susans, asters and astilbe. (And many, many more!) The basic steps?
- Dig up the plant with a sharp spade
- Separate the crowns to make new plants. You can tease the roots apart with your fingers with some plants, but others you may have to cut them with a knife. Don’t worry, they will be fine!
- Replant each crown you separated as a new plant immediately, and water well until they get established.
Check out this tutorial on how to divide perennials from ‘Garden Gate Magazine‘. They have tons of tips, step by step photos, and even tell you when is the best time to divide!
- Hostas
- Bee Balm
- Purple Coneflower
- Daylily
- Phlox
- Black Eyed Susan
- Lily of the Valley
- Sedums
- Chrysanthemum
- Bearded Iris
- Bachelor Buttons
This list is far from exhaustive! Remember, DO NOT try to divide perennials with woody crowns or a taproot.
How to Propagate any Plant |Multiply Your Plants for Free!|
FAQ
How to get plant cuttings for free?
Ask friends, neighbours, family or work colleagues (particularly those who are keen gardeners) for any plant cuttings, extra plants they don’t need or seeds. This is one of the easiest ways to grow your garden for free. Someone else’s green ‘waste’ is a treasure trove of goodies for gardeners on a budget.
Is it legal to mail plant cuttings?
You can ship most plants within most of the United States provided mailing them is not prohibited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). However, it’s important to know that some states have especially strict regulations regarding the shipping of plants; they include California, Florida, and Hawaii.
Why is it illegal to propagate plants?
Comments Section It’s illegal to propagate for sale and profit. Because those specific hybrids essentially have a patent on them. To elaborate on this: As with any product, research and development goes into creating hybrids or cultivated varieties.
Does hydrogen peroxide help cuttings root?
When hydrogen peroxide is added to water, it breaks down into oxygen and water, providing a gentle source of extra oxygen for roots. This can be particularly helpful for seedlings and cuttings that are trying to establish themselves. In addition, hydrogen peroxide can help to control fungal growth and root rot.