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Home » Backyard Living » The $5.97 Plant Pricing Model.

The $5.97 Plant Pricing Model.

Updated : April 8, 2016

18 Comments

-Mike McGroarty, The most significant part of my life story.

The most significant part of my life story.

I’ve been at this plant selling thing a long time and if You’ve Read My Story You Know That.

My Secret Potting Soil Recipe

But I want people to know . . .

When I started I was scared.

How do you know you can sell what you grow?  That’s always the million dollar question.  The answer is simple.  If you grow nice plants, people will buy them.  When Our Members Experience that for the First Time they are giddy with excitement.  It’s why I do what I do.

When I made the decision to quit field growing which was the traditional way of growing plants, and only grow plants in small containers and sell them for $4.00 each, that was a bonafide crazy idea!!!  Nobody had ever done that before because it was just plain “stupid”.

I didn’t believe that.

So armed with a tiny bit of experience selling a few plants at $4.00 each I changed my entire operation.  From that moment on every single one of my plants would sell for $4.00.  It was a crazy thing to do.

Free Today: Download These Simple Potting Bench Plans and Simple Hoop House Plans

But, I knew that if I rooted the cutting, my only cost was a pot and soil.  Less than 35 cents at the time.  There was plenty of profit to be had.  In fact, more than 400% profit!  Not a business on the plant has those kinds of margins except us little growers.

It worked.  I sold a ton of plants at $4.00.

So I raised the price to $4.97.  I held My Last Plant Sale at this Location, in four weeks time we sold more than $25,000 worth of plants at only $4.97 each!  And that was 2003!

Today I am struggling desperately to get back to one price for everything in the nursery.  That’s my “Unique Selling Proposition”, every plant in the joint, only $5.97 each.  I can’t wait to get back to that!

Because of that decision to do something that the rest of the plant growing world thought “Stupid”, today I have an amazing life.  I’ve Been Building My New Nursery Since 2010 and I’ve loved every second of it.  I can’t wait until once again, every single plant in the place is $5.97!  I foolishly took a different route when I started at the new place, but I truly don’t like it.

Miniature Donkeys Running for President.

Miniature Donkeys Running for President.

Special: A Quick and Easy Way to Make Money at Home Growing Plants

Today I have Miniature Donkeys that I Love to Death.

They are awesome!  And . . . they The Donkeys are Running for President!

-Mike McGroarty My Net Worth at a Very Low Point in my Life.

My Net Worth at a Very Low Point in my Life.

The Pepsi bottles?  Yeah.  It’s actually a difficult story to tell, but it’s important to who I am and how I arrived here, today.  You Can Read that Story Here.

Magic will Happen!

Growing small plants has completely changed my life just as it has So Many of Our Members.  You don’t have to grow thousands like I do, start out with 20, magic will happen.

Do not look at Pam's hair!

Do not look at Pam’s hair!

Exclusive: Free Plans to Build Your Own Simple Homemade Plant Propagation System

This is my wife Pam, working diligently making$5.97 plants.  She’s not happy that I took this photo because her hair wasn’t “done”.  She’s spends a great deal of time with me at the nursery, keeping me organized, making sure the plants look great for our plant sales.  She’s awesome!

Questions or comments?  Post them below!

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Comments

  1. Jeff says

    September 7, 2016 at 9:44 pm

    Two questions can you easily propagate convex leaf Holly? And what videos do you have on giving some plants in containers some protection this winter thanks for all you do!

    Reply
    • Mike says

      September 8, 2016 at 8:53 am

      Jeff,

      Japanese Hollies are fairly easy from cuttings, but they are an evergreen and much slower to root than other things. But I’ve stuck them in a bed of sand in the winter and had them root. I’d try some now, in the shade, keep them watered until they go dormant. If you had this system, https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/mikes-plant-propagation-kit/, they would be easy to do now, but they will root without it. See this; https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/

      Winter cuttings; https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/

      Over wintering potted plants; https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2013/11/over-wintering-protecting-plants-for-the-winter/

      Reply
  2. Willie Singleton says

    August 24, 2016 at 8:57 pm

    Hi Mikes I just ran across your website.,I am trying to start sell small pots next year. I am very interest in joining your garden club I love flowers. And learn how to root them. I buy small flowers and watch them grow

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 25, 2016 at 7:07 pm

      Willie,

      Stay tuned, make sure you sign up for our mailing list on this site, we’ll be accepting new members some time in the fall. http://backyardgrowers.com/join

      Reply
  3. Kevin says

    June 1, 2016 at 10:10 am

    Can you do a video about crape myrtle propagation? Crape myrtles are very popular where i live, and i am going to make them my specialized tree. or just explain to me how its done. Some of the CM have some kind of fungus at the top section of the new growth. I don’t know what that is!

    Reply
    • Mike says

      June 1, 2016 at 6:32 pm

      Kevin, If you follow instructions for softwood cuttings I think you’ll have great success. https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/

      Reply
  4. Donna Davison says

    May 3, 2016 at 2:40 pm

    Hi Mike,

    I’m a newbie and just received my first two shipments of rooted cuttings. You have provided so much wonderful info that I’m overwhelmed and don’t know what to do first. I need to buy the right size pots from you, but don’t know where to go to do that. The Business Center products tab doesn’t work. I don’t know how to label them, although I did read quite a bit about labeling in the BC. Do I put a couple of each in my yard for future cuttings? Can I put some in plastic pots I’ve accumulated from years of gardening until I get the right size from you? Do I need to put some in sand? I don’t want to kill my new babies. Thanks

    Reply
    • Mike says

      May 4, 2016 at 8:14 am

      Donna,

      The members area opens up again June 1st, I highly suggest you take the test drive, http://backyardgrowers.com/join. Our pots are here, http://backyardgrowers.com/plastic-nursery-pots/. You can use any pot you have for now. If you want to plant some in bed for cuttings later that’s a great idea. Sand is for rooting cuttings which starts in June, https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/mikes-plant-propagation-kit/.

      Reply
  5. Lewis Meyer says

    April 18, 2016 at 11:12 pm

    Hey Mike,
    I’ve been following you for a few years now and reading your articles. I do stump grinding and things are quickly moving into landscaping… The skid loader opens all kinds of opportunities. I have never rooted clippings or anything like that, I’ve just been sending people your way.

    I enjoy your articles. Your testimony of how you started is similar to mine. Difficulties can sure give an individual perspective! God bless you, Mike.

    Lewis Meyer
    Lancaster, PA

    Reply
    • Mike says

      April 19, 2016 at 7:31 am

      Lewis,

      Wishing you the best of success in your business. I spent many, many years landscaping and truly enjoyed it. And I do miss it. It’s a great way to make a living.

      Reply
  6. patricia scott says

    April 18, 2016 at 8:29 pm

    hi mike i want to ask you somyhing what kind of pestaside do you use on your plants please help me ive got about 150 cuttings done potted up and something is trying to eat on the leaves thank you your friend patricia

    Reply
    • Mike says

      April 19, 2016 at 7:43 am

      Patricia,

      I rarely, if ever use insecticides in my nursery. But any general insecticide should do the trick if you think you need it.

      Reply
  7. Rupa says

    April 9, 2016 at 7:47 pm

    Thanks for responding so quickly. My other question is can you do the same to trees? My parents have witch hazel and cherry tree that I’m interested in clipping branches.

    Reply
    • Rupa says

      April 9, 2016 at 8:15 pm

      I wish I lived closer to go to your plant sale

      Reply
      • Mike says

        April 10, 2016 at 9:10 am

        Rupa,

        I wish you did too!

        Reply
    • Mike says

      April 10, 2016 at 9:10 am

      Rupa,

      You can try, but many trees grow best from seed. More refined varities are budded or grafted onto those seedlings.

      Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    April 8, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    What plants propagate well from branches?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      April 8, 2016 at 9:34 pm

      Not branches, but 5″ cuttings. Here’s a list, 21 Plants that are Easy to Grow and Sell Like Crazy

      The following 21 plants are really easy to grow and they sell like hot cakes. They always have been really good sellers and they always will be really good sellers. And this list is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to plants that you can grow and sell that people want to buy.

      1. Forsythia

      2. Red Weigela

      3. Varigated Weigela

      4. Pink Flowering Weigela

      5. Red Twig Dogwood

      6. Fragrant Viburnums

      7. All Flowering Viburnums

      8. Potentilla

      9. Dappled Willow

      10. Pussy Willow

      11. Daylillies

      12. Hosta

      13. Huchera

      14. All kinds of Perennials

      15. Armeria

      16. Boxwood

      17. Japanese Hollies

      18. English Hollies

      19. Rhododendrons

      20. PJM Dwarf Rhododendron

      21. Hydrangeas

      22. Rose of Sharon

      23. Dwarf Alberta Spruce

      24. White Dogwood trees

      25. Chinese Dogwoods

      26. Blue Rug Juniper

      27. Gold Flame Spirea

      28. Gold Mound Spirea

      29. Ornamental Grasses of all kinds

      30. Crimson Pygmy Barberry

      31. Rosy Glow Barberry

      Okay, that’s 31 and I could go on forever.

      Here are some plants for warmer zones, 8,9, and 10

      Fragrant Tea Olive,

      Gardenia,

      Camellia,

      Azalea,

      Jasmines

      Palm trees

      Tropical Hibiscus

      Burgundy Chinese Fringe Flower

      Bogainvilla

      Owari & Hamlin Oranges

      Satsuma

      Kumquat

      Azalea (out the wazoo down here)

      Crepe Myrtle (ditto)

      Lilies

      Camelias

      amaryllis

      hybrids such as Blossom Peacock and Papillo

      Japanese Pieris

      Satsuma’s

      Star gazer lilies

      Crape Myrtles of all kinds

      Gardenia varieties-evergreen

      Azalea varieties-evergreen & deciduous(native)

      Camellia varieties-evergreen

      Fragrant Tea Olive-evergreen

      Nandina varieties-evergreen

      Loropetalum/Chinese fringe flowers

      Chase Tree

      Abelia -so many new exciting varieties -good for zones 6-10!

      Viburnums

      Daphne

      Cleyera-evergreen

      Burning Bush/ Euonymus varieties…

      Spirea -especially Bridalwreath, Little Princess, Goldmound…

      Butterfly Bushes

      Jasmines (vines-Carolina, Confederate)

      Confederate Rose

      Lady Banks Rose

      Anise (check out Florida Sunshine)

      Holly-Soft Touch/Sky Pencil/Youpon/Burfordii….

      Crape Myrtles

      Japanese Magnolias(Saucer, Betty, Royal Star…)

      Southern Magnolias

      Dogwoods

      Red Buds

      Japanese Maples

      Evergreen hedge trees/shrubs

      Leyland Cypress
      Murray/Arborvitae
      Japanese Cedar(cryptomeria)
      false cypress(Chamaecyparis…)

      Junipers-Blue Rug, Sargentii, Blue Point,…

      Trees:

      Chinense Pistache

      Fruitless Mulberry

      Weeping Willow

      Live oak

      Red oak

      Catalpa

      Vitex (or Chaste Tree)

      Desert Willow

      Shrub:

      Nellie R Stevens

      Wax Myrtle

      Red Tip Photinia

      Korean Boxwood

      Radicans Gardenia

      Loropetalum

      Yaupon Holly

      Perennials:

      Salvias

      Sedums

      Butterfly Bush

      Reeves Spiraea

      Van Houtti Spiraea

      Vines:

      Honeysuckle (coral)

      Crossvine

      Star Jasmine

      Reply

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