If you’re looking for a plant that not only brings color to your garden but also some extra cash to your pocket, mums (chrysanthemums) might be just the ticket. Over the years, I’ve seen more than a few backyard growers turn a tidy profit from these tough, popular plants. Whether you want to sell them at a local market, to landscapers, or even online, mums can be a reliable moneymaker if you know what you’re doing.
In this guide, I’ll share what I’ve learned over the years about growing and selling mums to make some extra money—without needing a huge investment up front.
Why Mums Are a Great Plant to Sell
In our private member’s only website, we have growers who compete with each other every year to see how many mums they can sell in the fall. Last I knew, two growers have already sold over $50,000 and it’s not even October yet! It’s both entertaining and instructive following their competition… our members love it!
There are a few reasons mums are ideal for turning a profit:
High Demand: Mums are a go-to plant for fall landscaping. People love them for their bright colors and ability to thrive when other flowers are fading. Come autumn, you can barely drive through a neighborhood without seeing mums on porches, in gardens, or along driveways.
Easy to Grow: Mums don’t require a lot of fuss. Once you’ve got your process down, they practically grow themselves with the right care.
Low Startup Costs: You don’t need fancy equipment or a huge plot of land to start growing mums. They’re easy to propagate from cuttings or divide from existing plants, which means you can multiply your stock quickly without spending much money. Just follow this proven step-by-step system for growing and selling small plants from home.
How to Grow Mums for Profit
Start Small and Scale Up
If you’re just getting started, you don’t need to grow thousands of plants to make a profit. Start with a manageable number of mums, say 50-100 plants, and build up from there. You can easily scale up each season by dividing the plants or taking cuttings, which keeps your costs low.
Choosing the Right Varieties
There are many types of mums, but not all are created equal when it comes to selling. Focus on garden mums, which are hardy perennials that come back year after year. These are the ones people want for landscaping because they can survive winter and return the next season.
Also, choose popular colors and types that are in high demand, like:
- Yellow and orange: Big sellers in the fall.
- Purple and pink: Great for late summer blooms.
- Decorative types: Full, bushy mums that make a big impact.
The more variety you offer, the better chance you have of meeting customer preferences and making more sales.
Growing Mums in Bulk
Once you’ve got a few mums going, the goal is to increase your inventory as cheaply and efficiently as possible. Here’s how:
Propagating from Cuttings
Take cuttings from healthy plants and stick them in moist soil. Within a few weeks, you’ll have new plants ready to grow. You can root as many as 10,000 mums at a time with this DIY propagation system.
Dividing Plants
Every couple of years, dig up your mums and divide the root ball into smaller sections. Each of these can be planted separately to grow into full plants. This is a fast way to multiply your stock.
Starting from Seeds
This method takes longer, but it’s dirt cheap if you’re patient. You can buy seeds in bulk for next to nothing and start your own plants from scratch.
Caring for Mums to Maximize Profit
Taking care of your mums is critical if you want to sell them at top dollar. Customers are willing to pay for healthy, vibrant plants, but not for sickly or underperforming ones.
Watering and Fertilizing
Mums like consistent watering, especially when they’re young. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Overwatering can lead to root rot, which will hurt your chances of making a profit.
Feed your mums with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season. This will ensure they stay strong and produce plenty of blooms, which is what will sell your plants.
Pinching for Fuller Plants
If you want mums that people can’t resist buying, you need to make sure they grow full and bushy. You do this by pinching them back. When your plants reach about 6 inches tall, pinch off the top inch of growth. Do this a couple of times through the growing season, and you’ll get plants that are dense and loaded with blooms. Customers love full plants, so this extra step can really pay off.
Keep Pests and Diseases at Bay
Healthy plants sell better, plain and simple. Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids or spider mites. A little insecticidal soap can take care of those. Make sure your plants have good air circulation to avoid fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Healthy plants not only look better, but they also sell faster and for more money.
How to Sell Your Mums
Now that you’ve got a batch of healthy, thriving mums, it’s time to sell them. Here are some ideas for where and how to market your plants:
Local Farmers’ Markets
One of the easiest places to sell your mums is at a local farmers’ market. In the fall, people flock to these markets to buy seasonal plants, and mums are always a hit. Make sure to display your plants in an eye-catching way and offer a range of colors and sizes. Price them competitively, and you’ll see them fly off the shelves.
Landscapers and Garden Centers
Landscapers are always looking for plants to use in their fall projects. Reach out to local landscapers and offer your mums in bulk. They’ll appreciate having a reliable local supplier, and you can sell a lot of plants at once. Garden centers are also a great option if you’re producing enough to supply them. These businesses often look for locally grown plants to offer something unique to their customers.
Online Sales
Don’t overlook selling your mums online. You can set up a simple website or sell through platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or even Etsy if you want to reach a larger audience. But the easiest way to sell mums online is by using this private member’s only website. Just keep in mind that shipping plants can be tricky, so start local until you figure out the logistics.
Fundraisers
Another great way to sell mums is by partnering with local schools or organizations for fundraisers. Mums are easy to sell, especially in the fall, and organizations are always looking for new ways to raise money. You can offer your mums at a discount, and they can sell them at a markup, making it a win-win for both sides.
Pricing Your Mums for Profit
When it comes to pricing, you want to cover your costs and make a profit, but still stay competitive. Here are a few factors to consider when pricing your mums:
Size
Larger, more established mums will sell for more than smaller ones. A full, blooming plant can go for anywhere between $10-$20 depending on your local market.
Local Demand
See what other growers and nurseries in your area are charging and price your mums accordingly. If your plants are top-notch, you can often charge a little more than the competition.
Time of Year
Fall is prime mum season, so you can charge a bit more when demand is high. Consider offering early-season discounts to get people excited and buying before the peak season.
Get Started Today!
Growing and selling mums can be a great way to earn some extra cash, whether you’re just selling a few plants out of your backyard or looking to scale up into a full-blown business. They’re in high demand, easy to grow, and don’t require a huge investment to get started. By taking care of your plants, marketing them smartly, and finding the right sales channels, you can turn these colorful fall favorites into a steady source of income.
So, if you’re looking to make money with mums, now’s the time to get growing! There’s a market out there waiting for what you can offer. You can get step-by-step instructions on how to start growing and selling mums from home right here.
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