August 2020 - 18

MINIATURE GARDENING
Where do you
If you want your business to
perform better, grow stronger,
and be positioned for whatever
the future brings, there's no
better place to belong than
AmericanHort.
For more than 220 years, we've been
the green industry's leading association,
answering your questions, representing
you in government, and connecting you
with other horticultural professionals at
our annual trade show, Cultivate.
Join us today, and see how
we're better together.
craze. We also recommend starting small with this new
selling opportunity, and as the popularity of this experience
begins to grow, so can the dedicated space and inventory.
All the Right Plants
A huge trend right now in indoor gardening is miniature
everything. Tiny pottery, micro figurines and baby-sized plants
are all the rage. The most popular of them all: the succulent.
Between their low-maintenance care requirements and all of
the colorful options available, succulents continue to be the
No. 1 indoor plant purchase. By making the miniature versions
of these arid plants available in an experiential environment,
retailers can draw regular waves of plant project builders.
Some other popular plant miniatures include mixed
varieties of ferns, tropical plants, living stones, Tillandsia
(air plants) and small cacti. All of these plant types thrive
in miniature gardens and indoor spaces. Since the plant
purchase is usually the most inexpensive part of the project,
most plant parents aren't afraid of the investment as these
tiny plants are easily and affordably replaceable. If building a
miniature plant library feels overwhelming, start with just one
plant type. As the market begins to grow and staff becomes
more comfortable taking care of these little plants, introduce
new varieties to keep the interest and momentum going.
Miniature Up-Sells
Customers look to retailers as the miniature garden experts
to help in keeping their little worlds thriving. By offering
advice on light exposure and watering schedules, you can
establish customer confidence that they have come to the
right place. This knowledge can also lead to additional sales in
post-planting care.
Some excellent options that serve as both decorative and
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functional pieces are terrarium tools and plant misters. Not
only do consumers find these miniature tools adorable but
they make building and maintaining a terrarium or tabletop
garden a breeze. A plant mister is a great way to introduce a
little humidity into terrariums and to indoor plants. They also
look great sitting on a shelf! With design finishes ranging
from vintage glass to trend-forward metallics, there is a
plant mister for any décor type. These pieces also make great
affordable gifts for the indoor gardener.
By embracing the miniature gardening craze, retailers
can easily expand their offerings to include an experiential
component and capitalize on a new group of plant
aficionados. Although the price point of these tiny plants may
seem small, when combined with the accessory pairings, you
can really drive up the size of the overall sale. Remember that
these little plants are heavily trending - and once consumers
start a collection of these little life forms, it becomes
addictive! By implementing everything needed for miniature
gardening in a one-stop-shop and combining it all with an
experiential component, you can count on guaranteed success
for years to come.
Derek Woodruff is owner of Floral Underground, a fresh floral
subscription service based in Traverse City, Michigan, and a brand
ambassador for Syndicate Home & Garden.
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August 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2020
