5 Best Plant Subscription Boxes for a Greener, Happier Home
Updated: Apr. 09, 2024
Give the gift of greenery all year long with one of these plant subscription boxes.
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There are plenty of benefits to filling your home with indoor plants. Not only do they look nice, but caring for air purifying plants, indoor hanging plants or indoor flowering plants can actually make you happier. If that isn’t reason enough, growing medicinal herbs can help relieve common ailments, like sunburn or indigestion.
Whether you want to clear the air, master the art of decorating with plants or you’re looking to surprise a plant-loving friend with a gift that keeps giving year-round, plant subscription boxes are a fun idea. There are plenty of options out there for beginners, seasoned horticulturalists and everyone in between. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite plant subscription boxes with inexpensive plants, low-light houseplants and low-maintenance plants to spruce up your space. They’re all available online, so place your order now!
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Best overall
Lively Root Subscription Boxes
What makes for the best plant subscription services? Flexibility, variety and a happiness guarantee that ensures you’ll always get a happy and healthy plant to love. Lively Root offers three quarterly subscription options for every type of plant parent. Newbies can opt for the Easy Care Plant Subscription while more experienced gardeners will enjoy the Rare & Special Plant Subscription. There’s even a Pet Friendly Plant Subscription, as well as a monthly Miniature Rose Subscription.
Lively Root has a subscribe-and-save option for some of their top-selling plants. Just choose your size, indoor plant pot and whether you’d like to receive a new plant every one, two or three months. Need to take a month off? No problem! You can skip, pause or cancel your membership at any time. You can also swap plants if you need a change, or gift your next delivery to someone else if you’d like. Not confident in your plant parenting? You may want to check out these realistic-looking fake plants instead.
Pros
- Extensive variety of subscriptions and plants to choose from
- Has pet-friendly options
- Lively Root will replace your plant if it arrives damaged or dead
Cons
- Subscribe-and-save not offered for all plants
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Best budget
Cratejoy House Plant Box
If you’re looking to add greenery to your home without spending a ton, then sign up for Cratejoy’s House Plant Box. Each month, you’ll receive a different 4-inch potted plant grown by a family owned, fourth-generation greenhouse, along with hand-illustrated care instructions. The plants are selected based on things like coloration, character, foliage, form, seasonality and diversity.
Cratejoy offers one-, three-, six- or 12-month subscription plans with the option to cancel at any time. But the best part? A month-to-month subscription will only set you back $25 a month, and Cratejoy offers a discount if you sign up for a three-, six- or 12-month term.
Pros
- Budget-friendly subscription options
- Includes a variety of diverse plants
- Comes with a care instructions pamphlet
Cons
- If your plant arrives damaged, you’ll have to contact the seller directly for a refund or replacement
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Click & Grow Smart Garden
If your space doesn’t get a ton of natural light, Click & Grow allows you to grow, well, pretty much anything. To start, you’ll get a Smart Garden that includes nine plant pods: three basil, three tomato and three lettuce. All you do is put the pods in the garden and let the system handle the rest, from lighting to watering.
Once you have the Smart Garden, you can continue a plant pod subscription. Choose which plants you want to receive, how many and how often—it’s that easy! If you end up with a plant that doesn’t sprout, the company will send a replacement. By the way, if growing your own food is your jam, then be sure to add one of these indoor herb garden kits to your home.
Pros
- Grows flowers, herbs, fruits, vegetables or a combination
- Works in low-light environments
- Two Smart Garden sizes to choose from
Cons
- The initial cost of the garden is expensive
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Best for planning ahead
Harry & David Plant of the Month Club
Unlike some other plant subscription boxes, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting each month with Harry & David’s Gift Plant of the Month Club. Whether you choose its three-, six- or 12-month subscription box, you’ll see what’s coming every month right on the website.
Your first month includes a decorative planter. After that, each 6-inch plant will arrive in its own grow pot with care instructions to help it thrive. (Here are some indoor plant pots and plant stands to help get you excited for those upcoming deliveries!) If you’re unsatisfied with your new plant, Harry & David’s customer service will do their best to make things right with a refund or replacement.
Pros
- You know exactly what you’re getting each month
- Subscription includes a mix of flowers and succulents
- First delivery comes in a decorative planter
Cons
- Must pay for the entire subscription up front
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Horti Subscription Box
Whether you’re new to plant care, have a well-established green thumb or worry about your pets and plants, Horti has a box for you—and they start at just $24 a month. You can grow at your own pace with a month-to-month subscription, or embark on a six-month journey into plant parenting. For those who are really looking to hone their skills while creating a lush indoor jungle, there’s even a 12-month option.
Horti will begin your membership with hardy plants that are ideal for new plant owners. From there, the company will gradually introduce you to new species as you get the hang of your new hobby. Each plant comes with a 6-inch clay pot and saucer and, some months, you can also expect to receive some fun exercises coupled with planting tools or accessories.
If you find that plant care isn’t for you, no worries. You can pause or cancel your membership at any time before your order processes. And if you happen to receive a damaged plant or your plant dies within the first 15 days, Horti will replace it.
Pros
- Starts with easier plants and gradually builds up
- Has a month-to-month option
- Each plant comes with a clay pot and saucer
Cons
- Colorful pots are more expensive
What to consider when buying a plant subscription box
When selecting the best plant subscription box, there are a few things to keep in mind. Start with your wants. Are you looking for small indoor plants, or do you have a space you’d like to fill with tall indoor plants? Or would you just prefer a regular flower delivery service, because even though you love the idea of bringing nature into your home, the thought of having to care for a plant is downright daunting?
Another thing to consider is whether or not you have pets. If you do, make sure that you aren’t bringing in any houseplants that are poisonous to cats or dogs. Look for a service, like Lively Root, that offers a pet-friendly subscription.
How we found the best plant subscription box
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQ
What’s included in a plant subscription box?
Each plant subscription box is different. Some boxes include a plant in a decorative planter while others might include a basic grow pot. Some even come with the occasional gardening tool or accessory to keep things fun.
What if a plant arrives damaged or unhealthy?
Almost all of the plant subscription box companies on our list have a satisfaction guarantee, meaning it’ll replace any plants that arrive dead or damaged.
Can plant subscription boxes be canceled?
Most of the plant subscription boxes on our list can be canceled, paused or even gifted to someone else at any time.
Originally Published: November 18, 2021
