This Plant Subscription Box Means a New Houseplant on Your Doorstep Regularly
Updated: Nov. 01, 2023
Whether you're a first-time plant parent or a seasoned pro, Horti's plant subscription box will help you grow.
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Like a lot of people, I started working remotely during the pandemic. That means I suddenly found myself staring at the plain white walls of my home office, wishing that I could spruce them up with, well, a spruce—or another type of hardy houseplant. Enter Horti. This Brooklyn-based plant retailer has created a plant subscription box that’s ideal for first-time plant parents (or second- or third-timers who’ve convinced themselves that they can’t keep anything green alive). It also makes a fun gift subscription for friends or family.
What is the Horti plant subscription box?
Each of Horti’s monthly plant subscription boxes comes packed with everything you’ll need to keep your plant happy and healthy. Generally, that means that you’ll get a hard-to-kill houseplant in a 6-inch clay pot, matching saucer and set of instructions explaining exactly how to care for your new plant. Sometimes the company also sends along helpful gardening tools or other gardening accessories.
The company offers a few different types of subscription:
- New to planting: If you can’t tell the difference between a ficus and a fern, then this is probably the option for you. The plants that come in this box are especially hardy, meaning that they won’t shrivel up or turn brown if you accidentally forget to water them for a few days.
- Pet-friendly: In a perfect world, our furry friends would live in harmony with our leafy green ones. In reality, some pets will eat anything they can get their paws on. Fortunately, Horti employees cross-check each plant in this subscription box against the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (ASCPA) library of non-toxic plants to make sure that your dog or cat will be OK even if they do end up nibbling on a leaf or two.
- Horti’s pick: Dealer’s choice! Staff members choose the plants that go into this box based on user feedback and their own personal preferences.
Horti also offers a rare plant subscription box. It’s more expensive than the other options, but it’s a good pick for indoor gardeners who already own several plants and are looking to branch out (sorry, not sorry!) a bit. Past boxes have included hard-to-find species, like the Philodendron Pink Princess, Alocasia Cuprea and Black Jewel Orchid.
Subscribers get to choose how often they’d like to receive a box. Fixed six-month and twelve-month options are available, and more flexible month-to-month and quarterly plans are options, too. If you choose a fixed subscription, it will end automatically at the end of the set period. (So you don’t have to worry about your credit card being charged over and over again.) And if you choose a more flexible subscription, you can skip an order or cancel your subscription at any time.
Why I Love It
Horti helps demystify the plant-buying process. It’s a solid choice for would-be gardeners who are overwhelmed by their options or worried that they’ll end up killing their plants. The detailed care instructions that are included in each box are easy to follow. Plus, the plants themselves are hardy enough to withstand a little neglect.
We also love the company’s packaging and aesthetics. Each plant comes in its own attractive clay pot (though, if you already own a collection of pretty vases or pots, you can opt for “naked” plants instead), and subscribers get to choose from several colorways.
That’s not to say that there isn’t room for improvement. Subscribers don’t get many options beyond the three subscription types mentioned above, and shoppers interested in signing up for a flowering plant subscription box should probably look elsewhere. Budget shoppers can find cheaper houseplant gift subscription services, too.
Still, Horti is one of the best options out there for beginner-level plant parents. And, because of its cute packaging and attention to aesthetics, it makes an ideal gift.
Pros
- Each plant is hardy
- Comes with detailed care instructions
- Can tailor the plant subscription box to skill level
- The pots are cute and customizable
- Fixed subscriptions expire automatically, and the flexible ones can be canceled at any time
Cons
- Options are somewhat limited
- Horti is more expensive than some other plant subscription boxes
Where to Buy a Horti Subscription Box
Horti plant subscription boxes ship nationwide through USPS or UPS. Flexible subscription prices start at $30 a month and increase depending on the add-ons or shipping options that you choose. Staffers wrap the plants carefully to ensure that they aren’t damaged en route. They even check the forecast before processing your order and, in the event of a major storm, they’ll delay the order until it’s safe to ship.
If you live in New York City, or you’re angling for an excuse to visit, you can choose to pick up your box in person, for a slight discount. Shoppers who visit the company’s Williamsburg showroom can also scope out rare plants that aren’t available online.
Regardless of which subscription you end up choosing, you’ll soon be able to brighten up your home with a pretty plant, and that’s certainly worth a little green.
Originally Published: April 20, 2023
