How to pot plants - Suggested pricing methods
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1) Label plastic tag as illustrated below |
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Named varieties of specialty plants such as Peonies, Hostas, Irises, and Daylilies can usually be found in catalogs and priced at about half the commercial rate. Common or unnamed varieties would probably bring about $2.00 and named varieties somewhat higher to much higher. Divisions should be 3 to 5 eyes for peonies (hopefully divided last fall); double or triple growths of others; at least triple for Siberian Irises. Larger sizes are not especially desirable.
Fast spreading and/or invasive plants (many of which are wonderful, just need to watched) will need to be priced fairly low but depend on pot size. Very small pots would bring $.50, while medium pots would bring about $1.50 and large pots as much as $2.50. This would apply to most ground covers well established in their pots, as well as Monardas, Yellow Loosestrife, Gooseneck Loosestrife (we must not sell purple loosestrife!), Obedient Plant, Silver King Artemisia, etc. Named, improved varieties could bring $.50 for more.
Clump forming perennials that divide readily into many plants such as Phlox, Asters. Chrysanthemums, Astilbe, Campanulas, if named, should bring higher prices than those by color. Many of these plants can be divided into very small pieces, but small named ones should still bring at least $2.00, unnamed, identified by color should be priced at $1.00 - $1.50. Run-of-the-garden or seedling plants $.50 to $1.00. Larger plants should bring more.
Seed grown perennials, except garden volunteers, even if very small, should be priced at $1.00 or at $5.00 per six pack with increases up to $2.50 each for larger plants. Some varieties come in packets of very few seeds, or at very high prices. These would call for higher prices than packets containing many seeds sold at moderate prices.
Plants not offered commercially such as woodland wildflowers (garden propagated, of course) that increase slowly could certainly start at $2.50, and go much higher depending on size and rarity.
A Few Examples (assuming all are well established in proper sized pots)
| Pot Size | Plant Name | $ Price | Pot Size | Plant Name | $ Price | |
| 3" | Lily of the Valley | 1.00 | 3" | Gooseneck Loosestrife | 1.00 | |
| 3" | Delphinium Pacific strain | 2.50 | 3" | Sundrops | 1.00 | |
| 6 pack | Pacific Delpinium | 5.00 | 5" | Sundrops | 2.00 | |
| 5" | Daylily 'Chicago Two Bits' | 3.50 | 5" | Ladies' Mantle | 3.00 | |
| 5" | Common Orange Daylily | 1.50 | 5" | Dame's Rocket | 1.00 | |
| 5" | Siberian Iris 'Caesar's Brother" | 2.50 | 5" | Balloon Flower | 3.00 | |
| 5" | Siberian Iris 'Woodwind Spring' | 4.00 | 6 pack | Balloon Flowers | 5.00 | |
| 3" | Phlox "Starfire' | 2.50 | 3" | Sedum, unnamed | 1.00 | |
| 3" | Phlox, pink | 1.50 | 3" | Sedum, 'Autumn Joy' | 3.00 |
Plants should be dug at least ten days before the sale and potted in plants that fit the root system, watered well and kept moist but saturated. If frost threatens, protect with covers or put in garage. Do not expose to full sun for a few days. Compost, available free at composting sites, makes a good temporary potting soil.
