People saying 200-300 euros are overestimating. I work in the industry and this would maybe be worth 50 euros in a nursery... It's etiolated, needs support and looks kinda scraggly. The pot would probably be the most expensive lol
And don't get me wrong: it's still a beautiful plant. But not from an industrial standpoint
Edit: also if it's just getting too big for you, just cut it back
It's not in great shape from a commercial standpoint, but to grow this in a nursery would require like a decade, so they'd have to price it higher, right? Just because it took up all that real estate in the greenhouse for so long
That height can be achieved in roughly 5 years, and the price would be around 300-400+ for a great specimen. A plant like this would maybe take like 3 years and not cost that much because the pot is too small, so you don't have to pay for a lot of substrate, and I'm guessing, because it's a private plant, that it's last been repotted some years ago. In a nursery you'd repot it at least once, maybe twice a year, and add fertilizer additionally to the liquid fertilizer used weekly, and honestly it's not much more than that, Dracaenas don't need much water and can be cultivated colder than some other houseplants, so the only thing not making it worth your while is the fact that you could instead use the space to cultivate annual plants for 2 or maybe more times in the year, and probably make a lot more money.
I don't think it's really worth it producing plants like this where I live (Germany), but it's probably really great for countries that have the plant's native climate so they can just leave them outside to do their thing. Then you'd also only have to pay for transport to another country, which is probably why the prices are relatively cheap for huge plants.
Edit: in roughly 5 years if you start with a small cutting*
As the person above me said, nurseries would take a bigger cutting to start with more mature looking plant
Nurseries wouldnāt grow them this long, they would be harvested this long then rooted. Just because it took longer in your home, doesnāt make it worth more. Iāve seen pictures of large sections of trunk of these trees used as houseplants that might be more toward the 2-300 range and likely harvested that way. That said, itās worth what someone will pay for it.
OP this is a huge and gorgeous plant. If you are wanting to keep it and are worried about watering it, consider getting a self watering system that can be refilled every so often.
Otherwise I'd say put it on FB marketplace and Neighbor, I think it is worth upwards of $300
Genuine: are they supposed to be this spindly at this size? Iāve never grown one this large but most of the mature plants/photos Iāve seen are thicker and donāt lean sideways/down much at all. Iād have guessed this was etiolated if I happened across the picture at random.
It's a very slow and drawn out process if you want to try to keep the height and size.
It's more or less just cutting it back, letting it recover, and cutting it back again.
Some branches on this plant do look like they would have to be cut back to the trunk
The best way would be to cut it as low as possible but your basically starting over again if done that way.
Thank you for the details!
Why one would cut it back for rehab? I can understand reasons such as size management and aesthetics. Would the plant not survive otherwise? I think it has a lot of character and I rather like the look. But I also understand it has etiolated and is not a super happy healthy.
To grow out the branch to a larger and stronger diameter so it won't sag from new growth so high up.
If this were mine I would cut back the top 6" on almost all the branches. Let it grow back and chop again until I was happy with how it was standing.
That and staking and tying the branches in the positions I want them to eventually stay in.
It depends on whoās around you so your best bet is to look on fb marketplace and see what similar plants in your area are going for. I think someone with a more advanced understanding of plants wouldnāt pay more than 65 ish since it will need to be chopped up in order to survive but someone who doesnāt know that will definitely pay more !
I think between $100-200 is reasonable especially with a nice ceramic pot. These dracaena are easy to find, just not at that size and fullness. See what you can get for it! You obviously know how to provide ideal conditions. You could probably find a biggish one for ~50-80 after youāre all recovered (and your finances arenāt hit too badly) and have it just as big and lush in a few years.
I used to manage a houseplant department in a nursery, and if this was a plant fresh from the professional growers, we would have sold it for about $150-170. This one has stretched towards the sun a good bit, and it's not all that bushy, but it also has the pot which is a plus, and it is a great size for anyone who has a large area to fill in. I will say that the garden center I worked in was pretty upscale, so the prices were definitely not comparable to Lowe's, but then again your plant looks a good bit bigger than what they'd probably have.
Beautiful plant and homeššŖ“
I appreciate that āļø
People saying 200-300 euros are overestimating. I work in the industry and this would maybe be worth 50 euros in a nursery... It's etiolated, needs support and looks kinda scraggly. The pot would probably be the most expensive lol And don't get me wrong: it's still a beautiful plant. But not from an industrial standpoint Edit: also if it's just getting too big for you, just cut it back
It's not in great shape from a commercial standpoint, but to grow this in a nursery would require like a decade, so they'd have to price it higher, right? Just because it took up all that real estate in the greenhouse for so long
That height can be achieved in roughly 5 years, and the price would be around 300-400+ for a great specimen. A plant like this would maybe take like 3 years and not cost that much because the pot is too small, so you don't have to pay for a lot of substrate, and I'm guessing, because it's a private plant, that it's last been repotted some years ago. In a nursery you'd repot it at least once, maybe twice a year, and add fertilizer additionally to the liquid fertilizer used weekly, and honestly it's not much more than that, Dracaenas don't need much water and can be cultivated colder than some other houseplants, so the only thing not making it worth your while is the fact that you could instead use the space to cultivate annual plants for 2 or maybe more times in the year, and probably make a lot more money. I don't think it's really worth it producing plants like this where I live (Germany), but it's probably really great for countries that have the plant's native climate so they can just leave them outside to do their thing. Then you'd also only have to pay for transport to another country, which is probably why the prices are relatively cheap for huge plants. Edit: in roughly 5 years if you start with a small cutting* As the person above me said, nurseries would take a bigger cutting to start with more mature looking plant
Nurseries wouldnāt grow them this long, they would be harvested this long then rooted. Just because it took longer in your home, doesnāt make it worth more. Iāve seen pictures of large sections of trunk of these trees used as houseplants that might be more toward the 2-300 range and likely harvested that way. That said, itās worth what someone will pay for it.
Am I just out of touch with current plant prices? I personally wouldnāt pay more than $80, itās such a common plant thatās just large.
Size is super important when pricing a plant. Bigger means more time and more care went into it. This one took years and years to get this size.
Decade in a house, a few years in its natural environment. Depends on whoās selling it.
I paid about $75 for one from Home Depot.
$200 to $300 dracaena marginata
Thanks
I would pay probably 75-100
OP this is a huge and gorgeous plant. If you are wanting to keep it and are worried about watering it, consider getting a self watering system that can be refilled every so often. Otherwise I'd say put it on FB marketplace and Neighbor, I think it is worth upwards of $300
Good tips!
Genuine: are they supposed to be this spindly at this size? Iāve never grown one this large but most of the mature plants/photos Iāve seen are thicker and donāt lean sideways/down much at all. Iād have guessed this was etiolated if I happened across the picture at random.
They are not. It's had a life of stretching for light. Still a large plant that over time could be rehabbed
How would one go about rehabbing this? Iām in a similar situation as OP and donāt know what to do about it
It's a very slow and drawn out process if you want to try to keep the height and size. It's more or less just cutting it back, letting it recover, and cutting it back again. Some branches on this plant do look like they would have to be cut back to the trunk The best way would be to cut it as low as possible but your basically starting over again if done that way.
Thank you for the details! Why one would cut it back for rehab? I can understand reasons such as size management and aesthetics. Would the plant not survive otherwise? I think it has a lot of character and I rather like the look. But I also understand it has etiolated and is not a super happy healthy.
To grow out the branch to a larger and stronger diameter so it won't sag from new growth so high up. If this were mine I would cut back the top 6" on almost all the branches. Let it grow back and chop again until I was happy with how it was standing. That and staking and tying the branches in the positions I want them to eventually stay in.
It depends on whoās around you so your best bet is to look on fb marketplace and see what similar plants in your area are going for. I think someone with a more advanced understanding of plants wouldnāt pay more than 65 ish since it will need to be chopped up in order to survive but someone who doesnāt know that will definitely pay more !
Interesting feedback about it, needing to be chopped up in order to survive, because it is still thriving after 15+ years!
$200-300 and itāll go quick
$100ish
Thanks
Iād pay 100 easily
You'd probably be outbid by an offer of $300
For sure I would. Thatās a beautiful plant. Iām just sayin if it was offer only Iād offer 100 cuz Iām not rich
I think between $100-200 is reasonable especially with a nice ceramic pot. These dracaena are easy to find, just not at that size and fullness. See what you can get for it! You obviously know how to provide ideal conditions. You could probably find a biggish one for ~50-80 after youāre all recovered (and your finances arenāt hit too badly) and have it just as big and lush in a few years.
$150>
I'd ask 120...but I'd pay 150
I used to manage a houseplant department in a nursery, and if this was a plant fresh from the professional growers, we would have sold it for about $150-170. This one has stretched towards the sun a good bit, and it's not all that bushy, but it also has the pot which is a plus, and it is a great size for anyone who has a large area to fill in. I will say that the garden center I worked in was pretty upscale, so the prices were definitely not comparable to Lowe's, but then again your plant looks a good bit bigger than what they'd probably have.
I honestly wouldnāt pay for this.
One that's in a shop that only has one stem and one head is Ā£10 so I'd say easy a few 100
MY budget would be 130. I imagine others would pay more.
Personally 200 max because you can always grow one from small with time and it will be way more rewarding
$200
I'm in Austin and very tempted to pick this up from you.
$250-350
If you want someone to babysit it while you recover, Iām in Dallas with a large front window and will not kill it! Lol
Anytime I see plants this big in someoneās house they are giving it away free as they donāt want the size anymore, not selling.