'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
The best plant subscription boxes you can buy
You can get a subscription for anything these days -- food, clothing, jewelry, makeup, and even plants. While it might seem unconventional, plant subscription boxes allow anyone anywhere to get quality plants delivered right to their home.
Also: The best indoor gardens: Smart tech for your green thumb
Whether you're looking to add to your ever-growing plant collection or testing out your green thumb, plant subscription services make it easy to experience different plants and learn how to sustain a healthy indoor garden.
What is the best plant subscription box right now?
We've rounded up the best subscription plant services that are budget-friendly, cater to specific types of plants, and offer plenty of options, no matter your plant preferences. Our top pick is The Sill, thanks to its different plant size options and the access to its digital Care Library, but we also included other subscription services for all types of gardeners this spring.
The best plant subscription boxes of 2024
- Price includes ceramic planters
- Access to digital Care Library
- Different types of subscriptions/plants
- Minimum three-month commitment
- Most expensive option
The Sill has everything you need in a plant subscription: plenty of subscription tier options, a pet-friendly option, included ceramic planters, and detailed information on how to actually keep your plants thriving in their new home with access to The Sill's digital Care Library.
Subscriptions start at $55 a month for an easy-to-care-for plant, $58 for pet-friendly plants, and $88 a month for orchids. Each subscription comes with a ceramic pot, and lasts for either three months, six months, or one year. If your plant arrives damaged or with issues for some reason, The Sill will replace it free of charge.
Keep in mind that you're tied to a three-month commitment right off the bat -- so you can't cancel or skip your subscription until after the fourth month. However, subscriptions do not auto-renew once the subscription time is over, so there's no need to worrying about canceling after your period.
One thing to note is that Reddit users caution against using The Sill (or any other plant subscription service, for that matter) during the winter since the colder weather can greatly impact how your plant arrives.
The Sill features: Various subscription tiers and plant sizes | Access to The Sill's digital Care Library | Includes a ceramic planter for each plant
- Affordable
- Great customer service
- Wide variety of plants
- Plant doesn't come with a pot
- Smaller window of time to get a plant replacement if something goes wrong
Those looking for a cheaper price-point should consider Rooted. Its plant subscriptions start at $22 for a small plant, $32 for a medium plant, and $42 for a hanging plant. You can even choose a one-time shipment or a reoccurring monthly shipment. Rooted also offers pet-friendly options within each subscription tier.
Plus, if you're a plant newbie, there is a helpful Discord community you can join that's full of a global community of botanists, horticulturalists, plant industry experts, plant parents, and nature lovers to answer any and all of your plant questions.
Customer reviews say that they like how they are introduced to a wide variety of new plants, and also praise the customer service that it's always responsive and helpful if needed.
Rooted features: Three plant subscription options | One-time subscription option | 14-day guarantee
- Inexpensive
- Two plants per box
- Can gift to someone else
- Doesn't come with a pot
- Tinier plants
Succulents may be some of the most popular indoor plants thanks to easy maintenance and variety of size, color, and style. Those looking to grow their succulent collection should check out Succulent Studio's monthly subscription. For $11 a month plus shipping ($6.50), you receive two eight-week-old succulents with care instructions.
The succulents come from the company's Southern California headquarters, which use organic fertilizers and 100% plastic-free, biodegradable packaging, and verified customers applaud these eco-conscious policies and practices. If you ever need a break from new succulents, you can easily skip a month or gift a month to a friend.
Succulent Studios features: Plans starting from $11 monthly for 2 plants | Uses organic fertilizers | 100% plastic-free packaging
- Optional plant insurance
- A great option for beginners
- Subscription includes a planter
- No selection of flowering plants
- Shipping delays in the winter months (due to weather conditions, so plants don't die in transit)
Horti's subscription box is perfect for those starting to get into planting and gardening. Your first box will ease you into caring for your new plant, because Horti selects resilient plants that are easy to care for. As you grow your confidence over the next few months, Horti will introduce more exotic species to your box.
The company offers six subscription options: month to month, six-month, rare plants, a quarterly subscription, and even one for kids called "My First Plant." Within each subscription, you can customize the color of your pot, if you want new-to-planting plants, pet-friendly plants, or whatever Horti picks for you.
Another great feature about Horti is optional plant insurance, which allows you to send a photo of your plant if it's having issues. The company's Plant Doctor will diagnose the issue, give you care tips, and more. If the worst happens and your plant succumbs to its health problems, plant insurance will allow you to get a replacement.
Verified customers say that Horti has given them confidence to grow more plants and become more knowledgeable about the different kinds of indoor plants.
Horti fatures: 6 subscription tiers | Offers plant insurance | Comes with a planter
- Various subscription options depending on what plant(s) you are interested in
- Can switch boxes or skip anytime
- Only one option comes with a permanent pot
- Smaller plant options
By far, the plant subscription with the most options is the House Plant Box from the House Plant Shop. There are 12 subscription box options: an air plant box, large plant box, aquatic plant box, cactus box, pet-friendly box, seasonal box, seedbox, and more, starting at $15.99.
Each monthly box comes with plant information and care card, so no matter what plant variety you get, you'll be able to take care of it. You can switch box options anytime to add variety to your collection, and you can also pause your subscription at any time to focus on the plants you already have.
Because of the variety in plant types and pricing, verified customers say that this subscription makes for a great gift.
House Plant Box features: 12 subscriptions available | Plans starting from $16 | Each plant comes with care card
What is the best plant subscription service?
While all of these are excellent choices, we'd recommend Horti and The Sill as the top options for a plant subscription box. However, if you're looking for beginner-friendly plants, Horti is your best bet. And, if you're most interested in growing succulents, the Succulent Studios box would be the best choice for you.
Best plant subscription services | Price | # of plants | Subscription details |
The Sill | Starting at $55/mo | 1 | Comes with ceramic plant and access to digital plant Care Library |
Rooted | Starting at $22/mo | 1 | Choose a one-time shipment or a reoccurring monthly shipment |
Succulent Studios | $11 per month (plus shipping) | 2 | Skip a month or gift to a friend |
Horti | Starting at $28/mo | 1-2 | Comes with a planter of your choice and optional plant insurance |
House Plant Box | $16 | 1-2 | 12 different types of plant boxes to choose from |
Which is the right plant subscription for you?
It all depends on your needs. If you want to spruce up your curb appeal, a subscription service offering outdoor plants will meet your needs. Meanwhile, if you're new to plant care, starting with succulents is a wise choice. You'll learn plant care and make your place look spectacular.
Choose this plant subscription service... | If you want… |
The Sill | The best plant subscription overall |
Rooted | A budget-friendly plant subscription |
Succulent Studios | A succulent delivered every month |
Horti | A plant subscription that's perfect for new gardeners |
House Plant Box | The most variety of plant species |
Factors to consider when choosing a plant subscription box:
Before you make the commitment of signing up to a monthly plant subscription box, keep these few things in mind.
- Type of plants: All of these plant subscription boxes offer a variety of plants. If you have pets, opt for a subscription that offers pet-friendly plants. Keep in mind that the bigger or more rare a plant is, the more it will cost.
- Subscription perks: A subscription may look expensive at first, but consider what comes with each subscription, such as included shipping, pots, tools, care instructions, and other features.
- Replacement policy: Since a plant is a living thing, there is always the chance that something happens to it during the shipping process. Many plant subscription services have replacement policies to send you a new plant if yours gets damaged.
- Price: Plant subscription services range from $16 per month to in the hundreds, so it really depends what you're looking to get each month (and how long you want your subscription to last).
How did we choose these plant subscriptions?
We researched all the top plant subscription brands in order to compile this list. We looked at key factors such as plant variety, price, quality, and more to make our decisions. We also read reviews from real customers to ensure we were picking reputable choices.
What are the best indoor plants?
The best indoor plants will depend on your home's environment -- specifically when it comes to lighting. Low-light plants include snake plants or button ferns, while Ficus, Bird of Paradise, and orchids need to be placed near a window for lots of sunlight.
If you have pets, you should also choose non-toxic plants. Unfortunately, many plants are toxic to animals, so be sure to choose a pet-friendly plant subscription if you opt for one of the services on this list.
What are the best low maintenance indoor plants?
There are many patient plants, such as Spider, Snake, Mini Jades, and Aloe, where you can establish your green thumb.
Are there alternative plant subscription services to consider?
There are plenty of other plant subscription services out there. Here are a few other options to look into: