The Joy of Sharing Plants Through Take a Plant Leave a Plant

Gardening and houseplants bring immense joy and satisfaction to millions of people. There’s something magical about nurturing a tiny seedling into a magnificent, mature plant. As any enthusiast knows, it’s easy to end up with more plants than space! That’s where Take a Plant Leave a Plant comes in. This growing movement facilitates sharing between fellow plant lovers. Read on to learn all about this heartwarming concept.

What is Take a Plant Leave a Plant?

Take a Plant Leave a Plant (TAPLAP) is a community of people who exchange plants with each other. The idea is simple – you take a plant you’d like from someone’s collection and leave one of your own plants for them in return. This allows gardeners to easily trade cuttings and divisions from their plant collections.

TAPLAP has grown rapidly in recent years, especially through online groups. Thousands of plant parents now connect through forums and social media to swap their leafy babies. Members share tips on care and show off beautiful photos of rare variegated plants, interesting succulents, and more.

The Benefits of Trading Plants

Trading plants through TAPLAP offers many benefits for gardeners:

• Discover new plants – Trying new and unusual species is a thrill. TAPLAP is a great source of rare, hard-to-find plants you may not locate anywhere else.

• Free plants – Trading plants rather than buying them saves money. It’s an affordable way to expand your plant collection.

• Share the joy – Dividing and sharing plants from your own collection lets you spread the happiness they bring you.

• Make connections – TAPLAP allows you to meet fellow plant fanatics. Many close friendships have blossomed through the shared love of plants.

• Give plants a good home – Sometimes plants outgrow their space or need more light/humidity than you can provide Trading them helps assure they go to good homes,

• Reduce waste – Sharing extra plants reduces the need to compost or throw away healthy specimens. TAPLAP is eco-friendly plant parenting!

How Take a Plant Leave a Plant Exchanges Work

TAPLAP exchanges follow a few simple guidelines

• Offer healthy, pest-free plants. Provide care tips to the new owner.

• Photograph your plant with a visible tag showing its name. Share details like growth habit and requirements.

• Browse fellow members’ available plants and comment if you’d like to trade.

• Agree on a time and neutral public location to meet and exchange plants.

• Each person takes one plant and leaves one plant in return. Keep it 1:1.

• Say thank you! Follow up to assure the plants are doing well in their new homes.

• If you can’t care for a plant you adopted, offer it up for another TAPLAP trade.

Exchanges typically happen locally face-to-face, but some members will mail plant cuttings to distant members. Shipping and handling costs are agreed upon ahead of time.

Popular Ways to Get Involved in TAPLAP

Here are some of the most popular ways for plant enthusiasts to get involved in TAPLAP:

• Join Facebook groups – Large regional and national TAPLAP Facebook groups connect thousands of members to trade plants.

• Use Reddit – The Reddit community r/TakeaPlantLeaveaPlant has over 100,000 members actively trading plants on the subreddit.

• Attend events – Look for local plant swaps, community center exchanges, university horticulture department events and more.

• Talk to nurseries – Many independent plant shops welcome or even organize TAPLAP exchanges in their neighborhoods.

• Chat with gardening friends – Talk to fellow gardening buddies in your everyday life to drum up interest in trading.

• Post on neighborhood apps – Check Nextdoor, local Facebook groups, etc. to find potential trade partners nearby.

Helpful Tips for New TAPLAP Members

If you’re intrigued and want to dive into the Take a Plant Leave a Plant world, keep these tips in mind:

• Start small with common, fast-growing plants like pothos, succulents, spider plants, etc. Difficult or rare plants add stress.

• Pack plants securely in breathable bags or boxes for transport. Use padding to prevent damage.

• Keep plants labeled so you remember names and details about their needs.

• Understand your climate zone and house environment to determine which plants will thrive for you.

• Research plants before bringing them home to ensure you can properly care for them.

• Quarantine new plants away from your existing collection to check for any signs of pests or disease.

• Spread the word and invite fellow plant enthusiasts to join in the fun. More members make trading easier!

The Unexpected Joys of Sharing Plants

What began as a humble way for gardeners to trade extras has blossomed into an amazing community. TAPLAP connects people through a shared love of plants. Many members say they’ve met sincere friends and found unexpected support.

There’s something touching about seeing a plant you nurtured for years mature in someone else’s home. Sharing these living gifts enhances your mental well-being by making connections and spreading joy.

So don’t let that beautiful orchid keiki or choice succulent offset go to waste. Consider sharing it through TAPLAP and making another plant lover’s day. Let the cycle of giving continue! What plants will you take and what will you leave?