Just thinking...

[boabab95]

so i was thinking and i know there are already a few companies that sell plants...

but i was thinking of starting a SMALL terrarium business [- Home](i'm not going to pay for it right now, dont have any $$$ to do it.). and was wondering what plants you guys would like to see more of (and not pay a lot for)???

This is the current list i have;
-Selaginella (need some first)
-Ficus pumila
-Broms[any specific hybrids?]
-syngonium
-riccia [also, need some first ]
-leaf litter (not a plant, but what ever)

Can you guys think of any SOME-What common plants that you guys would like to see more???



P.S. you WILL see this on other forums... i ant as much feed back as possible... oh and I know this is a long shot, but even if ti's selling it on the board...

[Nighsliv]

Your main problem will be shipping since many plants for vivs need to be potted and I'm fairly certain US has import laws about bringing in soil and dirt into the country.

Edit: Although if you are only aiming at the canadian market you are good.

[Grimm]

I think java would be good to add. I can never seem to find enough of it, even at aquarium shops. Plus considering its growth rate in proper conditions I'm sure you could make some good coin from selling it.

[boabab95]

completely forgot about java!!! ill add that...

ya forgot to add... it'll only be for canada, but all thoughts welcomed!

[darc]

I was going to offer help with my experience on incorporating as a tax shelter, but I only know US (AR specific) so I'm afraid I'm not much help.

Just make sure you check out your options - in AR/US, I would be paying close to 50% (46% if I remember correctly) on my income if I didn't incorporate.... after incorporation I'm paying the standard 15% to 17%... it's well worth the trouble.

Again, your laws will vary (greatly) ... just make sure you check them out and find the best way to maximize your profit while staying legal.

-darc

[beckdg]

there are a lot of aquarium plants (most of them) that can be grown terrestrially or emergent. they're all suitable size for terrariums also. many have qualities many of us are looking for. some have beautiful inflorescence or variegations that don't show up in submersed growth.

some examples
java moss (duh, right?)
java ferns (there's several growth forms including trident, narrow leaf, regular, lace, etc.)
bacopa species (monnieri has been proven for sure to be a beautiful foreground/transitional plant that will stretch out over the water and provide shade and allure)
riccia (ok, stating the obvious again)
several cryptocoryne species
most, if not all anubias species...

check out the plant finder at apc... http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...finder/all.php
when you click on a plant name it should tell you if it can be grown emersed as well as some other details and a short history lesson.

also, see what tropica has. i think they typically just deal with aquarium plants but they grow and sell a lot of their plants emersed. not only can you find a lot of plants from them but they might tell you what care they'd need for emersed growth and save you a lot of guessing.

there is a lot in the aquarium hobby that just isn't explored too often. hydrophyte from ripariumsupply.com has done some things and always gets good feedback, but that's about the only person i know really delving into the transition back to land.

many of these plants grow on land or in tidal areas in the wild and are just acclimated to submersed growth so it shouldn't be a far stretch at all. also even though many of them are pretty common in the aquarium trade it doesn't seem they're offered too often for terrariums. many people fear acclimating a plant from one environment to another or just don't know what the plants are capable of so will avoid purchasing "aquarium plants" for other setups. if you were to offer them grown emersed in a market looking for emersed growth surely you'd be able to catch a market that doesn't know it's already there...

[beckdg]

pssst... why not ship to the us? i mean surely it'd start out as a hobby... and shipping across the border may be a little more expensive but it's surely not as hard as we make it out to be. i'm not the only one on the board who has already done it either.

[boabab95]

sorry, been busy lately...

pssst... why not ship to the us?

Isn't a permit needed for plants?[specifically plants with dirt???]

[beckdg]

de-pot the plant, wrap some sphag around the roots, pack it gently and according to season and fill out the paperwork at the post office. it really isn't that difficult, believe it or not.