Since nearly all of my plants (especially the ones that I can propagate) are AVs, whenever I want to trade with someone, usually AVs are about all I have to offer. So... what's a fair trade when you're trading AVs (named or not? Leaves, rooted leaves, or plantelts?) for other kinds of plants? I really have no idea, and I don't want to short-change anyone else, or myself. :)
Thanks,
Dana
Trading AVs for Other Plants
I think it depends on the other person. That said...,
I tend to offer named for named, or named for noids.
I usually trade based on how easy they are to propagate and how fast they grow. E.g., some succulents grow and spread fast, and they are easy to propagate. Some nepenthes do the same, some hoyas also. All of these are good trading candidates for gessies, except a person who has only 2 young hoyas might not agree.
And then there is always - one person's weed is another's.... (I forget the saying) Recent examples: some people think wild violets are self-seeding weeds, but I don't. A person with a greenhouse might think tropical ferns and sundews are weeds.
so it's back to: it depends on the person you're trading with.
Hi Dana--I am interested in trading for some AVs and don't care if they are unnamed. I am just learning about them and don't want to get too fancy until I am more sure about what I am doing. I don't have a whole lot to offer in trade as I am just getting started outside, too. I have unnamed daylilies in a dark red, some buttercups, rosemary and a variety of perennial seeds. Maybe some other things, too, so just ask if there is something specific.
Diane
Keyring said it well, especially about trading "based on how easy they are to propagate & how fast they grow." Since it often takes me 6 months to a year to get from an AV leaf to a nice sized plantlet that I'm happy about giving to somebody, it's not trivial to offer them in a trade. This fall, I might be swapping around some smaller plantlets or rooted leaves for same, as by the time my little plantlets get as big as I'd like them to be, it'll be much too cold for shipping. On the other hand, I could happily send out a more mature AV for "another person's weed" if that plant is one I've been looking for, and AVs are the only thing I can find to interest the other person. It definitely varies from trade to trade!
In terms of leaves or rooted leaves, I figure they're about the equivalent of unrooted or rooted cuttings from other plants.
I'm rambling, so hope some of that was helpful.
Thanks, you guys have been very helpful!
1gardengram, I do have a trade in progress and not much to trade at this time. I just moved, so I cleaned out my plants a bit before the move. Let me see how this trade goes, and I'll let you know what's available afterwards. I'm always willing to trade! It's just a matter of what I have to offer you in return. :)
Thanks,
Dana
Diane, I'm hoping to have plantlets ready to send before the weather turns cold, and I don't think they're all spoken for, LOL! So if you see a trade thread from me, remember I'm quite willing to trade for plants other than AVs. :-)
OK to the two of you. I just feel bad that I don't have anything to trade. I have "stuff" but you all have so much really good to offer that I hate to even mention my measly little offerings. It's embarrasing. I'm going to hit the nursery sales and stockpile things and then pretend that I've had them sitting here waiting to trade the whole time :^)
You know, it really is all relative. Many (but not all) gesneriads are weeds for me - six months to bloom is so incredibly fast compared to the other things I grow. And what's this about propagating from tips, stolons, leaves, bits of leaf, seeds, and suckers? You need a lab to grow most orchids from seed and only a handful will propagate from leaf.
But anyway, now I'm at a stage where I have culled or trimmed my gessie collection down so I don't have much to trade. Last year I went through a few rounds of trading and for-postage shipping (here and elsewhere) to reduce my gesneriad and orchid collections. Part of the fun of trading for those of us with ever-increasing collections is passing the bug on to others, and making more growing space at the same time. (to be filled with bugs passed on from others - right now my new interests are hoyas and carnivorous.)
I love sharing the "bug" as Ki mentioned with others because sooner or later they are going to get something really cool and will more than likely share with others, too.
As far as trading plants it can get to be a real challenge if you get to caught up in keeping it "equal".
Just try to offer something,anything and remember you can always offer non plant items for trade as well.
As long as the two trading parties agree then it's a fair trade.
It is supposed to be fun and so many folks lose that fact.
MsC
"It is supposed to be fun and so many folks lose that fact. "
Well said, MsC!
I prefer trading to sending for postage, but I'm not that picky about what or how much I'm trading for. I'm more concerned with whether the other person will be happy with the trade than whether it's "even." To me, trading seems more like an exchange of gifts between friends rather than like ordering plants by mail. Once we've figured out that I have something they'd like and vice versa, I'm happy to put something extra in their box, too.... I'm not a 1 for 1 sort of trader, and I've certainly been on the receiving end of some generous trades since joining, so I figure what goes around comes around! I do tend to check with people rather than send surprises, unless it's clear from a post or a want list that the "extra" is something they'll like and be able to make room for.
I'm just getting started on many areas of my garden, so I don't always have as much to send as I'd like either, but as long as the other person is happy with the trade I figure I can make it up down the road, or pass their generosity along to somebody else later. So, Diane, don't worry too much about what you have or don't have to trade... Part of the fun of trading here is just having things from so many different DG friends.... I'll enjoy pointing to a clump of buttercups (or whatever) and saying, "Diane sent me those! ....I wonder how her AVs are doing?" And later, when you've been bitten hard by the AV bug and have all these fabulous named varieties, I'll hit you up for a leaf trade! :-)
I like your idea of hitting the nursery sales, too. Whenever I buy plants, I'm always looking to see if they're big enough to split or have an "extra" shoot that I can share with a friend.
Danak,
When you get ready to trade your AV for other types of plants give me a shout.
Thanks!
Patti
Okay, I'll have to start a list of people to trade with when I have my AV babies coming out my ears! I have a lot of leaves starting, so I'm sure I'll have plenty of plantlets from this batch.
I think part of wanting the trade to be "even" is because I want the other person to feel like they got something good. I'd love to surprise them with extras, but I usually don't have a lot to offer. So Diane, I also love the idea of buying some good plants that I can split! That way maybe I can get some of the ones I've really been wanting, and then I'll have something to trade for other plants I've been wanting. Great solution. :)
You guys are so great and so encouraging! Thank you very much.
Can I get in on the trading? I have a few repotted babies from leaf starts. How do you ship them without dammage? I received a shipment from Rob's. It had insolation in the box. Clue me in
NannaN