What Is Houseplant Insurance?

Growing and cultivating lush and vibrant houseplants is a great way to bring nature into your home — if you know how to take care of them, of course. But for people lacking that green thumb, houseplants can quickly transform from a lovely centerpiece into an unsightly, withered weed.

But what if there was a way for to grow houseplants without fearing they’ll be dried up and dead within a few weeks? Well, a new houseplant subscription service called “Horti” is making that possible by offering what they’re calling “plant insurance.”

Here’s how it works: Horti offers two levels of houseplant insurance. The first, the Plant Reassurance Plan, covers any houseplant in the U.S. purchased from any vendor. Under that plan, which costs $4.99 per month, Horti provides “preventative care and personalized advice at your fingertips about any plant.” Subscribers send images of their wilting houseplants to Horti and get back a diagnosis and tips on how to restore it to full health.

The second level, called the Plant Resurrection Plan, costs $9.99 a month. This one only covers houseplants purchased through Horti, which ships plants all across the country. It includes all the preventative care in the Plant Reassurance Plan, plus Horti’s promise to replace any plant that cannot be saved “despite our guidance and your best efforts.”

“Instead of feeling nervous when bringing a new houseplant home or helpless when leaves start to brown, we want people to feel confident and hopeful as they begin to understand their nature for nurture,” Horti founder and CEO Puneet Sabharwal said in a press release.

“At Horti, we believe that indoor plants are the opposite of throw-away culture — they’re long-term relationships. These plans are designed to help our community feel confident to foster those connections for years to come.”

Plant insurance plans like these aren’t worth it for most people. But if you’re a novice horticulturist hoping to spruce up your home décor, a little insurance could be a big help as you set about mastering houseplant care.

Houseplant Care Basics

Knowing the best practices for taking care of all houseplants can go a long way in ensuring that the time, energy, and money you put into your houseplant collection is well spent. Anup Mutalik, founder and chief editor at HouseplantsNook, offers the following basic plant care tips:

Don’t overwater. “Overwatering is the number one killer,” says Mutalik. He says to never water on a fixed schedule but to lift the pot and feel if it’s light and therefore in need of watering instead. Along with this, use the finger test: “insert your finger one to two inches deep into the soil to check moisture.”
Pay careful attention to light. Mutalik states, “Lighting is the most misunderstood part of plant care” and points out that most plants need bright, indirect light to thrive indoors. Most plants need to be closer to a window or have their lighting supplemented by grow lights.
Inspect plants weekly. Don’t confuse this plant check with watering. Do see if your plants actually need water (and water accordingly), but also check for yellowing leaves, signs of pests, and shifting light conditions as seasons change.

Best Practices for Preventing Common Plant Issues

Mutalik, who cares for hundreds of houseplants with his housemates, shares his top suggestions for preventing common plant issues, no matter where you get your plants, how experienced you are at caring for houseplants, and what kind they are.

Quarantine new plants. Keeping new plants separated from your existing houseplants ensures that you aren’t introducing pests from the shop to your home. “Any time we bring home a new plant — whether from a boutique shop or a major retailer — we keep it in a separate room for three weeks,” says Mutalik, adding that they inspect the leaves with a magnifying glass during this time.
Clean leaves monthly. Cleaning leaves monthly doesn’t just make them look nice. Dust blocks light and creates ideal conditions for pests like spider mites. Clean leaves monthly with a soft microfiber cloth dampened with distilled water mixed with a few drops of neem oil.
Rotate plants regularly. Leaning toward the light causes lopsided growth and weak stems in plants that aren’t rotated. Mutalik shares, “We rotate every plant by about 45 degrees every two weeks. This keeps growth even.”
Fertilize conservatively. Only fertilize during active growing seasons (spring and summer usually), and at “half strength, half as often as the label says,” according to Mutalik. This prevents fertilizer burn.
Re-pot proactively. Don’t wait until plants are root-bound to re-pot your plants. Instead, inspect them at least every 6 months to a year, and re-pot when the roots begin to circle the bottom of the pot. “We repot into a container about two inches wider,” Mutalik says.

FAQ

Is plant insurance worth it for experienced plant owners?

Plant insurance for experienced plant owners can be worth it if the plants that are being insured are expensive, rare, or difficult to care for. For example, if a plant owner loves to collect exotic plants, invests in large houseplants, or has a large collection that could potentially be wiped out by pests or disease, plant insurance can be worth it.

Can I use plant insurance for any plant I purchase?

Yes, Horti’s Plant Reassurance program offers preventive care and personalized advice for any houseplant, regardless of where it was purchased. Note that this plan does not offer plant replacement.

How do I know if I need plant insurance for my houseplants?

Whether you need plant insurance for your plants is a personal choice. However, if you are a novice plant owner and afraid of losing your plants due to inexperience or if you own expensive plants (exotic or large, for example), plant insurance could be a smart investment. Some plant insurance companies also offer plant support, which is a cushion that can give many plant owners peace of mind as they gain experience.

About the Expert

Anup Mutalik is the founder and chief editor at HouseplantsNook, a Brooklyn-based community home that cares for hundreds of houseplants. He specializes in indoor plant care, low-light gardening, and integrating plants into home wellness and decor. He is passionate about making plant care accessible, stylish, and sustainable for everyone and shares tips trusted by novice and experienced plant lovers.