Plant Swap Party
You've probably heard about Swap Parties, where people exchange clothes they no longer want to wear. A Plant Swap works on the same principle. You invite people and ask them to bring plants that they are bored with. By swapping plants, the plants will get a new owner and a nice position in a new home.
Invitation
Send out fun invitations beforehand. This could be by e-mail, or send an original invitation by post on a plant label, for example. Only invite people who are known to have several plants and who enjoy looking after their plants. And make sure that everyone lets you know whether they are coming, so you know in advance how many people to expect.
Arrangements
It is a good idea to make some arrangements beforehand to ensure that the evening runs smoothly. Agree on a minimum and maximum number of plants that each person will bring, to ensure a fair selection. It is also fun to include plant related products in the Plant Swap. The pot you bought in a moment of madness, or the plant stand that really doesn't match your interior anymore but would look great in a friend's house.
Swapped
On the evening itself everyone will display their plants and related products in a designated area of the house. Ask everyone to attach a label to the plant on where you can find the name of the plant, relevant information about the plant or the product and the name of the original owner. That way everyone will know who to approach about the plant they have their eye on. Let people negotiate with one another, and once the deal is done, the plant gets a second label with "Swapped!" and the name of the lucky new owner. Make sure it is a fun evening with drinks and nibbles, and to make it easier for yourself you could ask everyone to bring some food to share. The result: a pleasant evening with friends, a new plant in your home and your old plant gets a nice second life.
