You’ve heard of pet sitters, but plant sitters?

When Amanda Rowen heads away for work or on holiday, her biggest concern isn’t who will take care of her dog but rather who will look after her plants.

“My dog is easy. My rare plants, not so much,” she says.

Cairns resident Rowen, 44, owns more than 100 plants, a combination of rare tropical species, orchids, terrariums and succulents, as well as a Zanzibar Gem plant. It’s a collection she began during COVID-19 lockdowns, but after a bad experience having a family member care for them while she was on holiday (what Rowen refers to as the “overwatering incident of 2021”), she now calls on professionals plant sitters.

Plant sitters can ensure your monstera deliciosa and fiddle leaf fig stay in good health in your absence.Credit: Getty Images

“I first used a plant sitter when I went on a long overseas holiday in 2022 and now use them every time I go away for longer than a week,” she says.

Rowen’s plant sitters either stay at her home while also pet-sitting her dog, or will drop in daily, and costs range from $100 per night to $30-$50 respectively. This expense, Rowen says, is worth the peace of mind that her collection will be cared for properly.

“Plant- sitters are plant people themselves and knowledgeable about plants,” she says.

Plant sitters, plant carers and plant nannies, individuals or businesses that offer plant care for domestic households, are becoming a helping green hand for many. In Australia, there is a range of plant-sitting businesses that offer plant care when their owners are away.

Brisbane woman Linda Watson started her business, Brisbane Plant Sitting, in 2018 after her husband pointed out their own plant-sitting needs.

“I would always comment to him that I needed someone to look after my plants when we went on holiday, and he suggested, because I loved plants so much, that I should do that for others,” she said.

Watson’s business quickly became a full-time job.

“Clients will either drop their plants off at my home for me to look after, or I will visit their houses,” she says.

Primarily, the care involves watering, but occasionally involves light pruning, pest control and fertilising.

“I have also cared for some really high-maintenance orchids. For this, the client left me extremely detailed instructions, and we did a run-through before she left.”

Watson says most of her clients choose her services rather than ask a family or friend because, like Rowen, they had a bad experience in the past, but also because they have invested a lot of time and energy into their plants.

“Plants can have really great sentimental value to their owners,” she says. “The plants can have their own stories and memories, and these can be irreplaceable.”

Hiring a plant sitter can be a worthwhile exercise to keep plants in good health when you’re away.Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

International student Hayley Hembrey, who is plant-sitting a Melbourne woman’s collection while she is overseas, has observed this emotional connection first-hand.

“When the lady dropped the plants off at my house, it was clear that they meant a lot to her; they were all in nice pots with gemstones inside,” she says. “As she left, she was crying and told me that if she could take them with her overseas, she would.”

It’s Hembrey’s first time plant-sitting. The 30-year-old from the UK took on the job with her partner, a natural green thumb, via the online marketplace Airtasker.

“I was struggling to find work and saw this listing, which I thought, with my partner’s help, I could do. I’d never heard of plant-sitting before this,” she says.

Hembrey and her partner have been caring for the assortment of 10 indoor and outdoor plants for more than a month. The initial booking was made for eight weeks, with the potential to extend.

“It’s paying $70 for eight weeks, and any time after that I’ll get an additional $10 to $20 a week,” she says.

Driving the need for plant-sitting services is the increase in popularity of indoor plants, says Graham Ross, founder of the Australian Garden Council.

“The increase in interest in houseplants is a 70 per cent growth factor in plant sales in the past 10 to15 years, and doesn’t show any signs of abating,” he says.

As some plant collections hold significant monetary value, ensuring their survival and long-term health adds to the demand for professional services.

“An indoor plant could be valued at $200-$300, and its loss is measurable,” says Ross.

“For example, a variegated monstera, M deliciosa Thai constellation could set the owner back up to $650, and only a professional knows how to care for it.”

For Rowen, this level of care is priceless. When she came back from her latest trip away, not only were her jewel orchids happy and healthy, “they were flowering”.

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