Turning this hobby into a small business?

[Franco24]

I believe it does. Though as I previously mentioned - it's much easier (as a beginner) to ship stuff bare root. It not only keeps the shipping costs down, if I ship to the west of the mississippi -this is how it was explained to me- I avoid any issues with states that regulate incoming live plant material heavier than normal.

So as a result, I ship everything I can bare root. A few examples of plants that I've shipped with medium includes masdevallias, draculas, and other pleuros because these guys tend to become temperamental if they dry out.

[Wrebbitrocks]

how odd! this is good to know. actually ive had plenty of plants come in soil and all with no problem whatsoever. i know its for a good cause and everything but cant the beetles just get here on their own? i dont think they follow state forders...

[Ray]

I think there is a lot of misinformation being shared here.

One does not need a permit to ship plants domestically.

All packages entering a state are not inspected. In fact, in most states, a label indicating that there are live plants inside the package does not cause it to be.

I applaud those states that do, as they are trying to protect their agricultural base.

Lastly, while insect do not honor border limitations, natural barriers like deserts, rivers, oceans, and mountains are pretty good at isolating places, so damaging critters pretty much have to be "manually" introduced.

[Bolero]

It's easy to do, I have been amazed at how much I can get for plants.

The best way for me to make some money from the hobby is buying flasks of 25 to 30 plants and growing them up. Selling some of them and keeping the rest to grow up. It works well and sustains the hobby for me.