Yes things have gotten really really out of hand. And from what I understand it is being driven by 'plant influencers' on social media. If you think there are a lot of 'help my Monstera albo cutting is rotting' on here, its 5 times as bad on FB. And the worst part is, these people will freely admit they do not know what to do with th plant. There was a post yesterday, This is paraphrased but true to the gist 'I got this M. albo cutting (and it showed a photo of the actual cutting, which was a really NICE one, huge, 3 leaves, adventitious roots intact) paid $495 plus shipping...now I need to find out how to grow it! Can anyone help?' Would you drop $500 on a plant you know nothing about? yet this is rampant.
Responders to the post were divided into 2 camps....'Why in hell did you drop $500 on a plant you don;t know how to grow?' (which had I responded would have been my comment) and 'Leave her alone she can spend her money on whatever she wants'.
The problem is these people are driving up the cost of plants for EVERYONE.
I put an anthurium on an auction site, it was basically a rooted stem cutting with 3 small leaves...I thought I might get $100. It sold for $400. And you know what? I actually felt GUILTY.
