Plant hauls became the YouTube/Instagram genre where creators showed off new plant purchases, fueling acquisition culture and plant addiction.
The Haul Format
Plant haul videos followed a formula: visit nursery/big box store/plant shop, show each plant purchased, reveal prices, discuss care plans. The satisfaction of “look what I found!” combined with educational content.
Popular haul creators: Planterina, Harli G, Nick Pileggi, Summer Rayne Oakes. Videos reached hundreds of thousands of views.
Thrift Hauls
A subgenre emerged: rehab/rescue hauls — buying clearance or damaged plants from Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Walmart for $1-5, nursing them back to health, and documenting the transformation. The before/after drama made great content.
Addiction Culture
The haul culture fed “plant addiction” jokes: “I have no more space but I bought 10 more plants.” Facebook groups like “Houseplant Addicts Anonymous” leaned into the humor while some raised concerns about overconsumption.
Source
- Planterina YouTube channel launch: 2016
- Haul video boom: May 2017+
- Thrift plant rehab trend: 2018-2019