So, You Brought Home a Cactus (or Twelve)…

Maybe it started with one succulent, and now your living room looks like a scene from a plant influencer’s Instagram. Fiddle leaf figs, pothos, hanging ivy, even a potted olive tree – your place is thriving. But here’s something you probably didn’t think about: insurance.

Yes, your new indoor (or outdoor) jungle could be worth more than you realize, and in some cases, it may even change your coverage needs. Let’s break it down.

1. Plants Count as Personal Property

Your Homeowners, Condo, or Renters policy likely includes Personal Property coverage, which helps pay for your stuff if it’s damaged or stolen. But there’s a limit – and many people don’t realize how quickly plant life adds up:

• Rare or mature plants can cost hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.
• Designer planters, stands, and grow lights aren’t cheap either.
• Whether your plants live inside or outside, most Home, Condo, and Renters policies only cover them up to a certain limit – often around $500 per plant, and only for specific causes like fire, theft, or vandalism. Outdoor landscaping may have a total cap (usually 5% of your Dwelling limit), and damage from wind, pests, or overwatering usually isn’t covered.

What to do: Take a quick inventory of your indoor and outdoor greenery – especially rare or expensive plants, designer pots, or built-in grow systems.

While you may not be able to individually increase coverage just for your plants, it’s smart to:

• Know your policy’s per-plant and total landscaping limits.
• Talk to your broker about whether your current Personal Property limit still fits your lifestyle. Or there may be an option to specifically schedule some of the more expensive plants.
• Consider adding Umbrella coverage for any Liability surprises your jungle might bring.

Learn more about what is covered under Personal Property coverage here.

2. Landscaping & Upgrades Can Affect Your Property Coverage

If your plant obsession moved outside and now includes landscaping, fountains, pergolas, or even a garden shed, you could be affecting two parts of your Home insurance:

• Dwelling coverage (Coverage A) for structures attached to the home
• Other Structures coverage (Coverage B) for separate items like gazebos, fences, or planter walls

These updates can also raise your home’s replacement cost, which means your policy may need to catch up.

What to do: Let your insurance agent or broker know if you made any changes to your property’s layout, features, or outdoor structures.

Learn how and if a Homeowners policy covers landscape damage here.

3. Liability Surprises: That Cactus Might Actually Cost You

Cactuses and other pointy plants aren’t just cute decor – they are potential hazards. And if a guest, delivery person, or a visiting pet gets hurt, you could be held responsible.

Here are a few real possibilities:

• A guest brushes against your euphorbia and ends up with a nasty puncture.
• A tall plant stand tips over and causes someone to trip and fall, or, even worse – this plant falls on someone.
• A self-watering planter overflows, damaging a neighbor’s ceiling in your apartment building.

Liability coverage on your Homeowners, Condo, or Renters policy helps in these cases. Still, if you regularly host or your space is more “botanical maze” than “minimalist chic,” it might not be enough.

Pro tip: This is where a Personal Umbrella Policy steps in. It adds extra Liability coverage (starting options at $1M) once your base limits are used up – and it’s often surprisingly affordable.

Pet Visitors + Plant Hazards = Unexpected Liability?

Got friends or neighbors who bring their pets over? You might want to think beyond just vacuuming the couch.

Some common houseplants – like lilies, pothos, sago palms, aloe vera, and even snake plants – are toxic to dogs and cats. And yes, cactuses can injure curious pets, too.

If a guest’s pet gets sick or hurt in your home, and they claim your plant was the reason? You could be looking at a Liability claim under your Homeowners or Renters insurance.

Tip: Keep toxic or spiky plants out of reach when hosting, and let your insurance broker know if you regularly have pet visitors – just in case your policy needs a little extra muscle (like an Umbrella policy).

Quick Insurance Checklist for the Budding Plant Parent

• You’ve spent more than $1,000 on plants, pots, lights, and setups
• You installed irrigation and lighting or made structural changes
• You’ve added pergolas, patios, or other landscaping features
• You regularly have guests or visiting pets in your home
• You don’t yet have an Umbrella policy (hint: now’s a great time to get one!)

Final Thought

We are not saying your monstera is going to bankrupt you. But if your home looks like a boutique nursery, your insurance should know. It’s not about being over-insured – it’s about being smart-insured.