Plant Growers in Lázaro Cárdenas Face Two-Month Stretches Without Sales

Lázaro Cárdenas, Quintana Roo — At least 17 families who grow ornamental plants in the community of Constituyentes del 74 are struggling financially because sales are so irregular that they can go two consecutive months without selling anything, a situation that cuts straight into household incomes.

Members of the Vivero Maya nursery blame the problem on the lack of their own transport, the high cost of hauling plants to towns about 20 kilometers away, and poor electricity and cellphone service. Illiteracy and a lack of familiarity with digital tools add to the obstacles, making it hard to promote their crops online.

The producers Estela, Teresa, Marcelina and María del Socorro Cocom Dzib said the nursery is the main source of income for the families involved. Some of the women have 18 years of experience in the trade, others between 10 and 12, alongside members who have joined more recently.

Although they have ample land for propagating different plant species, sales opportunities cluster into two seasons: May and June, and October and November. December brings a modest rebound, but demand falls sharply the rest of the year, leaving long idle stretches and little money to cover household expenses.

Dependent on Outside Buyers

Without a vehicle to move their stock, the growers depend on outside buyers who travel to the community from Tulum, Benito Juárez (Cancún), Santo Domingo and Leona Vicario. Hiring private freight services is barely worthwhile because the cost eats into the slim margins.

The situation also weakens their bargaining position. Most species sell for between 8 and 20 pesos per plant, while large specimens such as monsteras fetch 30 to 40 pesos. Some specialty varieties command up to 100 pesos, but middlemen keep their offers low despite the time and care each plant requires.

Propagating the plants takes one to two months depending on the species. The process involves taking cuttings from mother plants, sowing them and waiting for roots to develop before moving them into nursery bags. To keep production going, the growers buy supplies that weigh on their budgets: a package of bags can cost 1,400 pesos and last anywhere from a week to a month, depending on volume.

Basic infrastructure gaps compound the commercial difficulties. Power outages and patchy phone signals prevent steady communication with potential customers. Several members also cannot read or write, and do not know how to use smartphones or manage digital platforms.

Under these conditions, Vivero Maya relies on word-of-mouth publicity from visitors and middlemen, who photograph the plants and share the images on their personal accounts. That practice is practically the only way new buyers find their way to Constituyentes del 74, while the families keep waiting for better opportunities to move their production.