NYC Plant Market Filled Culture Lab LIC in Long Island City, NYC, on October 18

NYC Plant Market took over Culture Lab LIC in Long Island City on Sunday, October 18, running from 1 to 7pm at 5-25 46th Avenue.

The market is a community initiative from Corse Design, run in collaboration with Culture Lab LIC. Once a month it gathers local plant shops, independent growers across the city and small nurseries for a curated day built around urban greening. The range runs from rare aroids and beginner houseplants to handmade ceramic planters. The organizers describe the project as an effort to reconnect New Yorkers with nature and to keep green living accessible, sustainable and rooted in local culture.

On October 18, dozens of vendors sold plants, ceramics and fiber art. Two programs ran alongside the stalls. A community plant swap let visitors trade plants with one another, and a free plant clinic took care questions.

Admission to the market is free, though the organizers encourage a small donation toward running costs. NYC Plant Market is primarily an outdoor event, and on some dates limited indoor space is available depending on the exhibition on view at Culture Lab LIC. Dogs are welcome as long as they stay on a leash. For vendors, the 2026 season fee is $85 for one space and $160 for two, kept low on purpose so the market stays friendly to start-ups.

Photos from the market show how the setting works: plants are displayed in a gallery hall with paintings and prints hanging on the walls. Monsteras and pothos sit on white tables, hanging planters swing from racks, and small pots in bright colors fill the stalls.

For Japanese readers who enjoy gardening, it was a chance to browse unusual varieties, handmade pots and local growers in one afternoon, in a space that also doubles as an art venue.