How to Find an Ideal Plant on the Market
You’ve decided on an indoor plant variety. Great! The next step is bringing it home. There are many places to purchase houseplants, including big box stores, local nurseries, and even online. Generally, it’s best to make your purchase in person so you can inspect the plant beforehand to ensure it’s in good condition.
Here are eight guidelines to follow while plant shopping to ensure you come home with the best variety.
1. Avoid Impulse Shopping
It’s never smart to buy a plant just because it catches your attention. Purchasing a species that’s not suited to your home is a quick way to waste money. Instead, have an idea for the type of plant you want and where it will go before going shopping.
2. Read the Label
Though brief, plant labels give you the most vital information necessary for plant care. You’ll get a quick summary of lighting and water needs and possibly an overview of how large the plant will get in the long term.
This gives you a sense of whether the plant will be low maintenance or require extra attention and whether it’s a variety you can commit to.
3. Is it Root-Bound?
Plants that sit on store shelves for weeks on end have a tendency to get root bound. This happens when the pot is too small, and the roots start to grow in circles, compromising their ability to take in water and nutrients.
Rootbound plants are also likely to experience transplant shock when you move them to a bigger container. For an easier transition, choose smaller plants with less-prominent root systems.
4. Avoid Wilting or Yellowing Leaves
Store shelves are stressful conditions for any plant to grow, meaning that you will likely encounter plants with signs of stress like wilting or yellowing leaves. While they may perk up again once they’re in your home, why take the risk? Purchase only plants that appear to be in perfect health so that you aren’t fighting an uphill battle to get them back to full strength.
5. Choose Buds Over Blooms
While flowering plants make a big impression on store shelves, you’re better off buying plants that only have buds, not blooms. This lets you enjoy the flowers for longer at home before they inevitably drop off. Plus, it reduces the risk the flowers will fall off from the stress of moving to a new location.
6. Inspect for Signs of Pests and Disease
Store plants spend their early lives in close quarters, meaning that a problem can spread quickly from one pot to the next. Look closely at the leaves of your potential purchase to see signs of disease or pest damage. This may look like chewed leaves, small egg clusters, webbing, and unexpected speckling or spots.
7. Check the Soil
While most nurseries use high-quality potting soil, this isn’t necessarily a given. Inspect plants closely before purchase to see if you’ll need to switch it out. Note that there are soil types suited for different plants, meaning you’ll need a different mix for your palms than your cacti and succulents (more on this later!).
8. Consider Plant Size
Choosing the right plant size is an important consideration. Too large, and it could overwhelm your space, but too small, and you’ll wait forever for it to get up to size. When in doubt, it’s usually best to go small. Smaller plants are typically cheaper, and they also tend to be more adaptable to transplanting and suffer less stress when their environment changes.
Follow these tips, and you’re likely to come home with a happy plant that’s well-suited to your space.