Tips on How To Buy A Houseplant
Whether you are a novice buying a single houseplant for decorative purposes, or an experienced plant hobbyist purchasing many houseplants to add to your growing collection of plants, the important thing to remember is to choose a plant that is right for you.
What kind of plants do you like? Flowering plants? Foliage plants? Cacti? Do you like to prune? Do you like plants with large leaves or plants with small leaves? If you are planning on transplanting the houseplant later to the patio or garden, do you want the plant to attract butterflies? These are among the types of questions you should ask yourself before you buy any plant.
Another important question relates to the size of the plant. Have the place in your house where you’d like to put your new plant in mind when you go to make a purchase. This way you won’t buy a plant that is too big for the space in your house, or too small to fill up such an area.
The specific location whwere you wish to put your plant should also help you decide what type of plant to buy. check the lighting, temperature and humidity of the location, and only buy a plant which is suited for such an environment.
Another important consideration when buying a plant is the amount of care you are willing to give the plant. If you are a busy person who does not want to psend a lot of time caring for a plant, you should buy mature plants which are extremely adaptable to all kinds of lighting, humidity, watering and temperature conditions.
What to Look for When Buying a Houseplant
Once you’ve decided what type of houseplant will suit your needs, it is time to find a plant dealer who will sell you a healthy plant. Have you ever purchased a plant only to have it die in less than a week? Chances are it was sick!!
While everyone loves to find a bargain, it is much safer and wiser to always buy your houseplants from a reputable florist, nursery, or plant boutique. When you visit one of these plant dealers, carefully evaluate the shop’s selection of plants. If the plants seem to be in good health, and the overall atmosphere is one of an attractive and well-groomed store, chances are good that the plant you buy will be very healthy and will subsequently live for a long time with proper care.
When picking out a plant, inspect it carefully for any signs of damage. Be on the lookout for brown edges on leaves or any evidence that these brown areas may have been cut away. Inspect leaves and stems for any sign of pests or diseases. If you can spot pests or some leaf damage, the plant will most likely continue to deteriorate once it is in your home. Also, look at all supporting stakes and screens and make certain that they are not concelaing damaged stems, branches, or trunks.
Any healthy flowering plant should have plenty of buds ready to burst open. If most of the buds have already bloomed, you should look for a less mature plant. If the new leaves of a plant you are thinking of buying have large gaps between them, there is a good possibility that excessive amounts of fertilizer have recently been applied to the plant in order to make it grow more rapidly, or that the plant has lived for too long in poor light. Avoid buying any plant in this condition.
Additionally, be sure to check for any roots growing out of the bottom of the pot. If you see roots poking out through the drainage holes this is a sign telling you that the plant has outgrown ints container. If this is the case you have two choices: One, you can look for another plant, or two, you can ask the owner of the store to repot the plant into a larger container for you; in some instances there will be a slight charge for this service.
Second, if the plant you are interested in purchasing is free of any defects, if its color looks good and it shows signs of new growth, your choice is an excellent one!
Congratulate yourself and welcome the plant into its new home where it will begin a happy, healthy lifestyle under your care.
