Buy House Plant From Plant Store
Whether you’re looking to add a pop of green to your desk, bedroom corner or living room coffee table, houseplants can bring immediate interest and life to any indoor space. And, if you’re willing to put in the work (checking on water needs, adding fertilizer, pruning and repotting), they can also provide a sense of responsibility and accomplishment that can be rewarding.
That said, if you want to avoid the disappointment of bringing home a sickly, dead or mislabeled plant, here are some tips when shopping at your local supermarket, big-box store and chain nursery.
Before you buy a houseplant, determine what kind of light your home has, and how much sunlight it gets. Doing so will help you choose a variety that thrives in your environment. Then, look for a plant that fits your care needs, like an evergreen that can grow large, or an epiphytic fern that prefers indirect light and drier conditions.
Once you’ve found a houseplant you want, give it a thorough once-over: look for any wilting or shriveled leaves, sticky sap on the stems and foliage, or any other sign of insect infestation (look at leaf axils and in between leaves for tiny bumps, for example). And if you see a swarm of flies swarming around a plant, walk away.
If you’re unsure about which plants will do well in your home, ask the employees at a local store for help. They should be able to tell you which ones have done well in similar conditions, and can give you specific watering instructions. They may even recommend a particular plant that would thrive in your home, or offer suggestions for other varieties you might be interested in.
5 Tips Before You Buy House Plant From Plant Store
Purchasing a flowering houseplant that’s just beginning to show color, rather than one already in full bloom, will ensure the flowers last as long as possible. “Once the buds start to open, the flowering season can be very short,” says horticulturist Omonefe Sokol, who owns more than 100 plants and works at Tula Nursery in Washington, D.C. Sokol recommends buying a hibiscus, a bougainvillea or a lilyturf when they’re just beginning to show color, as those are the plants that have the best chance of lasting through winter weather.
Online retailers, especially the smaller, independent sellers, have a larger selection of rare and exotic plants that you’re unlikely to find in big-box stores and mall garden centers. They also use innovative packaging and shipping methods to ensure your new plant arrives in great shape, ready for its new home. And, if you’re not satisfied with your purchase, most online retailers have return policies.