How to Buy Houseplants

It's usually love at first sight - at least, that's how many of us pick our houseplants. But there's much more involved in selecting a new plant than meets the eye. Where, how big, and how much are questions to consider before making your final choice.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plants
• Plants

1. Shop for houseplants with a particular location in mind. You may need a tall plant to place near a window or in a corner, or you might be looking for something low-growing to fit on a shelf. Each type of plant will grow differently: upright, trailing, bushy or spreading.

2. Know what the light is like in the location you have in mind, and match the light requirements to the location. (An aspidistra, for example, will do well in a low-light location, but may burn up in a sunny window.)

3. Look for hardy plants if your thumb is less than green. Select and buy plants that match your gardening skills. Pothos, aspidistra, aglaonema and dracaena are all plants that will withstand some abuse. Orchids, African violets and ferns should be left to the more accomplished indoor gardener.

4. Purchase smaller plants to save money. One thing is for sure - plants grow! By selecting a smaller plant, you will eventually have a valuable addition to your collection for a fraction of the cost. Beaucarnia (Pony-Tail Palm) will run $30 to $40 for a large specimen, but costs just $3 to $5 for a smaller version of the same plant.

Tips & Warnings

• If you fall in love and just have to have a plant, go ahead and buy it. But learn all that you can about its care and cultivation to prevent potential heartbreak. Your nursery professional can answer all your questions regarding the care of most plants.

on 11/22/2005 Sometimes leaving for vacations means some of your plants will not survive. Don't panic, there is a way out. Fill a big container with water, big enough to hold all the water needed to water your plants. Set the container on the floor and place group of plants around it. Get cotton rope, cut it in pieces long enough to reach from the water to the planter, but not too long. Bury one end of the rope in the dirt of your plants container, just deep enough to stay in, and place the other end of the rope in the water. The cotton will continuously transfer water into each plant so you can enjoy your vacation.

on 11/22/2005 Keep in mind when picking out your favorite houseplant, that it may be Kitty's favorite, too, & that MANY common houseplants can be fatal to Kitty, or make her VERY ill. If in doubt, ask your Veterinarian or Nursery Professional. Better safe than sorry.

on 11/22/2005 I have two hanging lamps (rice paper globes) in my studio apartment. I leave them on all day for my plants. This allows me to keep plants I otherwise couldn't, such as Ficus Benjamina. It also helps my Peace Lily bloom, too.

on 11/22/2005 If you leave on vacation, leave watering instructions with whoever's picking up your mail or feeding your pets, so you won't come home to dead plants.