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| Photo Credit: Frank Tansey |
| This display of perennials includes lots of healthy plants. |
That garden sale down the street may not be such a bargain if the plants are in poor health. Before spending your money, be sure to inspect the entire plant carefully for problems – from the leaves right down to the roots.
Shape (Habit): The overall habit, or shape, of the plant is very important. You want something that’s fairly compact with good basal branching (branching from the lowest part of the plant/trunk). If the plant looks too stretched out or elongated and spindly, it’s been straining for light, so don’t necessarily go for the tallest plant, because that may not mean it’s the best. Flowers: It’s really tempting to choose the plant that’s covered with countless pretty flowers. But if you’re looking to buy a flowering plant, choose one that’s well-budded with only a few open blooms. Some plants, like impatiens, are fine to purchase when they’re in full bloom, but most plants are better flower producers when they’re bought at a younger age. Plants that are “in bud” transplant better than plants that are “in bloom” because they suffer less transplant shock and develop roots faster. Leaves (Foliage): Examine leaves to make sure they’re clean, shiny and lush, with no insect or disease damage. (Check the undersides of the leaves as well.) Wilted or yellowed plants indicate a problem, and they may not recover. When it comes to bugs, you may see the insect itself on the plant, but more often you’ll see some insect-feeding damage (like holes in the leaves). That’s not a good sign. Remember that if you take home a plant with an insect problem, you’re bringing the insects home, too. (And when it comes to buying houseplants, these unwanted insects will spread quickly in your home.) Fungal growth on leaves appears as concentric rings or dark necrotic spots, and you want to avoid that as well. Diseases usually show up as random spotting on the foliage itself.
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