[Raen Dear]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good place to buy house plants?

[jnieman]

Originally Posted by Raen Dear

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good place to buy house plants?

I've seen nice plants at Lowe's and Home Depot. Not sure if you plan to put them on your Lanai, but if you do they may have to come in the house for a few months in the coldest weather here. Even some of the palms that you see on lanais are actually house plants and have to be brought in the house when it gets really cold.

[swrinfla]

Raen:

Without being belittling, I offer my suggestions:

1. Get a son or daughter or both to contribute! My younger daughter sent me an appropriate planter as a house-warming present, now over 7-1/2 years ago. It still flourishes with minimal effort!

2. I visited Walmart (not my usual shopping venue) and bought a couple of their potted "silk" plants as well as a 6' "ficus tree." All still provide the green pleasure, and all I have to do is occasionally blow the dust off them!

3. I bought a more modest "planter" at a garage sale (less than $5) which helps increase my fake garden!

It's all so easy, and since I lost my wife many years ago, I do not worry that she'd object to fake!

SWR

[gomoho]

Was at Fairfield Gardents today (north on 301 from 466) and they have a nice selection and probably good quality, but you can usually score a nice find at Lowes or Home Depot. Depends on what you are looking for.

[Serenoa]

I do know what you mean when you say "house plants" but there really is no such thing. Some plants just tolerate the lower light & humidity of an indoor environment much better than others....hence they are labeled "house plants".

If you choose to buy yours at a big box (Lowes, Home Depot, etc.) be sure & look the plants over really close before you bring them home. Be on the lookout especially for insect infestations such as brown scale, mealy bugs, and spider mites (google images for each of these if you're not familiar), as the big box store nursery areas are usually a breeding ground for these common pests. Don't EVER buy a plant with scale or mealy bugs since they are virtually impossible to get completely rid of. Bring home healthy plants, keep them well watered, clean & dust free and you'll likely have no insect problems.

Don't fall for the "water it once a week" advice that you'll typically get from a big box employee who was probably working in the paint or tool dept yesterday. Water the plant when it NEEDS it, which may be more or less often depending on the time of year & where you choose to place it in your home.

Don't make the mistake of thinking "well it's a tropical plant so some occasional DIRECT sunshine out on the sidewalk or patio will probably do it good". Just because it's tropical doesn't mean it thrives in direct sun. Many tropicals native environment was in FILTERED sunlight UNDER the rainforest canopy above, and will suffer leaf damage in a manner of minutes if left out in direct, hot sun.

Perhaps you already know all of this, but perhaps someone else who reads it...doesn't. Just trying to prevent plant abuse!