Purchasing Healthy Plants
Over the winter months, you might be making a list of all the new plants you want to grow in your greenhouse, or the plants that you want to purchase fullgrown. When shopping for flowers, plants, and vegetables in home centers or garden centers it will be important to recognize a healthy plant from a diseased plant so you don't waste money or time in building your gardens.

Posted Wednesday, April 5, 2006

Look for the best quality plants that will give you the best show without disappointing results. Compare the plants that you want to purchase with others that are of the same variety and type before purchasing. Are the colors in the plant that you would like to purchase bright and bold? If the colors are faded or different than the others that are of the same type this plant could have problems. Is this plant sturdy as the others are, not wilty or limpy looking- signs of stress? Check out the stems on the plant. Are they straight or are there bends in the stems that will cause the plant to die off soon? There shouldn?t be any cuts, dents, or slices in the stems. The stems should be thick and sturdy looking for the best plants that will survive in your gardens. Be sure to look at all the leaves on the plant that you want to purchase. Don't purchase plants with brown or yellowed leaves.

Even leaves that are partially brown or yellow are signs that this particular plant has been over or under watered. While you are inspecting the leaves, even if you don't find yellowed or brown leaves, look for pests. Any trace indications that pests have been eating at the leaves or the stem of the plant will help you choose plants that are healthy and that will thrive in your garden. While you might think that the roots are not all that important, you should look at the bottom of the container. Some roots coming out of the bottom of the container means that the plant is ready for transplanting, but if there is a huge amount of roots this means that the plant is long past due to be planted in an outdoor garden. Plants that have huge amounts of roots sticking out of the bottom of the container, means that the plant has been under stress for some time now.

You will be better off finding a plant that is a little younger or not under as much stress when purchasing your new plants.