TIps for Buying Healthy Houseplants Online

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Today, I am doing a video inspired by one of my subscribers, Christina H. Thank you, Christina, for asking this question! Christina lives in a rural area and is not very close to nurseries and plant places to buy plants. She likes to buy online but would like some tips for having a good experience with that. I think that’s a great idea, and I’m really glad to answer that question with this video.

The great news about buying online is that you can find some really cool plants online that you may not be able to find in your local nursery. Even if you have nurseries nearby, you can discover even more fun things at other nurseries. If you’re like Christina and you’re not near nurseries, then online shopping may be the only way you can get a really good selection of houseplants.

Regular nurseries can only stock so much and aren’t necessarily specialty growers. You can find some really unique plants from specialty growers that may not be available anywhere else. It’s also very convenient to have them come right to your doorstep. However, if they don’t arrive in good condition, or if you don’t get what you thought you were going to get, that can create some problems and detract from the whole experience. So, I’m going to talk about some ways to analyze the situation to see if you’re going to get what you would like from an online plant purchase.

The first thing I would definitely suggest is once you find an amazing plant online that you want, or you find a place that looks like they have a good selection of houseplants, take the time to look at the reviews. Look at the reviews on the site and check for reviews just in general online. If they have any reviews on Google or Yelp, check those as well. You can even put the name of the company in and search for reviews to see what pops up.

Of course, use some discretion; there are always going to be those people who post negative comments just for the sake of it or because they might be competitors trying to undermine the business. Use common sense, but if you start to see some similar comments on different sites, that can be an indicator that there may be something going on. For instance, if multiple reviews mention that they received the wrong plant or that the plant they received was much smaller than expected, that’s not a good sign.

Another point to consider is the fine print. This is something I emphasize as I also have a plant store and carry plants. We always showcase our best-looking plants because we want you to see what a healthy plant looks like. However, keep in mind that you may not be getting exactly what is shown. Look closely at the description for information such as how big the plant is going to be. There may be fine print that notes, for example, that what you’re seeing is a mature plant, but you will actually receive a three-inch plant in a four-inch pot. Understanding this will help you avoid disappointment.

Also, if you’re paying a very low price—like six or seven or eight dollars—for a plant that in a nursery would cost forty or fifty dollars, obviously, you can’t expect to receive a forty or fifty dollar plant for six dollars. This is where common sense comes into play. Companies that aren’t transparent in their descriptions or reviews would raise my suspicions, as transparency is important. The more transparent the site appears, the more likely they are to deliver what you are ordering and provide assistance if you’re not satisfied.

Customer service is another key aspect. There should be a way to contact them, and you should receive a response within a reasonable timeframe—ideally within 24 to 48 hours. If it takes longer than that without a good reason, that’s not a good sign. If they have a phone number, that’s even better. You want to know that you can reach out to them if you have any questions or issues with your order. If you’re unsure about a certain plant, ask a question, such as, “How much light does this plant need?” and see if they respond. That can be a good indicator of their customer service quality.

You also want to be aware of how they ship the plants. If there is an option for expedited shipping, consider it. Getting your plants delivered more quickly can be beneficial, especially if the cost is reasonable. As a grower, I can tell you that we do everything we can to package plants in good condition, but once they are in transit, we can’t control how they are handled. The longer a plant is in transit, the more risk there is of damage.

Another important aspect is to check the online seller’s return policy. There should be a clear return policy in place. You don’t want to hear “all sales final,” as that could be a problem if you receive the wrong plant or a plant that is sick or in poor condition. It’s essential to know what your options are if the plant doesn’t arrive in good shape.

Also, consider your home environment when the plant arrives. If you live in an area with extreme weather, you don’t want that plant sitting outside in those conditions for too long. Remember, these are houseplants; they belong indoors! Make sure you’re available to receive the plant and keep an eye on the shipment’s progress. Nowadays, it’s easy to track shipments, so be ready to grab your new plant friend as soon as it arrives.

Additionally, keep in mind the growing climate in your home and how big the plant will get eventually. Just like with any other purchase, this is something you should consider before ordering online. When you’re in a nursery, you can see how big a plant can get, but online, it’s more difficult. This is where customer service and the ability to ask questions become crucial, as they may not include all the information in the plant description.

Finally, trust your instincts. You might be looking at a beautiful website with great reviews, but if something in your gut is telling you that it’s not going to work out, then don’t order from that site. Move on to the next one.

That covers it for online shopping for plants! Please feel free to share any comments below about your experiences or tips that you’ve found helpful when purchasing plants online. When you do receive your plant, make sure to check the moisture level. If the soil is still moist, don’t water it. Use a moisture meter or your finger to check. Just because the plant has traveled a long distance doesn’t mean it needs water; it only needs it if it’s actually dry.

Here are a couple of Calathea plants that I recently acquired. Both were recently repotted, but I noticed that one of them is in way too big of a pot. If you receive plants that are not in the proper pot size—ideally two-thirds plant to one-third pot—make sure to repot them as soon as possible. This is crucial for their health. I just got these two rare varieties of Calathea, and I want to ensure they thrive, so I’ll be repotting them into smaller pots.

In summary, once you get your plants, place them in suitable lighting, water them if necessary (but don’t if they’re still moist), and repot them when needed. Keep an eye on them, especially for any pests and diseases. You might want to quarantine new arrivals for a while until you’re sure they are healthy.

That’s it for online shopping for plants. Thank you for stopping by today! Please leave any comments about indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video. Don’t forget to hit the bell if you’d like to be notified when new videos are released!

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