indoor plants, plant care, saving money, plant buying guide, home gardening, plant growth tips, plant maintenance

TIP #1

Match Plants to Your Conditions

For a higher survival rate, choose plants that thrive under your conditions.

I used to buy flowers on a whim. For instance, I'd see a blooming spathiphyllum at the checkout and purchase it. Only at home would I read that it doesn't like sunlight and needs regular spraying. As a result, it would wilt or end up with more attentive owners. This way, I wasted money and ended up discarding several plants.

Now, I research the conditions a plant needs before buying it. I check how much light it requires, its tolerance to direct sunlight, watering frequency, and whether it's afraid of drafts or how fast it grows. I verify this information on multiple websites.

I suggest starting with plants that have similar growing conditions to reduce confusion. For instance, succulents and cacti thrive on my west-facing windows in summer, while tropical plants like anthurium and aglaonema burn in the sun and need to be moved.

TIP #2

Purchase Young Plants

Young plants are cheaper, adapt faster to their new home, and survive the move better. They are significantly smaller than mature ones. Sellers often label them as babies or rooted cuttings. Watching a plant grow and sprout is fascinating. And it's less painful and costly if anything goes wrong.

However, this method requires patience, as it may take months or even years for a tiny sprout to become a lush bush.

TIP #3

Buy from Private Individuals

Purchasing plants from "Avito" or local markets is usually two to three times cheaper than buying from stores.

For example, I once bought a striped ctenanta for $1 from seniors selling cucumbers on the street, whereas a flower store would sell it for $12. I divided it into three pots and made a profit of $35.

I try to find sellers in my neighborhood or on my commute, even if their prices are slightly higher.

However, there's a risk of buying a diseased plant, even if it looks healthy. The same risk exists with store-bought plants, especially those from large chains that may not follow proper cultivation conditions. Therefore, it's best to keep new plants separate from others for a few weeks and keep a close eye on them.

 

I bought a striped ctenantha on the street from a senior citizen for only 1$

 

I wouldn't go after a stromantha like that. The brown spots on the leaves could be a fungal disease.

TIP #4

Avoid emotional buying and purchasing too much

It's easy to get tempted and fill up an entire greenhouse. Often, I'm deterred by the effort required: you usually need to go somewhere or drive to get plants. So, I save my favorite listings to pick up opportunistically. Often, after a few days, the obsession fades, and I realize the new plant won't fit my interior, or it will be too hard to care for.

However, the system isn't foolproof. Once, I visited a seller on Amazon intending to buy a pair of ampel plant seedlings for $5. An hour later, I left with a box of succulents for $17. I hadn't planned to grow succulents - the plants were just beautiful, and the seller was persuasive.

 

A jungle may be beautiful, but it requires care: watering, spraying, fertilizing, treatment for diseases, and even an occasional shower.

TIP #5

Purchase Discounted Flowers

Consult your florist to see if they offer any plants at a reduced price. Often, prices are lowered for plants that appear unattractive, such as those with broken stems, burned leaves, or those that have already bloomed. These plants are not profitable for the store to keep and are easier to sell at a discount. You could benefit from nurturing such a plant back to health.

Following holidays, checkout counters in supermarkets often sell plants that did not sell. This is how I once "rescued" a cypress.

Approach markdowns the same way you would regular flowers: check for suspicious spots and insects. While it's true that most plants can be restored, I would avoid one that's completely withered.

TIP #6

Acquire Free Plants

People often give away plants when they move, lose interest in a flower, or realize they don't have time to care for it. Check classifieds sites, local Facebook groups, and websites that offer free items.

Another great way to find plants is by paying attention to libraries or city children's centers. Readers and parents often bring plants from home or donate extras to make these spaces more inviting. You could ask librarians for a cutting.

Green swaps are another source of free plants. A swap is an event where people exchange items like clothes or decorations, and sometimes plants are included.