9 Things to Check For Before Bringing Home a New Houseplant

Are you ready to buy a new houseplant this year? No matter if you’re adding one or dozens to your collection, there are several things to consider before your purchase. In this article, plant expert Matt Dursum covers the top things to check for before bringing home a new houseplant.

Woman bringing home a box full of new houseplants including Painted-leaf begonia, Dracaena angolensis and Arrowhead plant.

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If you’re like me, you’ve probably had the painful experience of looking for your dream plant but bringing home a lemon. Not a literal lemon, but a houseplant that had everything under the sun wrong with it. When this happens, you’re left with a lot of work trying to get it to survive. 

Shopping for living additions to your indoor spaces can be fun but also challenging. Even the best nurseries can sometimes carry plants with diseases, infestations, or overall poor health. Besides the plant’s health, you can also make mistakes in understanding your home, spatial layout, and lighting. 

If you’re looking to bring home a new houseplant, it’s important to consider a few things before making your purchase. Below are the 9 things to check for before buying a new houseplant and bringing it home

Make Sure You Have Enough Space for a Houseplant

Close-up of a Senecio rowleyanus plant with cascading strings of round, bead-like green leaves resembling pearls, growing densely from a hanging pot by the window.
Be sure your space fits your plant’s growing needs.

Houseplants come in almost every size, from tiny string of pearls to massive monsteras. No matter how much you want a plant, you need to know if you have room for it

As these living things grow, they eventually need larger containers and more room for their leaves. Even the smallest species can fill out quickly. 

Before going to the nursery, measure the space you want your new houseplant to grow. Consider how much space it will need as it grows. It doesn’t hurt to create a visual map of your home and the plant to help you decide. 

Know How Much Light You Have

On a sunny windowsill, a large clay pot holds a monstera with its large split leaves, alongside two small terracotta pots containing a Syngonium with arrow-shaped leaves and an Alocasia with glossy, heart-shaped foliage.
Take time to observe your space’s light throughout the year.

The next thing to do before leaving your home is to understand how much light you get. Some plants need a ton of shade while others need direct sunlight. 

Look at how much the trees and buildings outside block the sun. Consider window positioning and the sun’s angle. In the northern hemisphere, south-facing windows get the most direct sunlight. 

Also, factor in the seasons. When the sun falls in winter, will your space still get enough light or will it be blocked? Take your time to understand your space. Once you do, you’ll know which plants work for each part of your home. 

Research Which Plants You Want to Bring Home

A white-haired woman wearing jeans and a blouse examines various potted plants displayed on shelves in a spacious garden center.
Know your plants’ needs to avoid surprises later on.

Before going to the nursery, take your time to research which plants you want. Are you looking for an elegant English ivy to drape over a hanging basket? Or is your space ready for a tropical-looking dwarf banana tree? 

Having a plan for what you want to grow in your space is super fun. It also lets you prepare a game plan for maintenance and care. You’ll know which tools, fertilizers, and extras you’ll need to keep your houseplant healthy. 

Another perk of researching what you want is preparing for what can go wrong. Some plants are easy to care for while others take a lot of diligence and patience. If you buy an orchid because it’s pretty only to find out how hard it is to keep alive, you won’t be happy. 

Check for the Signs of Diseases and Pests

A woman wearing gloves inspects the variegated green and cream leaves of a Ficus benjamina closely for pests or signs of disease.
Examine plant leaves for discoloration or pest damage

Now that you’re at your local nursery and ready to shop, it’s time to start inspecting. When you find a plant you’re interested in, look at its leaves. 

Take your time to scope the undersides of the leaves for pests such as whiteflies and aphids. Look for dark spots, yellowing, brown leaf tips, and wilting. All these signs could point to disease. 

After inspecting the leaves, check between the branches and down to the crown. Look for infections or signs the pests have been feeding. Below are a few common signs of pests or diseases

  • Powdery, white mildew
  • Sticky honeydew
  • White substances on the underside of the leaves
  • Brown dots on the leaves
  • Small, armor-like critters
  • Tiny webs between the leaves and branches

Analyze the Soil

A red-haired woman wearing yellow gloves checks the soil in a large potted plant in a greenhouse.
Inspect soil carefully to avoid pests and root rot risks.

After looking through the foliage for diseases and pests, check the soil. Pests can hitch a ride in the soil. If you bring home a new houseplant with fungus gnats or other harmful critters hiding in the soil, you’ll jeopardize the health of your entire indoor or outdoor garden. 

Some species of fungi in the soil can also be dangerous to your plants. It can be hard to tell which types of fungi are bad and which ones are fine. 

One of the worst diseases that can slip by is root rot. Fungi, molds, and oomycetes cause this disease by infecting roots in overwatered, soggy soil. Check for signs of root rot which include wilting, yellowing leaves, and stunted growth. You may even notice a foul smell coming from the soil. 

Another reason to check the soil is for repotting. Transplant shock can happen each time you switch containers and soil. If a nursery is using a dry and cracked growing medium, you may want to go somewhere else. 

Check for Moisture in the Soil

A woman in an orange overall and glasses waters a hanging potted plant using a white watering can among various house plants in a flower shop.
Look for balanced moisture to avoid over or under-watering.

Besides looking for diseases in the soil, check for moisture. If the soil is bone dry and the plant is wilting, it means it’s not getting enough water. This could mean it hasn’t been cared for properly at the nursery. 

Find a houseplant with enough soil moisture to show it’s been kept on a healthy watering schedule. You’ll also know when to water it when you get home. 

Check for too much moisture as well. An over-watered houseplant may be more susceptible to root rot and other diseases. 

Inspect for Root Bound Plants

Close-up of a rootbound common ivy houseplant with tangled roots extending through the drainage holes of its pot.
Roots coming out of drainage holes indicate a root-bound plant.

Plants that have outgrown their containers may become root-bound. Although some species like growing in tight spaces, most do not. 

Root-bound conditions cause several problems. First, it can make repotting incredibly difficult and risky. It can also drain the soil of nutrients and lead to nutrient and water issues. In extreme cases, the bound roots can completely strangle the plant and kill it. 

The easiest way to check for a root-bound houseplant is to look for signs such as wilting and stunted growth. Check the bottom of the container to see if the roots are coming out of the drainage holes. In some cases, the roots can rise above the soil surface if there’s no more room. 

Choose Plants with More Buds and Fewer Blooms

A woman in a garden center selects potted white and pink carnations from rows of vibrant flowering plants on display shelves.
Select plants with plenty of buds for lasting flowers.

We all love taking home beautiful bouquets to brighten up our homes, especially on special occasions. But unlike cut flowers, flowering houseplants shouldn’t be blooming when we bring them home. 

If you’re shopping for blooming indoor perennials such as begonias or amaryllis, make sure to get them before they bloom. If you bring home flowers that are already blooming, you won’t enjoy their fantastic colors for long. 

Look for healthy perennials with tons of unopened buds. The more buds you see the more flowers you’ll enjoy. Give them enough care at home and enjoy them for several days or weeks. 

Are They Clean? 

A female florist cleans dust from the green variegated leaves of a potted pothos plant with a cloth, surrounded by various houseplants in a shop.
Clean plants show healthy care, avoiding extra maintenance later.

Even if you live in dusty locations, such as Central California, doesn’t mean a nursery’s plants should be dirty. This can mean the seller hasn’t been prioritizing the plant’s health. It will also take a lot more time to see if the leaves and foliage look healthy

Prioritize clean houseplants that aren’t covered in dirt, mud, or dust. Nurseries that prioritize what they sell will water their plants and clean them off before selling them. 

Avoid buying dirty houseplants. You’ll save yourself a lot of hassle and have fewer risks of bringing home a lemon. 

Key Takeaways

Before bringing home a new houseplant, check it over thoroughly. Look at the leaves, stems, and soil for signs of pests and diseases. 

Check for signs it’s been watered well and taken care of. Avoid buying dirty or broken houseplants, Make sure you have everything you need at home and that your space is ready for your new living decoration. 

There’s nothing better than bringing home the right houseplant and having everything you need to take care of it. 

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