Georgia Dixon
Home & Garden

How to choose the perfect houseplant

When choosing an indoor plant, it’s worth doing some research to find out what position it will thrive in best, the growing conditions it needs, and whether it will fit in with the intended environment. This will ensure that your plant remains healthy and that you avoid making costly mistakes. However, if you don’t start off with a healthy plant, then you will be fighting an up-hill battle from the get-go.

Take the time to check that you have chosen a healthy specimen that will thrive once you get home. The following checklist should help you to make a good choice:

1. Look for strong, healthy leaves with a good, vibrant colour. Avoid any plant with damaged or blotchy leaves.

2. The plant’s stems should be firm and, if the plant is flowering, choose one that has lots of unopened buds for a longer flowering period.

3. Check that there is no space between the potting mix and the inside of the pot, because this means the plant is extremely dry and will grow poorly.

4. Make sure there are no insects or larvae on the plant; you don’t want to introduce pest infestations into your home, as these may affect other house plants.

5. Avoid diseased plants with a furry mould at the base or any unsightly blotches.

6. Check for any curled or withered leaves, which indicate that the plant won’t grow well in future.

7. Check that there are no soggy, wilted patches, since this suggests that the plant has root rot or is pot-bound.

8. Check that the roots are not growing out of the bottom of the pot. This means that the plant is pot-bound and so has been under stress.

9. Buy a younger plant if possible because, although it will be smaller, it will adapt to its new environment better.

10. When taking your plant home, make sure it is wrapped properly, to ensure that there is no damage to the leaves during transit.

11. Don’t place the plant in direct sunlight for the first few weeks, so that it can acclimatise before you move it to its final position. However, if you are buying a flowering plant, such as a cyclamen, azalea, or chrysanthemum, place it in its final sunny position immediately.

Do you have any other tips for choosing a healthy plant to share with the community? Let us know in the comments below.

This is an edited extract from House Plants by Isabelle Palmerpublished by CICO Books RRP $39.99 and is available in stores nationally.

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Tags:
home, garden, decor, plant, Houseplant