Starting with healthy, vigorous plants is the key to a successful garden. Whether you buy your starter plants at the grocery, a big box store or your local garden center it鈥檚 important to be selective.
1. Look for large leaves
Large and colorful leaves ensure the plant is fully developed and will survive the to your garden. Since sizes vary by type of species, compare the plant you鈥檙e looking at to the others on display.
2. Avoid tall stems
Side branches and younger leaves should be growing and strong too. Check for breaks or damage and avoid tall, leggy plants. They either haven鈥檛 received enough light or have been in the container too long.
3. Check for solid roots
In small containers, roots may be coming out of the drain holes. Scratch into the surface of larger containers to find new, white roots. Ask a salesperson to slip the plant out of the container if you really want to check out the root system. If there aren鈥檛 enough roots to hold the soil together, don鈥檛 buy it.
4. Too many flowers is a bad sign
While lots of may initially seem like a sign of good health, avoid the plant that has more flowers than leaves. A few flowers are fine, but too many indicates the plant won鈥檛 have energy to root into your garden or container.
5. Ensure freshness
Local growers start their plants from seed, but most box stores and garden centers buy their starter plants from regional growers. Ask when the next new shipment is arriving to get the freshest stock.
6. Are the plants are organized and healthy?
Keep a close eye on how the plants are cared for at the store. If it鈥檚 haphazard with wilting and dying plants mixed in, be careful with your choices. Even in the busyness of spring, the plants should be well organized, watered and well maintained.
