How to Ensure you are Buying Good Plant Stock?

Do check before buying plants
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In this article, we will be discussing how to make sure that the plants you buy are of the best quality. If you buy plants of good quality then you are more likely to succeed and have healthy plants. If you buy poor grade or unhealthy plants, they may never recover and you would have wasted your money.

When you are physically in a garden centre, check over the plants or bulbs with your eyes, or if this is not possible have someone with you who has a good knowledge of plants so that they can give the specimen a good going over. It is best to be safe and go with your gut; if it does not feel right then do not buy it.

YOU ARE COVERED BY THE CONSUMER CONTRACTS REGULATIONS

If you have bought plants online then you are covered by the  ‘Consumer Contracts Regulations’ as you have bought the product without actually seeing it. Once you get a package delivered from your online garden supplier containing a living plant, open it at once and examine it very well.

Do check before buying plants
Do check before buying plants

If it is found to have too many broken stems (a few is acceptable), diseases material or the plant does not look too good, then get in contact with the supplier and ask for a replacement or a refund.

If the plant looks dead, please check the growing instructions to see if it is supposed to be that way. Some plants are supplied in the dormant state, which can look dead for those who are inexperienced.

Do not worry as soon planted and once spring has come, the plant will come back to life. This is why I say check the growing instructions as needless complaints have been made for living plants.

This also applies as some suppliers will give a replacement, even if the plant dies many months later; you need to read the terms and conditions, as this will change from supplier to supplier.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED FROM THE WAY THEY USE TO BE

The way that plants are offered for sale has changed from the wooden trays so commonly used in the past. Shrubs and tree are grown and sold in a container rather than the ball rooted and wrapped in sacking or bare rooted in straw.

The only exception is fruit trees and some roses that can be bought bare rooted as they will establish more quickly in the ground or a container. In the past buying, a lot of bedding plants for large areas could be very expensive, as you had to buy lots of trays of seedlings.

Nowadays, you can buy trays of small plug plants, which can then be potted on, hardened off and then planted out in the usual way. These immature plants can save you money.

LARGE CONTAINER GROWN PLANTS

Container grown plants are much more likely to hold trees or shrubs rather than perennials, although large perennials such as Cortaderia, Rheum and Geum can also be grown this way.

Pampas grass is often bought as large containers
Pampas grass is often bought as large containers

A container-grown perennial is a plant that has been propagated by planting seeds or by taking cuttings and then potted on until they reach the final stage, which is offered in the shops. It should not have been lifted from the open ground and the roots and its surrounding soil placed into the container.


The plants should not be labelled as container grown and should not have a high price tag associated with one, They can be successfully grown, but it is cheap to buy and asking for trouble, as you do not know what conditions the plant has grown in. Container grown specimens are the most convenient way of buying large specimen plants but then again it has the highest price tag.

Good signs
  • Label present and clearly visible.
  • No signs of algae or moss growing on the top surface.
  • Small roots peeping out of the container.
Bad signs
  • Wilted leaves
  • Visible pest and/or diseases.
  • Dense weed growth.
  • Dry compost
  • Container damaged.

POT GROWN PLANTS

This is a smaller version of a container-grown plant, and it is the usual way to sell both border and rockery perennial. They are normally sold as rigid plastic pots and the pots themselves can be reused. It may be either fully mature plants, such as alpines or it may be a young immature plant raised from seeds or via cuttings, as in border perennials.

Pot grown specimens are a good investment
Pot grown specimens are a good investment

Two points are to look out for; if the plant is in a small pot, it will require much more watering in dry weather and if the plants start to circulate at the bottom of the container, then you will need to tease the roots out. This will ensure that the roots do not continue to circulate but will go seeking new food sources.

Individually potted bedding plants are very expensive but if you only want one or two plants as part of a dotting scheme, then this is the recommended method.

Good signs
  • A clear and informative label.
  • Healthier and firm top growth, a good set of flowers
Bad signs
  • Wilted, dead leaves.
  • Dry Compost.

PRE-PACKAGED PLANTS

Pre-packaged specimens are often found in DIY shops, supermarkets and garden centres. They can be shrubs and roses but more often than not they are popular perennials such as delphiniums, lupins, poppies, etc.

The bare-rooted perennial is either placed in compost in wood shavings and the whole plant is housed in a labelled polythene bag. The bag can be sold as is or it can be placed within a thin, cardboard box.


They are often cheaper than pot grown plants but one of the drawbacks is that you do not know if the plant is living or not- you cannot see the plant you are buying and premature grown may occur in the warm conditions they are often placed in.

This is not a good sign. You normally plant these bare-root plants between autumn and spring (normally November and March are ideal months).

Good signs
  • No visible growth.
Bad Signs
  • Leaf buds beginning to open.
  • The plant looks shrivelled or diseased.
  • You can see small white roots growing into the damp packing material.

CELL PACKS

This is a popular way of buying bedding plants, where each container is made out of flimsy plastics. Anywhere between 4 to 24 cells can be bought. They are more expensive than strips and trays but they are cheaper than plastic pots.

Plants in cell packs
Plants in cell packs

They have the advantage of avoiding root disturbance at planting time. When buying cell packs, you can buy then in flower, as this will tell you the colour of it but not too much in flower as this may show that the plant is under stress.

With all bedding plants do not be tempted in buying half-hardy annuals until the likelihood of hard frosts has passed.

Good signs
  • Look for compact sturdy stems with leaves near the base.
  • Plants should be bushy and roughly the same size.
  • No sign of dry compost, no wilting leaves or drooping stems.
Bad signs
  • Too many abnormally early flowers as this is a sign of the plant is under stress.
  • Non-labelled packs. Avoid buying bedding plants that have been marked down for clearance and those who have lanky and long stems.
  • Diseases looking leaves or blemished and discoloured leaves.
  • Root growing through the base of the pot or tray.

ONE PRACTICE TO LOOK OUT FOR

If anybody offers you small clumps and divisions of perennials that are lifted and placed in polythene bags and are for sale. Do not buy them. This is because some roots may have been broken during the lifting process.

Those varieties with a long taproot will take longer to become established in their new location. This is the same problem if one of your neighbours and friends offer you a division. If you are prepared to take the risk and be patient then they are a viable and cheap option.

SEEDS

Many annuals, biennials and perennials can be grown at home from seed and they have two distinct advantages compared with buying young plants or seedlings.

First, if you require a lot of bedding plants then raising from seed will be better for your bank account.

Do not forget buying seeds
Do not forget buying seeds

Secondly, you have much more choice of what variety to grow and you can grow harder to find plants. F1 and F2 varieties are hybrids made by crossing two plants or more for F2 hybrids that have been bred to give more uniformity, better blooms and more vigour than standard types.

Seeds raising is one of the best techniques for gardening but it can be easily lead to frustration. If you plant the seeds too shallow too deep, too hot or too cold, too wet, too dry, then you may not meet the optimal growing conditions.

I think you get the picture so you can imagine it is not for everybody, as some skill is required.

In my experience seeds planted directly into the ground will not do as well, like those planted in seed trays. The problem is that some seeds hate being disturbed and therefore have to be sown in-situ.

When sowing seeds make sure they are not mouldy, broken or of poor quality. Expensive seeds do not mean that you will get better germination rates or quality of plants. I have bought expensive seeds and got bad results. Look for suppliers that promise to refund the money or will replace the faulty seeds if they do not germinate.

BULBS

When buying bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes, always examine them closely and if you discover any of poor quality simply do not buy. A poorly, diseased, mouldy bulbs will never produce. It does not matter the price you pay, as long as the bulb is good enough quality to produce flowers in the second season.

Medium-sized hyacinth bulbs are usually the best choice for gardens and not the large ones. With lily bulbs, the outer scale should be firm and succulent. Do not buy any bulb if the outer scales are dried and withered.

Good signs
  • No growing tip appearing at the top.
  • The neck is firm.
  • The skin is entirely present, although gaps in tulips skins are acceptable.
  • The base is firm.
  • The root growth must not be visible.
Bad signs
  • Stem growth is present. The neck is soft and looks diseased.
  • The protective skin is missing, the material underneath is diseased, damaged or shrivelled.
  • The base is soft.
  • The roots can be clearly seen.

STRIPS

Strips are a popular way of buying vegetable plants for transplanting into beds or containers. The plants are grown from seeds in strips that are made from flimsy plastic.

Each strip contains many plants of one variety such as cabbage, beetroots, leeks, etc. Roots may be damaged as you try to prize the plants apart but this is less likely than ones grown in trays.

PLUGS

Plug plants are a cheap source of plants
Plug plants are a cheap source of plants

Plugs are large and more advanced than seedlings but they are still small and well-rooted plants. They tend to be smaller than cell packs but they are ideal for those who want cheaper plants in large qualities.


These are ideal for those who have time to pot on and grow in 7.5cm diameter pots before planting in their final position. They tend to be bought online in early spring ready to grow on and planting out in May when the danger of frost has passed.

CONCLUSIONS

In this article, we have discussed how to make sure the plants you buy are of the best quality. We have discussed what to look for in container-grown shrubs, trees and large perennials, pot grown plants, pre-packaged plants, cell packs, seeds, bulbs, strips and plug plant for good signs and bad signs.

In this way, you will not buy bad quality plants that often disappoint and do not produce. When looking for plants in your garden make sure you buy the best quality that you can buy. Do not worry if it is online as you are covered by the distance selling act. You must use your rights or you risk losing them.

Remember a plant that is looked after well in stores will more likely to do well in your garden, a neglected plant will not do well.

If you have any questions or comments about this subject, please do so in the comment box below.

Buy wise and do not be a penny fool.

 

14 thoughts on “How to Ensure you are Buying Good Plant Stock?”

  1. My mom is quite the avid gardener, but I have yet to follow in her footsteps. I was not aware of the Consumer Contracts Regulations, that is good to know you are covered if you purchase plants online and receive one that isn’t in good condition. I am not very familiar with the different ways to get plants, so I have learned a lot reading your article! For example, I have never heard of plugs, but it was interesting to learn that they grow in pots before being planted in a final spot. I have had some experience with cell packs and I now know to look for stems with leaves near the base. There are many things to consider as you get into gardening and deciding which plant types to start out with. Thank you for sharing!

    1. Hi Heidi

      When you buy plants you constantly worry that the plant will die. Don’t  get me wrong and no matter what you do sometimes they will die. If you buy the best quality plants then you can save yourself from the potential  heartbreak  of losing one because of poor quality. I have shown the signs and now you know what to do to avoid the pitfalls. 

      Thanks

      Antonio 

  2. Hi, I personally am a plant lover and grow up several plants in a small space beside my house. I love to grow crops on pot and under soilless conditions. But my experience with the online nursery (e-commerce nursery service) is very poor. 70 times out of 100 I received poor quality seeds or plants. So I gave up and now purchase directly from agricultural hubs/ institutes, and sometimes from the local store. Eventually, I am now restricted to local plants now, because since the last few months I stopped purchasing from the online stores where I may get variety.

    Under such a situation, your article definitely taught me how to ensure buying good plant stock. I past I followed a few of the steps you mentioned here, but not all. I am bookmarking your site to get any further suggestions about plant quality or gardening.

    1. Hi Dr SD

      It is always disheartening  when you spent money to buy poor quality plant stock or seeds. Online you cannot see the plants but you are covered by law; if the stock is poor then raise a complaint and either ask for new stock orange refund. They will not learn if you do not tell them. The current situation had made  it difficult to buy plants but you  do not have to make do with poor quality. I am glad  you enjoyed the article.

      Kind regards 

      Antonio

  3. This article is a must-read for all those who love growing plants and are involved in gardening. So many times a plant that you bought recently, dries up even though you’ve taken all the necessary care of it,. all because you did not pay attention to the health to the plant while buying it Such situations are so frustrating. But after reading this article, so much has become clear now. The signs to look for in a healthy plant and in a bad plant too, both have been explained by the author along with some other very useful tips. I loved reading it!

    1. Hi Samantha 

      Thank you very much for those kind words and I hope you apply it to when purchasing your plants.

      Kind regards 

      Antonio

  4. I love the structure of this article. Talking about the good signs and bad signs of the different packages when buying plants was enlightening. 

    What are some of the ways that I can buy plants? I’ve never considered buying online.

    When buying seeds, do i have to soak the seeds before planting them? of can i just put them directly on the ground or in a pot?

    1. Hi Linda

      it is important to know the signs of what good plant stock is and it is important that you develop a sixth sense in order to avoid being disappointed.  You  can buy plants from online stores or in gardening centres but all the rules still apply . No most seeds do not need to be soaked but they must have moisture in order to germinate. Some will need to be planted insitu whilst others need to be transplanted in their final position.

      Hope this helps.

      Antonio 

  5. Heloo, buying a good and quality plant does really benefits and enhances productivity…

    you have really discussed much on what to look for in container-grown shrubs, trees and large perennials, pot grown plants, pre-packaged plants, cell packs, seeds, bulbs, strips and plug plant. Both the good and bad signs. These tips will really be of help, I will forward this to a friend who is considering buying some plants. 

    1. Hi Sheddy

      When you buy plants  it is in your best interest  to buy the best stock, but people do not always necessarily  do this. I have shown the good and bad signs and so you can avoid all the pitfalls. Your bank manager will br happier with you.

      Thanks

      Antonio

  6. Hello there once again, thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful piece of information here with us. I must say i really did enjoyed going through your article as it contains detailed information’s one needs to be aware of before getting these plants stock in order to get a healthy plant, thanks for sharing this.

    1. Hi Philebur

      I always believe it is important to inform people to what to look for in plants in the many different forms you can buy. Careful research can save a lot of heartache in the future and this handy article will point people in the right direction. 

      Thanks

      Antonio 

  7. Hello there,  it’s always a joy to read from your site, because you seem to have answer to every question I have regarding plants,  Due to the outbreak of the corona virus that has caused a locked down in almost every city,  (My city inclusive) I have been using this time judiciously to do everything I had wanted to do if i had the time,  now it planting time for me,  so I needed to ensure that I’m buying good plant stock,  hence my reason for this search, and I’m glad that i know what to look out for as this post has clearly explain that in a very comprehensive way.

    1. Hi Jomata

      Thank you very much for your insightful comment, as I believe it will save a lot of heartache if you buy good, quality stock. You need to look for these signs and you will not be disappointed.

      Kind regards 

      Antonio

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