5 Red Flags I Always Look For Before Buying Houseplants – So That You Don’t Waste Your Money on Poor Quality Plants

I've been collecting houseplants for years now and I won't lie, it's addictive. I can't help myself when I go into the garden center or even the supermarket – a new plant has to come home with me. But, after experiencing many failures in these ventures, I now have a list of red flags when buying houseplants I always look out for, including how much the plant has been watered, what state it's in, and even where it's located in the store.

Even if you finally found the indoor plant you've been searching everywhere for, your money is best saved if it has been severely overwatered, is pest-ridden, or has too many yellowing leaves. Don't get me wrong, I've successfully saved a few mistreated houseplants before, but sometimes the situation is too far gone – especially if you want instant healthy greenery in your home and don't have the time to nurture a plant back to life.

So, if you're a novice houseplant owner or haven't had much luck with buying healthy houseplants, keep reading. Here, I talk through my top five houseplant red flags to watch out for.

5 Red Flags When Buying Houseplants

More often than not the reason store-bought houseplants don't last long is because the shop has made indoor plant mistakes without realizing.

From oversaturated roots to insufficient lighting, there are a number of things that can cause the decline of a plant before it's even made it's way into your shopping basket.

1. It's Not From a Plant Specialist

The first red flag when buying houseplants to look out for is where exactly you've found this plant.

If it's from a supermarket or hardware shop, you might find this houseplant hasn't received the specialist care a houseplant store or garden center may offer.

Now, this isn't to say all houseplants from such stores are bad quality – I have a supermarket orchid that has thrived for years on my windowsill (you can even buy moth orchids from Walmart).

Rather, take the setting as a warning to look more closely at the care the plant has received.

Where possible, I like to support independent houseplant shops and nurseries. For example, The Sill has a huge range of houseplants to order online.

2. The Plant is Sitting in Water

Watering houseplants incorrectly is one of the biggest killers of several kinds of houseplants.

I often spot trays of houseplants sitting in pools of water in shops, which can be a red flag when buying houseplants.

This is especially the case for those that like to dry out in between watering, like cactus care, or those that like consistent moisture but are susceptible to root rot, like a fiddle leaf fig.

The risk of oversaturation is bigger if the plants are in nursery pots, which allow plenty of water in via the drainage holes at the bottom.

But, it isn't always a disaster, as bottom watering often helps houseplants soak up just as much water as they need. If they've been sitting in a pool for a prolonged amount of time, however, they can suffer from waterlogged soil.

To check, use your finger to feel the top couple of inches of the plants' soil. If it is soggy and spongey, and you see physical symptoms of overwatering like discolored foliage, it's a sign the houseplant isn't in a good state.

Of course, knowing what the specific plant's watering requirements are will help you determine if this is an issue. Boston ferns (like this one from Lowe's), for example, appreciate consistent moisture levels.

If you want to be extra sure, take your soil moisture meter (I have this one from Amazon) to the store with you to get a better idea.

3. It Has Powdery Mildew

While shelves packed with lush tropical indoor plants is an exciting sight, it can harness the perfect environment for powdery mildew.

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease identifiable as white-gray powdery spots and patches on foliage. It spreads through air-borne spores, which are more prominent among closely packed plants, reducing airflow and increasing humidity.

It's no uncommon to spot among houseplants in shops, and the problem is it can spread in an instant and be really hard to get rid of entirely.

For this reason, it's a red flag when buying houseplants to spot powdery mildew on foliage. I'm certainly not going to risk bringing an infected plant home to put my other beloved plants at risk.

If you do find powdery mildew on any houseplants you have bought, the best thing to do is isolate it from the rest of your plants and prune the severely damaged foliage.

Some people use a DIY mixture of baking soda and water to treat it, spraying with a plant mister (like this from Amazon).

4. There Are Lots of Yellow Leaves on The Plant

Yellowing and discolored foliage is to be expected at some point or another when caring for houseplants, but it is a major red flag when more than a third of a plant in store is yellow.

It indicates an underlying issue, whether it be a houseplant pest, improper care, or the plant is pot-bound and has stunted growth.

That's not to say plants that look a little worse for wear in store can't be saved – my local garden center has a section for reduced houseplants that need some help, from which I've successfully brought a brown and droopy calathea back to life.

But, you should be aware, it will likely take some time to nurture any sick-looking houseplants back to vigorous growth.

Look on the underside of leaves for any lurking pests, observe if its roots are overcrowded, and look for other symptoms like leaf drop. These things will tell you how easy it will be to revive the plant.

When you do get home, use essential pruning tools (like these houseplant snips from Amazon) to cut away damaged foliage as it won't recover.

However, you should follow the one third pruning rule to not further shock the plant.

Keep it somewhere bright and warm (within its specific requirements, of course), stay on top of watering, and with a little TLC you might just be able to turn it into a healthy plant once again.

5. It's Located Away from Windows

Something else to look out for is where the houseplants in the shop have been kept. If they are located in a dark corner with just artificial lighting to survive, they are likely to be struggling.

Grow lights for houseplants (like this bamboo grow light from Amazon) can supplement natural lighting, especially during winter when days are darker.

However, houseplants growing under artificial lighting full-time are likely to be weaker and you may even spot them growing leggy shoots.

While this doesn't mean they need to be written off completely, it's worth considering that they will need lots of attention and gentle care to make them stronger and more resilient.

Taking them from a low-lit spot in the shop to a bright windowsill at home may shock the plant, cause leaf drop, drooping, and a gradual decline.

Instead, you should acclimate the plant to brighter conditions, for example by first protecting it with a sheer curtain (from Wayfair) and gradually moving it into a brighter spot each week.

Of course, take into consideration the fact there are indoor low light plants that cope with lower light levels much better than others. A ZZ plant (like this one from IKEA) is a good example.

FAQs

Why Isn't My New Houseplant Growing?

Your new houseplant not growing can be a result of a few different things. If it's winter, your houseplant is likely in a dormancy period and won't put out new growth. If, however, it's spring or summer, you should check if the plant is pot-bound or has any pests that have stunted its growth. If the plant seems otherwise healthy, it might just be that it's a slow-growing houseplant that doesn't put on so much growth each year.

Checking for red flags when buying houseplants is just one of the ways the be a better plant parent this year.

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