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Buying Plants

Once you have established what plantswill thrive in the conditions in yourgarden, you can prepare to make yourselection with confidence. Plants areliving, perishable things, and suppliesoften fluctuate widely according toseason and what the commercialgrowers decide to market. Thecondition of the plants is also nevercertain, though there are certain signsto look out fOr to ensure you arechoosing a healthy specimen.

Plants are sold in different places,from supermarkets to nurseries, andthey will have received different levelsof care. Those sold on the same sitewhere they were raised are likely to beyounger and healthier than thosewhich had to endure a journey to theirdestination. As they are transported,plants may undergo a period ofdrought, which will affect their growth.

Conditions at the point of sale alsoaffect the health of plants: the longerthey remain unsold, the more they will begin to suffer as the reserve of slow-release fertilizer in their pot runs out.

Nurseries are a good choice forspecialized and more unusual plants,and expert advice on choosing andcaring for them. The selection ingarden centres is improving and theystock a wide range of plants.

Plant health

Before buying a plant inspect it forsigns of pests, disease or damage. Leavesshould he free from holes, bitten edges,wiggly patterns across the middle,yellow patches (unless it is variegated)or brown spots, and they should feelfirm and should not be floppy. Stemsshould also feel firm, with no signs ofbeing eaten, and no small, oval, brownhumps (scale insects) on them. Lookfor signs of fungal attack, particularlythe tiny coral-coloured spots of Nectriacinnaharina, a fungus that will attackboth live and dead wood and can easilykill a young plant.

If the compost (soil mix) is coveredwith weed seedlings, moss or liverwort,the plant has most likely spent sometime in the same place and is likely tobe under-nourished.

The plant may also be pot-bound, acondition in which the roots circleround and round inside the pot. Theplant may find it hard to break thishabit, leading to a poorly anchoredplant that will he susceptible to beingblown over in a high wind. The rootsof a healthy plant will he fat andswollen, and white, yellow or chestnut-brown, but they should not beshrivelled or dark brown. Don't heafraid to knock the plant out of its potto inspect the roots.

Often, newly potted plants are onsale alongside ones from previousdeliveries that have not sold; youngerones will establish such more quickly,even if they are slightly smaller to startwith. Don't he fooled - biggest is notbest in the world of plants!

Aphids are the best-known plant pests.Greenfly and blackfly are the most commonones, but there are many species, some affectingthe roots of plants rather than the leaves.

Some commercial growers supply plantsby mail order.These fuchsias have beendispatched in lightweight but highly protectivepackages, and the quality of the plants is high.

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