Where do I go to get good condition plants??
#unscrupuloussellers if we are keeping a list of bad sellers, do we have a list for good ones? If so I need it.
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Best Answer
I feel like we have a hashtag for this but I can’t find it right now.
For cuttings I like Samantha’s Botany Bay. Just did an order yesterday.
For plants my best shop has been Into the Pot.
And a lot of times when you put things in your cart and then *ahem* walk away, the seller is alerted and will send you a coupon to get you to check out! 😎🌱☀️❤️
For cuttings I like Samantha’s Botany Bay. Just did an order yesterday.
For plants my best shop has been Into the Pot.
And a lot of times when you put things in your cart and then *ahem* walk away, the seller is alerted and will send you a coupon to get you to check out! 😎🌱☀️❤️
@RavensRidgeVA same! I ordered a mini monstera, and it had 1 leaf... And most of the plant was dead. Like blackened dead.... I wasn't offered anything. I was basically told to figure out myself... 2 leaves now tho! And I'm learning to bring plants from the brink of death.... Guess I'm not such a newb anymore
@RavensRidgeVA @ThornicaRoze are you looking on Etsy? If so I have a few sellers that I can highly recommend.
@KikiGoldblatt yes please! I usually order off Etsy since I live in a remote area with the best options being Lowe’s 🥲
@KikiGoldblatt please! I have a sellere I use for my herbal plants and seeds, but I need veggies and indoor pretties!
@ThornicaRoze that’s so rough!! I’m proud of your green thumb skills, definitely not newb status! Teach me your ways 🫡
@ThornicaRoze who do you use for your herbal plants? I’m a month away from starting my indoor greenhouse and haven’t even begun planning outside herbs yet 🫣
@RavensRidgeVA I learned everything I know now from TikTok! Planttok is amazing! How I found my herbal seller on Etsy. I'm going to start talking about plants on there. I did some with my polka dot begonia, but my cat killed her... And killed my ginger.
@RavensRidgeVA I use herbal plants for teas, tinctures, salves, smoke blends to help quit nicotine. I'm still learning myself. But I've been using herbs as cleaners for the house. Keep in mind herbal plants are not just rosemary, thyme, etc. Purple coneflower, hibiscus, rose, poppy, aster, are all flowers with medicinal properties as well!
@RavensRidgeVA @ThornicaRoze
https://www.etsy.com/shop/TropicalplantsFL
https://www.etsy.com/listing/873242165/
I was looking at my Etsy list and these 2 keep popping up. The first one listed is by far my favorite one.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/TropicalplantsFL
https://www.etsy.com/listing/873242165/
I was looking at my Etsy list and these 2 keep popping up. The first one listed is by far my favorite one.
@RavensRidgeVA I bought most of my herbs as seeds from Lowe's. (I worked there at the time) but for my Etsy bought ones I use plants with a purpose. I have gotten Mullein and few "weeds" from there. A lot of plants that's are considered weeds, are because of big pharma....
@ThornicaRoze @RavensRidgeVA @KikiGoldblatt @RJG @RealSimpleMama For me, my perspective changes as I have become a more sophisticated buyer. Y’all have likely seen my postings re foliar diseases—it’s because I have had the most difficult time finding plants that did not arrive diseased. Over time I came to learn that a healthy plant with no visible signs of disease packaged properly, may, under stress from shipping, develop fungal diseases like brown spot-/through no fault of the seller. Yet there is a difference between a plant arriving there began exhibiting brown spot lesions during shipping and one that clearly had them prior to shipping. To this extent, what makes a good plant store can become illusory as the seller has little control over what happens during shipping, beyond that of how they pack the plants. Of course there are plants that arrive clearly have superior genetics —such as the self heading philodendron varieties like Black Cardinal and MxColleys finale, from Planta Queen. One of the most beautiful plants I have ever ordered was a fully mature Rattlesnake plant from Plant Proper. It was short lived however. This experience highlights how a purchase experience can be illusory because you would think if the calathea was short lived that the plant must not have been healthy. In retrospect, I think it succumbed to a fungal disease from another plant. So context is key for evaluating plant stores. Moreover, I come from a family with small businesses and this adds a nuanced layer of perspective. Some stores, like Home Depot, can sell plants cheap bc they make their money on other product offerings. They have generous return policies. Their biz model is not to have overhead for people who, for example, identify diseased plants and pull them from inventory. They give you the deal and let you sort it out—no matter if you take their plant home and it fungal pathogens spread to your other plants (RIP: Rattlesnake plants). Thank you, but no thank you, Home Depot. So who offers more exacting standards for their inventory ? It’s often the small biz, likes the ones on Etsy. But their return policies are rather restrictive. The nature of their biz model doesn’t allow them to compete with Home Depot for returns. I had some experiences on Etsy that I thought were pretty crappy bc there was nothing I could do if the plant came in sick, but over time I’ve learned that many sellers aren’t as inflexible so long as you come across informed. I ordered three philodendron from canopy plant co in December. They arrived in January. All of them had been carefully and dutifully packaged yet one of them came unrooted from the pot nonetheless and dehydrated. I emailed them, told them that I unpacked them immediately after receipt, that I observed how carefully they had packed them, that despite their efforts, one of them came undone. I didn’t ask for anything specific, but I did send picture of the plant and asked if there was anything I could do. I told them I was going to make another purchase from them the next week—I did this because it’s a small biz and I thought perhaps if paying shipping was not an issue they might help me out. And they did. I got a free replacement plant. A couple years ago this would have been a negative experience, but as I’ve learned that shipping is tricky and learned how to set reasonable expectations, what otherwise would have been negative turned positive for me. That said, PlantaQueen, hey rooted, canopy, plant proper, planterina (if you like their aesthetic, cute smaller plants)…I’m going to try Gabriella’s next. I have a question too—-I have come to realize I am a philodendron guy—they are such personable and hardy plants. I like canopy and Gabriella bc they have a good variety and selection at lower price points. I bought fuzzy petiole, black gold, silver leaf—all for like $20 from canopy. Any other suggestions?
@TexanExpat I’m so sorry for your bad experiences and RIPs but thank you for your perspective! You guys mentioned that Canopy et al are online stores, correct? (Eg not Etsy shops?)
@hoyahead started a great hashtag for this! #PlantShopReview Many folks have done great reviews of various plant shops.
@ThornicaRoze well hello #ImInLoveWithAPhilo #PlantSis 🙋🏿♀️
If you're into philos, you'll want to check out #Ecuagenera
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Ecuagenera has 3 nurseries. The one in Ecuador is the main nursery, but they also maintain a natural protected preserve. The other two are in Florida and the newest is in California.
Ecuagenera (Ecuador):
https://www.ecuagenera.com/epages/ecuagenera.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/ecuagenera/Categories/Tropical_Plants/Araceae/Philodendron
They have the best sale prices when they have sales. Snag the plants that are more than 25% off as the normal sales are 25%.
Lowest prices.
You'll get baby roots and will want to put in your favorite substrate to continue establishing roots.
Ships:
Bare root in sphagnum moss
Twice a month to US
Ship costs are very reasonable, sometimes cheaper than US sellers.
*Check Weekly Bundle for some great deals, especially when they're running a sale.
https://www.ecuagenera.com/epages/ecuagenera.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/ecuagenera/Categories/%22WEEKLY%20BUNDLE%22
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Ecuagenera US (FL):
https://ecuageneraus.com/
Ships generally in 4" pot, more established roots than Ecuador site. More expensive than Ecuador and doesn't have as good of sales.
Ships:
Within about 2 days and they ship fast. I get in 2 days on East Coast once shipped.
Sometimes has plants Ecuador site doesn't have. They have really upped their Hoya selection! 😍
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Ecuagenera US (CA):
https://ecuagenera-ca.com/
This is the new California nursery. They are still growing their inventory so they haven't updated their site with everything they have yet. They offer succulents.
If you're into philos, you'll want to check out #Ecuagenera
----
Ecuagenera has 3 nurseries. The one in Ecuador is the main nursery, but they also maintain a natural protected preserve. The other two are in Florida and the newest is in California.
Ecuagenera (Ecuador):
https://www.ecuagenera.com/epages/ecuagenera.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/ecuagenera/Categories/Tropical_Plants/Araceae/Philodendron
They have the best sale prices when they have sales. Snag the plants that are more than 25% off as the normal sales are 25%.
Lowest prices.
You'll get baby roots and will want to put in your favorite substrate to continue establishing roots.
Ships:
Bare root in sphagnum moss
Twice a month to US
Ship costs are very reasonable, sometimes cheaper than US sellers.
*Check Weekly Bundle for some great deals, especially when they're running a sale.
https://www.ecuagenera.com/epages/ecuagenera.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/ecuagenera/Categories/%22WEEKLY%20BUNDLE%22
-----
Ecuagenera US (FL):
https://ecuageneraus.com/
Ships generally in 4" pot, more established roots than Ecuador site. More expensive than Ecuador and doesn't have as good of sales.
Ships:
Within about 2 days and they ship fast. I get in 2 days on East Coast once shipped.
Sometimes has plants Ecuador site doesn't have. They have really upped their Hoya selection! 😍
------
Ecuagenera US (CA):
https://ecuagenera-ca.com/
This is the new California nursery. They are still growing their inventory so they haven't updated their site with everything they have yet. They offer succulents.
I need some of these shop recommendations. It’s hard to know who to trust. Thanks for letting me follow along @ThornicaRoze
@CaffeinatedFern that's part of why I posted this! Glad it helped you as well!