Have you ever went shopping for a new plant and wonder if your getting the right one or if the plant that you picked is healthy? There are several ways to tell if your getting a good plant. First, look at the leaves. They should be the right size and color. They should not have brown edges, which is a symptom of too much heat or fertilizer. The lower leaves should not be pale or yellow, which would mean that they were not watered properly.

Look closely for evidence of insects. For this you would look at the tips of new branches and where the leaves join the stems or on the undersides of the leaves.

Sometimes plants are fed and watered heavily to grow abnormally fast. Because of this you should look at the space between leaves on the stem. The spacing might be enough to make the plant look tall. New leaves will not grow to fill in the gaps. So look for a more bushy one.

Another thing is to check the top of the soil and the drain holes at the bottom to look for roots. If there are roots visible this means that the plant has outgrown its pot. This plant may have already suffered from over crowding and should be passed over.

Its always fun to bring home a new plant but you also want it to last for a long time.