Rare Plant Buying Checklist: Roots, Pests and Price

Inspect before you pay

• Look under leaves and around petioles for thrips, mites, scale, webbing or silvery feeding scars.
• Ask to see roots when the price is high. Healthy roots are firm; colour varies by species and medium, so texture and smell matter more than whiteness.
• Check whether variegation is stable through the stem and growth point rather than present on a single leaf.

Price the risk, not the hype

• Compare plant size, root maturity, local availability and after-sale support.
• Fresh imports and recently separated cuttings need more acclimation and carry more loss risk.
• Confirm what is included: nursery pot, decorative pot, delivery, replacement policy and phytosanitary handling where relevant.

The first 14 days at home

• Quarantine away from the main collection and inspect every few days.
• Keep light and humidity steady; do not repot, fertilise and relocate on the same day.
• Water according to the current medium, then transition gradually to your preferred soil after the plant is stable.

A Bangalore-ready action plan

1. Observe the plant and its position in daylight before making a change.
2. Check the root-zone moisture and drainage, not only the top centimetre.
3. Change one major variable and watch the newest growth for evidence.
4. Record a dated photo so improvement is judged over weeks, not hours.

Frequently asked questions

Is a rare plant a good beginner plant?

Only when its care needs match your space and losing it would not make you overmanage it.

Should I repot immediately?

Repot immediately only for active rot, pests in the medium or a pot with no workable drainage.

What proof should an online seller provide?

Ask for current plant photos, root status, dispatch method and a written damage policy.