Chain store plants have very few starts or plugs compared to the number in a florist quality plant. Starts are the small rooted shoots that are originally planted in the grower pot. These will eventually grow into the finished plant. I don’t care how good a plant person you are, California Ivy with only three starts will always look thin and straggly compared to one with ten starts. If you buy a dracaena with only one stalk instead of two or three, you have little room for an over watering error before the plant is totally dead.

When you buy a plant, take a few minutes to look at the place where the soil meets the stems or the stalks. Make sure you can count 5-10 green stems or 2-4 firm stalks depending upon the plant. (We’ll talk about this in more detail when we discuss individual plants). Mushy stalks or brown stems are your warning sign not to buy the plant. Remember, if there are not several well rooted healthy starts, you are at a disadvantage from the day you buy the plant.

Next Section: Strength Of Root Structure