It sounds tempting to buy cuttings from various house plants, whole hedges and trees or seeds from perennials for a ridiculous price on Ebay classifieds. But what do you have to pay attention to when you buy these plants from private individuals?
You never know where the plants come from
Has the person ever bought them from a garden center, grown them themselves or even taken them from nature somewhere? Just like the trade in exotic animals, there are also regulations for the trade in plants. Particularly exotic or rare plants often need proof of origin or the seller needs special authorization to trade these plants. If you buy plants that are protected or with which trade is prohibited, you are making yourself liable to prosecution, just like the person selling them. It's best to find out in advance whether trading the plant you want to buy is permitted or whether it is subject to certain requirements.
You never know if the plants are healthy
Worst case scenario: A few days in the new apartment and the new plant has withered and is no longer as fresh and green as hoped. It may be that the plants were simply planted in an unsuitable substrate or that the plant was overwatered and root rot occurred. The worst thing, of course, is when pathogens such as mold spores or insects come into your home with the plants, which can then infect your other plants. So check the condition of the plants you sell critically for signs of pathogens, rotten roots or wilted leaves. To be on the safe side, you should perhaps consider buying a plant from a specialist retailer; the trained specialist staff will also help you if you notice at home that you have brought pathogens into the house with the plant.
You may be sold the wrong thing
As a layperson, you are never immune to such bad purchases. People like to look for high-quality, second-hand things at a bargain price, especially on Ebay classifieds. But the sellers also know that. When it comes to plants, it is often difficult for non-botanists to tell the species and variations apart. Even more difficult if you buy cuttings or very young plants, as is often the case on eBay. So it could happen that you think you are buying an absolute rarity, but end up with a specimen of a very common plant. So find out exactly which plant you want, what it should look like and how much a comparable plant costs in the garden center.
You will end up paying more than if you had bought your plant from a garden center
A well-known problem on Ebay classifieds, the sellers rate their items as being of higher quality than they are. You can become attached to a home-grown plant that you have seen grow, nurtured and nurtured. Still, you shouldn't have to pay for emotional value. A simple solution: Find out about the value of certain plants at certain ages on the Internet or in specialist shops, then you won't end up paying too much for your plant.
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Feel free to stop by our Plant AZ . There you will find other types of plants for your living room and care tips.
