WHERE DO HOUSE PLANTS COME FROM?
House plants are those which are capable of growing under the conditions existing in the average house. Generally speaking, and considering all types of plants, most homes or apartments are rather dark growing grounds. Therefore, plants that are commonly grown indoors are usually those whose ancestors were limited, perhaps by dense overhead growth, to lesser amounts than full sunlight. Most house plants that are sold through retail outlets have been propagated and grown specifically for cultivation indoors. Few plants that are available in stores have been collected, in the wild, from their natural locations.
Be selective when buying plants. Two major factors affect the eventual appearance of a plant; the care that it has had and the care that it will receive in the future. The past will be rather evident in the appearance and the future is up to you. Stay away from unhealthy plants. Check very carefully for pests before buying. The plants shown in the picture, were purchased from different sources, all in the same day, and each for the same amount of money.
The recent increase in the popularity of house plants has created unusually widespread availability. Nurseries, plant boutiques, florists and even super markets are all excellent sources. Judge your source by the appearance of the plants and the overall cleanliness of the establishment. Nurseries and plant boutiques usually offer a very wide selection of different varieties. As is evident in the photos above, there are also many nurseries that specialize in particular types of plants.