Selecting Healthy Plants
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Resist the temptation to take home a sickly plant that you find in a store. These plants rarely get better and they can introduce insects or diseases to other plants in your home. When a plant is under stress insect populations usually balloon. Stress can be caused by not enough light, humidity, water or air circulation. Make sure that any plant you bring home is clean and healthy. It is helpful to isolate new plants for a few weeks to see if a problem show up before putting it with your currently healthy plants.
The main factor is to select plants that are right for your growing conditions.
Check the plant carefully for any signs of insects... such as mealybugs, scale, spider mites, aphids, whiteflies
Check the leaves to make sure they are all full size and their color is right. Check every part of the leaves.... top, underside, stem etc. Some nursery's use predatory insects (which is good) if you see a bug and you don't know what it is... check with the sales person.
Look at the soil... make sure there is no moss or fungus growing on it and that there is no sign of fertilizer buildup. Smell the soil.... a sour smell may be a sign of root or crown rot or overwatering.
If it is possible remove the plant from the pot and inspect the root ball for bugs as well... while you have the plant out of it's pot....check the roots... do they look healthy or are they rotten.... healthy roots will be white or cream color and firm... you may even notice root hairs.... unhealthy roots will be hard to see usually dark in color, soft and spongy and they may smell bad.
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