This article is geared towards teaching individuals the benefit and/or the cons of purchasing plants that are dying or sick, what we call “rescue plants.” Usually this practice is used by OGs in the gardening game and takes awhile before anyone become comfortable with trying it out. I wanted to provide advice and tips on how gardening vets become comfortable enough to start playing doctor when purchasing new plant babies.

Also, honestly, these tips are great for reviving your dying houseplants as well. These are general tips and signs with solutions.

What is a rescue plant?

A rescue plant is a compromised plant (near death, diseased, sick) that you typically will purchase for an extremely low/discounted price. Most plants on clearance are in need of being rescued or out of season.

Benefits of purchasing rescue plants?

• Cheap Cheap Cheap
• A great learning experience for any plant mom looking to learn more

How to find rescue plants?

These gems are usually found in the clearance aisle of your local garden center.

Tips

Don’t purchase vegetables or herbs damaged. It’s not worth the trouble. Reviving edibles are way more work than reviving a houseplant. Fruit trees on the other hand usually are great buys on clearance simply because the main issue is loss of leaves due to seasonal changes.

Determine the possible issue BEFORE making the purchase. If a plant is seriously infected with pest, don’t consider bringing it home. A pest infestation can spread easily to your other plants before you know it. A quick scan under the plant leaves, soil, and stems can help identify if a plant has mealybugs, gnats, or spider mites. None of those mentions are worth bringing home.

Correctable Issues:

 over or underwatering

• Yellowing leaves usually indicate overwatering habits accompanied by new and old leaves dying and falling off. Underwatering can have yellow leaves as well, but are mainly characterized with brown tips. If you spot a new plant with potential, check the soil to see if it is soaked in water or extremely dry. Either signs mention are good indicators that healthy watering habits can revitalize the plant.

lighting

• Poor lighting can cause plants to either burn or become stretched seeking light. After so long of not have either, a plant can appear to be dead and placed on clearance at your local store. This is your chance to save the day! How to indicate if a plant has light deficiency? The best way (my preferred way) is to quickly research the plant type. For example, succulents require a sufficient amount of light and will become super lengthy to reach light. On the other hand, a maranta plant can developed brown tips and/or spots on it’s leaves if it receives too much light. After checking to see if the plant is over or underwatered, these signs can clearly indicate that the plant needs better lighting.

Remove all dead/damaged leaves. Trimming the infected leaves help assess additional damage after rescuing attempts and helps to isolate the issue.

If the soil is soaked in water, try re-potting the plant with the appropriate soil. Some plants require looser soil to allow moisture to travel through easier. You can find out what is needed with a quick google search on that specific plant’s soil needs. Also, ensure that you are using a planter with proper drainage.

Share your rescue plant stories below!

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