Houseplants: how to find the right one and buy well
First think about where the plant will stand
The most common reason a plant dies is the wrong conditions, not “bad care”. Look at the light: a window with direct sun, bright indirect light or deep shade. Consider whether you have a cat or a dog at home: some popular plants are toxic to animals, so ask the seller whether the plant is safe, and check with a vet if needed. For an office, people often choose shade-tolerant, undemanding species, such as the ZZ plant, the snake plant or ficus.
Size and age: what exactly you are buying
The price depends on how mature the plant is, how long it was grown and how rare it is.
The same monstera can be a cutting at a small price or a mature plant taller than a metre. So state the height in your request, for example “80–100 cm”. For rare varieties, such as the Monstera deliciosa or variegated forms, prices go up. Ask whether the plant was grown in a nursery or imported, because acclimatisation affects whether it will settle in at home.
How it works through BlaBlaPrice
Instead of scrolling through dozens of ads, you write one request: which species, what size, in what pot and for what conditions. Florists and plant shops reply in the chat with photos, a price and delivery. Each one sees where its offer ranks, so they compete on terms. It is free for the buyer, and contacts are opened only to the one you choose. How it all works is on the “How it works” page.
What to put in your request
- Type of plant — orchid, ficus, monstera, ZZ plant, a particular variety.
- Size — height or age: cutting, young, mature.
- Pot — decorative or nursery pot, colour, size.
- Number of plants.
- Conditions — office, shade-tolerant, pet-safe.
- Repotting — whether you need it, and care instructions.
- Delivery city and method: courier or post.
- Budget.
Example: “I am looking for a Monstera deliciosa, 80–100 cm tall, in a white ceramic pot, repotted. By courier in Manila, budget up to ₱2,200.”
What to check in the offers
A plant is a living product, so descriptions alone are not enough.
- A photo of the very plant you will be sold, not a stock picture.
- The state of the leaves: no spots, sticky coating or pests, and a healthy root system.
- How it is packed for the journey, especially in extreme heat or cold: it can kill tropical species.
- Whether repotting is included and what soil is used.
In very hot or cold weather, delivery needs protection, so ask about this beforehand and don't leave the parcel for long at a depot. After you receive the plant, give it a few days to adapt and don't repot it straight away unless the seller advises otherwise.
For growing in a plot and for pots outdoors there is the “Garden & allotment” section, and for decorating a room there is home decor.
