ED--
If all your plants are 100% bug free now--I would NOT introduce a store-bought plant in your collection.
You may be asking for trouble.
Depends on what store you bought hem from from too.. I would not trust any plant to be bug-free
if I bought it at any big store---eg Wallmart--HD--Lowes, Grocery stores, etc...
There are wonderful Nurseries and Garden Centers that sell nice plants. I would not worry too much--
but I would ask the staff where they get their plants from and IF they routinely spray their plants for insects.
Also--if they have a return policy if the plant you purchased turned out to have bugs and diseases.on it.
There are organic and safe sprays that will kill insects. You can even make your own.
BIG retail store's Staff have NO say about plant care, It is all up to the vendors that bring them to take
care of their plants in the store. Sadly--most of them do not have time to do this. Store staff is not
allowed to do this with their products.
Big Box stores get their plants from Florida. Many are grown in fields. need to know more?????
I would ALWAYS treat a newly purchased from a store plant for bugs.
Learn to know where to check for scale, Mealy Bugs, Aphids, etc....then treat them.
Plants shipped from FL are most likely treated for bugs--and "spiffed up" to look good.
2-3 months later--the new generations of bugs are just getting in their prime.
How do i know all this? I work in the garden Center of a Big Box store.
I see the vendors throwing away "nice looking" plants because they have bugs. No other reason.
Be smart! Ask questions! Carry a magnifier glass with you. Know where to look for bugs
and what kind of bugs they are. Then--if the plant is yours --treat it. GOOGLE is great for this info.
Best to you, Ed. Gita
