Plants are more popular than ever. But if your thumb is blacker than green, or your mail-order bouquets are often DOA, you need help finding the right plants to buy and the right places to buy them. Here’s how.

Consider Your Space

Every plant has requirements for sun exposure, so you’ll need to consider where you’re placing it, says Melanie Musson, a garden expert.

You should also think about the time you have to care for your plant. For example, if you travel often and don’t want to water frequently, a Sansevieria or ZZ plant would be an excellent choice, says Debbie Nesse, a horticulture expert with Lively Root, a nursery in California.

If You’re Shopping in Person, Inspect the Plant

Take a good look at the plant you’re considering. It should not be droopy, crispy, or discolored. Peek under the leaves to see if you can spot any pests, white or brown spots, or any residue besides water (all of this should lead you to pass). When purchasing the pot to go with your new plant, size up 2 inches from the original pot — but no more than that.

Take a Good Look at the Plant You’re Considering

It should not be droopy, crispy, or discolored. Peek under the leaves to see if you can spot any pests, white or brown spots, or any residue besides water (all of this should lead you to pass). When purchasing the pot to go with your new plant, size up 2 inches from the original pot — but no more than that.

Look for comments about shipping times and quality of packaging, suggests Alex Burgoyne, the lead editor of Tool Digest, which reviews lawn and garden tools among other tools. Some online stores will refuse to ship plants to locations deemed unsuitable for the plant you’re pursuing, Burgoyne says. “This is a great sign that the store is reputable,” she says

The store should also specify how it packages and ships plants. If it doesn’t, this is a sign the store may not be taking the appropriate care.

Make sure the plants and trees aren’t being shipped bare-rooted, says Tony D’Alessandro, co-owner of Planting Tree, an online nursery in North Carolina. If the plant or tree is bare-rooted, it’s not as likely that it will be a successful transplant. As a general rule, plants should spend less than four days boxed and in transit. “So, one of the best ways to ensure your plants aren’t dead on arrival is to pay the often-small premium for expedited shipping,” she says.

Or stick with an online store in your region, as this will minimize your shipping time. This also ensures that the plant will have already adapted to your climate, says Clive Harris, director of DIY Garden.

Also, be realistic with your expectations, and don’t ship a plant during extreme weather, Pliska says. “The best online retailers have figured it out, but remember that shipping plants is still new,” Pliska says.

A few vetted online retailers to get you started are The Sill, Bloomscape, and Floom.

Think Out of the Box

There are many places to purchase plants besides online or your local garden store. Farmers markets are underrated sources for buying plants. They tend to sell affordable plants, and the sellers are often knowledgeable, Burgoyne says

Other surprising spots to find great inexpensive plants are Ikea, Trader Joe’s, and Home Depot, says Jordan Collins, a home improvement expert and gardener at Two Lions 11 (twolions11ltd.co.uk).

Check the Guarantee

This is very important if you’re ordering a plant online, as you won’t be able to physically see or feel the plant ahead of time, says Nesse. Do the warranties cover shipping mishaps, or would you have to file a claim with the shipper? What are the replacement policies when you receive an unhealthy plant due to heat, cold, shipping, disease, or pests? “Research what the replacement or refund policy is on your purchase if it arrives below acceptable standards,” Nesse says.