I find many of mine at Walmar, Lowes, Home Depot, etc...
These are "hit and miss" places. The "special" plants will come in at various times and there will usually only be one or two available. Also keep in mine (if you live in an area where there are more than one Walmart, etc) that each store will have different plants. If they order "assorted plants" from their suppliers, they never know what might be delivered.

A few of mine came from the local nurseries that are open through the winter (usually the ones that grow their own plants in greenhouses). They will generally have a very nice selection of houseplants and in the smaller affordable "starter" pots, too.

If you are a total newbie to houseplants, the vining Philodendrons are pretty easy to care for. My Walmart has Philo 'Brazil' right now in small 3 dollar pots. This is a beautiful plant with leaves that look like they have been painted. I think Philos are probably my favorite houseplant for ease of care and for versatility.

Have fun "hunting"! :o)

Like WB says check all the places and check them often. Stop by any local greenhouses and see what they offer. And look in unusual places, this Christmas I picked up some Christmas Cacti from my Walgreens and last summer they had an assortment of cacti for sale.

I keep reading about people finding plants in their local dollar stores but I have yet to see those in my area. Look ever where and look twice and if you know someone who has houseplants ask for a cutting if they can spare it.

Keep your eyes open at unexpected places - I have gotten some really good plants at the grocery store. I just went grocery shopping on Thursday night, and came home with a large spider plant for only $1.49! It's not in the best of shape, but it's not in awful shape either.

I've also gotten some other plants at the grocery store - snake plant, Christmas cactus, oxalis to name some others.

Good luck - I'm still a relative newbie myself, and I've learned alot on this forum.

I'd stay with the suggestions as above, including the supermarket. I've seen some amazing buys at one of my own supermarkets (one has great plants, the other has awful plants, in sad condition).

For a newbie, I suggest avoiding buying from florists or mail order (you'd be spending too much money on plants, before you learn what your own situation can grow & what plants you like vs. don't like).

Welcome to you: you can learn lots just by observing what plants you see that other folks have that you like, ask questions of them (what is it & how do you grow it, etc.) & reading around here.

Try local mom & pop smaller garden centers, you never know what you'll find! Half the fun is browsing!

Tom

Even if you don't buy online, you can learn a lot about plants by going to various websites and reading what they have to say about their plants, and looking at the pictures when they have them. I used to say, before the internet, that I learned as much about plants from catalogs as I did from books. Now I waste incredible amounts of time with google and plant sites--and of course here!