Haven't bought any new ones in quite some time.
But I check at Lowes, HD and local nurseries.
I think sometimes they have better selection in winter when they have more room will summer equipment put away...yes even in southern ca they put stuff away and it drives me crazy.

I think most of it is the time of the year, where you live and luck. I live in Canada where there aren't any really neat nurseries that specialize in rare plants and whatnot, but every once in a while the nursery here will bring in a neat plant that I haven't seen before.

Which is why I check back there often, even if I don't buy something everytime...which happens rarely. I almost always walk out of there with at least one plant...oh the difficulties of addiction.

Though there's also the internet. You can get all kinds of plants off of websites.

For me, it's usually Lowes, Wal Mart, or Krogers. Or was, at least. Krogers (Okay, I know. It's Kroger.) hasn't had anything cool lately, and Wal Mart is pretty hit-or-miss. Lowes still gets decent stuff, especially in the summer, but they vary in quality a lot. I've also gotten things at Meijers, although, again -- also pretty hit and miss. There's a sort of decent nursery in town that's really expensive, and a somewhat cheaper and better one in Columbus that I don't get to THAT often (but they seem to have podocarps regularly, and I'm really trying not to spend 15 dollars on a totara. Why can't I have a normal plant obsession, like hoyas?)

Lately though, for cacti and succulents, I started looking into online sources. Cactis ship pretty well, being succulents and all. And there are lots of really good online stores out there. Shipping can be sort of pricey for obvious reasons.

Thanks everybody! I have searched online, but OUCH the shipping is sometimes more than the dang plant! I will keep searching...it is an obesssion that nobody seems to understand...LOL

Gburgcg,

Try & keep an eye out locally, if & when you see plants in an establishment, perhaps ask the owner or workers where they got them. Same w/ a neighbor, fellow churchgoer, dry cleaner, etc.

I once begged a piece of a plant from a barbershop window; I offered them a couple of bucks for a clipping or 2, they wouldn't take the money.

I started my lil' collection this year at Kmart (aka Sears Essentials in some places) - which happens to be where I work. They've had 2 full shipments so far this year of indoor plants with a bigger variety to chose from compared to previous years.

The key is: keep an eye out and purchase the plants as soon as they get them in. Otherwise, you are looking at seriously nursing an almost dead plant back to life. :(

So far I have a nice sized sansevieria (mother-in-law's tongue), spathiphyllum (peace lily), and a free Majesty Palm that my mom is trying to nurse back to health (if it dies, oh well, it was free and was heading for the dumpster anyway). I was too late on nabbing an aloe plant they had with the succulent batch (we only got 3 in shipment), but that's ok. Tomorrow, I'm checking out some of the names of new plants we got in, research online first, then buy if they fit my indoor spots to fill.

Otherwise, also check terrarium/aquarium websites because sometimes they sell indoor plants as well - to go with their captive pets. One of the sites I've been eyeballing is below (not sure on quality yet though).

Here is a link that might be useful: Pernell Gerver's Houseplants

Fred Meyer has a good selection most of the year.where I buy most of my plants.

Petco has plants in the reptile/ fish areas for the enclosures. Normally easy care plants like arrowhead vine or pothos.

lowes/home depot normally have a variety.

check out local nurseries that specialize in container annuals. they, most of the time, have a superb selection that can be used for houseplants.

I agree about getting the plants immediately after they are shipped in.

Over the years, though, I've gotten so disgusted with the quality of the plants at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. Even if they look OK initially, they have pest/disease/care issues and go downhill over the next several months. Once I realized the survival rate was maybe 50%, compared to 95% at a good nursery, the cheaper prices didn't seem to be such a bargain.

So now I spend the extra money to get my plants at a really good nursery. I've learned when their best sales are and try to stock up then (late January or early February can be a good time - they often bring in truckloads of tropicals because nothing else is growing then). This place is over an hour drive, but it's worth it.

The trick to buying online is finding someone who sells several plants that you want. Shipping five plants instead of one will bring the shipping charge per plant way down. You might not get the big plants you can get at local nurseries, but if you want 'special' plants, it's the way to go.

CountryGirl, I sometimes buy seeds to help reduce cost in price plus shipping, and save my dollars for the plants i just cant live without.

Watergal, i can agree with you about the shabby plants at Walmart. Why today I went there and the garden staff were unloading fresh green houseplant goodies. And guess where the worker put them? Right under the darkest shelf you could imagine in a store. Had I not seen them being put away I wouldnt have even noticed them. And so starts the downward spiral...

Best time to pick up a box store plant is the day of and the day after the truck unloads. I tend to call in advance just to make sure.