Buying Plants From Walmart as an Experienced Seller (16 Things You Must Know)
As a long time ecommerce seller and plant lover myself, I often get asked about buying plants from big retailers like Walmart.
There‘s a common perception that Walmart‘s plants are cheap quality and won‘t thrive. But in my experience, there are some hidden benefits to shopping at Walmart for certain types of plants.
In this guide, I‘ll share 16 insider tips from my decade as an ecommerce plant seller on what to look for when buying plants at Walmart.
1. Set Realistic Expectations
The number one rule is don‘t expect to find rare, unusual specimens at Walmart. Their focus is on fast-selling, mass-produced varieties that can be produced efficiently.
You‘ll mainly find all of the classics: succulents, snake plants, pothos, roses, hydrangeas, tomatoes, zinnias, and so on. Standard, popular plants – but usually not the newest, trendiest ones.
And while the plants are not as mature as you‘ll find at specialty nurseries, they are perfectly fine for beginners looking to gain experience and build their collections.
2. Carefully Inspect Plants Before Buying
Always thoroughly inspect plants at Walmart before purchasing. Check for:
Damaged roots or stems – Avoid plants with crushed, broken, or exposed roots.
Wilt – Drooping leaves indicate the plant is stressed or drying out.
Discoloration – Look for spots, lesions, and excessive yellowing of leaves.
Webbing or specks – Signs of spider mite or other pest infestations.
Mold growth – Excess moisture leads to white mold on soil or leaves.
Declining health – Old flowers, dead leaves, lack of new growth all indicate neglect.
The plants have often had a rough journey from greenhouse to store shelves. So it‘s important to catch any issues up front before buying.
3. Quarantine New Plants
Once home, I recommend quarantining any new plants from Walmart for a few weeks before introducing to your existing collection.
Keep it isolated to monitor for emerging issues like pests or diseases. This prevents contamination of your other plants if any problems arise.
I like to quarantine plants on an enclosed patio or spare room if possible. Place it far from other plants and limit contact while caring for it.
4. Pick Well-Packaged Plants
Some Walmarts sell plants right in the nursery pots – avoid these if possible.
Plants packaged in sealed containers with soil and water reservoirs maintain health better. The insulation protects roots and provides hydration.
I look for plants in individual boxes, plastic wrap, or cans with sleeves – not just a generic nursery pot dropped on the shelf.
This provides a higher level of care during the plant‘s journey to the store and your home.
5. Shop Seasonally
Time your Walmart plant purchases to peak seasons for the best selection:
Spring – Best for annuals, vegetable starts, flowering plants.
Summer – Widest variety of tropicals and indoor plants.
Fall – Shrubs, trees, roses, and grasses well-stocked.
Avoid winter or summer dormancy periods when inventory and health decline. Stick to key planting months for your zone.
6. Ask About Delivery Days
I recommend asking Walmart garden center staff on which days deliveries arrive. Then time visits for shortly after new inventory hits the shelves.
The newest shipments will have healthier plants versus those left sitting for long periods. It makes a difference in viability.
Getting first pick of new deliveries gives you an edge. So check when they come each week and schedule accordingly.
7. Take Advantage of Sales
One benefit of Walmart‘s huge retail footprint is they often discount plants to drive volume sales, especially around holidays.
For example, I routinely see 20-50% off all live plants around Mother‘s Day, Easter, Valentine‘s Day, and Christmas/Hanukkah.
These sales rival the best nurseries. And you‘ll find bigger markdowns on plants versus cut flowers. Use these promotions to stock up.
8. Shop the Hidden Online Selection
Here‘s an insider tip – Walmart‘s website often has a much wider live plant selection than what you‘ll find on store shelves.
Many plants only get listed online because they have limited inventory. It‘s like a hidden virtual nursery.
I search Walmart.com for plants using keywords like "live", "real", "potted", "growing" to reveal varieties rarely seen in stores.
The online assortment changes constantly. And you can filter by price, customer rating, etc – options you won‘t find browsing in person. Use the website to unlock more variety.
9. Maximize the Return Policy
One of Walmart‘s best perks for live plants is their 1 year return policy – far beyond the standard 30 days offered by most nurseries.
This gives you plenty of time to assess plant health and viability after purchase. Don‘t be shy returning chronically struggling plants for refunds or exchanges.
Just make sure to keep your original receipt to simplify returns if possible. Present it along with the plant and Walmart will happily provide an exchange.
Such a generous policy makes the risk of buying plants there very low. Take advantage of it.
10. Ask About Proplifting Policies
Proplifting involves collecting discarded leaves or cuttings to propagate at home. Opinions vary on the ethics and legality of this.
Some stores don‘t mind as long as live plants aren‘t damaged. But some view it as theft of store property.
I recommend asking customer service or the garden center associate up front if proplifting is allowed in their location.
Policies can vary store to store. Better to get permission than risk problems down the road.
11. Time it Right to Get Clearance Plants
As a seller, I love checking Walmart‘s clearance racks for discounted plants.
Inventory gets marked down when it becomes old, damaged, or in otherwise less desirable shape.
While these clearance plants require rehabbing, the low prices make it worth the effort. I watch for these racks near register lanes and the garden center exit.
The selection is random based on overstock and plant mortality – so keep watching. You never know what gems you may uncover for 75% off!
12. Buy Young Plants for Savings
I‘ve found buying younger, smaller plants at Walmart to be a cost-effective strategy.
A 4" succulent or quart perennial is a fraction of the price of fully mature options at boutique nurseries.
With a little time and TLC, these juveniles will grow into full size specimens, in effect giving you a plant for far less.
Shop small to maximize savings on popular plants like echeveria, snake plants, herbs, tomatoes, and petunias.
13. Take Care When Transporting
One common cause of plant decline from big box stores is rough handling during transport home.
The jostling, bumping, and shaking in a cart and car can damage fragile plants if they aren‘t protected well.
I recommend taking these precautions:
- Cushion plants with towels or padding in carts and car trunks.
- Place in cardboard boxes to prevent tipping and injury during driving.
- Transport upright, avoiding laying flat which can crush plants.
- Shield plants from temperature extremes in hot or cold vehicle interiors.
A few simple steps makes a big difference in how plants hold up.
14. Acclimate Plants Slowly
Prevent transplant shock by gradually introducing new plants to your home conditions.
Plants can go into shock transitioning from warm, high humidity greenhouses to much drier indoor climates.
I set new plants near (but not directly in) bright windows. Gradually move to final positions over 2-3 weeks as plants adjust.
Slowly ramp up light, ventilation, temperature flux, and lowering humidity around the plants. Avoid drastic changes.
15. Provide Extra Light
Insufficient light causes many indoor plants from big box stores to decline.
Greenhouse-grown plants need much higher light than typical indoor conditions provide. Even bright windowsills often aren‘t enough.
Be prepared to provide supplemental lighting like grow lights or bulbs to avoid leaf yellowing and stretching of new growth.
Light is likely the #1 issue for indoor plants bought anywhere – not just Walmart. Bolster it and plants will thrive.
16. Use Holiday Plants For Cheap Decor
My final tip – take advantage of ultra-low cost holiday plants for cheap seasonal decor.
Around Christmas, Walmart fills shelves with festive arrangements like:
- Mini poinsettias for $3.
- Decorated evergreen/holly bushes for $15.
- Full poinsettia trees for around $25.
These make incredibly inexpensive holiday decorations for just a season of use – far less than fake options.
After the holidays, you can keep the healthiest plants going as houseplants or plant them outdoors. There‘s little downside to these deals on short-term decor.
The Bottom Line
While buying plants at Walmart requires managing expectations and providing extra care, there are times when shopping there makes perfect sense.
Use these insider tips from a seasoned seller to get the most out of Walmart‘s plant offerings and rock-bottom prices. You can build an impressive plant collection on a budget.
What has been your own experience buying plants at big box stores like Walmart and Home Depot? Let me know if you have any other tips in the comments!
