Safe to buy plants in my area?

moneyistooshorttomention

I'd like to be able to buy ready potted-up plants as I've been used to doing with no concerns about it.

In my current area I am worried whether I might be buying more than I bargained for if I did so (ie unwanted passengers of the troublesome variety - ie Japanese Knotweed).

I don't know whether I dare do so or no - or whether I could but would need to "quarantine" them in pots until I saw if anything else came up too.

Any thoughts on this on the one hand or has anyone bought a potted-up plant from someone and then found they have JK and traced the culprit back to that plant on the other hand? I have suspicions that the JK in a nearby garden might have come from her having bought a potted plant with "added extras" a while back and don't want to land up in the same position.

Mojisola

The only way you'd get unwanted weeds is if the plant seller had used garden soil in the pots which is extremely unlikely.

moneyistooshorttomention

So, it would be safe to do so then - provided I asked them if they had used bagged-up compost - by the sound of it?

Farway

Are these commercial plants, from a nursery, B& Q etc or from some one on fleabay?

moneyistooshorttomention

In my last area I was a keen fan of buying plants rather "informally" - ie from plant fairs, jumble sales, etc - ie they had come from someone on a "personal" level and not from plant nurseries, etc.

That's mainly what I am concerned about doing in my new area - as I've seen so many "crops" of Japanese knotweed round here and can't believe the casual attitude that people often have if its there in their garden

(fingers got a bit burnt when another recent incomer to here gave me a couple of plants from her - rather large - garden and I planted them in all confidence trusting her and then she subsequently mentioned she has JK in her garden:eek:. I had absolutely taken it as read that she wouldn't be offering her plants around if that was in or even near her garden and promptly ripped the plants out from where I'd planted them and think I must be okay for that and they came from a different bit of her garden).

Hence feeling wary of trusting people to ensure they don't pass on plants they shouldn't.

Mojisola

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

So, it would be safe to do so then - provided I asked them if they had used bagged-up compost - by the sound of it?

It should be fairly obvious if you have a good look at the pots but no harm in asking them what compost they use for potting up.

DaftyDuck

Knotweed is such a fast grower in the summer months that, were you to keep the plant potted for even two weeks, you'd be sure to know if there was anything lurking below the soil level.

I do that with many plants that I get in, to reduce the number of any sort of weed that could get established, and I do buy a lot of plants! Probably near a thousand in a year.

Money, you do seem to be becoming.... rather obsessed .... by knotweed. It really isn't as bad as all that. There are other things lurking out there that should trouble you a great deal more, living where you do, such as .... :eek:. No, I can't make you lose sleep over that! Too cruel!

moneyistooshorttomention

With both the friends I made from other recent incomers to this area finding they have it in their garden and I can see several outcrops of it within walking distance from my place (that's before mentioning how common it is in both nearby villages) I can see what a problem it is here.

Of the other rather prolific plants that are of the "troublemaker" variety round here - horsetail, laurel, rhododendron, ivy - I think any of them would feel a lot less problematic to deal with and I have bindweed growing on neighbouring property and coming through into my garden (but think I should have that pretty well under control shortly) and at least its not destructive and I just go round tugging it up as I spot it. Couch grass is another "right pain" - but more quick tugging and that's gone.

But I'll bear in mind a 2 week quarantine period should be sufficient as part of a belt and braces approach - considering how fast it grows.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

if you are so worried about knotweed, then you better not leave the house, as if you go somewhere, and get a bit on your shoes, it can potentially be carried to your garden, also knotweed spreads, its seeds can blow into your garden, same as hym. balsam seeds if you brush against then, just pop, and shoots everywhere..


why are you so paranoid about it??? yes it is invasive, but it can be managed with our without chemicals..


I have NEVER heard of it being in potted plants... and in reality it shouldnt get into the compost market, as it is illegal to put into your green waste bin, and you can not move it off your land without using companies with special licenses.. etc..

peachyprice

The biggest pest I've inherited from potted plants is rosemary beetle in a plant my mother bought me from Wilkinsons.

lostinrates

peachyprice wrote: »

The biggest pest I've inherited from potted plants is rosemary beetle in a plant my mother bought me from Wilkinsons.

I have found bindweed in the pots of big name commercial rose growers more than once. Shrug.....what are you gonna do....if you want the plants you want them!