Expert Gardener Plants

Discover the Best Tips for Selecting Expert Gardener Houseplants, Outdoor Plants, and More

Expert Gardener offers a wide variety of lush, beautiful plants for both indoor and outdoor spaces. As a leading plant brand, Expert Gardener is known for selling robust, healthy plants that thrive with proper care. Their selection includes houseplants, flowering plants, succulents, vegetables, herbs, and more.

If you’re new to gardening with Expert Gardener plants, you may feel overwhelmed by the choices. With hundreds of plant varieties to pick from, how do you know where to begin? This buying guide covers everything you need to know about choosing the best Expert Gardener plants for your needs.

What Types of Plants Does Expert Gardener Offer?

Expert Gardener provides plants for both indoor and outdoor gardening across numerous categories. Their catalog includes:

• Houseplants – Choose from popular indoor plants like philodendrons, ferns, orchids, succulents, and many more. Expert Gardener houseplants are bred to thrive indoors.
• Annuals – Brighten your outdoors with Expert Gardener annuals like petunias, zinnias, marigolds, snapdragons, and more. Annuals grow quickly and last one season.
• Perennials – Perennial plants come back every year. Expert Gardener offers hardy perennials like coneflowers, salvias, blanket flowers, and lots of ornamental grasses.
• Roses – Hybrid tea roses, grandiflora roses, floribunda roses, and climbers are all available from Expert Gardener’s expansive rose collection.
• Edibles – Grow your own fruits, veggies, and herbs with Expert Gardener’s wide selection, including tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens, beans, carrots, and much more.
• Shrubs and Trees – Choose flowering, evergreen, or privacy shrubs. Expert Gardener also has dwarf fruit trees perfect for small spaces.
• Tropical Plants – Liven up your indoor garden with tropical beauties like orchids, bird of paradise, anthurium, palms, and many others.
• Cacti and Succulents – From echeveria to prickly pear, Expert Gardener has diverse cacti and succulents, which are perfect low-maintenance houseplants.
• Bonsai – Try your hand at the art of bonsai using Expert Gardener’s imported plants shaped and trained for bonsai design.

No matter your needs, Expert Gardener likely offers the types of plants you want! Read on for what to consider when shopping their selection.

Are Expert Gardener Plants Suitable for Indoor Gardening?

Absolutely! Expert Gardener sells many houseplant varieties bred specifically to thrive indoors. When browsing indoor plants, look for the “Expert Gardener Signature Houseplant” label. This indicates plants vetted by their experts to be easy, rewarding houseplants for beginners through experts.

Some great indoor plant types to try from Expert Gardener include:

• Philodendrons – Vining philodendrons like Heartleaf, Brazil, and Congo Rojo are perfect for hanging baskets. Self-heading types like Prince of Orange stay bushy and compact.
• Ferns – Choose hardy ferns like Boston, Kimberly Queen, Fluffy Ruffles, or Asparagus Fern for easy care.
• Orchids – Expert Gardener offers manyPhalaenopsis orchids, ideal for indoor blooms. Look for their Orchid Care tag for tips.
• Succulents – Mini succulents like burro’s tail or larger varieties like aloe vera make great houseplants.
• Palms – Mini palms, like parlor palms, bring a tropical look indoors.

Expert Gardener plants clearly labeled for indoor use are beginner-friendly and adapt well to indoor conditions like low light and dry air. Follow the included care instructions for thriving indoor plants.

How to Care for Expert Gardener Plants

All Expert Gardener plants come with helpful care guidance so you can provide what your plants need to stay healthy and beautiful. Here are some general tips for caring for Expert Gardener plants:

• Light – Check plant tags to see how much light your plants need. Turn plants or supplement with grow lights as needed.
• Water – Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Take care not to overwater, which can lead to root rot.
• Soil – Replant in Expert Gardener indoor or outdoor potting mix for better drainage and nutrients.
• Fertilizer – Use Expert Gardener plant food, following label directions to avoid burn. Fertilize every 2-4 weeks.
• Pruning – Prune dead leaves and spent blooms. Pinch back leggy growth to encourage bushiness.
• Pests – Treat with organic sprays if pests like spider mites appear. Remove badly infested foliage.
• Temperature/Humidity – Maintain ideal conditions for your plant variety. Move plants away from hot/cold drafts.

With attentive care focused on your plant’s needs, Expert Gardener plants will thrive and grow lush and strong in your home or garden.

The Best Expert Gardener Plants for Beginners

Starting out with your first Expert Gardener plants? Choose beginner-friendly varieties that can tolerate some neglect while you learn. Here are great starter plants:

• Snake Plant – A nearly indestructible succulent that tolerates low light and irregular watering. Just avoid overwatering.
• Pothos – Trailing or climbing pothos vines handle low light and occasional missed waterings like champs. Hard to kill!
• Chinese Evergreen – This easy-care houseplant with patterned leaves can handle a range of light, from low to bright.
• Ponytail Palm – Another tough succulent, the ponytail palm stores water in its bulbous trunk to survive periods of drought. Tolerates low light.
• Peace Lily – A very forgiving indoor blooming plant. Drooping leaves let you know when it needs a drink. Recovers quickly.
• Philodendron – Fast-growing philodendrons are nearly impossible to kill. Tolerate low light and adapt to your care routine.
• Spider Plant – This vintage houseplant is called a “plant puppy” for a reason – it’s enthusiastically forgiving!

When starting out, pick an easy Expert Gardener plant to boost your confidence. Then work your way up to more finicky varieties!

Do Expert Gardener Plants Come with Soil or Pots?

Expert Gardener plants are sold in their original plastic grower pots, leaving it up to you to select a decorative pot and soil. The exceptions are:

• Orchids – Orchids often come planted in decorative ceramic pots with bark media.
• Bonsai – Pre-shaped bonsai plants come planted in bonsai pots with soil.
• Some self-watering planters – Select varieties come pre-potted in self-watering containers.

For all other Expert Gardener plants, you’ll need to supply pots and soil tailored to each plant. This allows you full creative control over your plant’s presentation!

Expert Gardener recommends their branded organic potting mixes for optimal drainage and nutrients. Their soils are enriched with mycorrhizae to help roots thrive.

Using Expert Gardener Fertilizers on Their Plants

The plant experts at Expert Gardener formulate their own brand of fertilizers to perfectly nourish Expert Gardener plants. Their fertilizer options include:

• Indoor Plant Food – A liquid fertilizer tailored to houseplants’ needs, with macronutrients for lush growth.
• Outdoor Plant Food – Granular outdoor fertilizer that provides balanced, extended feeding.
• Rose Food – Blended specifically to nurture abundant blooms and strong growth in roses.
• Vegetable & Herb Food – Formula promotes productive fruiting and leafy greens in edible plants.
• Orchid Food – Liquid fertilizer designed for the specialized needs of orchids.

Using the right Expert Gardener plant food for your plants ensures optimal nourishment. Follow package directions to fertilize at the correct strength and intervals. Expert Gardener fertilizers are safe when used as directed.

You can also use non-Expert Gardener products, but stick to fertilizers labeled for your plant type for best results.

Are Expert Gardener Plants Drought-Tolerant?

Many Expert Gardener plant varieties are naturally drought-resistant and able to withstand some dryness between waterings. Their selection includes:

• Succulents – Succulents like aloe, echeveria, jade, and sedums store water in their fleshy leaves.
• Cacti – Cacti’s thick, spiny stems retain water. Some are very drought-hardy, like prickly pear.
• Sage – Garden herbs like garden sage and pineapple sage thrive in hot, dry climates once established.
• Lavender – This Mediterranean herb needs excellent drainage but tolerates dry soil.
• Agave – Bold architectural agaves handle long dry spells with ease.
• Gaillardia – The blanket flower gaillardia is a rugged, drought-tolerant perennial.
• Sedum – Tough succulent perennials like Autumn Joy sedum withstand drought when mature.
• Yucca – Stately yucca plants thrive in arid conditions. Yucca gloriosa withstands coastal drought.

Check plant tags to see descriptions of plants best able to handle dry spells with minimal watering.

Where to Purchase Expert Gardener Plants

Shop the full selection of Expert Gardener plants at these retailers:

• Expert Gardener Flagship Stores – Found in select major cities, their stores offer Expert Gardener’s complete plant selection plus supplies. Get in-depth plant advice!
• Local Garden Centers – Many independent garden centers carry popular Expert Gardener plants. Look for the recognizable Expert Gardener plant tags.
• Home Improvement Stores – Big chains like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart stock a curated selection of best-selling Expert Gardener houseplants and outdoor varieties based on location.
• Online – Order Expert Gardener plants for delivery from their website or retailers like Amazon and The Sill.
• Nurseries – Nearby plant nurseries may sell certain Expert Gardener plants in their wholesale sections at great prices if you can transport them home!

Check Expert Gardener’s store locator online to find their plants at a retailer convenient for you. They continually expand their partnerships with stores and e-commerce sites.

Are Expert Gardener Plants Pet-Friendly?

Some Expert Gardener plants are safer for homes with pets than others. Here are expert tips:

• Non-toxic – Choose non-toxic houseplants like philodendrons, pothos, hoyas, parlour palms, mosses, and most ferns.
• Out of reach – Hang toxic plants or place on high shelves away from curious pets who may bite or ingest leaves.
• Monitor playtime – Watch cats around houseplants to ensure they don’t chew, dig in the soil, or knock over pots.
• Use pet repellents – Spray bitter anti-chew sprays on plants prone to nibbling from pets.
• Avoid spiky plants – Cacti and some succulents can harm pets with spines and sharp leaf edges.
• Research risks – Consult the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants before bringing any plant into your home.

Selecting non-toxic varieties and keeping plants away from pets is key for safe, worry-free plant ownership. Check out Expert Gardener’s Pet-Safe Houseplant tag for great options.

The Best Expert Gardener Plants for Landscaping

Expert Gardener offers amazing outdoor plants for yard and garden landscaping. Some of their most popular outdoor landscaping plants include:

• Knock Out Roses – These famously hardy shrub roses bloom from spring until frost with minimal care needed. They resist pests and diseases that plague other roses.
• Evergreen Shrubs – Evergreen flowering shrubs like azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, and gardenias provide year-round color.
• Hydrangeas – Bigleaf, panicle, oakleaf, and other hydrangea types add gorgeous blooms through summer.
• Ornamental Grasses – Grasses like maiden grass, fountain grass, and purple moor grass lend texture and graceful movement to gardens.
• Hostas – Reliably hardy hostas thrive in shady areas where other plants fail. Choose big, bold leaf varieties for dramatic impact.
• Coneflowers – These daisy-like perennials are native American wildflowers that require minimal care. Echinacea and rudbeckia shine in sunny gardens.
• Fruit Trees – Dwarf and patio fruit trees produce harvestable fruits while staying compact for small space gardening.

Let Expert Gardener’s plant tags guide you to varieties well-suited for landscaping uses in your specific hardiness zone and conditions.

How to Repot Expert Gardener Plants

Expert Gardener recommends repotting new plants in most cases to provide fresh, appropriate soil and proper drainage. Here are repotting tips:

• Select a pot 1-2 inches larger than the current pot, allowing room for growth. Make sure it has drainage holes.
• Use fresh Expert Gardener potting mix tailored for that plant – indoor, outdoor, cactus, orchid, etc.
• Carefully remove the plant from its old pot and loosen tangled roots. Prune any diseased roots.
• Place some soil in the pot’s bottom. Put the plant inside and fill in around the roots with soil, tamping lightly. Leave 1 inch below the rim.
• Water thoroughly until it drains from the pot’s bottom holes. Allow excess to drain fully before putting in a saucer.
• Give the newly repotted plant in fresh soil a few days to recover in a warm spot before resuming its usual place.

Timely repotting prevents plants from becoming rootbound and encourages healthy development. Most Expert Gardener plants should be repotted every 2-3 years.

Do Expert Gardener Plants Include Flowering Varieties?

Yes, flowering plants are one of Expert Gardener’s specialties! Their flowering plant offerings encompass:

• Orchids – The breathtaking Phalaenopsis hybrid orchids and exotic moth orchids produce incredible blooms that can last for months.
• African Violets – Vividly colored blooms adorn these classic flowering houseplants perfect for windowsills.
• Begonias – From hardy wax begonias to elegant angel wing begonias, they offer diverse options covered in colorful flowers.
• Hibiscus – Tropical hibiscus feature big, brilliant blossoms in shades like red, pink, yellow, orange, and white.
• Peonies – Fragrant garden peonies produce sumptuous, romantic blooms in late spring.
• Roses – Hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora, and shrub roses from Expert Gardener bloom wonderfully all season long in gardens.
• Ornamental Edibles – Eggplant, peppers, and cherry tomato plants produce flowers before setting colorful, tasty fruits.

There are so many possibilities when it comes to flowering plants from Expert Gardener! Browse their broad collection to find beautiful blooming varieties for your space.

Are Expert Gardener Plants Grown Organically?

Expert Gardener does not specifically market their plants as organic. However, they do emphasize using responsible, sustainable growing practices focused on plant health.

Here are some of the ways Expert Gardener demonstrates their commitment to eco-friendly horticulture:

• They strive to minimize synthetic chemical pesticide usage in favor of integrated pest management methods, natural predators, and organic sprays derived from plants.
• Their potting soils and fertilizers are free from sewage sludge and contain many natural, organic components like compost, earthworm castings, and bat guano.
• Plants are grown in natural burlap pots, rice hulls, shredded coconut husks, and other biodegradable materials.
• Their greenhouses utilize integrated solar panels and collected rainwater to reduce environmental impact.
• Local operations reduce the distance plants must be shipped.

While not certified organic, Expert Gardener’s earth-friendly growing practices produce healthy, vigorous, chemically residue-free plants you can feel good about buying.

What is the Price Range for Expert Gardener Plants?

As a premium plant brand, Expert Gardener’s plants range on the higher end of prices, but the quality is worth it. Here are typical price ranges:

• Houseplants – From $15 to $50 for common varieties, up to $200+ for rare tropicals like variegated Monstera deliciosa or mature specimen plants.
• Outdoor Plants – Shrubs from $25 to $60. Fruit trees from $50 to $150 depending on maturity. Flowering perennials from $10 to $30.
• Cacti & Succulents – Small 2” starter succulents around $5. Unique specimens like 10” cacti from $50-$100.
• Orchids – Simple moth orchids start around $25. Showy hybrid Phalaenopsis $35 and up. Rare orchids up to $300+.
• Bonsai – Young starter plants from $50. Mature bonsai trees over $400.

While pricier than big box store plants, you invest in Expert Gardener’s decades of horticultural expertise and strict quality standards with each purchase.

How Long Do Expert Gardener Plants Take to Grow?

As a large grower, Expert Gardener offers plants at every stage of maturity. Here are typical growth times:

• Annual seeds – Grow to maturity in one season, typically 8-12 weeks from seed to flower.
• Vegetable starts – Reach harvesting stage 2-3 months from transplanting starter plants.
• Houseplants – 1-3 years to reach mature size depending on variety. Tropicals tend to grow faster.
• Shrubs/trees – Typically 1-2 years from a young plant to a mature landscaping specimen. Dwarf varieties may reach maturity sooner.
• Cacti/succulents – Grow slowly and may take 5+ years to attain full size. Echeveria, Aeonium faster than cacti.
• Orchids – Phalaenopsis grown for commercial sale bloom in 15-24 months from lab flasks.

Patience leads to big rewards when growing Expert Gardener plants to maturity! Take time to enjoy watching your green friends flourish.

Can I Use Expert Gardener Potting Soil for Their Plants?

Absolutely! Expert Gardener specially formulates their potting mixes to be optimal for their plants’ needs. Their soil options include:

• Indoor Potting Mix – Fast-draining and lightweight for container plants. Contains peat, perlite, compost and fertilizer.
• Outdoor Potting Mix – Heavier soil blended for in-ground use. Compost, peat moss, bark and water absorbents provide nutrition.
• Cactus & Succulent Soil – Very quick-draining mix blended with sand and minerals ideal for desert-loving plants.
• Orchid Potting Mix – Special bark-based media tailored for the airy, free-draining needs of orchid roots.

Using the potting soil matched to each plant type supports healthy root development and growth. Expert Gardener soils contain mycorrhizae fungi to benefit plant roots. Feel confident repotting Expert Gardener plants into their purpose-made potting mixes for results you’ll love.

The Best Expert Gardener Plants for Shaded Areas

Many stunning Expert Gardener plants thrive in low light areas lacking full sun exposure. Go-to shade plants include:

• Ferns – Lacy woodland ferns like ostrich and autumn ferns appreciate shady spots.
• Hostas – Known as the perfect shade perennial, hostas flaunt bold leaves. Try Masquerade or Blue Angel.
• Impatiens – Shade-loving impatiens bear lovely blooms in white, pink, red, purple, and coral.
• Coleus – Vibrant leaf patterns and colors illuminate shaded beds and containers.
• Coral Bells – Heuchera’s low mounds of ruffled foliage add charm to shadows.
• Astilbe – Feathery plumes of tiny blooms on astilbe thrive under trees or eaves.
• Begonias – From hardy varieties like begonia grandis to tender tuberous types, these welcome shade.
• Caladiums – Vivid leaf patterns in white, pink, and red electrify dim places.

Browse Expert Gardener’s selection for shade-loving plants ideal for your climate and growing conditions. Even dark corners can come alive with the right plants!

Do Expert Gardener Plants Come with Care Instructions?

Yes, Expert Gardener includes helpful care guidance with every plant to set you up for success. Here’s what to expect:

• Plant Stakes – Stakes in each pot provide watering, light, growth, and other tips. Look for specialty care info like their Orchid Care tag.
• Hang Tags – Hang tags on many plants offer detailed care instructions, plant facts, and warnings if toxic to pets. Hang on to these useful references.
• Care Booklets – Booklets with in-depth plant care advice are included with certain finicky specimens like orchids, bonsai, and some tropicals.
• QR Codes – Scan QR codes on plant stakes to access expanded online care instructions from Expert Gardener’s experts.
• Reminder Stickers – Helpful reminders to repot, fertilize, etc. stick right onto pots at appropriate intervals.

Follow the guidance that comes with your plants for your best chance of success. Expert Gardener thoroughly equips you with everything you need to care for your new plants!

Are Expert Gardener Plants Resistant to Pests and Diseases?

Through careful breeding and cultivation methods, Expert Gardener strives to create plants resistant to common plant ailments. Here are some of their most pest and disease-resistant options:

• Knock Out Roses – This proprietary rose series resists black spot, rust, and powdery mildew that afflict other rose varieties.
• SunPatiens impatiens – Engineered to withstand downy mildew, a fungus deadly to standard impatiens.
• Tomatoes – Tomato varieties labeled VFN resist dangerous conditions like verticillium, fusarium, and nematodes.
• Superbells calibrachoa – Selected for tolerance to phytophthora, a stubborn root disease.
• Peppers – Expert Gardener grows proven pepper cultivars that shrug off tobacco mosaic virus.
• Orchids – Phalaenopsis orchids are bred for disease resistance and earn the rigorous Hawaiian Floriculture Certification.

Check plant tags for special callouts of pest or disease resistance. While not invincible, resistant plants fare better and have a leg up against common plant problems.

How Do Expert Gardener Plants Compare To Other Brands?

As one of the largest and most established plant brands, Expert Gardener sets the standard that other brands aspire to match. Here are some key advantages Expert Gardener offers:

• Strict Quality Control – Rigorous protocols ensure only top quality plants reach garden centers, rejecting subpar specimens.
• Diverse Selection – From tropical houseplants to hardy roses, their massive catalog covers all plant categories popular with home gardeners.
• Good Value – While not the cheapest, Expert Gardener plants give you more bang for your buck compared to some luxury plant brands.
• Helpful Resources – From comprehensive plant tags to instructional videos, Expert Gardener provides top-notch educational resources.
• Reliable Shipping – Plants ordered online arrive in excellent condition thanks to their specialized shipping methods perfected over decades.
• Expertise – Drawing from a vast knowledge base, Expert Gardener applies optimal practices to grow plants that outperform competitors.
• Brand Recognition – The widely trusted Expert Gardener name immediately signals a quality purchase primed to thrive in your home.

While individual tastes and budgets may vary, for many gardeners, Expert Gardener remains the premier all-around brand for obtaining beautiful, flourishing plants that expertly fulfill their label promises.

In Conclusion

I hope this guide equipped you with helpful knowledge to demystify purchasing plants from Expert Gardener’s extensive selection. Now you can start growing vibrant Expert Gardener plants tailored exactly for your needs as both an indoor and outdoor gardener. Let their care instructions and gardening expertise guide you to success. Soon you’ll have a thriving oasis of Expert Gardener plants to enjoy for many years to come. Happy planting!