by Marilyn Y Meyer

Created on: May 08, 2008

So, you have a budget and would like to purchase some houseplants. Well,that's good for you,try looking for plants that are on clearance or the pot has somehow been damaged. Although damaged plants are not always the healthiest to deal with. It takes a little knowledge if you want to go that route. Nurseries and some stores will sell them cheaper if they are damaged in some way. I prefer that my budget stay at zero. That's right, I have a very low budget to work with lately so I prefer to spend nothing on my plants. People throw out houseplants when they get tired of them so, I recycle them. Sometimes, they may have a few pests but a little depesting and re-potting and we're good to go. Restaurants are also a good place to find free houseplants, they may let you have a piece of one or they may be tossing the plant.

Another great place to obtain a plant is a cutting from a friend,or a piece of one of theirs. To root a cutting most times just put it in water. This way all I need is dirt and a pot. I have started out this way on more than one occasion.

Free plants can also be found in your own home,pot a potato,onion,pineapple crown,seeds from pumpkin or sunflowers(they grow a little on the big side),dandelions make a great indoor plant to,grab some seeds and plant them in dirt and voila!

Plant swaps are easy and very inexpensive ways to find plants, it does come in handy to have something to swap. You can find plant swaps on the internet or listed in gardening magazines. Better yet, start your own. You really don't have to even own a plant to start one just a location. Hospitals and nursing homes are a great place to do this because it gets people involved that may not otherwise be able to be involved. Granny got 12 african violets for mom's day and would then be able to trade for variety. Plants are after all beneficial to keep people active.

Trees that drop seeds in the spring make great houseplants until the are to big to keep in the house. That is when I'd find a place outside to plant it, thus helping our environment. Sometimes weeds also make interesting houseplants and require very little care. Plants were never really intended for the house so, really the possibilities are endless.I might suggest that you purchase the soil and pots ahead of time seeing as you could now walk out your door and pluck a blade of grass for your indoor garden. There are many ways to find house plants and I've given a few good examples of budgetwise ways to find them for many different budgets and if you are creative you will have a house full of plants in no time!

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