7 things you should never do in a plant shop, according to owners and employees

The monstera Thai constellation and other plants with variegations — different colors on the leaves — can be fragile. Willa Claire, a store manager at rOOTS KC, told BI that touching these specialty offerings is a no-go.

“Oils from our fingers can cause browning on variegated plants,” she said.

You’re not there to offer advice to fellow customers

Claire discouraged people from talking other customers out of buying specific plants just because they’ve had trouble with them in the past.

“Not every plant is meant for every person,” she told BI. “There are lots of varieties and levels to plant parenthood, and we are here to help the customer find what’s right for them.”

Stealing clippings for propagation is a big faux pas

Taking care of the plants in a retail store, especially a specialty shop, is out of bounds.

“Don’t water a plant you think needs watering or pull off a leaf that you think is ‘dead’ because it’s yellowing,” Andie Schultz, an inventory manager at rOOTS KC, said.

Employees are trained to know different plants’ needs and most likely have a watering and pruning schedule based on the delivery date and humidity needs.

Don’t shake the plants

Shaking plants to make them stronger and heartier has become a bit of a trend online. But Cate Ferguson, a plant-care consultant at rOOTS KC, said the practice can actually damage some species.

Whether you’re an expert on this sort of thing or not, as a customer, it’s not your job to shake the plants and potentially cause harm.

Infesting a shop with pests is a bad look

If you’re having plant problems involving bugs, don’t show up to your local nursery with the plant in hand.

“Never bring in your plants from home without thoroughly checking for pests,” Budrow said. “Plant pests spread quickly and you could be doing major damage to the shop’s inventory.”

Instead, call the store — or another trusted plant person — for troubleshooting and advice.