I agree completely.

I'd say I pretty much agree too, I'd probably only buy a plant that was in bad shape and needed recovery if it was one I had a hard time finding that I really wanted. I got both my trifasciata laurentii and silver laurentii for like, less than 5 bucks each for a great big full ten inch pot, so they are not expensive, even for a nice big one. BUT, I definitely respect the love of a good ol' challenge, which is why tons of my plants are grown from cuttings even though I probably could have bought the same plant pretty cheap, already grown, 'cause for me, that's half the fun! To each his own, right?

Josh

I've purchased my share of plants to 'experiment' on (for stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, divisions, sun tolerance, etc), and I've also purchased my share of poor quality plants that I couldn't get any other way to see if I could 'save' them. I think that these strategies CAN work, but we should be careful in not getting poor quality plants thinking that we can 'save' them. This MAY be possible (especially in spring, when you can use the entire summer to get the plant back into condition, but it is a dangerous thing to do, when other plants can be infested and die as a result.

I remember a fine specimen of Sansevieria trifasciata 'Silver Moon' that I was able to get one year that was perfect - no blemishes at all, lots of new growth - a perfect plant. I was able to keep it for a year, get it to have multiple flowers, and produce LOTS of offsets. Then it began developing red rust spots on the leaves. I knew that I wasn't keeping it too cool, and that my watering habits were good, and I watched helpless as the rust began to spread. I discarded the plant, and a friend 'rescued' the plant. I advised against it, but he insisted that it was cultural (it might have been, but I didn't think it was worth the risk). He grew it for an addittional two years, investing a lot of effort, cutting off all affected leaves, and was eventually able to get the plant back into good shape, but it took TWO YEARS, and at the end of this time he had a plant one quarter the size of what I started with. It was a lot of effort and babying, and I still don't think it was worth it.

I get rid of ALL plants that do not do well in my conditions - if I can't grow it well, I don't grow it at all. I realize that the challenge is sometimes fun, but I am tired of having ugly plants mixed in with my beauties.

Joe 'experience is the best teacher' DeRosa

I have rescued a few marked down plants from the local Lowes. I always check them very carefully to make sure they just have a bruised leaf or something minor wrong with them.
Last year I got a beautiful orchid that bloomed for several weeks and still looks great. But you do have to be very careful. Lately many plants at Lowes have had bugs and I had to pass them up.

Elsie

I have to agree that a lot of times it is not worth the hassle to rescue a plant. I also feel that if a plant is not growing well for me I hate to look at it because it frustrates me when I look at other plants that are doing well. If you do acquire plants that have something wrong with them I strongly advise that you quarantine them for an extended period of time. Pests move very quickly from plant to plant and it could affect every plant you have. So, before you acquire any questionable material ask yourself if it is worth the hassle.