Getting new plants is one of the absolute joys of our obsessive hobby. Whether obtained via mail order, picked up at a vendor, from a show, or as a division from a friend, there are a few things you can do to ensure your new plant becomes a valued member of your collection and not a “problem child”.
► First and foremost, segregate it from the rest of your plants. No matter where it originates, there just might be a pest or pathogen “hitch-hiking” that is undetected. Inspect every leaf, top and bottom, and every fold, nook and cranny, looking for insects and damaged tissues, treating as needed. Personally, I segregate the new plants for at least two weeks, inspecting them periodically. Yes, you may spray the plant with a disinfectant like Physan, if you wish. In this day of coronavirus, that may be a wise choice.
If you find any sign of a pest or other ailment, or just want to be particularly safe, treat it immediately and restart the clock on the quarantine period (we all should be good that, now…)
► Evaluate the potting medium. Not only can it be a “safe haven” for insects, you should see if it is 1) in good shape and not a threat to suffocate the roots, and 2) decide if it’s viable as a medium in your growing conditions.
Ideally, you should repot the plant immediately into something that works for you, which also gives you the ability to inspect the root system, but if the plant is in bud or bloom, or otherwise not ready to be repotted, I recommend “babying” it until it’s the right time to repot. Instead of drenching the medium, for example, I only trickle a bit of water into it, to avoid water logging it.
► You may not have a good handle on the conditions the plant had been growing in, so you should treat introduction to your conditions as a transition. Be conservative, in terms of light levels and temperatures – moderation is the key at first, gradually moving it to your preferred levels.
► If, after about two or three weeks where everything seems to be on the “up & up”, and you’ve seen no signs of pests or ailments, feel free to introduce it to “gen pop” and enjoy it going forward!