This came in early this week and we can't remember who sent it. Please let us know. It's a good tip off for that unlikely but often surprising resource right in the heart of the city: K Mart.
A good place for low-budget starting gardeners is the plant center at the 34th Street K Mart. Obviously, there are no frills but you will find a decent, changing selection of plants you probably cannot kill.
With my brown-thumb record, I limited myself to the wide selection of $2.99 plants and almost a year later, I have a beautiful collection of almost 30 healthy plants. Latest scores: a gorgeous stag fern that I saw for $30 elsewhere (K Mart: $2.99) and a tabletop ficus tree ($35 elsewhere, $8.00 K Mart.)
I go straight to Kmart for potting soil when it's time to redo the windowbox. Only a buck compared to three dollars for the same brand at the local market. Unfortunately the Kmart at Astor Place has moved its plant section from the check-out area to a back corner downstairs. Don't see quite as many flowering plants as in years past.
I have bought plants at the K-Mart at Astor Place -- they are probably the same as the ones stocked at 34th street. These are very good resources for basic greenery. As Maxwell notes the prices are nifty and the plants are really tough. Mine are flourishing and I am due for some re-potting soon. Check 'em out.
I want the plant stand.
me too, make it two of them.
what a nice little console table it could also make, just what i've been looking for.
I find the K-Mart 34th St. has a wider selection than the Astor Place store -- but 34th St. doesn't seem to water the plants on weekends. Astor Place's plants are always well-cared for, but 34th St. always has a better selection (IMO) of potting soil and plant foods.
A couple of times a year they sell wonderful phalaenopsis orchids for $10 each.
live nearby, stop in on a regular basis for essentials, and there it is every time: affordable live greenery for sale deep in the bowels of penn station. given that, i've always been somewhat wary of the quality but will start thinking otherwise if it's good enough for AT.
Sadly, Kmart seems to have wised up this season and realized they were selling for so much less than their competition that they could drastically raise prices. Most of their broad price categories have approximately doubled: all the medium baskets that were 7.99 for years are now 14.99; the 2.99 pots have a broader range now and are mostly 4.99 or 5.99. Succulents are still cheap and healthy.
They do have organic plant food now, though. :)