Lowe's puts them on a rack in the back of the store for 75% off. I head there first, before any place else. I've bought lots off the rack and most make it. I check the roots or base of the plant first to make sure it's still green, especially orchids.

I was at Home Depot one day when a guy was taking orchids off the table and putting them in a garbage can because they had stopped blooming. I cried out it was so sad. I said I'd buy them at a reduced price and he said no. I asked where he was dumping them so I could go rescue them and he told me they were being crushed. HD won't sell them as they think we'd return them for full price according to him. I told him if Lowe's can do it, why can't he?
Lori

I think I have filled 90% of my yard with Lowe's discount plants. The majority were totally healthy. New shipment has come in and the old goes out. This week I bought a firecracker bush gallon container for 2.50. Gallon pots of verbena 2.49. I always find treasures on the hospital rack (discount rack). I even one time asked if I bought the whole rack (5 shelves) how much would they ask. I ended up paying 20$ for loads of plants. Walmart also discounts but sometimes there is good reason for the discount. No amount of loving those plants will bring them back but there is sometimes a nice suprise. It is worth a shot to give it a try. Just might save you some money.
christi

I think I've posted this before but FYI
Home Depot pays for their stock after it sells - they can dump anything they want - no cost to them.
Lowe's, on the other hand, buys outright and has a vested interest in their plants. If they don't sell at full price, they discount them. They also care for their stock, unlike HD.
I try to avoid buying plants from these stores and want to support my local nurseries.It's hard, but worth the effort I think. The big box stores are great for supplies, but plants are a different story. Case in point, have you all seen the "blue" orchids on sale now? Makes me cringe!
Hester

Hester wrote, "Home Depot pays for their stock after it sells - they can dump anything they want - no cost to them.
Lowe's, on the other hand, buys outright and has a vested interest in their plants.

And boy can you tell the difference when Jacksonville is in for a hard freeze. Lowes is busy covering, covering, covering; protecting, protecting, protecting. Home Depot does nothing, nothing, nothing.

Have delt with both Lowe's and HD - same scenario. On the other hand, I have number of plants growing in my yard that were salvaged from 'yard trash' on the curb. And then there's my darling DIL, who upon receiving any plant, brings it directly to me. Poor thing can kill a plant with a single dark look. ;o)

I once came across a nursery that was going out of business and the owner was getting ready to dump a lot of plants into a dumpster. I bought a couple of plants that he wasn't pitching but then precedded to load my car up with all of the discarded plants that I though I could salvage. The owner even helped me them load up.

Kara

I was in Lowes a couple of weeks ago and started talking to the guy in charge and he sold me plants that had nothing wrong with them at half price from a table he just wanted to clear. They are all fine.

I used to find great deals on clearance at L's but the few things I bought from there this year had styrofoam instead of perlite in the soil. I sent an email complaining about it and got this response,

"Thank you for contacting me regarding the plants that you purchased. I apologize that you are upset because you found bits or pearls of Styrofoam in your potting mixture.

We are aware that Styrofoam pellets along with perlite and vermiculite are some of the items that are often added to the soil mixture for aeration and water retention. This is a common element in most potting soil and especially potted plants or flats of plants. I will document your concern for review by appropriate management.

If there is anything else that I can do to further assist you, please let me know.

Thank you,

Brittany J.

Lowe's Customer Care"

I don't want a bunch of trash in my beds, so I think I will not even bother to look there anymore and will be checking the dirt at any store before buying. I predict they will start selling bags of styrofoam bits soon for "soil amendment." Ewww & OMG!

Growing Orchids usually involves using styrofoam in the bottom of the pot, for air-flow...I save all my pkg. wrap for that instead of buying perlite... lots of plants grown in pots need that extra drainage or they get root-rot, not just orchids...one gal's 'trash' is another gal's 'treasure'!...sally

These were flats of pansies and big pots of Cineraria (Senetti.)

I almost never pay full price for plants. I have gotten a lot off of the distressed rack at Lowes. Like others have said, just check them out good. I've lost a few, but most of those have been because they just weren't a good match for S. Fla. and my garden than their condition.

I recently found a local nursery that has a distressed section. Their discount isn't as big as Lowes, but certainly something I'll keep my eye out for some bargains.

My fav native nursery doesn't have a distressed section, but has monthly specials that I check out and when something on my wish list goes on special, I go grab them.

You could always ask at your favorite nursery. The worst they can say is no. :)

Becca