Usually big box stores only sell plants that are easier to grow, don't require as much care, and like to focus on more common selections that they know are going to sell easily. Mundane lower-maintenance less interesting plants. Is it worth it?

I do buy at local nurseries...I have lots of plants that are not the norm for big box stores, but sometimes (like this day) I just want a couple of easy to grow things to put in some places for some quick color for the coming winter and I happened to be driving right by the big box stoe. I even support local growers, but my favorite does not offer bedding plants, just trees and perennials.

The plants are on the cheapest mix too, rarely more than ground up bark that has been composted a little. The big box doesn't care if they thrive or not, thats the supplier's problem as it sits there, or yours after you buy. Some smaller nurseries grow their own on good soil or buy from those who use good soil mix. I liked the small pony pack size from years ago. Still remember buying begonias and marigolds cut from a flat with a trowel and placed in a little cardboard box like French fries or onion rings came in. Happy times.

I miss the smaller seedlings we bought years ago. Seems like they rooted in better.

I am so fed up with poor selection and price (only nursery depts. here), I began seeds last year.

Seeds are the best! The gardeners supply co. Seedstarting systems work very well and give high numbers of seeds sprouting. Especially for fine seeds that need even humidity.

Growing nursery stock is a tough business, and there is a lot of waste in bedding plants. (Everyone has frequently seen the older stuff stacked in a huge dump pile, right?) The grower has to eat that loss; the BB store gets a credit for the dumped stuff. And when diseases hit certain plants (remember the recent impatiens wipeouts?), the grower can lose their entire crop. That is a lot of profit down the drain, that has to be made up elsewhere to stay afloat.

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That isn't necessarily true Parker. Although they do carry a majority of the more common plants, as they should!, in my area sometimes it is only the BB stores that carry certain less-common items. And I live in an area with quite a few nice nurseries! Parvonia and Zamia pumila are easiest found at HD. I'm still kicking myself for not purchasing the Eremophila glabra 'Fire and Ice' found there once. Wooly Blue Curls was first found at a BB store; now they are more widely available.

Unfortunately the BB stores are running the independent nurseries out of business. I've always purchased at the independent nurseries....

That isn't true in my area, K Laurence. In fact, more of them seem to be opening up, or adding branches here. I haven't even visited them all!

part of the reason may be that consumer spending is starting to recover. The recession drove many smaller independent nurseries out of business, that combined with high prices of land in many parts of California.