LOS ANGELES — Shopping for houseplants now can be like playing the lottery: There’s no guarantee you will be rewarded with the jackpot. As houseplant sales have skyrocketed and more plant stores have opened, the demand for plants has become increasingly competitive for small businesses.

“I love that there are so many people who love plants,” said Potted co-owner Annette Gutierrez. “But the demand is astronomical right now, and there isn’t enough supply.” She added that the Suez Canal blockage resulted in a shortage of garden supplies.

As more people get vaccinated and return to shopping in person, expectations might not always match reality, particularly when demand is high and supply is low. Another thing retailers say is in short supply? Good manners.

The majority of customers are lovely, shop owners say, but some customers might not realize how hard they make it for shop owners to do their jobs (and stay in business).

Because loving plants is also about growth, we asked L.A. plant shops about their biggest pet peeves (mostly to make sure we weren’t guilty of making those mistakes!). Here are some shopping tips, along with helpful advice on houseplant etiquette:

Expectation: I can’t wait to buy a tall Ficus Audrey like the one I saw on Instagram.

Reality: Plants need time to grow. If you’re a new hobbyist, you may have the urge to go big, but the current demand for houseplants means they don’t have time to grow (or if they do, they will be expensive). “A lot of people want a 10-foot tall fiddle-leaf fig,” said Gutierrez. “Or a Ficus Audrey — they take a long time to grow.” Shawna Christian, co-owner of Tansy, encourages her customers to start with easy-to-care-for plants. “It may not be the most exotic-looking plant, but most people need to get their ‘sea legs’ first and their confidence up before purchasing all those stunning plants they see on Instagram,” she said.

Tip: Start with a 4-inch pot and be patient. Enjoy the opportunity to watch your plants grow and acclimate to your home.

Expectation: Small businesses will be happy to share their plant sources with me.

Reality: Wholesalers, which have been swamped with aggressive buyers because of the unprecedented demand, are the lifeblood of small businesses. There are even stories of people fighting over flats of plants in Los Angeles.

“I love the L.A. community and we all share with each other,” said Felix Navarro of the Juicy Leaf. “But we don’t want to share our distributors. A lot of them took us years to find. I used to pay to go to shows to find new distributors. Why would we tell customers ‘Here’s where I get my stuff?’”

Tip: Don’t ask store owners where they purchase their plants. It threatens their livelihood.

Expectation: I should be able to buy plants for rock-bottom prices, like at the big box store.

Plants cost less at big-box stores, but they also rate less in quality. Don’t expect your neighborhood plant shop to sell plants for the same price as a big-box store. You’re paying for quality and the expertise and level of service you receive at a small business.

Tip: Shop around. But don’t begrudge plant shopkeepers their prices.

Expectation: I think I’ll bring my bug-infested plant to the store for a diagnosis.

Reality: Most stores are happy to offer a diagnosis, but be considerate about infecting other plants in the store. If your plant is sick, Navarro recommends cutting a small section of the diseased plant and placing it in a plastic bag. Even better, take a photo.

Tip: Never bring a plant with pests into a store or nursery. If you must bring it in, ask for a consult at the curb.