Marketplace plant pickup, what questions do you ask first?

Ask for current photos in natural light, including the soil surface, stems, and undersides of a few leaves. If they only send the same pretty front photo, I get cautious.

Ask if they have had pests recently. People may still lie, but the way they answer tells you a lot. I like sellers who say what they checked and how long they have had the plant.

Confirm the pot situation. Is it in a nursery pot, decorative pot, no drainage, self-watering pot? That helps you know what you are picking up and how heavy it might be.

Meet somewhere reasonable if possible and use normal marketplace safety habits. It is still a stranger transaction, even if the stranger owns a philodendron.

Ask why they are selling. Sometimes it is moving, space, pets, or a duplicate plant. A vague "just needs love" usually means it needs more than love.

If you buy it, quarantine it anyway. A good seller lowers the risk, but it does not make the plant magically clean.