Collector slang and product titles do not always match. On Palmstreet you will hear WYSIWYG, “the one in the photo,” growers choice, TC, corms, “no var on flask.” On this site those same plants are labeled exact plant, growers choice, tissue culture, or corms. If you mix those up, you either overpay for a photo you are not getting, or you unbox a flask and expect a cabinet plant.
This page is the decoder. Four formats. Same greenhouse in Easley, SC.
Exact plant — the photographed specimen
Exact means the plant in the photos is the plant in the box. Numbered listings (#753, #454, #363) exist so two Devil Monsters or two Clarinerviums cannot be swapped in the cart. Exact Plant #454 ships as pictured. Exact Plant #363 is Plant #363. That is the whole point of paying exact-plant money.
On Palmstreet this is WYSIWYG / “the one on the screen.” If the listing is exact, ask for more photos before you bid or buy if you need to see the newest leaf. We say that on the PDPs because variegation moves and we would rather send another photo than argue after the fact.
Shop exact plants by genus: Alocasia, Anthurium, Monstera, Philodendron, Begonia, and the collector plants page.
Growers choice — same variety, not the photo
Growers choice means you are buying the cultivar, not the hero image. We pick a healthy plant of that variety from stock. Size, leaf count, and the exact splash of variegation will not match the photo. Begonia Darthvaderiana Green Spots (Growers Choice) is honest about this: image taken 6/30/26, plants can be larger than shown, and there is a growers-choice disclaimer on the listing.
Some growers-choice titles on this site still say WYSIWYG. That is wrong. Example: Alocasia Pink Polly – Growers Choice currently opens with “What You See Is What You Get” and then labels itself growers choice in the same description. Treat the Growers Choice label as the contract. WYSIWYG copy on a GC listing is leftover product text, not a promise that the photographed Pink Polly is the one that ships.
Palmstreet slang: “GC,” “growers pick,” “not the one in the photo.” If you need the exact leaf, buy an exact listing or message us for photos of what is actually on the bench.
Tissue culture — a starter, not a finished plant
TC is a lab-grown plantlet. It is cheaper because you are buying genetics and a head start, not a rooted specimen with hardened leaves. It needs acclimation. The shipping policy is blunt: it is on you to acclimate; once acclimation has started, it is no longer eligible for return; The Plant Nook Shop is not liable for plantlets that do not survive that process.
That policy also says “the link to our instructions is also provided below.” That link is not on the policy page. Do not wait for a phantom SOP. Practical unbox steps live on the genus pages (Alocasia, Anthurium, Monstera, Philodendron) and the shipping FAQ: How we ship plants. We are not going to invent a TC protocol we did not verify in the greenhouse.
Stock timing, from the tissue culture lander: new TC shipments land about every two weeks. If the variety is not in domestic stock, the order typically ships within 1–3 weeks on the next incoming run.
Devil Monster is a good example of the split: rooted exact plants vs standard-grade TC (often no visible variegation on the culture) vs premium-grade TC already showing color. Read Monstera Devil Monster for sale before you mix those three in your head.
Corms — when they are in stock
Corms are dormant growing points from our own mother plants. We do not buy anonymous corms from plants we do not own. Variegation on corms from variegated mothers is never guaranteed. Size and shape vary; the photo is an example, not an exact corm.
The old /alocasia-corms/ collection is hidden and redirects to Alocasia plants because that collection is sold out. Do not bookmark it as a shop URL. When corms are listed, they show up as individual products (and sometimes as “mother plant with corms” exact listings). If you do not see corms, they are not for sale right now.
Quick comparison
| Format | What ships | Palmstreet slang | Variegation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exact plant | The photographed, usually numbered plant | WYSIWYG / “that one” | What you see on that specimen |
| Growers choice | Same variety, our pick from stock | GC / growers pick | Typical of the cultivar, not the photo |
| Tissue culture | Lab starter; needs acclimation | TC / flask / “no var on TC” | May not show yet, especially standard grade |
| Corms | From our mothers, when in stock | corms / “from mom” | Not guaranteed |
FAQ
What does exact plant mean at The Plant Nook Shop?
The plant in the listing photos — usually with a number — is the plant that ships. It is the website equivalent of Palmstreet WYSIWYG.
What does growers choice mean?
You get the named variety, selected from our stock, not the exact photographed plant. Ignore leftover “WYSIWYG” sentences on GC listings; the growers-choice label is the one that counts.
Is tissue culture the same as a rooted plant?
No. TC is a starter. It is cheaper, slower, and it has to be acclimated. Rooted exact plants and growers-choice plants are already growing in a pot.
Do you sell Alocasia corms?
When we have them, yes, from our own mother plants, with variegation not guaranteed. The old corms collection URL is not a shop page right now — it redirects because that collection is sold out. Watch individual product listings instead.