My house = where plants go to die
I love plants. I would love to have lush, green plants everywhere in my home. However, if I buy one, I'd just as well pick up a toe tag for it on the way out of the store, because it is headed for certain death.
It's not that I don't try. At first I lavish attention and water, etc. on it, and might even be guilty of overwatering (there's my ADD hyperfocus). But then as it loses its novelty I unintentionally neglect it, until one day it occurs to me that's it's looking a little brown and crispy. I sigh, and pitch it in the trash.
Does anyone have suggestions for ADD-friendly houseplants? The only thing I've been able to keep alive for an extended period of time is a peace lily. My cat likes to nibble on it, so it's stubbly with tiny leaves. Oh, and I do have a geranium that survived the winter but is looking pretty scraggly.
It's not that I don't try. At first I lavish attention and water, etc. on it, and might even be guilty of overwatering (there's my ADD hyperfocus). But then as it loses its novelty I unintentionally neglect it, until one day it occurs to me that's it's looking a little brown and crispy. I sigh, and pitch it in the trash.
Does anyone have suggestions for ADD-friendly houseplants? The only thing I've been able to keep alive for an extended period of time is a peace lily. My cat likes to nibble on it, so it's stubbly with tiny leaves. Oh, and I do have a geranium that survived the winter but is looking pretty scraggly.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Wendy on -
I am sorry that I don't have any suggestions but wanted to share a story just so you know you are not alone. I inadvertently kill every planted thing that enters the doors of my home. The other day my some came home with a little bean plant in a paper cup and said - "should I just throw this away now or should we wait for it to die"?.
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Permalink Reply by dar on -
no suggestions here, either. my husband is still in awe that i managed to kill a potted evergreen and a cactus during my short-lived career as a plant hobbyist. we have a plant-free home now.
my kids are currently lobbying for a venus fly-trap and/or pitcher plant. i'm so tempted to throw myself into the idea, but i'm wrestling over the ethics of it - considering my dark history. somehow, accidently killing one of those seems much more cruel.
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Permalink Reply by Barbara on -
I thought I was the only that did this. Killen plants is an ADD thing :) oh, I can't wait to tell my big sister, I use to kill so many of her plants when she was away at college and getting her masters degree(long time ago). Wow. I think the plants are nice and pretty, but my lack of focus on them as a major thing or a thing that interest me.
Barbara
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Permalink Reply by Gillian Lotter on -
Oh I love this post. I feel so much better. I have one houseplant that has now been alive for 5 years. God knows how!! LOL
Not even sure what it is but will find out and post back. It's not flourishign mind you :)
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Permalink Reply by chocoholic on -
I'm still laughing about this response, Wendy!!! Every time one of my kids brings home a plant in a paper cup (obviously doomed) I think of you! :) I also have lots of empty cute little pots that my kids have painted for me over the years at various activities that come home with little plants in them that die a quick death.
Thanks, everybody, for helping me feel better, even though it's taken almost a year for me to get back on here and tell you so. Update: Both the peace lily and the geranium have gone home to meet their maker, and I now have one fairly nice looking fake plant.
Wendy said:
I am sorry that I don't have any suggestions but wanted to share a story just so you know you are not alone. I inadvertently kill every planted thing that enters the doors of my home. The other day my some came home with a little bean plant in a paper cup and said - "should I just throw this away now or should we wait for it to die"?.
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Permalink Reply by Amy Dufresne on
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I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one who has managed to kill a cactus! Mine, I left it in the window during the winter and it froze. Now, I think the plants I enjoy best are the ones that either grow naturally outside or are in other people's gardens. Either way, I don't have to remember to water them!!
dar said:
no suggestions here, either. my husband is still in awe that i managed to kill a potted evergreen and a cactus during my short-lived career as a plant hobbyist. we have a plant-free home now.
my kids are currently lobbying for a venus fly-trap and/or pitcher plant. i'm so tempted to throw myself into the idea, but i'm wrestling over the ethics of it - considering my dark history. somehow, accidently killing one of those seems much more cruel.
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