Happy to Have Growth! Brown Thumb Slowly Turning Green! Encouragement to Others!

United States
March 16, 2010 9:55am CST
I'm happy to say that my dark brown thumb is slowly turning green! This is exciting for me! I have killed many plants in my day! I think one thing that has helped ME grow as a gardener (indoor gardener, at least?) is an experience I've had at work. Someone bought a pointsettia plant for a resident of the home where I work. No one was watering it, so I started watering it. I'm very happy and excited to report that this pointsettia is still growing and going strong after more than a year! This pointsettia is from not this past Christmas but the Christmas BEFORE! This is exciting to me. My husband bought me two gorgeous pointsettias for Christmas this year. I normally end up letting them die--not necessarily on purpose, but by neglect (and simple expectation that they will die). I can't believe it, but they are BOTH still growing and EVEN STILL RED! Wow! I even bought a small red prayer plant at ShopRite a few weeks back, and the growth on this plant is amazing! I read somewhere that this plant is hard to grow, but mine has miraculously done very well! It keeps getting new leaves! I read that it requires indirect sunlight, and I guess the spot it's in is a great spot for it. There's sunlight in there but not much direct sunlight. I water it from time to time, and it just keeps going! I wonder what I might be able to do outside this year! I tend to doubt my abilities so much as a gardener (based on past experiences of plants I've killed)...but maybe I really can get somewhere! Anyway, I'm just very excited and wanted to share with you all how I am growing as a gardener. I hope that this posting might encourage others that if I can learn to keep my plants and keep them going, YOU CAN, TOO! I say, go for it! Let me know what you think of my posting here and what your experience has been as a gardener. Did it take you long to learn how to do this? Did you also have to kill many poor, innocent plants along the way? LOL! Thanks for reading, and thanks for sharing your gardening experiences with me! By the way, it's a gorgeous, sunshiney day here in NJ! Hope it is wherever you are also! Enjoy!
1 person likes this
1 response
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
16 Mar 10
A couple suggestions for you. Hostas of any variety grow very well without much care needed other than weeding maybe. Also Lilies are easy to care for as well. Plant the bulbs in the fall though. Plus they spread out shoots for the following year. Many years ago I started with 9 lily bulbs and have over 100 now. They only require sunshine most the day but will thrive in a partly sunny spot with a lot of leaning towards the sunshine. Others that are easy to maintain are daylilies, mine grown in weed beds actually. Lily of the valley and one more suggestion is Astilibe's Good luck. As always..... HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!`
• United States
16 Mar 10
We already have a bunch of hostas that my MIL planted. It's not my favorite plant looks-wise, but they're so darned easy--I LOVE that about them! They come up EVERY stinking year! LOL! My MIL planted them along our long walkway who knows how many ages ago. One year, I bought zinnias and planted them in between the hostas. That was so pretty and cheery. Zinnias are so hearty. I loved that, and I was able to cut some and give them away. But they're annuals. I've learned I need to look for perennials to cut down on the work and cost! Keep it easy, right? Still, the zinnias are so nice. I might have to do that again this year! That, or put zinnias elsewhere in the yard! We also have some lilies she planted. They're very nice, but I don't like where she planted them. I've been saying for some time that I've needed to relocate them! I NEED TO JUST DO IT! Can I do that now, or should I wait for the fall to move them? If I had my choice, I'd move the mini rosebush she has planted next to the lilies--the combo is bad, in my opinion! But I love the little bush; it's the only rosebush I have from her. And if I move it, I'm sure I'll kill the thing! From what I hear, roses are quite temperamental. The lilies will withstand the move better. Even if not all of them make it, most probably will. I only have the one rosebush--it's delicate and tremendously lovely. I like you're style, though--you're talking on my level. I can't get too complicated, or I won't get anything done. I have to take baby steps!!! Please keep in touch, Grandpa Bob, and continue to give me tips whenever you have time! Thanks so much! Hurray for Grandpa Bob! :)
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
16 Mar 10
Transplant them in the fall. Cut them down once the stems turn brownish in color to almost ground level then dig the bulbs up to transplant them. As always..... HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!`