Mike, when I first saw this I thought oh no, not his plants...he's worked so hard. Whew it isn't.
Lowes doesn't care...sad to say. They get credit from the grower/supplier if anything dies.
I believe when things don't sell after a while, they just let them die.
They water with a wand the leaves get wet and not much gets to the roots. Seems there is no middle ground, either drought or drown.
At my Lowes there is always water everywhere in the garden center standing in trays, on cement floor etc.

Mike, I noticed this same thing yesterday when I visited Lowes and Home Depot. Most of the houseplants looked like they were dying and in neglect! I thought, how sad. I just thought that in my area where we don't have much of a summer they just aren't concerned about the plants because it will get cool here soon and no one will be buying them. All they do is put them on clearance at 50% off. Too bad there isn't a Plant Rescuse!! Ellen

I went back at 2 in the afternoon, and after all the advice I gave the manager this am, who by the way is studying to be a horticulturist, lol, they were still there. She also laughed at me this am about what I had to say, like I had ten heads.

I met with 3 managers, one of whom seemed very appreciative and said I should work there since none of his employees seems to give a hoot about that area! I told him to hire me one hour a week, and he would save thousands..I also volunteered to help them move them out of the sun, and he said they would do it asap, and that I didn't have to help..Let me see by the am if they are still there tomorrow..These poor things..

I guess for us plants lovers, to see them neglected and abused this way really stinks..At least I got 2 of them for 5 bucks each since they saw how much I cared, when they were 12.99 a piece...

I will keep you posted..I also told them they have a lot of plant watches all over the country on the garden forums..lol

There I am with my camera, and suit,,lol. They must of thought they were being audited or something...

Mike

I agree with you 100% Rather than reduce the price for quick sale they rather let them die and return them to the grower for full refunds.... Makes me so angry I could scream...

It is suppose to be 96 today, and they still haven't taken them out, after 2 managers said they were immediately after I left..Still there!!

Do they loose money? I don't think so...But someone must loose something for their "DELIBERATE" carelessness, no? Could it be just a big write off? Who looses the money on all these plants anyway?

All my advice and customer concern has fallen on deaf ears. You should see the dozens of Boston ferns hanging out on rafters look like after only a few short days at Home Depot..I won't even post those..
And to think my friend bought a half dead one for 9.99 a few weeks ago thinking she was getting a deal..
What a shame..:-(

Mike

Take pics of the plants, with names and dates.
Start a Facebook group - Citizens Against Wasteful Supervisors....

It isn't illegal (slander / libel) if it's true.

Josh

You could send the pictures, names of mngmt to Lowes main office. But the most you might get would be a coupon for future use ;)
It is a shame they really don't care. But its mngmt that puts the people in the positions. If they don't hire the right people can't really blame the worker. It really might not be his/her job to have a heart.
Bottom line is because of credit or refund for failure and death they still end up in the black ink instead of red.

As my mother says, " no one looses but the customer and those poor plants"..

This makes me so sad, and mad! These are living things we are talking about! There are even studies that show that plants chemically warn each other before forest fires, and some can tell their own species, and retract/divert their own roots to make space for one of their own, where as they thrust their roots out if a different species is trying to grow "in their earth" - just for a little humanization.

It breaks my heart to see see them dieing, I just imagine them all screaming out for rescue... The home depot near me doesn't even do a discount rack, they just let things die at full price. AND they make a practice of throwing things that haven't sold out to make room for new shipments, whether they are dead or not! Just the other week I went in for some pearlite, and saw a huge dumpster being filled with numerous plants, including a hibiscus tree that was just pushing out buds! When i asked if I could have it I was told sharply no, even when I offered to pay something for it! I was able to rescue a rubber tree, which was in line to be tossed, when the employee wasn't looking... After 3 weeks in my home the dilapidated and dehydrated thing has just put out its first new leaf - I'm quite pleased.

Anyway, the point is, it's tragic, and cruel, and I fully commiserate with you other plant lovers!