I killed my Aphelandra... I just dont know what happened. But it was one of my first so... It is now sitting in its pot all but a dried up stalk. poor little bugger...

I have sent many beautiful orchids on to their next lives, in all my years of growing them. Suffice it to say that this is true of all orchid growers. Now that I'm more experienced, I pretty much leave them on my slightly shaded back porch and borderline neglect them, and some of them have been blooming all year long, with several others about to.

These look like finicky plants--I know orchids can be for most. You guys must be pros!

Hmmm. I've been doing plants for 16 years. I have lost countless plants, especially in the beginning learning years (I have way fewer losses now but it still happens) but not to being over loving, more like heaps of neglect and improper conditions due to lack of knowledge.

Sans, peace lily, peperomias, African violets, various orchids (though my 6 phals are doing well now that I know what I'm doing), a couple bonsais, various dracaenas, zz plant (now that's skill), several cacti and succulents believe it or not, pothos, Hoyas, multiple ficus, schefflera, croton, any and all palms, china doll, a ponytail palm, aphelandra, adenium, ivies and I'm sure there's more but ya'll get the idea.

I have a hard time with a lot of succulents. Hoya, sans, and jades seem to like me though. I can't keep an orchid alive to save my life.

Ummmm

3 Tillandsias: The first two the leaves were always drying up so I thought I was underwatering. Decided to give them a good soak in water and when I took then out they fell apart... And the third was just recent. It was outside and I guess got too much rain or something as it also fell apart.

Pygmy Date palm (Phoenix roebelenii): That thing had spider mites. I did eeverything possible with it. I spent HOURS each day washing the leaves in the shower with water and soap even bought insecticidal soap. Did that for weeks on end but once it transfered them to My Majesty it had to go.

Neon pothos: Yeah. I know. I had it positioned on a shelf way uup high and it dropped down about 3 feet. Was a really nice looking plant. It grew there wonderfully but then the stems near the soil all turned black and they rotted. I know for a fact I wasn't overwatering that puppy as really if anything I was underwatering. I cut it up and rooted them in water. I moved practically all of them once rooted into the pot and the next day the same thing. The stem near the soil all turnedblack again. Which left me with maybe 3? Stems which I still hhave today but are growing exclusively in water. .

Pony Palms: Left them outside while I went to Nova Scotia. I guess a major hail storm happend as the leaves were shredded off that thing and my schefflera (I'm sure people are sick of me talking about this ;P). There were 4 to the pot and all were left to only a couple leaves. I actually really liked them and they were actually doing quite well. But at the stage they were at, it wasn't really feasible to keep all of them. Well I coulda but that time I only had knowledge of plants for a little over a year so I knew that I couldn't get it back to what it looked like before. And my thinking was 'I'll be able to get a new one!" So I chopped of their roots on all but 1. Their bodies now rest on my shadowbox. The one I kept did well once I added it to a succulent dish. But then last week during a repot.. I was dumb and accidentally broke the whole stem off. So we'll see if that grows back....

Dracaena Fragrans: Was doing extremely well in my house. Some reason thought it would do much better outside. Miss judged where the sun was and burnt all of its leaves. The trunk never put off any new growth. Damn, I miss that plant.... At that time I only had house plants for 4 months (trying to come up with excuses)

Some Cactus: planted it outside for some reason and left it over winter......That was 5 years ago....

Satin pothos: Was with my Neon pothos when it was well. When the neon got whatever it got it was left without a home... Tried growing it in with my Palm, but I guess that didn't work or something... Cant remember but I have two 5 inches strands of it in there still with my Majesty... But they never really grow or die... I'll move them some day.

Parlor Palms: Got them as those bunches of tiny seedlings. First left them outside in the sun (remember that post purp and Al? Oh.. How I try to forget) I separated them as I was told and they seemed to be doing fine. Though my mom made me get rid of them when she noticed a bug in the soil. I thought I'd just drown the bugs by soaking the plant in the tub. But then all these white worms started shooting out of the dirt. Made me dump the dirt outside. I tried to save just the bare rooted plants as They didn't have any bugs but she made me get rid of them too... It was tough. It was a cold winter day and I had to throw them out in the snow and watch them wither away.....

And also other plants such as 'lucky bamboo', Canaola, cacti, and other common plants you have when your around 5-8....

Not to mention tons of aquatic plants. Tons.

I just realized how most of my posts are at least a paragraph or more long. I some how think that I must provide a back story to everything.... Oh well.

I recenty repotted a croton and it died within a week.....I've had other plants eat it (obviously), but that's definitely the fastest I've gone from store to trash thus far lol

I confessed before:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1474345/serial-killers-confessions?n=16

Most more-recent losses were mostly weather-related accidents, left/put outside too soon or late.

And something keeps eating my holiday cacti, Thanksgiving in particular.

Purple in Opp: I just read your 2012 post. Good stories! I mean, sad, because plants were lost, but I'm starting to see a pattern around here with jade plants.

k8: I'll bet that croton was just a bad one. Sometimes you can purchase a plant that has hidden problems.

Bunnygurl, patton, and stonetreehouse: Succulents! I know!! Frustrating buggers. Why do the nurseries even tempt us...

Mr blubs: I like your detailed explanations. I'm the queen of paragraphs, too. : )

The sad thing is I do put them upside down to dry..... I think though I lost the first two as I was watering them at night, as I'd run them under the shower for a couple minutes. I tthen read how that's a big no no as they need to be dry to do their gas exchanges and Such.

I've never understood that too.... There attached to trees often in clumps, and are positioned facing up there whole lives. Like doesn't rain and moisture get stuck between the clumps and inside them like some other broms? Mysterys if the universe I guess.,

What also really bugs me about them is that they don't really show any type of decline when rotting. The one that died recently I thought was doing good. It looked perfect actually but when I went to pick it off up the ground (wind) it felt spongey. Then I took off one leaf and it just pooooof collapsed.

I've never tried growing the plants I've lost again. It would be neat to see if I could now. Wouldn't mind my Dracaena back.

Haha, Thanks jentsu926!

The conditions inside a home are different than the conditions provided outside. Phalaenopsis orchids are pretty much the same way. They are epiphytes just like tillandsias. When growing them indoors, if you get water into the crown of the plant, they will rot very quickly. But while I grow mine outdoors, I don't worry about this happening in the slightest. Whether it rains, or if I spray them down with the garden hose. Outside, this doesn't phase them one bit. But inside, they wouldn't stand a chance.

I don't kill plants, they just give up on me/mycare, roll over and die! Several decades of houseplant slavery and I'm still learning from my mistakes. Now, if I can only master the knack of begonia propagation ........

Photo Synthesis that is interesting. Sansevieria outside in the summer don't mind getting rained on and being moister than they normally should, fascinating.

adaorand slavery to houseplants sounds like you are beyond frustration and no longer enjoying the hobby. You have the knack of Begonia propagation, well that is a great start! What kind of plants are you trying to grow? What do you think is the cause of your plant frustrations?

I can now officially add my pineapple to my list....

Got it in May, repotted it and slowly accumulated it to full sun. Despite my efforts, it never grew. The leaves slowly just dried up and it got worse and worse.... It also never stayed upright in its pot. Was always leaning to point where It woukd fall completly over. I decided I'd put it out of its misery when the fruit was ready for the picking (today) and was surprised to see how the rootmass never changed. The pup that was growing out of its side dried up so it's a goner now.

And my pineapple top I started got badly sunburned but it's roots seem good...we'll see.

I guess I'll attempt to start another one from the tOP of this one. The pineapple I so tiny.

Too many to mention!

MrBulbs LOL! LOL! Laughing with you my friend, I lost both my Pineapple cuttings. Yet the cutting I took last January is growing! Go figure!

Haha, yeah!

At least you have one for sure that's doing well!

I decided to replant my top in my garden and when I take the top off of the tiny pineapple I'll just plunck it in there too.... I thought the net said these were suppose to be easy? Ha, oh well.

In regards to the Phalaenopsis, I figured that out by accident. Before, I used to dry them off all the time, when they were outdoors. Because I worried that they would rot if I didn't. Then there were times when it'd rain and I wasn't able to get out there afterwards to wipe them off. I noticed that they did just fine, even if they were covered in raindrops. Curiosity got the best of me and I just stopped drying them off altogether and it's like they didn't even care. Now I just pretty much let them do their own thing. They've pretty much been in bloom all year long. Some of them have just recently shed their blooms, but even so, their stalks still remain green. So I've just left them alone as well.

I still go out there after a storm to tip their pots at an angle to let any excess water drip away. But even that's not necessary. They don't seem to care one way or another, lol. Provided that they're potted up correctly. Once you master that, the rest is a piece of cake. But when I do bring them back indoors for the winter, I keep them well watered, make sure that the leaves stay dry, and that no water gets into the crown.

As for my Sansevieria, they pretty much thrive on my neglect. I placed it outside earlier this year, after it warmed up, and it has pretty much sat there all year long, growing at its own pace. Even during the winter I tend to ignore it, occasionally giving it some water. But I keep it on the dry side for the most part. But when it's outdoors, it doesn't mind it if it's raining or if it's hot and dry. It's almost as if neglect is a prerequisite for these tough plants. You try to take care of them, and then you start running into problems, haha.

well said Photo well said.

Sans2014, six decades and a degree in horticulturehas resulted in a peaceful coexistence with my houseplants. Every once in a while one goes to the Great Compost Bin in the Sky. When I run out of room or go on a propagating binge, friends & neighbors gladly take the extras. Begonias are my frustration - I just haven't conquered that challenge yet.

I've managed to kill several draceanas!!! They just don't like me!! But I do have a lemon lime drac and a lucky bamboo that are doing well so I'll keep my fingers crossed. A croton back when I first started plants. And Marble Queen Pothos always rot at the soil level in my care. I also have a Yucca that's on its way out. Smh. Oh yea and Orchids. I've killed two this summer. And one prayer plant.

Jamilalshaw, lucky bamboo plants are great, aren't they? Even better when bought on clearance. :) I cringe when I see people at work pouring tap water in their bowls, though, and then they wonder why the plant is yellow a month later. Wonderful plants, but they really hate tap water!

So based on some of the other comments on this thread, the secret to not killing plants is to find the plant that "accidentally" lives in your care, and just go grow a bunch of those? Sounds like a plan!

>Fills apartment with lucky bamboo. Wakes up one morning to room full of panda bears. Best. Day. EVER!!!<

Oh, wait, wrong bamboo.

Jentsu96 Mine is growing in soil and I used distilled or rainwater when available. Its growing so beautiful. Thank God I knew tap water was a no no when I bought it!!!

Finally can add to this post, I feel like I've sadly killed enough to commit to this, lol...

Just recently I killed my Tropical Hibiscus somehow, I figured it was either over-watered or over-fertilized, or maybe, my number one thought, was that it had gotten crown rot. I re-potted it, and must of stacked the soil up too high and then it just got way too much water...

Battling an African Violet, these things just hate me.

Countless Phal orchids, but I love them too much to stop trying... I have two minis and one that I bought on clearance that are going strong!

Countless Cyclamen and Ferns, I have Rabbit Foot's Fern doing well, and one sickly Cyclamen that mocks me...

Numerous Parlor Palms, they either get crunchy and dry, or my cat tears them apart.

Hindu Rope plant that I bought since it was $1.75 since it was itty bitty with only three leaves. I can't figure out how to care for this thing! I give it water, it croaks, I let it dry out, it croaks, change the light, it groans. I can seriously compare this thing to my Maiden Hair Fern (Who's under a table with very little light outside with humidity trays while it's horribly humid outside already. It's doing great though!!)

Cuttings. I swear, any cuttings I get they just end up dying. The only cuttings I've been able to successfully propagate are Philodendrons and Pothos. Tubers, bulbs, pups, root cuttings, and seeds are more my thing.

Emisanwald, I can totally relate. My cat loves, LOVES palms and can't resist any dracaena. That includes lucky bamboo, which is set high up enough to where her 14-pound self can't jump to get to it. : )

Every orchid ever brought into this house. (but at least I didn't pay for any of them.) OK I also have two Cymbidium orchids but they're outside, not inside.

Every gardenia that ever came into this house. (And I bought all 2,000 with my money.)

Every Calathea, but I've only had two. Worst part of these is they don't just die....they hang on and on and on, and after a year or trying to find something they like, you find that tossing them from the second floor window is perfectly acceptable. LOL

I have more respect for plants that just croak. I have no patience for plants that linger, moan, groan, suffer, scream, wig out and don't just die. They don't live either...it's like they need the decision made for them.

I am relatively new to gardening though I always managed to keep one or two easy growing house plants like golden pathos or aloe real happy. Problem started as the gardening bug got into me. With the new found passion I tried my hands on many house plants in past three years or so. The house plants that are actually doing well are amaryllis, jade and schefflera. The success story ends right there.

so far I have managed to shower over abundance of love and kill an African violet, couple of gardenias, anthuriums, kalanchoe (yes a kalanchoe, I did it with over watering) and of course a beautiful blue orchid (birthday gift from hubby dear).

My 2 yrs old peace lily is in that moaning and groaning stage as described by Grace. It's still hanging onto life. And I couldn't gather enough courage to make its life easy. I have started hating it

I guess I have to add some more of my Tillandsia's.

So, I was keeping them outside in the notches of my lilac tree. They got some dunkings in my pond and the occasional rain. They were putting out new growth and everything. Life seemed all good and happy full of rainbows and puppies untill the day of August 9th.

So, my plan was to attach them to a peice of Driftwood I found at my cabin but that wasn't enough for me so I had to add moss and lichen to the wood to make it look more interesting. There's non of that here, only at my cabin so I brought them and the wood with me for a 7 hour car ride. I put them in a zip loc bag (open) like I've done several times in the past. So I've got 7 Tillandsias in a zip loc bag in the truck. We got to my cabin and it was 34 degrees Celsius there and we also havnt been there for 2 months. So I always have to do the usual walk around to check things out and stuff. Back in May we planted a vegetable garden from seed and I was pretty surprised how huge it got. I'm talking 9ft foot corn stalks. Anyway, I saw that there were a ton of zucchinis everywhere and got completely distracted.

So 4 hours went by of the sun beating directly down on the truck in 34 degree weather that happend to have a bag of Tillandsias in it.

When I remembered I went out there and the bag was full of water and they looked awful. I made a post in the Bromeliad forum asking if they're was any hope in them pushing through but yeah no. They were such a sickly looking green brown. 5 out of the 7 died. 2 were defently dead right away but the others took a few days to show anything. The two I was left with still got badly sunburned so I had to give them some haircuts. My 'big' Tillandsia got about 90% of its leaves removed and my Juncea's tips were all dried out. So I was left with two broken ugly looking things to mount on my Driftwood.

Anyways, I got 6? More and decorated my Driftwood with the moss and lichens. It's not done yet but shoukd be soon. My 2 survivors are gonna be on rehab for a while but yeah. That's my Sad tale of whoa. It was so stupid too. Anyways, 2 of the zucchinis made 12 loafs of zucchini bread...

I've actually brought a plant back to life!