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Resisting the Temptations

fawnridge (Ricky)

6 years ago

No, not the musical group.

Over this past summer we moved from South Florida, where I had been growing and maintaining a huge, elaborate garden for 19 years. Prior to that, my four decades in NJ had been all about houseplants. While I lived in Florida, I had absolutely no plants in the house; there was no need. We did have a nice screened patio that had around 40 plants in pots, but everything else was in the ground outside.

So now that we're living Colorado I've gone back to houseplants. My biggest problem is fighting the temptation to buy more plants than I have usable window space to fit. I brought a lot of plants with us when we moved: Aralias in 1-gallon cans and a dozen wood boxes filled with orchids and tilandsia, even a Syngonium and an Emerald Gem in a 3-gallon cans. These Florida transplants (actually the Aralias were cuttings brought home from Jamaica and Costa Rica) have pretty much filled the windows. Yet I go into the local supermarkets and home improvement stores and there are all sorts of plants that I love and want. I've even gotten to the point where I go to the plant department first, just to get the temptations under control.

Truthfully, I don't know how much longer I can resist. The local HD just got a bunch of Ivy and Spider Plants. Lowes has beautiful Fiddle Leaf Figs. And the supermarket has Sanseveria! I think I need help...

Featured Answer

lucillle

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I sold my house which flooded 6 months ago and moved into a tiny apartment. At my house I had beautiful roses, day lilies, salvia, all kinds of gorgeous plants. I LOVED being in my garden. I was sad when I moved into my apartment and had no plants. I now have cacti/succulents, orchids, various house plants and African Violets. I have 4 plant shelves with artificial lights because there is only one window in my apartment. I am happy again.

I'm not one of those people who have to have a formal living room. I have a sofa and love seat and TV, and plants. I'm happy. My family is happy for me. And with a combination of fluorescents and LEDs, the electricity is not an excessive expense.

Do what makes you happy with the plant situation.

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Comments (6)

laticauda
6 years ago
People have all different kinds of hobbies. People also invest in their hobbies. I also don't want to be an enabler. You just have to find the right balance for you.
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Sugi_C (Las Vegas, NV)
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I will enable.
You only live once, Ricky. ;-)
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I am all for it too, Ricky! :) If I may suggest, stay away from ivy unless you have some outdoor space - they are very nice and many var. are available, but they are real magnets for spider mites indoors...
petrushka (7b)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
i have a feeling he'll stick to tropicals ;))))...

Ricky, i just rooted about 7 diff cultivars of crotons in Miami, FL to take back home for my indoor jungle. You said you were tired of them, but you had such an incredible collection! I remember drooling over you pics ;). The ones in nurseries are mostly 'Petra' and some boring ones with yellow spots. I got myself some old varieties i adore.... last year i also rooted about 6 pots :)...it's tight here, but we're all happy together :))).

i even rooted 3 acalyphas - strictly for indoors too. and a Caricature plant...and a clerodendrum (it was very stubborn!)...and a couple of Pileas...i just can't stop ;)))).

it all reminds me of Florida ;).
fawnridge (Ricky)
Original Author
6 years ago
After the shear volume of pesticides and poisons I had to use to keep my Crotons alive, I'll never own another one! I left behind over 300 varieties in the garden. I'm tempted to start up some Spider plants since we're moving our grow down to the basement and I'll have a great western window available for plants other than cannabis.

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