We've all had our moments as new plant parents where things went hilariously wrong, right? I kicked things off with a calathea I misted daily with cold tap water, thinking it was all about the energy. It survived, but I'm convinced it's still side-eyeing me! I'm diving deeper into this plant hobby and have become 'the plant friend' in my circle. I'm curious to hear about your biggest mishaps. Did you unintentionally drown a cactus? Roast a fern in bright sunlight? Or maybe you thought a mug could substitute for a proper pot? No judgment here; I've probably been guilty of all those mistakes. I'm actually compiling a list of common beginner blunders for a little side project of mine, so please share your funny mishaps—I'm all ears!
3 Answers
One time, I was way too eager and split a Rex begonia to share with a friend. I thought I was doing something nice, but both halves eventually ended up dying. Lesson learned: Some plants just want to be admired, not chopped up! Plus, now I know to check if they want to be friends before sharing.
Ah, classic move! I used to think all plants could follow the same watering schedule. Turns out, my poor succulents didn’t thrive under Oregon's dim light. I even bought plants without checking if I had any pots! What was I thinking? I definitely remember the hype of a ‘everyone drinks on Sunday’ rule for plant care, which didn't go well.
Oh, and the impulse buying? I once left a parking lot with a pretty plant in hand, thinking, ‘I’ll figure out the pot situation later.’ Spoiler alert: I did not.
Back in college, I had a mint plant that thrived purely on the leftovers from my bong water. It got watered ONLY once a week this way! Now, every time I try to grow mint, it just doesn't survive. I guess that mint was just a rebel. You might try neglecting it emotionally and see if that does the trick again!