Somehow I became the plant mom at work. It all happened so fast. I don't know what happened. My coworker who retired gifted me two lovely plants that I aptly named Bunsen and Beaker (you know the comic duo from the Muppets?) The shapes totally look like them.
Meet Bunsen and Beaker.
Can you see the resemblance?
I was comfortable with these because it was being a plant mom with training wheels on; my coworker was still here and I watered them when I remembered. When my coworker retired, I realized they were my FULL time responsibility and if they die, that were on me. EEK!
So I did what any responsible plant mom would do- I added their water schedule to my planner and made sure they were okay. I talked to them and watered them regularly. I talked to them about replanting them in bigger containers because everyone needs an upgrade once in a while, even plants. They seem like the idea of replanting- they didn't die yet. HA!
I was very worried when I redesigned my office space that moving them from one side of the office to another they would die. Your know plants are #persnickety. I reassured them they were okay and they were, but still I was very worried.
For Christmas I received a beautiful succulent plant arrangement and I was excited to bring it into work for Bunsen and Beaker to meet. I aptly named the new succulents Scott's Tots because there were many different types in the container and I had a slight feeling just like the episode named Scott's Tots, this too will be a mess.
Well, I was right- I killed one of the succulents right off the bat- like it went from good to horrible overnight. I laughed because succulents are supposed to be hard to kill. There was no indication before I left work that one would die. It was totally my fault and to be honest, I scared the other plants in the container. I over watered them; I drowned them and it was a mess. I promptly removed the dead succulent, said some nice things about it and returned my attention to the other succulents that were very worried. I reassured them that that was a mistake and I love them all even the dead one.
After my slight mishap, I decided to talk to Bunsen, Beaker and Scott's Tots each day and do a daily check- in along with a weekly watering. They didn't say much but I figured that would help, you know, its proven that talking to plants nicely can help them grow, why not try?
Shortly after Christmas, it was my birthday and I was gifted another succulent. You would think in the succulent community, they would have my face on a wanted poster but no, I was the proud new mom of a larger succulent. This one resembled the one that met their quick demise with Scott's Tots. With hope in my heart for a new start and prayers, I named this plant Joy!
To be honest I was terrified I was going to kill Joy! very quickly. I did some research on this type of succulent and I noticed her leaves were dry. I didn't want to over water her but I didn't want to keep her super dry either. I decided that watering the succulents with ice cubes would be most appropriate. That way they would be watered slowly and not drowned like I previously did to the other one.
Now I figured Scott's Tots needed new scenery; I put Scott's Tots and Joy<>! on the windowsill. They were at this point a lot closer to Bunsen and Beaker now, I was hoping that they can form a friendship-all four of them.
Scott's Tots and Joy! seem to really like the window perch, I think the sun that they receive and the fresh air they get too.
Life was great with my 4 plants, they were living and thriving. Little Scott's Tots really has grown leaps and bounds. Joy! was getting healthier and Bunsen and Beaker were flourishing.
Then one day, I had a knock at my door and there was a question " Are you interested in adopting some orchids?" I immediately said "YES!" without realizing how many I was actually receiving. FIVE! Five Beautiful and well seasoned Orchids. I was instantly in over my head.
I have never owned Orchids before and the only thing that I do know about them is they are hard to keep alive. AH! After I found places for "the Quints" as I named them for now, I sat down and thought to myself, "what did I do?!"
I've always admired their beauty and the fragile petals but always from afar. The only thing I really knew is that I had to water them with ice cubes once a week.
I googled and googled and googled. I learned that those wispy roots that I was about to cut were actually called Air Roots and if they were transparent, that means the plant is thriving.
Read twice then cut. HA. I did realize that I need to replant these beauties into bigger pots; they simply outgrew the current home they are all in.
After cleaning the freezer out of ice cubes (don't worry I refilled all the ice cube trays), everyone got fed- The Quints, Joy! and Scott's Tots all got ice cubes and Bunsen and Beaker got lots of water.
While I am still trying to figure out the best placement for the Quints among Joy!, Scott's Tots, Bunsen and Beaker, I am truly enjoying having so much greenery around me while I work. I know some plants help clean the air and others smell beautifully, all NINE (!) of my plants bring me joy and I am very happy about that.
I even had a crazy thought that I wanted to get another one to make it an even 10! Woah! Slow down Spano and realize you got yourself a lot of plants already that you are still learning about five of them!
One of The Quints, #3 has already bloomed a new flower!
I cannot take all the credit because the thing was ready to pop any minute when I got them but I am pretty proud that I kept them alive over the long weekend. #smallvictories
It also makes me giggle that my word of the year is BLOOM and I just happen to be receiving all of these plants this year. Things always work out in the most unique ways.
Do you have any tips or tricks for keeping Orchids and succulents alive?! Please send them this way! While you are at it, can you tell me what is going on in these photos- Should I cut these dead looking air roots? Should I clean the planter out? Also is that leaf dying? Help!?
[[wherever life plants you, bloom with grace]]
-gabrielle
