This is what I found the other day when I happened to glance over at the Primula I so recently made such a fuss over. The sorry truth is that I forgot to water it. I would love to say that I was shocked that this could have happened, that it was a strange aberration that I would forget to water a plant. I would also love to say that I've written a bestseller and drive a Lamborghini, but I'd be lying. Despite the appearance that the Primula had moved on to a better place, I watered it. Making the most dramatic recovery since William Shatner,
the plant revived completely within 24 hours. I'll take full credit for it.Things have gone more smoothly with the forced bulbs.
This Hyacinth is a bulb kit I picked up at the grocery store. It was pretty much a no-brainer and hopefully will be blooming for the 15th. I prefer Hyacinths indoors, as their fragrance is so welcome, and I find they look awkward in the garden.I potted up these 'Lydia' Tulips last fall and stored them in a cabinet in the garage.
Last week they had sprouted and were ready to come inside. Already I can see the buds starting to swell. It won't be long now before there are beautiful Tulip blooms. I wish all indoor plants were this easy.
24 comments:
My friend had the exact same experience with a primula! Is that a blue or purple hyacinth?
LOL! I'm cracking up. I am the same way about houseplants. Finally put most of mine in the bathroom so that I would remember & they'd get humidity. The W. Shatner comment is priceless.~~Dee
The members of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Toward Indoor Plants would like to have a word with you...
EAL - it's supposed to be a blue Hyacinth. We'll see.
Dee - I'd keep plants in the bathroom if ours had a window. Both VIS & I are Star Trek fans, but I just couldn't get into T.J. Hooker.
Carol - now I'm really scared! But it all turned out ok. I even deadheaded the Primula this morning.
You too? They say that the most common reason for dead houseplants is overwatering - well not in my house. =)I got an azalea for my birthday less than two weeks ago, and it has alost died three times during this time. There are almost no leafs left now.... /Helen
Interesting plants that you have growing. I can not wait for spring to come so I can get my garden going. I am in doors because of the cool weather here in the mountains west of Albany,NY.
Too funny MrMcD. I am happy to find that I am not the only one that lets their indoor plants get too dry. It is a struggle for me to keep them going.
Think of the primula as an "insta-plant"...just add water.
PS
could you email me please, I have a question about the Spring Fling, and I need some advice.
mrsfrance at gmail dot com
LOL the word verification was
"predri"...
it must have noted the topic of the post.
MMD, how funny! I am usually pretty good with my indoor plants, nut most of them I only water about once a week. I kkep the watering can by the dishwashing soap under the counter and when I do Sat. dishes I see it and .... works for me. I was way to late on thinking about forcing bulbs so will have to enjoy yours as I have been on some of the other blogs. Thanks!
I have the same problem, I "forget" to water the indoor plants. While the outdoor ones are pampered to with in a inch of their lives.
Hmmmmm?
Jen
Count me in as a killer of innocent houseplants, guilty of underwatering. This winter I'm also forcing hyacinths - they started blooming this week. This winter I've decided to try terrariums and succulents - hoping they'll survive better than past attempts.
I'm the same way with houseplants. Jade plant and aloes can take "the treatment." Gets kind of boring after a while.
I have one living houseplant -- a very forgiving bromeliad. Like you, I can't keep them alive -- it's either over watering or under watering, but reliably reportable abuse of houseplants. Luckily, the bromeliad can get pretty sad before it actually dies, so it sends up a last gasp and I rush to revive it. I'm excitedly planning for the Fling - it sounds like you all have a wonderful time planned for us -- can't wait!
Giggle! I too tend to underwater by times, until I hear sounds of gasping coming from the plants around the house. It's easy to get behind here because there are plants scattered hither and yon around the house. I should set a note in my computer to water every couple of days, and make the rounds. But probably I won't...
Well, I'll have to admit that I'm forgetful as well. I tend to forget my house plants. But i would never, ever forget my plants in my garden....Is there a diagnosis for this?
Katarina
I know I have had similar experiences and I expect others have as well but we just havent confessed to them. I love your instant Primula!!
I'm glad the primula made such a miraculous recovery--it's looking much better than William Shatner:)
I'm not very good with houseplants either, MMD; when I was raising a family and working full-time, as you are now, watering plants was at the bottom of my priority list. Now that I have much more time, I tend to over-water them:)
MMD, I can find an excuse or two for you! However, your indoor bulbs look wonderful!! (Would you like to take a peek at all my slumbering amaryllis bulbs? They're still resting - tooo comfortably!)
Helen - should we form a society for underwaterers? I've even killed an Aloe, so don't feel too bad.
Hi, Raymonty - thanks for visiting! Think of it this way, only a month til Meteorological Spring.
Lisa - you're welcome to join our society, you don't even need to have killed anything, as long as you constantly find plants way too dried out.
Nancy - "instaplant" is too funny!
Beckie - write on your calender at the beginning of October to get bulbs for forcing so you can do it next year.
MBD - I think you've got it reversed; you're suppose to pamper the indoor plants & let Nature take care of the outdoor ones. ;^)
Jill-O - I think terrariums are the way to go for underwaterers like us. Good luck with it!
Kathy - at least you can keep Aloes alive. The secret to my cacti's survival is that I put them outside for the summer. Otherwise I'd probably have killed them too.
Diana - underwaterers need drama-queen plants such as your Bromeliad & my Primula, that look like they are on death's door, but manage to revive. I'm so glad you're coming to the Fling!
Jodi - a large number of plants is a good excuse for underwatering, but right now I have only a handfull of plants. I have no excuse.
Roses & Stuff - it is odd, maybe the indoor plants become a part of the furnishings?
Patientgardener - confession is good for soul, it's also funny. (The essence of comedy is pain.) It's been so liberating to be on this truth kick.
Rose - you kill them with kindness, I guess that's more excusable. I think we both need to invest in self-watering devices. I wonder if they work?
Shady - I have a feeling that there will be at least one (probably more) Amaryllis taking up residence here next winter. I'm starting to get Amaryllis envy!
This only serves to remind me that rather than reading and posting comments on garden blogs, I should be downstairs watering plants. Oh, they can go ANOTHER day I guess. They don't look as bad as your op photo. Yet.
And about Lake Como from your comment on my post - it is singular isn't it? I've been very few places on earth (and I've travelled a bit) where I can say the setting is unlike any other on earth. Lake Como, Venice, Zermat, Provance and the Grand Canyon are some of the few.
Hi MMD, oh to be watching new episodes with the young and dashing Captain Kirk, no one else could touch that performance, HA. Your miracle recovery was stunning, way to do a Lazarus.
Frances
Hi, Jim - it was Layanee's post about her indoor plants that reminded me I hadn't water the Primula in a while. Thank goodness for garden blogs!
Frances - both my husband & I are looking forward to the new Star Trek movie with a really young Kirk, but in the meantime we've started introducing our kids to the original series on DVD.
I feel the exact same way; I'm not so excited about keeping houseplants (except my Norfolk Island pine, which also serves as my Christmas tree, and which I'm kind of protective about!). Nothing about the plants themselves, more about me. I also forget to water indoor plants, but have found them quite resilient.
In summer it's warm even with the A/C on, so I think the houseplants need a drink and overwater. In winter the cool air is comfortable so I forget that it's also dryer. My primroses wilted and recovered too, MMD. Some year I'll remember to plant hyacinths for inside - wish it had been this year!
Philo was in grad school and we had no TV, so I first saw the new Star Trek show when another of the graduate wives invited me over to see how well Bill Shatner filled out the Captain's uniform. We thought he was just lovely, even on a small B/W set.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
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