Look at it as a live plant education lesson. It is not meant to make fun or poke at anybody. These are just the facts and hopefully you will be the wiser from it.
Here are a few phrases I have heard over and over again over my 40+ years span in the horticultural industry.
"I will never go to that Garden Centre anymore"..."their plants are no good...they die!"
I often wonder what is told about my garden centre, when a plant that was purchased, dies?
"Every time I plant a plant, it dies"
My guess.....You are probably doing something wrong!
"I don't have a green thumb"..."My plants always die"
You don't need a green thumb...All you need is common sense!
This is a real classic...."Your plant died"
First of all: since you purchased the plant, it becomes your plant!
Secondly: the plant was perfectly healthy and alive when you purchased it, otherwise you would not have bought it in the first place!
Remember, plants are a living thing......they require certain conditions just to stay alive, and proper and tender-loving care to thrive!
So,.... why do perfectly healthy plants die?
First of all, plants require their proper climate and/or micro-climate, or a created micro-climate zone.
If a plant is planted in the wrong zone, it won't grow and eventually die! It may die over the winter due to it being too cold, or it may die over a period of time (days, weeks, month, or even years), but eventually it will succumb to the forces of nature.
You see plants, in many ways, are like people.
You put a person from the North Pole, with all their winter attire, and place them in the tropics.....Guess what happens! Keep him/her inside in air conditioning, and this person may survive.
You take a person from the tropics, and put them in their tropical attire, on the North Pole......Guess what happens! Put this person inside a heated building, and he/she will be happier.
Secondly, different type of plants may require certain different locations (sun, shade, shelter, open, etc.)
Not all plants grow in full sun, or dense shade, or may require shelter.
You see plants, in many ways, are like people
Some people love the hot sun, while others get sick in the sun, some people prefer to be in the shade, some people love the breeze, while others prefer a sheltered location.
Thirdly, plants require the proper soil conditions. (some plants don't mind the wet, while others require good drainage, some plants thrive on heavy clay-type soil, while others require a sandy loam, or acid soil conditions, etc.)
Plants won't grow properly, be stunted, and overall do not do well and may eventually die.
You see plants, in many ways, are like people
Not everyone likes the same food. Some people love their meat and potatoes, while others get sick from that type of food. Some prefer only vegetables and fruit. Different type of people eat different type of foods and when they change drastically from one diet to another, they get sick and do not do so well! This applies to animals as well.
Fourthly; plants need to be planted properly. (soil may need to be amended, not planted to shallow or too deep, etc) The new plant roots need good topsoil to root into, not hard solid clay. Eventually, the plant roots get stronger and will penetrate the surrounding soil
Do not stick this new plant in hard soil or subsoil, it will stunt its root development!
The plant may stay alive, but may not grow, and eventually it may die.
You see plants, in many ways, are like people
When a baby is born, you treat it with care. Proper nutrition (not steak & potatoes), change diapers once in a while. Eventually as this baby grows up, it may eat steak & potatoes and will take care of itself and their daily needs.
Fifthly; plants require care, especially when first planted. Plants require moisture and nutrients. When you have a cool moist season, plants, generally speaking, will do well. They will take up moisture regularly and make a good root system. Plants will store moisture and this will prevent drying out during the winter months.
But, when we have a hot and dry season, the opposite is true. Plants require adequate moisture to properly take up nutrients, make a good root system and develop properly.
Plants need to be able to take up a sufficient amount of moisture for winter protection.
Even if you do all of the above correctly, your plant may still die due to lack of proper care.
You see plants, in many ways, are like people
When we have a wet, damp, cooler season, we don't drink as much as when we have a hot dry summer. What do you do when the sun is burning hot and we have a summer long heatwave? You drink and drink and drink again. You go in the pool to cool off. You stay in the air conditioning to remain cool, etc.
What happens when you don't water your lawn during the summer months? ...It turns yellow, then brown and your lawn is gone, never to be the same anymore.
What do you think happens to newly planted plants that do not get enough water? .... yes, they die as well. Even well established plants may die, due to lack of moisture.
Treat plants the same way you would like to be treated. Plants are like babies, especially newly planted plants,...they need to be cared for. Have you ever seen a plant walk to the tap to get a drink? Of course not, and that is where you come in.
If you don't feed or give your baby drink...guess what happens?
Plants show signs of distress, if any or all of the above are ignored.
Stress shows itself by plants losing their good looks since the day they were purchased
Stress shows itself by discoloring foliage (looking pale, burnt edges, leaves drying up, or limp, etc) All signs of distress.
Stress shows up by plants losing their foliage due too extreme drought
Stress shows in plants by wilting foliage due to too much moisture
Stress shows up in plants due to improper soil conditions
Stress shows up plants through disease
Stress shows up in plants due to improper planting (too deep or too shallow)
Stress shows up due to improper watering (too much or too little)
Stress shows up in many ways.
In deciduous and broadleaved plants stress shows up quicker than in evergreens.
This is why you may think that your evergreen is doing really well only to find out the following season that it did not make the winter.
In other words, don't run back to your local garden centre and tell them that something is wrong with "their" plant(s), or that it died.
Come and ask for advice and ask what you should do to keep your plant(s) alive.
You see plants, in many ways, are like people
If you do not take care of your newborn baby, children, pets, etc. ....do you run back to the doctor and tell him his baby is sick or died? No you don't....you don't even think in those terms!
You take care of your babies, your children and your pets. You feed them, give them drinks, give them vitamins, a bath once a year and clean clothes once in a while.
Do the same for plants.....Take good care of them.....feed them, water them, fertilize them, keep the surrounded area clean from weeds, etc.
There is generally no reason for newly planted plants to die, if planted in the proper location, and if proper planting instructions are followed and proper care is given.
Here are a few more reasons why plants fail to grow properly or die.
The soil was not kept cultivated and grew in with grass and weeds and plants got choked out.
Plants died due to over fertilization. (same as taking too many vitamins)
Someone, unintentionally, covered the plants with plastic or tarp during the hot summer when working on the house.
Plants were pruned too hard during the wrong time of the season.
Plants (certain trees especially) bled to death from pruning during the wrong time of the season.
Plants were run over with the mower. They were nicked with the mower.
Plants (very common with trees) were hit or girdled with a weed eater.
Rabbits, mice, or deer were hungry during the winter.
Plants were wrapped with plastic during the winter.
Too heavy snow load during winter.
Salt shoveled from sidewalk/driveway into plant area.
Brushing snow off frozen branches, especially evergreens.
Dog pee in the same location over and over again.
Leaching of fuel in soil and affecting plants from fueling lawn mower, weed eater, etc.
The plant(s) are under your care after you have purchased them. Treat them (the plants) with respect and dignity. Be nice to them, love them (.....and tell them that, once in a while). Give plants a chance to get to know you, as well as you get to know your plants.
Some customers have told me that they play music for their plants, and found out that plants grew better and looked better with certain kinds of music. Apparently, they do not do as well with loud rocky type music, they like the more quieter classical and country type.
It has been told that indoor plants do much better in homes that are quieter by nature.
It has been told that plants, over time, recognize peoples behaviour and react accordingly.
It encourages us to be kind to plants, and along with proper growing conditions, we will all benefit and live happily ever after.
Let me know, if this article was helpful. No nasty comments, please!.... I don't like them! I will accept constructive criticism.
