Growing plants is hard for people who don’t naturally have a green thumb. And that’s me. I’m an overwaterer and possibly an under sunnerer.
To make matters worse, I’m also the type who gets home and immediately repots my latest plant into brand new potting soil straight from the bag. Let me tell you, that is a death sentence to most plant because it’s a heavy soil that holds moisture under the surface…so the top is dry and below it’s still soggy and I add more water; effectively drowning my plant and rotting its roots away.
My kill streak is getting pretty high.
I am assured by the green thumbed Master Gardeners in my family that this is actually quite normal to kill lots of your plants. It happens a lot at the start of your journey and it will happen even when you’re an expert with years of experience. This is only somewhat comforting as a plant begins to droop and decline; it eventually turning into a stump surrounded by a pile of dead leaves.
And yet, there’s something so…important about killing off a plant you really liked. You want another one and you want to do better so it stays alive. Suddenly, you’re doing research on the correct soil type and sun and how much water it should have. Your shopping cart fills up with different kinds of tools and supplies to sustain the life of your next victim…er…plant.
Unlike the plants that you killed, you start to grow yourself.
