Right Plant, Right PERSON Text and Photos by Jennifer Schamber
“R
ight plant, right place”… It’s one of the golden rules of gardening that horticulturists repeat over and over again. It’s the very basic and wise rule of thumb that advises people to choose a plant that is suitable for the location in which it will be growing. Things to be considered include: soil type, sun exposure, moisture needs, deer resistance, hardiness zone, size restrictions and other more minor variables. But maybe there’s something missing from this advice, maybe what really should be taken into consideration is “Right plant, right person”. There’s no guarantee that all plants and people Z Z Plant are going to be compatible. It’s kind of like choosing a mate. On the surface, a couple might seem to be a perfect match, but once they learn that they have different rhythms in life, they may find it necessary to try different paths. Different types of people with different variables in their homes, are sometimes going to have different success stories when it comes to plants. So, let’s dig in and explore different successful combinations of plants and people, this time around, we’ll focus on houseplants. Case Study #1: A kid and a cactus Kids are naturally drawn to cactus plants. They are easily lured by their interesting shapes and their spikey texture. Some really have a hard time not touching the spines and may not learn even after getting pricked a few times. This sense of danger makes wanting to grow one of these unusual plants quite irresistible. So, the plant gets taken home and set on the windowsill, and it Variegated gets the first of many “sips” of Hindu Rope water. After about a month of lots of love (a.k.a. too much water), the plant slowly rots at the base. Despite the fact that the plant died, this is actually an opportunity for a kid to learn firsthand some valuable lessons on not just botany (why does this plant not need much water?), but also geography (where does this plant naturally grow?), soils (how does soil drain or retain water?) and resiliency (how can some plants thrive on little care?).
include: Echeveria, Peperomia, Pilea, Hoya and Spider Plants. Case Study #2: Oooh… Look at that orchid! There are very few plants more alluring than an orchid in its full glory. This plant that appears practically perfect in every way is an easy sell when in full bloom. The new orchid owner follows the directions as indicated on the tag and the plant thrives for another month or two, after which the flowers start to wilt and drop off, one at a time. The plant gets brought to the local garden store expert by this new plant parent who is very sad that they have “killed” the plant. Upon further inspection, the expert assures them that the plant is actually doing quite well, that they’re doing a great job and that now they have to wait until next year to see another round of blooms. Some plant parents might say, “Great! Can’t wait!”, while others may say, “I don’t have time for that”. Solutions: If you always want something blooming on the dining room table, you’re going to need more than one. You’re probably going to need to rotate 4-6 plants throughout the year. Some people may not have the space or the patience to wait for orchids, kalanchoes or cyclamen to bloom again, so sometimes those plants are treated like a long-lasting bouquet of flowers, and after they’re done blooming, they get composted. Otherwise, finding something that looks great but doesn’t bloom, could be a better long-term solution like Parlor Palms or ZZ Plants.
Case Study #3: “What’s that plant in that magazine?”… The Curse of the Fiddle Leaf Fig For a while there, it was probably the most photographed Solutions: There are a wide range of kid-friendly plants that work plant in home design magazines, well for a majority of new indoor gardeners. Some favorites and it was declared the hottest 8
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The Gateway Gardener™ OCTOBER 2021
