My thumbs are not green

We don't have good luck with houseplants in our apartment. I'd like to blame it on the physical environment that I cannot change because the only other explanation is that it's me.

Randy bought me a rose plant for Valentine's day two years ago and it was the cutest little plant with small, pink flowers. I tended it with care but noticed one day that it was covered with something that looked like cobwebs. Hmmm. On closer inspection I discovered that it also had aphids. In fact, so did our other house plants. Aphids and I go back a while - back to my days of doing field work for Pioneer. The canola was covered in aphids and as a result so were we. Our sweaty, sunscreen-slathered skin would be covered with them and when it was time to re-apply the sunscreen there was no choice but to smear the little aphid bodies all over your skin. I accepted them in the field, but in my apartment it was another matter. And what's with the cobwebs?

I emailed a green-thumbed friend of mine and she diagnosed spider mites! I mixed up a home remedy in a spray bottle and went to town. It did the trick and the mites and aphids died ... and so did the plants. Maybe I overdid it. Apparently rose plants are very difficult to keep inside so I felt like I did well keeping it almost a year. The ivy on the other hand ...

Here's the rose plant just before things went bad. I guess the mushrooms should have been a sign.

I learned that jade plants are susceptible to root rot if over-watered. Oopsies. I killed it with love.






I also learned that houseplants do not need a holiday outside. But look (on the right) - a new shoot!


I think this is what a cactus looks like when it's trying to run away:

On Valentine's last year Randy asked the florist what type of plant was easy to keep and he came home with a jade plant. Jade plant #2.

 I've been very careful not to over-water it ... and yet it still looks like this now. <sigh>

I refuse to read anything into these experiences about my nurturing abilities. A dog or goat would be much easier to keep. If it was hungry, I'd hear about it. If it was over-fed, it would be obvious before it suddenly started dropping off body parts.

Hopefully the jade plant survives but if not I'll be looking forward to jade plant #3 on Valentine's day. Third time's the charm, right?