When the P-Dawg and I did a final walk-through before receiving the keys just over one year ago, the former lady of the house lovingly introduced me to each plant by name and gave me explicit instructions for its care and nurturing. I followed her around, scribbling in a spiral notebook which I promptly lost.
A few months ago, the family had gathered for a cookout at our place, and while the rest of us were chillin' on the patio, my mom and mother-in-law stepped into the sun room to inspect my plants, as is their custom.
I could see them through the windows, making their rounds.
After visiting the Hawaiian ginger and the cymbidium orchid, they lingered in front of my Christmas cactus with bent heads a-murmuring. There was some sad nodding and hand gesticulation, and then the two of them emerged with long faces.
"I hate to tell you this, Rima," my mother said with a glint in her eye, "But your Christmas cactus is dying, if not already dead."
"Yep, it's a goner!" my MIL gleefully interjected. "There will be no reviving that one. Have you ever watered it?"
"You guys!" I rolled my eyes. "It's a cactus! It will bounce back."
The mothers exchanged knowing looks.
"It's a succulent," my MIL corrected. "It does need water from time to time."
"You said succulent!" I snickered.
"What?"
"Nothing."
I continued to water the Christmas cactus whenever it occurred to me, which is to say almost never.
And last week, this happened:
It bloomed.
The next time they came over, I flaunted my cactus and taunted the mothers with my stoopid-fresh plant cultivating skillz.
"Have you noticed how beautifully my Christmas cactus is blooming?" I asked. "And a full month ahead of schedule, no less?"
The mothers circled my plant with arched eyebrows.
"Well if you want to know the truth" my MIL said, "Even a rock could thrive in this sun room of yours."
"Dumb luck" said my mother.
Then they sauntered off arm-in-arm to identify hidden safety hazards in the basement.
Plants-a-plenty
6 comments:
Ha!! You showed them!!! I have a dead plant on my porch to serve as a warning to all other plants that might try to invade. Sort of like Heart of Darkness, but with plants.
Lovely! I am still a plant killer. I don't think I can ever be reformed.
Right there with you with the laid back style. Srsly, it's hard to kill a cactus, I freakin' love 'em.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your adorable family!!
Looks just Luke my mothers plant, and takes excellent care of all her plants (including the succulents!)
Guess what? I have that cactus's TWIN SISTER.
She's in my sunroom, and blooming RIGHT NOW.
You're doing much better *not* watering your plants, than what I'm doing actually watering mine.
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