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The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned From a Houseplant

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The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned From a Houseplant


My Thumb Is More of a Black Thumb: A Plant Parent Confession

Let’s be honest, my track record with plants was less than stellar. I’m more familiar with the gentle art of plant homicide than, you know, actual plant care. So when my well-meaning friend gifted me a cheerful little ZZ plant, I accepted with a mixture of delight and dread. This little green guy, I decided, would be different. He would thrive. He would become a symbol of my newfound green thumb. Spoiler alert: I was half right.

plant parenthood began predictably enough: with a dramatic overwatering incident. I’m talking swamp-level saturation, folks. The poor ZZ plant, bless its heart, started to droop like a sad, soggy sock. I was devastated. Convinced I had committed plant murder, I was ready to toss it (and my dreams of botanical bliss) out the window. But then, a funny thing happened. I forgot about it for a week. (Don’t judge, we’ve all been there!) And when I finally remembered, expecting to find a shriveled husk, I found… growth? New shoots? The little guy had rallied! It was a Lazarus moment, only with fewer biblical implications and more dirt.

That’s when it hit me: resilience isn’t about never falling down, it’s about getting back up, even after a serious drenching. My little ZZ plant, despite my best attempts to drown it, had bounced back stronger than ever. And honestly, if it could survive my care, I could survive anything life threw at me.

Lesson #2: The Art of Strategic Plant Neglect (It’s a Thing!)

After the Great Drowning of 2023 (as I’ve come to call it), I decided to adopt a more hands-off approach. I mean, clearly, my definition of “enough” water was more akin to a monsoon. So, I channeled my inner desert nomad and embraced the power of neglect (in the most loving way possible, of course).

And guess what? The ZZ plant loved it! Turns out, these guys are practically succulents, thriving on neglect and the occasional side-eye of sunlight. This was a revelation. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is step back, stop overthinking, and let things be. It’s like they say, “Let go and let grow.” (Or something like that. I’m still working on my plant-related proverbs.)

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