My Thumb Is So Not Green, It’s Practically Reflective
Let’s be honest, my relationship with plants has always been a tad… strained. I’m the kind of person who could kill a cactus in a desert. Seriously, I once managed to overwater a succulent. A succulent! So, when my well-meaning friend gifted me a houseplant – a leafy, vibrant thing she swore was “impossible to kill” – I knew it was a recipe for disaster (for the plant, obviously).
Desperate to salvage both the plant and my rapidly diminishing self-esteem as a plant parent, I turned to the internet. Google, in its infinite wisdom, introduced me to the concept of “letting the soil dry out.” Apparently, showering your plant with love, or in my case, water, wasn’t the key to its heart (or roots).
I reluctantly cut back on the watering, bracing myself for the worst. To my surprise, the plant rallied! It was like it was saying, “Finally! A little space to breathe!” Who knew that sometimes, a little tough love is exactly what you need to thrive?
Lesson Two: Celebrating Quirks and Imperfections
As my plant and I settled into a less dramatic routine, I started to notice its… quirks. It grew more leaves on one side, making it look like it was perpetually leaning in for gossip. One of its leaves developed a weird brown spot that resembled a tiny heart.