My Thumb Went From Black to…Slightly Less Black
Let’s be honest, I’m about as good at keeping plants alive as I am at understanding cryptocurrency. So when my well-meaning friend gifted me a “low-maintenance” ZZ plant, I chuckled internally, already picturing its inevitable demise. I mean, I once killed a cactus. A CACTUS. But, determined to prove myself wrong (and maybe impress my friend a little), I decided to give this whole plant parenting thing a solid go.
Turns out, my initial plant parenting style could best be described as “overly enthusiastic but severely misinformed.” I watered the poor ZZ like it was a marathon runner in the Sahara Desert. Unsurprisingly, it started to wilt faster than my enthusiasm for doing laundry.
Just when I was about to host a dramatic plant funeral (complete with a tiny eulogy), my neighbor, a certified Plant Whisperer, intervened. “Honey,” she said, peering at the drooping leaves, “You’re drowning the poor thing! ZZ plants are practically succulents – they like their soil dry.”
Thus began my crash course in plant tough love. I learned that sometimes, holding back is the best form of care. Who knew? (My ex-boyfriends could probably have told me that, but I digress…)