Posted in Personal Essay

The Unexpected Joys of Being a Plant Parent (and Failing Miserably)

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The Unexpected Joys (and Epic Fails) of Being a Plant Parent

From Black Thumb to…Slightly Less Black Thumb?

I never thought I’d be a plant person. In fact, I used to joke that I could kill a cactus in a desert. My thumbs were the opposite of green—they were practically radiating anti-life force. But then something strange happened. Maybe it was the pandemic, maybe it was the endless stream of aesthetically pleasing plant photos on Instagram, but I was inexplicably drawn to the idea of having a little bit of greenery in my life.

plant shop, armed with nothing but good intentions and Google. I emerged, triumphant, with a couple of succulents (the “easy” plants, they said) and a renewed sense of hope. Surely, I could keep these low-maintenance beauties alive, right?

The Thrill of (Almost) Keeping Something Alive

To my utter shock, I didn’t immediately kill them! In fact, my succulents seemed to thrive under my less-than-expert care. They even grew a little! Okay, maybe “thrive” is a strong word. But they were alive, and that was a major victory in my book.

This newfound success, however, went straight to my head. I decided I was basically a plant whisperer and promptly adopted a peace lily, a fern, and (God help me) a fiddle-leaf fig. My apartment started to resemble a miniature jungle, and I was starting to understand the appeal of those “crazy plant people” I used to judge (silently, of course).

plant queen was, sadly, short-lived. It turns out that while succulents are pretty forgiving, most other plants require a bit more…attention. Who knew? The peace lily started to droop, the fern took on a crispy brown hue, and the fiddle-leaf fig? Let’s just say it’s a miracle it didn’t pack its bags and leave in the middle of the night.

It was a massacre. A chlorophyll carnage of epic proportions. I was devastated. But as I cleaned up the remnants of my failed plant empire, I realized something important: Even though I had failed miserably, I had actually learned a lot. Here are a few hard-won lessons:

  1. Not all plants are created equal. Some are just plain high-maintenance, and that’s okay.
  2. Overwatering is a thing. Who knew?
  3. Google is your friend. Seriously, there’s a YouTube tutorial for everything.
  4. It’s okay to fail. Plants die, it happens. Just try to learn from your mistakes.

From Plant Killer to Plant Enthusiast?

I’d like to think I’ve graduated from “plant killer” to “plant enthusiast with a few casualties.” My apartment may not be the green oasis I once envisioned, but there are a few survivors clinging to life. And you know what? I’m proud of them. And of myself, for not giving up entirely.

What about you? Have you had any epic plant fails (or successes)? Share your stories in the comments below!


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