Care to join the ‘Adopt a Plant’ Club?
The City of Toronto would probably earn a good amount of money if they levied a tax on a population who get rid of their perennials, either in secluded garbage areas, or on a sidewalk. Just because the plant has no voice does not mean that you dump it wherever you choose, once you have no use for it. People always have an excuse and will say “Oh, we are frequent travelers and could not look after it.” Or better still “It takes a lot of looking after.” A plant honestly just requires a little bit of watering, and some miracle grow. If it’s Aloe Vera, or Cactii, little or no water is okay, however a lot of sun helps.
Plants do not require high maintenance, especially the sturdier varieties. Besides that they don’t fuss, cuss, complain, or mess up your space. In fact they are instant humidifiers, cleaning up the air in a room, well instantly, and then day in and day out. I’ve heard people talk to their plants, touch the leaves, and nuzzle them. And then of course if it’s mint you can’t help but crush the leaf and inhale that free aromatherapy. I love plants, the more the variety, the better. Eccentricity being a family trait, we have named each of the plants that share our roof. We also share responsibility like proud parents, the wife looks after ‘Annie’, the first plant that we found 10 years ago, and ‘Tootsie’ who was our first find at the apartment we lived in. Both of them sit together, side by side, and nod, their leaves gently touch, caress and blush—that’s all they can do in their healthy old age. Well, to be honest these two are still evergreen!
But here’s the point I am trying to make. None of the plants we own, and there are about 10 of them, were ever bought by us. We did not spend a nickel, or a dime and we found each and every abandoned one during the walks we take everyday in summer. Early last year we came across ‘Tina Turner’ a lithe, tall stalk with leaves that resemble the singers’ hair. The plant was left in a broken pot, and we extracted its root from the ceramic shards. We promptly took it home, and repotted it. Then came ‘Ivy’ a creeper in dual shades of green. For this one we purchased the pot, and the potted soil.
Next on the list, we found ‘Vera’, the Aloe cactus that someone left in a basket at the bus stop (of all the places). Thankfully it wasn’t on the steps of a church. Vera was almost half dead (from too much of watering, and inadequate sunlight). It took a good deal of love and patience to keep it alive. Right now it is sitting happily on the windowsill, its leaves thick and healthy, and once when I cut my finger on the sharp kitchen knife, I recall using the sap of the leaf, and it was its natural salve that healed the incision in no time.
‘Spiderman’ was given to us by a neighbor who was moving home, and the plant seemed like it were dry and dead. We did not want to offend the lovely Oriental lady, so we took her plant and inspected it after. Turns out she didn’t water it for a while because the roots were still alive. Giving it a bigger pot and some fertilizer worked. Today ‘Spiderman’ has his own group of ‘Spider-boys’ hanging out. It shares the pride of place in our living room. Some tips that work: don’t plant in plastic containers. I understand plastic is cheaper, but plants deserve ceramic, or porcelain. It’s natural to their growth, and conducive to the environment. Also get dark, earthy, black soil, if it has a mix of natural manure, that’s even better.
On a serious note we are thinking of starting an ‘Adopt a Plant Club’. It should be a no-fee, grassroots (pun intended) organization that imparts learning to our children to care for plants and the environment. Every neighborhood should have a group of people who rescue plants just like we did. The next step going forward is to find them a new yard, garden, or home. And all it requires is a dirty, soiled, mud-stained show of hands. Start-ups, root-ups, thumbs-up, grown-ups, everyone ready?
