Everyone knows about the Society for the Protection of Animals and the important role it plays for animals, particularly in raising public awareness of the proper treatment of animals and in preventing abuse. But plants suffer abuse too. Sometimes I think we need a society to protect them… I’m thinking of plants that are badly treated in the shops and sold to consumers in a deplorable state. Failure is guaranteed, because the plant cannot survive as it is sold. Let me explain.
Grown In Glue
For some time now, we’ve been sold “bonsais” (actually, they’re not bonsais, but green plants grown in asian-inspired pots) that have literally been glued into their pots. The grower potting the plant in normal potting soil, then covering the soil completely with a layer of fine gravel mixed with glue. The result is a permanent plug that prevents the plant from growing and makes maintenance impossible.
Why would you put a plant through such torture? To make it look as good as possible when you sell it, of course. As the well-bonded gravel can’t move, there’s no risk of the plant falling out of its pot during transport, or of potting soil coming out of the pot and soiling it. So the plant always looks impeccable in store. Very tempting, then.
How Do You Save a “Glued Plant”?
The damage has already been done and you’ve bought such a plant? So what do you do? You’ll run into a big problem pretty quickly. How do you water a plant stuck in its pot? You can’t see if the potting soil is dry, as the glued stones completely hide it. So you have to water blindly, without knowing whether the plant needs water or not. The pots they’re sold in don’t have drainage holes, so if you inadvertently water too much, the excess water can’t drain away and the plant will drown. And even if you water properly, the plant will be strangled by the stone plug.
The only option is to remove the plant from its pot and replant it. To do this, slide the end of a flat-tipped screwdriver between the pot and the stone plug, using the screwdriver as leverage, and break off a first section of plug. It will break fairly easily, revealing potting soil. Repeat until the stopper is removed. Now turn the pot upside down and tap the bottom to release the root ball. All that remains is to pot the plant in an appropriately sized pot with drainage holes and water well to pack the potting soil around the roots.
Plants on the Redlist
Among the plants I’ve seen sold stuck in their pots are “lucky bamboo” (Dracaena sanderiana), Japanese cycas (Cycas revoluta) and Australian chestnut or “lucky bean” (Castanospermum australe). All these plants make excellent houseplants… if grown in a pot that drains well and has no plugs to choke them.
Complain to the Dealer!
I find it appalling that otherwise reputable dealers should give in to the lure of profit and sell obviously moribund plants. I suggest you complain about their attitude. Did you buy such a plant? Return it and ask for your money back. If you see such plants in the store, tell the dealer how horrified you are. If you yell enough, maybe they’ll change their tactics.
Larry Hodgson published thousands of articles and 65 books over the course of his career, in both French and English. His son, Mathieu, has made it his mission to make his father’s writings accessible to the public. This text was originally published in Le Soleil newspaper on February 6, 2010.
Gads! I see these often.
I have seen unusual succulents sold this way too. No way they will survive. Same goes for painting succulents. If you love plants steer clear of these and hopefully the message will get through to the growers.