I bought just one as a sort of sympathy shop. You know, like sympathy sex, where you're not remotely invested beyond cool curiosity but feel so sorry for someone putting it out there so earnestly for zero response.
She was at the market I have been helping to start. An older European woman selling all sorts of strange oddments, including an assortment of plants. I was wandering each stall in a sort of managerial way, making polite chit chat and trying to find ways to support people without BUYING STUFF I DON'T NEED. @millycf1976 😆
Now take a weeny step back with me. I'm on a MISSION to bring plants into my house again, in a deliberate way. Houseplants are NOT a thing, at all, in Asia. Rarely seen and considered somewhat dirty. But on my recent trips in Europe I was again reminded of how healthful and life-affirming it is, not to mention air-purifying, to have plants in the house. I have chosen the plants I'd like to have in the house for health, fengshui and energetic reasons, and can see the minimal but healthy groups thriving in my minds-eye. In pots of only 2 colours - plain original terracotta or celadon (sage) green - which is a very traditional Thai colour and easy to find.
It was in that context, having only so far purchased 3 smallish plants, that I decided to buy one plant.
It looked so sad that I could FEEL it calling out for rescuing. It was only later, when I got it home, that I saw IT HAS NO SOIL AT ALL!! The "plant lover" from the market had literally plonked it in a plastic pot full of commercial coconut husk and nothing else. 😱 Philodendrons of all varieties do so well in Asia - often hanging in the forks of trees in the jungles. While it IS true that they like air around their roots and need very little soil, when you see them in nature they choose to settle and thrive in little pockets of natural humus that collects in tree forks. Why was a Philodenron on my list? They are such extravagant leaf growers and oxygen providers - and they SOAK up the carbon dioxide like an industrial sponge. They also thrive in the lower light conditions, which is important in a tropical house where we often close blinds or shutters to keep the hot sun out.
So 50 baht ($1.50 ish) was exchanged and I felt happy. And grateful. I'd supported a struggling vendor, made a good conscious purchase and rescued a green health warrior who needed a better place to thrive.
But then it happened. The "extra" plants.
"Here, take these ones too. They need new homes. You can have them for free - no one buying them anyway!"
I protested politely but she was having none of it. 😆 Started putting them in my truck!!
I felt like saying no would be condemning them to pretty certain bleak futures. And so yes, I took them home. In their horrendous pots with little or no soil.
Yes, it was not wasted on my that the POT is physically crying too. 😆
But the pot... 🙁😪 Not quite in my neutral earth-tones colour scheme...
Sigh.
My mission for the coming weeks? Plant identification for the ones I don't know and learn more about what they need to thrive. Repotting. Some of them probably will end up outside, or in newer, prettier pots when they're healthier and happier, and maybe regifted. *Cos who doesn't love getting a nice, new plant, right?" 🤣
Reflecting on minimalism versus natural abundance, and on how painful it is for a true empath to see plants doing poorly. And how to say NO when people foist their unsold-unwanted items onto me. Meanwhile, loving on them, considering them as fosterlings ... and learning.
Come check out my Pure Thai Naturals online store
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Find me on Twitter: Pure Thai Naturals @BreugelMarike & @HiveLift
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