Looking back to Lockdown#1 from Lockdown#2
By Shirleypoppy
6 comments
I have a passion for, nay, obsession with succulents – there, I have admitted it, a fully paid-up member of Succaholics Anonymous! Anything I spot that I don’t possess is coveted, if not instantly purchased.
I had been giving the odd spare one to my granddaughter to furnish her somewhat bland room in halls of residence since she first started at Uni. Some of her college mates expressed an interest in them, so in the Spring, I started a mass propagation programme of succulents and house plants.
Then along came COVID-19 ……
…..and they did not return to college for the next term.
Soooo…… I had a surplus of plants ……. hundreds, in fact.
Not a problem in the summer, as they lived outside. I donated a lot to a lady who has plant sales to raise funds for our local hospice (I think she has had 4 this year). But there were still too many to overwinter in a 6 × 4 unheated greenhouse.
Students were allowed to go back in October, even if most of what they are doing is online, and they still wanted plants ……. Phew!
A couple of boxes of assorted plants were sent off with her, and they were added to a few weeks later.
I hope this is giving a few of my granddaughter’s friends something to care for in these difficult times – just waiting for the Botanists amongst them to ask for their Latin names – now that will be a challenge!
16 Nov, 2020
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Comments
I agree, Shirley. I love succulents too and have several on my rockery in the back garden. Love your collection! It’s great that you finally managed to get some to the students too! Yes, you’ll have to relay the Latin names no doubt at some point! Good luck!
16 Nov, 2020
Funny how the bug can bite! It bit me with cacti a long time ago but I don't collect them any more. Perhaps your gifts to the students will start one or two of them on a lifetime collection - who knows? The Christmas Cactus is a beautiful colour. They always seem to flower in November not Christmas though...
17 Nov, 2020
A bit of research has led me to believe that this one is a Thanksgiving Cactus - and yes, I didn’t know they existed either! But we are UK based, so Thanksgiving mainly just passes us by.
My Christmas Cactus is making buds, so it will be a bit early, too.
The Easter one steadfastly refuses to flower at all ......
18 Nov, 2020
Shirley I think mine must be thanksgiving cacti as well - its quite rare for anything but a few strugs to be left by Christmas.
18 Nov, 2020
That’s lovely Shirley, we all have our favourite plants and collections, I remember a dear old lady giving me partridge breast and she told me it would gets lots of pups, which it sure did and I potted them up and they all took she also gave me a pot of Echiveria and on one occasion showed me how to propagate Aeoniums, also it is great to give them to the students in which some of them you may have given them the passion for gardening, my passion is cornus I just love the coloured stems through the winter, thanks for sharing.
19 Nov, 2020
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I can quite understand how you feel about these plants because I am the same, I have so many cuttings I don't know where to put them all for the winter.
I'm glad you have given some to the students now.
16 Nov, 2020