Not-Quite-Green Thumbs

October 1, 2004 2:46 PM

My wife and I are notoriously bad at keeping plants alive. Our best success is an Aloe Vera plant (which we ignore) and a Peace Lilly which tends to behave like a plant in The Sims - colapsing as it dies, and then perking up as soon as we notice.

Accepting that plants feel pain and scream when hurt, are we evil torturing sadists?
posted by twine42 to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

Why are you accepting that?
posted by sageleaf at 3:08 PM on October 1, 2004

I don't believe in it, but if you want to read more about the "yes" side there is a book called "Sensitive Souls" about plant "feelings".

Also, Hoyas are a very hardy breed, it's the only thing I haven't killed, and they have nice little waxy flowers every now and then.
posted by milovoo at 3:08 PM on October 1, 2004

I think this is the most recent article about plant screaming, and it's pretty thin, from a discussion on snopes.
posted by milovoo at 3:14 PM on October 1, 2004

don't you need nerves and nerve endings to feel pain?

I recomment rhododendrons and philodendrons --very easy, and very hard to kill entirely.
posted by amberglow at 3:40 PM on October 1, 2004

Check out Roald Dahl's The Sound Machine.
posted by Hypharse at 3:45 PM on October 1, 2004

Sanseveria (Mother-in-Law's tongue) is also extremely hardy. Cactus are pretty good, too, as long as you studiously avoid overwatering them.
posted by five fresh fish at 4:10 PM on October 1, 2004

There is only one unkillable plant: aspisdistra, the "cast iron" plant. But if I were you, I'd just go for rubber and silk plants.

And, brought to you from the province where forestry pays the bills:

If trees could scream, would you cut them down?
We would if they screamed all the time.
posted by Salmonberry at 4:14 PM on October 1, 2004

Keep the Aspidistra Flying!
posted by leotrotsky at 4:45 PM on October 1, 2004