I absolutely loved that term he coined! It completely describes an area of my deck where I have numerous pots of plants piling up waiting for some attention and TLC. (Actually my whole deck could possibly be the pot ghetto but let’s not go there.)These plants consist of some seedlings that I am not too sure where to put, divisions that I made at the beginning of spring, and impulse buys from my local nursery. I actually placed these poor babies on my deck in attempts that they will no longer be out of site, out of mind. They were originally placed at the side area of the yard where I have a potting table. Over there it was easy to forget about them so they were moved to the deck.
Unfortunately, this has not helped matters all that much. I still find myself putting off planting them into larger pots or finding them a home somewhere in the garden. And the main problem is I can’t bear to let go of some of them. I’m the type of gardener that totally hates to thin seedlings because it seems so mean. When I divide a plant that must be divided I end up keeping all of my divisions even though I know I have no more space for them. I end up potting them all up and then begging friends and family to take some home with them.
Yesterday evening I found a home for 4 of these ghetto residents. I placed them in a pot to grow on the deck amongst all the other pots I have. Actually this container might turn out nice. In it I have planted 2 bunny tail grasses, 1 annual forget-me-not, and 1 yellow Johnny jump-up.
In the picture below of my “plant ghetto” you can see some of the plants are placed in an old dishpan. I do this to make watering a little easier. Instead of watering the individual pots one by one I place them in the dishpan and fill it about an inch full of water. The plants soak it up as the day goes by all the while making it easier for me to put them off.
I’m really not a procrastinator. It’s just that these poor plants always get shoved to the bottom of my garden to do list. Watering, weeding, turning the compost, watering the compost always get pushed to the top and once I am through with them there is no time left for the plant ghetto. I have been telling myself that I can’t buy anymore plants until I figure out what I am going to do with all of these. But who am I kidding. If I just drive by a nursery I have to stop and at least look. Then there are a ton of cuttings I want to take here soon so my plant ghetto will probably never get smaller.
I can’t help myself either. I love my plants like they are my little babies. (And they are!) At least I always have plants ready to give to any visitors of the garden!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m so the opposite. As soon as I divide a plant, any leftover gets tossed into the compost bin. I do tell my neighbors all the plants I have that needs splitting. If I can get them to take it I do, but usually people don’t want them. I might have someone on the hook that will take some of my iris though. I’m hoping. I need to get rid of a lot of it. I haven’t split it in years. What you need is to give those leftovers to the local garden club. At least if you have one like mine. They do a plant sale every May. I’m sure they would take donations of plants. I don’t do it, but then I have no trouble tossing them on the compost pile.
Daphne- I wish there was a local garden club where I am as I would be a member and HUGE contributor to a plant sale!
I really like your plant Ghetto!
I am the complete opposite, I have to get the plant a home as soon as I get home or at least sometime later that day. Fortunately I have alot of gardening neighbors and we always give each other the divisions of plants we don’t need or want anymore. I’ve gotten alot of pretty plants that way for free. The best part! But I do like your plant ghetto and the dishpan idea is a great one!
I completely commiserate with the dilemma of the plant ghetto on the deck — this is the first year that I haven’t had a good sized one. I’ve just got one impulsively purchased fern, and a small spruce tree seedling out there right now. I’ve tried to be a little more heartless in thinning the plants as well, but it has been tough. So, I often leave things be thinking “Natural selection will take care of it” and “Survival of the fittest seems like a good plan”. And the garden grows on (including quite a few self-seeded bramble bushes!).
And what would you do with the money earned from that plant sale? Wouldn’t your pot ghetto just get bigger? I swear that my pot ghettos are multiplying themselves! The Clematis I bought this week has been placed next to the other unplanted ones … at least they now have a watering mat so they are easier to water until I decide where to place them. Seedling of foxgloves and lupins are in smaller pots and in trays – Oh and all my divisions!!! Did you have to remind me of them
I have so many Geraniums/Cranesbills and some have become big! At least I was strong yesterday and passed on buying some zink-pots for springflowering bulbs. I buy about 3-400 new bulbs every fall. I know that I am both a garden shopaholic and a procrastinator. But I am actually going to need some of the plants for some of my clients gardens. Also the suckers of many of my roses have been dug up and potted until they go in in the fall – if I find good gardens for them that is. Ah I already look forward for the fall cataloques and the seedcataloques – next year I want more New Millenium Delphiniums and more fragrant sweetpeas. I alos need … se it never stops. A garden is proces right! Pot Ghetto are part of that process – perhaps you just need a bigger Porch? Or stick to your resolutions about not buying more – yeah right! Right?
Mrs. Greenhands- Thank you!
Racquel- I used to be like that; had to get the plant in the ground or new pot ASAP but then as I had more kids (I have 3) and time ran away from me it got easier and easier to hold off. Then those darn impulse buys! I bring them home and have to figure out where they are going to go.
Krys- I too follow the “survival of the fittest” approach to thinning. But then what do I do when all the seedlings are doing well which is what is happening with some of my corn. I have to thin them but it just seems so mean. Silly I know but that’s me. The only plant I do not have a hard time being mean to is the blackberry. It would seriously take over it I didn’t attempt to keep it under control.
Niels- I have often thought if I don’t control myself I will soon have to open a nursery! It is nice to know that I am not the only one that goes a little over board.
I wound up with my own “pot ghetto” when I injured my knee back in May. All my rock cress (that I was planning to tuck in my stone wall) died. I finally managed to put in two new daylilies and the sedums are hanging in there until I get to them. Thank goodness they’re tough!
Amy- I wouldn’t even have a plant ghetto if it wasn’t for my overzealous dividing and seeding. I always end up propagating too much! Hope your knee is doing better now.
I confess to my plant addictions and I wrote an article about the same thing in June.
It’s nice to see I’m not the only one.
When I wrote this I had no idea that the “plant ghetto” was such a widely used term. Go figure! It is nice to know that I am not the only one out there neglecting some poor abused plants looking for just a little TLC! -Cindy