Green Velvet

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

Sometimes, caring for a houseplant offers lessons on life itself. Not in a moralizing, superior kind of way, but an ‘implanting,’ as it were, or ‘grounding.’ Enlightenment. Reminders.

I have been ‘in relationship’ with a dear houseplant for the past many months. They were an impulse purchase, as I made my way to the cash register at my local hardware store. 

offer love, instinctively and always 

I had not intended to buy another houseplant for the house. This one looked especially dear, and seemed to reach out for me as I wandered by.  They had deep green triangular leaves with cream veining and I couldn’t resist a gentle brush touch of these, a sensation that was soothing, silky, and soft. The tag read “Green Velvet, Alocasia Frydek Variegated” and was labeled ‘easy to grow.’ 

you don’t always know if or how someone hurts

I had the perfect place for Green Velvet at my home. However, almost immediately after ‘settling in,’  Green Velvet’s leaves began to droop, and I began a quest to figure out what was wrong.

life is hard

Did they have some sort of pest? Had I overwatered it? Or underwatered it? Was it sickly at the hardware store, and I missed this entirely? Were the light conditions wrong? What was happening?

be curious

Green Velvet continued to yellow and wither, and I was truly baffled. In general, I am quite good/sensitive with plants but I was clearly failing this one. The plant simply could not adjust to the transition to my home.

growth involves stumbles

It seemed as if every day, another leaf shriveled and decayed. The plant was becoming this sickly sight, anemic stems with browned tips, and very few leaves remaining. I searched the internet for advice:

Place your Alocasia in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can scorch the leaves. If the leaves start to turn pale or yellow, it may be an indication that the plant is receiving too much light. Move it to a slightly shadier location.

Chalet Boutique

Perhaps the morning light was not what it wanted. Maybe it was too direct. I moved it to another window, hoping for a different angle of the sun. Maybe this western window would work better? 

try to be present and attentive

Wrong. The dear plant continued to decay, fold, rot. Truly, it almost melted before my eyes. The whole thing simply fizzled away. 

reach out to those who grieve

Feeling so very sad, I trimmed off the last limp, dead leaf. I took the plant out into my backyard and knelt down, and tipped the pot over while holding onto the plant itself, shaking the potting soil loose onto the ground. I noticed something very surprising: the plant felt strong in my hands; the corms or bulbs were not spongy or rotten, as I would have suspected, but quite hard, ‘fit.” 

be a listener. hear others.

I turned on the garden house and rinsed off the corms. Then I washed the garden pot. I repotted the plant/corms in all new potting soil and I brought Green Velvet back inside, placing it back on the western windowsill in my warm living room. 

dare to consider a new perspective

I gave the new soil a bit of water. I waited. Week by week, I watered Green Velvet regularly, being sure to let the plant become completely dry first before watering anew.

remember to give others space
have patience
always remember, patience
be gentle

A few weeks went by, and I saw the smallest hint of green growth. I kept on. Slowly, slowly, slowly. 

hope

It has been about four months since I repotted Green Velvet, and I am delighted by how well they are doing. They are flourishing! Knock on wood, I have figured out just the right mix of attention and neglect. I’m so glad I didn’t completely give up and just throw the plant away. Let me share a photo: 

Green Velvet 

offer love, instinctively and always
you don’t always know if or how someone hurts
life is hard
be curious
growth involves stumbles
try to be present and attentive
reach out to those who grieve. 
be a listener. hear others.
dare to consider a new perspective
remember to give others space
have patience
always remember, patience
be gentle

hope

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