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Supermarket plants

(32 Posts)
SpringyChicken Sun 24-Sept-23 11:05:03

I’ve visited Sainsbury’s twice this week. On Thursday, there was a large fixture crammed with bedding plants and hardy cyclamen. Beautiful plants in great condition.
Yesterday when I called in, they were dried out, drooped and yellowing.

Despite the plants standing in trays which would hold water, no one has bothered to give them a drink. What a waste.

JayDee60 Thu 28-Sept-23 07:45:45

It’s a shame. I don’t know why they borrow. They should make them cheaper to attract buyers then they would have some money rather than none. Tesco are the worse for this.

merlotgran Wed 27-Sept-23 09:54:22

I’m sorry, SillyNanny but that tree is way out of proportion for its location. I’m not surprised the neighbours are complaining.

You need to have it drastically cut back if you want to keep it but be prepared for the fact that being a willow it will respond by growing back very quickly.

BlueBelle Wed 27-Sept-23 06:09:19

I love trees but they are sometimes in the wrong place and yours does looks VERY big and bushy Stillnany would they accept it being trimmed down to a reasonable size it dose look very near the houses
I had to have a huge and I mean huge eucalyptus tree taken down it was too close to the house and had grown way above the three storeys in the wind it sounded and looked as if it would crash into the roof I hated having it down but it was necessary

Gundy Wed 27-Sept-23 05:07:13

Fleurpepper and Witzend - 👍🏼👍🏼

Seabreeze Tue 26-Sept-23 21:14:11

What reason is your neighbour giving SillNanny321 for making you remove the willow.

Grammaretto Tue 26-Sept-23 15:16:18

I was upset to see the bedding plants dried up in Lidl so I offered to take them away and was allowed! I think they just get binned.
I brought them home and most recovered.

merlotgran Tue 26-Sept-23 14:59:53

Quizzer

I once queried why the plants weren’t watered and I was told they couldn’t do it due to “health and safety” in case the water ran on the floor and someone slipped!

In that case they shouldn’t be selling them. 😡

Bea65 Tue 26-Sept-23 14:48:36

Witzend I do the same if I see plants wilting-buy them if reduced &resuscitate at home- I’m not green fingered at all but have empathy for the plant grower -have been quite successful with a couple of them 😊

Quizzer Tue 26-Sept-23 13:44:07

I once queried why the plants weren’t watered and I was told they couldn’t do it due to “health and safety” in case the water ran on the floor and someone slipped!

VB000 Tue 26-Sept-23 13:40:50

Hi SillyNanny - unfortunately, the tree is very close to the house, and may be causing root damage / subsidence to the structure.

My mum's neighbour has a large willow tree, about 60 foot from the house, but it's caused huge cracks and there is a company there now, sorting out all the damaged pipework. Willows are one of the worst for this - shame as they are so beautiful.

Stillstanding Tue 26-Sept-23 13:31:18

Hi Silly Nanny321, the landlord may be really horrible but the tenants may be nice. Have you spoken to them? Maybe it will cost you nothing if you just ignore them and wait and see what happens in the court. The court may decide in your favour.

Gin Tue 26-Sept-23 13:21:03

I have been told by staff they are not allowed to water the plants maybe, as you say, because of puddles forming and a possible slip occurring. It is so sad to see trays of wilting pansies at the moment. I agree Lidl seems to look after their stock well,I have bought some really good plants from there.

SillyNanny321 Tue 26-Sept-23 13:06:05

About 20 years ago when we still had Woolworths they sold off some half dead trees. I bought a Twisted Willow which once in my garden grew well. Then moved & Willow lived in a large pot for a few years. Finally have lived here 14 years & Willow is beautiful much bigger than we ever thought! The nasty person owning & renting out to some very dubious tenants over the years has taken a dislike to the tree & has threatened Court action if this tree is not killed off! So my lovely healthy tree trying to help the environment will be chopped down in a few days! Sorry bit off topic but I am still so angry over this as it will cost less to kill the tree than go to Court to fight!

Fernhillnana Tue 26-Sept-23 13:04:51

Perhaps they should be banned from stocking them? I worked for a heritage organisation years ago and plants were tended to 3 times a day. Probably had sufficient staff then.

Saggi Tue 26-Sept-23 13:01:54

Health and Safety ! If they water plants and somebody slips on a drip of it ….apparently it’s the supermarkets fault !

SpringyChicken Sun 24-Sept-23 20:14:57

No doubt the prices we pay factor in the wastage. So we are penalised for their neglect. It all seems so unnecessary.

SachaMac Sun 24-Sept-23 15:32:07

I’ve seen this at my local Coop and also at the large Sainsburys nearby, when they’re all wilted and half dead they reduce them, which makes me laugh because I doubt many people buy them in that state. I guess they’re just thrown in the skip eventually!
If you buy them on the first couple of days they are probably ok. I don’t understand why they keep stocking them if they can’t be looked after better, they must be losing money on them. Better to give your custom to the GC or smaller nurseries.

I have noticed Lidl seems better at keeping there outdoor plants healthy. They are also good for houseplants and cut flowers.

Primrose53 Sun 24-Sept-23 15:16:52

I bought a big hanging basket of violas in Home Bargains for £2.99 about a month ago. They look stunning.

I bought a big tub of geraniums for about £4.99 in QD and they have been flowering for weeks.

Most years I buy bags of dwarf narcissi, crocus and snowdrops from Lidl or Aldi and put more in my 12ft windowboxes and in the bank outside. Looks a picture!

Fleurpepper Sun 24-Sept-23 14:47:03

Apart from all the waste listed above, they also threaten proper garden centres with qualified staff and good conditions.

Wheniwasyourage Sun 24-Sept-23 14:39:44

We get bedding plants here in supermarkets and shops like B&Q when it is possibly time to plant them out in the South of England but several weeks away from planting time here. Then either people who don’t understand the difference between hardy and half-hardy annuals will waste money buying them or the shop staff will have to look after them. Surely somebody must be able to adjust the times for sending out plants to the differing climatic conditions of different parts of the country!

joannapiano Sun 24-Sept-23 14:15:17

Our Sainsbury’s plants are lovely, I have bought several recently for £3.50 each . Tesco, however, dry and wilting, poor little things. I have complained at Customer services several times, to no avail.
I talk to all my plants and some have names. Like Witzend I have rescued some from Tesco.

merlotgran Sun 24-Sept-23 14:01:55

Fleurpepper

Absolutely hate it - the waste is massive, greenhouses, plastic pots, peat, water, transport, and on, and on.

It should be totally illegal to sell plants unless you have the right conditions to look after them, water them, etc.

This!

It makes my blood boil. 😡😡

inishowen Sun 24-Sept-23 13:51:46

A cashier in tesco told me they weren't allowed to water plants!

MiniMoon Sun 24-Sept-23 13:16:55

My husband has an early morning cleaning job in an upmarket supermarket. He regularly rescues plants that have been thrown in the skip. He's a keen gardener and it breaks his heart to see them so neglected.
He asked to take the houseplant, but he liberated the fig from the skip.

Witzend Sun 24-Sept-23 13:09:13

I have been known to buy badly wilting plants because I felt sorry for them, and have resurrected them at home. There’s a limit as to how many you can save, though!

IMO there should be a RSPCP. (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Plants.) 🙂