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Gardening

Supermarket plants!

(14 Posts)
sufuller Tue 18-Jul-17 16:33:46

O.M.G. I am so fed up with the way supermarkets neglect plants they are trying to sell. Surely a member of staff to be designated as chief plant waterer? I have just seen a £15 hydrangea on it's last legs. I enquired whether I could buy it at a reduced price in order to save it from the great compost heap in the sky. My request was denied due to their reductions policy, whatever that might be. I did remind her that last year I bought one in a similar condition for 50p - I didn't tell her that it was now flourishing! It's the same every spring - bedding plants are left to shrivel up and die. I'm thinking of starting the RSPCP!
Am I the only one who gets cross about this?

shysal Tue 18-Jul-17 16:58:06

I do so agree. The worst offender near me is the Co-op. There is a 3 tier trolley which sits outside near the door, and I swear the plants are never watered despite a gentle reminder from me.

Wheniwasyourage Tue 18-Jul-17 17:08:36

Me too. What is the point of selling plants if you aren't going to present them for sale in good condition?

It also annoys me that our local Tesco and B&Q are obviously told by head office somewhere in the south when to put out bedding plants for sale, and it's always far too early for here, where June is early enough. Anyone daft enough to buy them in March or April has a high chance of losing them to frost.

Primrose65 Tue 18-Jul-17 17:14:05

I'll join the RSPCP!
I hate it when I see the trolley of death by the entrance of a supermarket. It's such a waste.

suzied Tue 18-Jul-17 17:25:57

B and Q near here are terrible, there are so many dead plants.

nanaK54 Tue 18-Jul-17 17:29:15

Oh me too - such neglect, what a waste

J52 Tue 18-Jul-17 17:53:47

Oh how I hate the waste! Yesterday our local Homebase were offering free veg plants. Most were too late to realistically get produce from, but would be fun for children to plant.
In the past they have offered free pansies and free rolls of turf. I applaud their generosity, but wish the plants were better looked after.

Auntieflo Tue 18-Jul-17 18:01:24

I also cannot understand why the supermarkets are so careless with their plants. I mentioned this on another thread at the end of June, when I bought/rescued some busy lizzies. They are beginning to spread a bit, after a poor start, and some geraniums, 8 for 80p, are flourishing, after a good soak and planting out. Of the 4 lobelia plants, only 3 have survived, but worth the TLC that they so needed.

J52 Tue 18-Jul-17 18:17:44

At least those who know how to revive them get bargains! A couple of years ago I got a strip of 6 sage plantlets in Wilkos for 10p! I took them home an nurtured them into healthy plants.
This year I have found a dozen seedlings from one of those plants, what a bargain!

hildajenniJ Tue 18-Jul-17 18:18:20

My DH rescued a fig tree that our local Waitrose was throwing away. It seems to be thriving and even has some little figs growing. It is surprising what they throw away.

cornergran Tue 18-Jul-17 22:07:07

Bought 6 geranium plants for 9 pence from the very reduced trolley in our local supermarket, they are all covered in blooms so a result for me. I'm with you, I truly dislike to see the plants not cared for. RSPCP it is.

merlotgran Tue 18-Jul-17 22:13:23

I complained to Aldi about dying, unwatered plants but was told it was on account of the hot weather hmm

Jalima1108 Tue 18-Jul-17 23:43:55

I like rescuing plants too.
I've just rescued some from a garden centre but at least they had been watered, they were just past their best but are perennials.
My rosemary bush came from Tesco last year and was looking very sad inside the store - it was the best of the ones on offer as the others looked dead. The assistant reduced it right down for me.

Jalima1108 Tue 18-Jul-17 23:46:35

Two hydrangeas for £10 at our local garden centre today - we didn't buy them as we don't have room at the moment.