A near death experience. Lessons learned about not giving up.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220275)
Walnut Creek, California
November 21, 2015 6:40pm CST
Two years ago, we had an unusual cold snap here in Northern California. I don't remember any rain--just a whole week with lows in the teens and twenties. An occasional freeze at night is not unusual here, but a week of near freezing temperatures during the day, and teens and twenties at night is very rare.
It didn't occur me to bring my precious jade plant inside. I'd had it for several years, and it had already borne many children, now growing in friends' gardens. With jade, all you have to do is cut off a piece and plant it. It will grow roots and prosper.
When I went outside and saw my jade plant wilted, with its bright green leaves a pale cooked lima bean color, I was traumatized. I almost took it to the dumpster, so I wouldn't have to look at what my neglect had caused, but it was then that I saw a tiny sprig--new growth at the bottom of the plant.
I'll see if I can find a picture of my "wilted" jade plant and finish the story later. I think you know where this is going.
27 people like this
22 responses
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
22 Nov 15
@TheHorse I saved a few days ago a small hot pepper plants that I bought for Halloween in a decorated ceramic pumpkin. I did not realize that the soil in the pot was not enough, the poor little pepper was losing all the leaves. Now it's moved in a big pot with plenty of soil and it looks healthy again.
6 people like this
@vickyrose (2235)
• Cooma, Australia
22 Nov 15
i love succulents as they are low maintenance plants and they are so easy to propagate.
4 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
22 Nov 15
yepperz, they don't cater to bein' cold. i see ya'd a lil sprig, that sign 'f new life 'n i was o'erjoyed. i fear i left out a few last night (not jades, but some herbs i'd planned to save o'er the winter) 'n they perished mostly. somethin' 'bout that minus 0 with the windchill factor whilst bein' smacked by 45mph jest didn't do 'em a lick 'f good 
5 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
22 Nov 15
@crazyhorseladycx I hope they survive Crazy, and that your man will bring them in for you.
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
22 Nov 15
@TheHorse yepperz, ya got broad shoulders'n i'll let'cha take that burden off'a mine, lol. sigh... i'm jest hopin' the hibiscus trees in the garage survived! the hubs's been lax 'bout bringin' the monsters indoors fer me'n i fear i can't make it up the back porch steps with 'em'n my own these days. they're in 30 gallon pots 'n nearly 5' tall, 3' in diameter. 'r should i say they were?? 
4 people like this
@celticeagle (168334)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Nov 15
It has flourished then? My grandmother had a Christmas cactus that she kept in the kitchen window. It always bloomed each year and as a child I always remember it being there. I took it with me when she passed. It has never bloomed for me.
5 people like this
@celticeagle (168334)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Nov 15
@TheHorse ... She had in the window and I put it in one too. She had it in good soil and I just added to that. I think it must like to be jammed in a smaller pot. That might be part of the problem. Some plants like that. And, it was grandma for Pete's sake. If there was ever a woman with a green thumb it was her. In the dictionary next to green thumb you'll see her picture.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (168334)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Nov 15
@Auntylou ...I will just have to neglect it more I guess. LOL
1 person likes this
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
22 Nov 15
I am glad your plant survived. I have had no luck growing jade. I had a similar experience with a shamrock plant. We had given up on it and put the pot outside in the "house plant grave yard". In the spring little shoots appeared in the pot and we had years of flourishing shamrocks.
4 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50524)
• United States
22 Nov 15
The cold can be so harsh on our plants and other vegetation.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Nov 15
That is one sad ignored plant, Looking forward to the next part. But will admit I thought you were going to talk about an out of body experience, or some cosmic understanding but trust I'm not disappointed.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
23 Nov 15
@TheHorse I'm thinking the plant has no way to save itself so it touched your heart when It needed help.
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
22 Nov 15
It will, or maybe has rebounded. They are hearty p,ants.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Nov 15
@ElizabethWallace If there's any life left, it will do what living things do: try to survive.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
23 Nov 15
@Auntylou Some things rebound quickly if given what they need.
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
22 Nov 15
@TheHorse That is what I would have done too.
My husband got mad once when we returned from a break in the middle of a hot summer and he found a whole lot of plants keeled over . He had uprooted several before I said he should just water them. By the next day all were fine1
3 people like this
@JustEmm (148)
• United States
22 Nov 15
How sad, if it was my plant I would bring it inside and wrap a towel or other soft warm thing around the planter and if possible put it in the sunshine via a window. I am also weird but I speak to my plants (and even water) and would say, "I'm sorry and I love you, please forgive me."
3 people like this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
22 Nov 15
if only I can grow a plant, i would gladly revive a dying plant. But I don't have the green thumb
4 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
22 Nov 15
hope you succeed in resurrecting the plant from the surviving sprig
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
22 Nov 15
I suspect that Jade plant was quite resilient and is now thriving.
@DeborahDiane (40321)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 Nov 15
I hope it survives and flourishes in the future. Good luck with your jade plant.
@vickyrose (2235)
• Cooma, Australia
22 Nov 15
they are very hardy plants. I have them in my garden. they love the sunshine. you can even grow them from a leaf.
2 people like this
