Mid-Atlantic Gardening: BIrds of the Mid-Atlantic: Nature's Entertainers, 4 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Pat---

Sorry i did not answer your question about the plant hanging to the right
in my picture above.
That is a Ric Rac cactus--one of the Orchid Family plant I have.
In all the years I have had it--it only bloomed once. beats me!
The other two Epis now bloom every year.

That particular Ric Rac cactus got too huge to hang on a ceiling hook
in the house. It weighed, probably, over 30lbs. I always worried that I
would hear this CRASH one day--and it would be on the floor--having taken
a bunch of other plants below it to the grave.

I donated it to Cylburn Arboretum here, as I have also donated my too big
Dr. Seuss Brug and the Maya that grew 8'x8' in full bloom.

The last time the man I dealt with was very rude--and unappreciative and told me
to stop bugging him after the donation and that he will not accept any more
plants. He is the one that deals with the greenhouses and growing the plant.
So arrogant! Never mind that the first time I donated the huge Maya Brug--he took
a slew of cuttings and they sold tham at their "Market Day" for $12.

When I took the Ric Rac to him--(donation #2) he was still friendly enough.
I asked to see the Mama Maya that I had given them in 2009--(donation #1)
and there she was--isolated in a small courtyard near the GH's--COVERED
in Mealy Bugs. Never ever have I seen so many Mealy Bugs bunched up on each stem!
The guy was not too upset--as he said he would treat it with Forbid and all would be well...

My 3rd donation was giving away my Dr. Seuss Brug in the fall of 2o13.
Mind you--each time I had to, literally, beg them to take these plants!
I WAS a bit "demanding" that he would be there when i arrived. If nothing else--
just to say "Thank You"--but he had arranged one of the GH girls to meet me...

B/c there was NO way this brug would fit in my car--I cut it back in a pile of stem cuttings
(as I would for myself), making sure the nodes were OK at both ends--put them all
in moist peat moss--ready to pot up. The Mama plant fit in my car after the cut-back
and I delivered that also. Was HE there? NO! He was downtown somewhere....

I was really pissed--and I followed up a couple weeks later with a call to see if he had
gotten all this...I guess he dod not like me bugging him--and that is when he said
"Man! You don't let a me breathe!!!"...and told me he would not accept any more
plant donations.

About every 4 years--these Brugs reach a size that is just too big and I need to pass
them on to someone. OR---I cut it all back to pieces--and deal with it the following year.
Have NO idea WHO would accept these huge plants from now in.

Sorry about this LONG story! BUT--sometimes you cannot GIVE things away.
These plants just grow so huge I cannot keep them...

Donation #1---this is how huge my Maya Brug grew in 2009. What else could I do???

Donation #2--Gave away my large heavy Ric Rac Cactus--as well as the huge, heavy
Epi that has the fabulous hot pink blooms. HE seemed excited about those--
The BIG HEAVY Epi is on the right...the other one does not grow so crazy.

Pic. #3--This is from Nov. of last year when I brought all the plants inside.
The same Epi (now a new one from cuttings 3 or 4 years ago) is in the white pot.
It is already massive!

Donation #3--This big Dr. Seuss brug you have all seen by now--the one I cut up
in 37 cuttings and gave away--NOT so graciously accepted.

Sometimes growing plants is a challenge and a dilemma....
G.