Do you talk to your plants?

This may sound stupid folks, but I go out in the morning and try to touch EVERY plant in my beds, then during the day , and again before I go to bed.

The neighbours think I'm complete crackers, but I've just got to touch them, and say a few wee words of encouragement to each and every one of them.

By the way, I'm not 'the other way round', but all of my plants are boys, e.g. c'mon boys, let's see those big leaves, flowers, beautiful colours etc', it's just a thing I learned to do from my Gran when I was a wee boy in Glasgow.

Does anyone else talk, argue or fight with their plants, or am I the only loony on here.

All the best

Wintermoor

Yes, I do!! But of course!!

LOL so funny, me very little do that.

I do it with my houseplants, but only when DH is not looking. Otherwise he thinks Im a nutcase *LOL*

My neighbour asked me one day a few years ago if everything was alright. Not understanding, I asked why. It seems she heard me yelling at the seeds to germinate and thought I was in the middle of a long argument with someone. I often shout at the telly when I disagree with a subject too and I yarn away to animals, in fact come to think of it, I'll talk to everyone and anything LOL.

lol!!! I don't care who hears me!! If a plant which has hitherto not shown any sign of life and then does, receives special praises with loads of encouragement and gratitude!! Call me nuts!! I don't care!! I always wondered whether plants feel pain when they are cut or damaged!! Think I'll just duck down here and hide a little while......lolol!!!

Zameluzza, Baa,

great to hear....I've often argued with seeds for not coming up when their brothers were already near blooming.

As for house-plants..... well my Gran used to nuts at them. No problem, my Papa just shook his head and smiled, but her plants were always a success..... strange isn't it?

All the best

Wintermoor

Louisa,

of course plants feel pain, but it's a part of our everyday life to cut them, or form them for our own needs and design. We don't hear them wailing or shouting, because the sounds which they make is on a completely different wave-length as ours.

Take for example the song of the whales.... sounds wonderfully exciting to us but what are they saying, this is what we have not found out ....YET.

All the best

Wintermoor

And the dolphins too!! And my cats!! I could go on!!! :-)

Besides talking to the little green ones, we have radios out in the shed, greenhouse and in the basement.

DW had on public radio, but I was concerned the little ones would turnout to be snobs, so we settled on light-rock.
Dennis............

Wintermoor, did you just come by this naturally, or was it a result of acquired knowledge? I have a reason for asking. In 1956, at a little college which is now a University in north Louisiana, I was fortunate to make the acquaintance of my husband's botany professor, Dr. Moore. He allowed me to audit classes with my infant in tow, gave me a job in the greenhouses and in general took me under his wing. One day he introduced me to a special group of plants I had not been tending because they were his private project. He explained that he had measured fields of electricity around plants many times under many conditions, and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that they responded to human contact in various ways. He was ready to present a paper at a regional meeting, and wanted some final input that would validate his findings, so he needed a different person to do the same things he had been doing, preferably a female. I was instructed to tenderly touch and talk to one group of the plants, some on a regular schedule and others sporadically, in addition to tending them as I did the others in the greenhouse. Another group of plants, planted the same time, cared for in the same way up to that point, I was told to ignore, just provide basic maintenance such as watering, but not to give them anything more than was necessary for them to survive. A third group, I was told to say abusive things, to harshly criticize them and in general show my displeasure with them. Now, this was difficult, because I rarely met a plant I disliked and I was so hungry for plants. But I knew what my job was, and I forced myself to scold and shame those poor plants for weeks. It only took a few days for the results to begin to show. The first group almost ran out the door to greet me. They grew, they flourished, they excelled. They were photographed and journalised. Much was made over them by Dr. Moore and me, the only humans they knew. The second group just grew normally, as was expected by the average person. The poor third group first stopped growing, then they began to damp off or droop. Some died within days, others were stunted and deformed, and some just had a long decline. I was mortified to know I was actually killing the poor things, so I begged Dr. Moore to let me stop tending the third group. He decided to expand his study, so it was decided I would remove some of the third group to a new area, where I would give them very special care. Some of these were almost dead, some were just struggling. I treated them as I would a baby. I fussed over them, came in several times a day and talked to them, petted them. No chemicals were used in this study. I simply treated the plants as valued friends, cherished living things, because they were. A few of the trauma group died, but most were actually recovering within a week, and some bloomed in just a few days. Dr. Moore thought this meant they would die soon, but instead, they began to put on new growth. That opened up a new study for the brilliant professor, and a year later, when I left the school, he was documenting what would happen if dying plants were given emergency treatment without chemicals of any kind. This study has been lodged firmly in my mind for all these years, and I do indeed talk to my plants, and the plants I encounter in stores and other places. In May and June, 2000, I placed some plants into a commercial building and tended them in my usual fashion. Some of them tried but just couldn't make it, so I removed them. Others flourished, still others just sat there and barely survived. I moved them around, and was able to determine whose area was friendly and whose wasn't. I have only met two of the people who work there. One was the president, a man who had been described to me as cold and interested only in money. In his office, I placed a fiddle leaf fig. In the comptroller's office, another "cold fish", I installed a peace lily. I removed an existing Norfolk Island Pine from the lobby, but ministered tenderly to a huge but sickly Schefflera. In one office shared by a vice president and another person, I placed several plants, some near their desks and some rather distant. I repotted and supplemented some plants, relocated others, and in general interior scaped the building. This is a building with very poor lighting, all windows filtering out natural light and artificial light being poor for plants. In December 2000, I was diagnosed with cancer, and was suddenly not able to even visit the plants. I was away from the building for over six months. When I returned in mid-June, 2001, many of the plants were gone, some of the remaining ones were quite sick, and others were just sitting there doing nothing but surviving. I slipped back into my usual routine, talking to them and petting them and apologizing to them for their plight, promising to rescue them. By the time I was back tending to them a month, seeing them five times a week, they every single one put on new growth, regained healthy color and in general perked up. I am preparing to feed them, as I normally would this time of year, but they improved on care alone. At the desk of the receptionist, a simple sans and some scindapsus had been stars, and I thought it was her influence. The employee who had been tending the original plants before I came wanted to be a "plant person" but failed over and over, and she was astonished that plants in the area around the receptionist improved when I began caring for them. In the office shared by the vp and other employee, plants died when they were placed near the vp, a very nice lady, and survived nicely but didn't grow near the other employee, a most uptight person. Current conclusion, the plants knew I was interested in them, and they responded. When I was gone, they began to decline, but when I returned, they regained hope. I forgot to add, the fiddle leaf fig is in splendid shape, never faltered (Old Prez must have a bit of nice guy in him), the peace lily was in decline but not serious and has recovered (comptroller was indifferent), a mixture of my plants added to existing ficus was almost beyond hope but is recovering (lady just has no true feelings for them, thinks of them the same as she thinks of her ceramic fish), a simple philodendron in the vp's area almost died and is back at home (she admits to not being a plant person, but likes to see them), another in the office of the former plant tender's office was struggling so was brought into ICU, my kitchen (she is a very frustrated control freak with no desire to learn about the plants' needs, just wants to force them into her environment, currently has brought in a yucca plant to live in that dark room). The giant scheff was once again in decline, but I have been able to get it on the road to recovery by simple touch and kind words. My DIL sees these plants regularly, and had reported to me on their condition, which was a huge incentive for me to get back into condition to care for them. She firmly believes they had one chance, and that was for me to go back and care for them. I know someone else could have done it, but there was no someone else available.

This message was edited Saturday, Apr 6th 6:17 PM

I just fainted!!!!! Aimee you leave me breathless!!! Time to get that book started my friend!!!

To this day, when I remember the feelings I had caring for those plants for Dr. Moore, and when I think of all the plants that have benefited from the knowledge I gained, I get emotional. It was a most profound experience, and still is. I edited to update on the plants in the building.

Aimee,
what a wonderful post..... I had to read it twice over to get everything in.

Talking to plants is an action I learned from my Gran when I was a little boy, and have carried on doing so wherever I was. Her plants always flourished, bloomed, spread or almost whatever she wanted them to do. I thought about it a few years back, and it was uncanny.

I started talking to the plants in our office (concert promoters), and they actually stopped dying!!!

I'll give you a wee example; I went to a flower shop in Hamburg and bought miniature roses for all of the girls in the office (4). They were only wee plants, but very nice, and looked good on their desks. After 2 weeks, 3 of the plants were as good as gone.... no blooms, almost no leaves and looking as though they just wanted to be left alone to die. The other rose was at the reception, which had no daylight, but only halogen light, had sprouted new leaves, bloomed almost non-stop for 6 months, and started blooming again, and again, and again... The girl at the reception was a real character and loved her wee rose, but didn't think it would live because of lack of proper light and sun, till I told her just to touch it when she came in in the morning, and before she went away after work. She went so far as to wish it good morning with a wee kiss, and the same when she went home (were we guys jealous or what).

The other roses were at windows with excellent chances to grow, not too hot, not too much sun etc., but their condition was extremely dire.

What I noticed though was, and please ladies don't jump at me for saying this, the other three women were the bitterest bit++es I have ever met. One had just divorced her 4th!!!!! husband, one was built like a tank and had bad breath (which her 'best friends' had already told her about but still didn't make her do anything about it), and the other was just hatefull of anything male.

I took these plants into my office and just touched them and hummed wee songs at them many times during the day, and voila´...they came back to life. The girl at reception wanted to take a couple to see if what I said was true, and believe me she got these wee roses blooming again within 12 weeks.

The rose I kept is now in a flower bed at my mother-in-law's house, and perfectly hardy.

I read a wee bit about this later on the internet, and what I read fits almost exactly to the descriptions of your post. I have always believed that contact, whether by touch or by sound, with my plants has always helped them to flourish.

Nice to hear you have the same views, and have them documented. Somehow it makes it even more worthwhile to be on this site, because I'm meeting people here with whom I can communicate about things which I was beginning to think almost abnormal.

My neighbours still think I'm crackerjack though ;-)

Thank you Aimee :-x

All the best

Wintermoor

I am relieved to see your reaction. I was hesitant to post such a long item, but it couldn't be dealt with in just a few words. I like to think the things you found on the web were in part developed by my own sweet Dr. Moore, who passed away some years ago. And somewhere in his journals are the notations I made for him, which gives me some reflected glory in which to bask. How fortunate I feel! I hope the school preserved them. Yes, it is so good to be able to speak of such matters without fearing the men in the white coats, bringing us a jacket with the arms in the back.

Aimee,

the writings on the internet were from the BBC homepage on Gardening, last year, but I can imagine that the findings of their study probably came from your Dr. Moore.

They learn from others too of course, and if you were the main actress in this film, I think an oscar nomination should be the least that one could offer.

Well done Aimee, and thank you again.

All the best

Wintermoor

"Blush", thank you, I was a mere peon, carrying out the wishes of a great educator.

This is very interesting reading! I always talk to plants,.. to all living things, for that matter. It's a matter of respect, as far as I'm concerned. I suppose I touch the plants in the garden, as I walk by, but mostly I talk.

Now seedlings get the most attention. When little things start sprouting up out of the soil, I praise them. As my DH said, I have the radio going during the day, and turn it off at night. When I leave the plants for the night, I always go out the door of the greenhouse or Red Shed, stopping to say a last goodnight. The neighbors probably think I have a crazy uncle in there!

Weez, they probably think you are the crazy and your poor uncle is tethered to a flat to stand guard while you sleep. Are your plants of any particular gender? I am opposite of Wintermoor, mine are all girls, and I call them beautiful, gorgeous, precious, sweetie, sugar, honey, sassy, showoff, and any number of things I might call a lively little girl spontaneously.

Mine are called beautiful babies, irrespective of gender!!

The reason mine are all boys comes again from my Gran.

She always told me that boys want to show off, to be big, to be the strongest.

Look at birds and fish for example. Most of the females are plainly coloured, but the males are bright, flashy, big, handsome.......ehm.....err....oh ok I'll get my coat and leave!!

All the best

Wintermoor

Which is the reason humans are to be, can't think of the word I want right now, in charge of the plants and animals. The stronger male is to be the bearer of heavy loads, while the female provides the more sensitive tender care. A few rare males are able to be strong and tender at the same time, and they are certainly superior in my book. Among humans only, and no other of earth's creatures, females are generally more colorful. Please don't leave, dear, you are a rare find. We need more of you evolved types.

The old saying:

"THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE RULES THE WORLD"

has a lot of truth.

Well, it was hammered into me anyway......

All the best

Wintermoor

Wintermoor: I hadn't considered gender with my plants. My old truck is male...but he was named before we got him..."Bruno". We are a household of females with my poor DH the sole male. Otherwise there is myself and two bitch dogs that belong to my eldest son. I do Doggy Daycare for them. DH says he hadn't considered gender for the plants either.

I have to say, however, that I do have times when I am less than patient with my plants. It is when they grow too quickly as seedlings, sprawling across flats and becoming hopelessly tangled or those times in late summer when all of them become uncontrollable in the beds. I feel like turning out the lights and telling them all to go to sleep ..which of course, they all do by late October.

I don't know if the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, but it certainly rules the baby. When this fact is forgotten, the hand gives the cradle a good jerk as a reminder.

Isn't it a known fact that behind every great man there was an even greater lady, and that throughout history?

Who is this person DH you all talk about? Is it Dear Hubby?, Donny Hosmond?

All the best

Wintermoor

GREAT post Aimee...I love reading your stories. And yes, I talk to my plants everyday, and my pets too!

Wow Aimee...as I have told you, you type like you talk! LOL

Enjoyed your story as usual!

Whoops! Forgot to add that I talk to my plants too and Hubby just installed outside speakers today and am going to jam 'em out from now on!

(((Rebecca)))

This message was edited Saturday, Apr 6th 9:41 PM

Uh-oh, Rebecca knows me well! I don't think I will allow speakers, though, unless it's to play some music for them, and me. I might work more efficiently with a little of the Crewcuts or some Pete Fountain or Al Hirt, maybe some Elvis and Beach Boys now and then. I know there were studies with music and their effects on plants as well as laying hens, but I didn't get to participate. Guess I could conduct some of my own. Look out, Echinacea, here comes Sousa.

Talk to mine every day telling them''"grow you stupid thing,grow, and quit hanging those little leaves of yours. I will get to you when I have time." Thank goodness they never talk back.

Wintermoore: Yes, DH stands for "Dear Husband", though it could also stand for Dennis Hopper, but I doubt he would haul water to my greenhouse the way my DH does.

here is a book to read it is called

The Secret Life Of Plants
BY: Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird
ISBN 0-06-091587-0

this book goves a whole new meaning to pulling weeds
and puts vegens in there place at the same time.

real good book

yes I talk to mine although it isn't always nice. But then again I talk to our deaf dog to so......

How awesome, Aimee!! Yes, you should write a book. Or atleast contact the university to see if Dr. Moore's papers have been preserved and maybe use them as reference for an article? I'll bet a lot of magazines would love to publish it!!!

Troy, I've had a copy of that book for years now, but have been hesitant to read it for fear of not being able to pull those weeds or prune my trees when I'm done reading. Have you read it? Will it really make one think that way or am I just worried for nothing and should pick it up?



I don't talk out loud to mine, but I sure do talk to them in my mind while I'm tending them ~ sending them good vibes, thinking how good they look today and how they'd look better in this other pot or that other spot, willing sick ones back to life by sweet thoughts. Now, you nuts please don't think I'm nuts or then I would be a nuttier nut than you all. *grin* I just have to talk to so many people all the time that I like my silent time with the plants. I haven't tried to see if actual audible words do any better or if the thoughts do any good at all ~ sounds like a study coming up!

midwestsnowbird - loved your post!! lolol!!!

All of mine get a wee word of encouragement twice a day, morning and evening, and of course in between too. And when pruning, I have to tell it that I also get my hair cut so that it will grow to a better form. Nuts or what???

I think I must have said some really fancy words to my Bleeding Heart cos it's already in full bloom, one month too early.

All the best

Wintermoor

Wintermoor, how funny: I also tell mine this is just a haircut, and it's good for them. I apologize to any plant I find neglected or abused. When I'm too busy to clean the leaves of the giant Scheff, I pet it a moment and promise I will get back asap. The only things I don't talk kindly to are the hackberry and juniper trees that insist on coming up all over the place, but they seem to be quite indifferent to my wrath.

Aimee, they're quite indifferent to our skid-steer loader's wrath, too. Kenny'll get on that thing and scrape the ground to clear a new area, but up pops the hackberries again anyway! We REALLY need to get the backhoe fixed. Bet they'll be receptive to THAT kind of wrath! LOL!

(In a timid voice) can I borrow your backhoe and operator? Do you also have those brambles some people call heads-and-tails, because you can't tell where it starts or ends? Nothing, absolutely nothing, bothers them. I think they are here for the rabbits to escape into. I have talked to them, but not lovingly, to no avail. Like some people, they have the hide of an alligator.

Sure, Aimee!! Once we get it fixed, we'll hook up the "redneck wrecker" (truck and flatbed trailer) and come on over with it! *grin!* At the moment, it's in two pieces ~ taken apart at the middle. That's the only way to get to the broken transmission gears. :-( It looks like it'll be a few months before it's fixed. Kenny said from the sounds the skid-steer's making, it won't be long before it'll need a similar treatment. Double :-( The skid steer is a Bobcat on steroids ~ shaped just like one, complete with bucket on the front, but twice as big. They are handy little things to have around! But being a tractor owner means you have to get used to them breaking. Triple :-( At this rate, we'll NEVER get the "To-Do" list done!

Are you talking about those things that are a woody fountain-shaped bush that root everywhere a limb touches? Yeah, we got 'em. They're like China-berry trees ~ every time we see one, we immediately remove it. Nasty things!

Same nasty bush! Between those, the junipers and the prickly pear and tassojillo, my pasture is getting crowded. Even the mesquite is a poor contender for space. A bobcat on steroids sounds nice!