Home » Plants & Animals » Shade Gardening » Plant Exchange

Plant Exchange

© Marge Talt

Correct plant identification is a challenge for all levels of gardeners. The person who spent a lot of time digging and potting these plants - thought to be rhubarb - was rather embarrassed to find the plants were weedy dock instead.

This image also illustrates the need to dig plants and pot them up sufficiently in advance so that they have time to recover from the shock. Pots of flat, drooping plants are not going to be people's first choices - even if they are what the donor thinks they are.

It's beneficial to allow some time before the exchange begins for those who have brought something special to tell everybody about it. Often choice plants are in seedling form and do not display their real glory, so are overlooked when it comes time to grab a treasure. Or, if most folks are new gardeners, some time can be spent talking about how to grow the plants; what kind of soil, sun and water they need to flourish.

Label, Label, Label

Some of these plants are labeled; some are not. The person who brought the tray of mums was probably thinking that everybody would know what the plants in the Styrofoam cups were because of the flowers in a glass of water.

Well, that works on the spot, but what about when that plant has gone home with its new owner and been set among a whole slew of other plants until, weeks or months later, a permanent home is available…who can remember what a plant is if they don't already know it well?

So, take the time to label your offerings; use something that will withstand water for more than a nano-second. Nothing is more frustrating than a label washed clean of all information.

Pot Them, Please

We plan to dig and pot our plants early…we firmly intend to do this; we are sure we will. Life intervenes and the exchange day dawns and our plants are still in the ground.

What to do but race out and dig, throwing the poor things in boxes or bags like this lovely clump of Arum italicum. Not a great way to display our darlings who deserve to look their best to entice someone to give them a new, loving home.

Supplies

Having a wheelbarrow of potting soil, some pots and blank labels on hand for those of us whose sins of omission far outweigh our sins of commission is a kindness to both people and plants.