Garbage Gardening

I have developed a love for houseplants. Could it be that I am trying to fool myself? Could it be that I surround myself with this greenery so that I can forget (sometimes) that I live in a city? Possibly. At any rate, I enjoy the tranquility an assortment of plants can bring, restoring peace to the soul. (And they’re great listeners.)

The price of houseplants is prohibitive, if you’re trying to live on a low income. So, friends are important; that is, friends that are plant lovers. Get cuttings from these friends and start your own. Now it’s important to know how to propagate new plants from the parent plant—some require rooting in water, others you can stick right in the soil. Go to a library (if you don’t have any plant books of your own) and read up on the particular plant to find how to grow new plants. Also, note what the book suggests as to lighting, soil, and watering. Raising plants does involve time and care. They’re easy to kill, especially if you don’t take the time to learn what they do and do not like.

If you’re still dissatisfied with the size of your plant collection, or if you don’t have very many friends, there’s still hope—eat fruit, and then save the seeds. The seeds of citrus fruits are about the easiest to grow. Plant the seed in a soil mixture of two-thirds potting soil and one-third humus, plus a handful of sand. Give them some sunlight, but not too much.

Pineapples, as you know, have no seeds, but can be grown by planting the tops. Cut off the top of a healthy pineapple, leaving an inch of fruit. Dry it out for a day and then plant it in soil that is half humus and half potting soil. (If you have any coffee grounds, add them to the soil mixture—pineapples love acidity.) Bury the fruit part of the top and bring the soil up tightly around the crown. Water it well and be patient because it may take a month before you see signs of growth. Unusual about pineapple plants is that they absorb water through their leaves. So, spray it often—an old Windex bottle will do if you don’t have atomizer.

Don’t you dare swallow the seeds, the next time you eat grapes. Save them, wash in tepid water, and let dry overnight. Put eight or more seeds in a medium size pot of dirt then cover the seeds with one quarter inch humus and water well. As soon as they’ve grown a few inches, give them a stake to climb. Like all plants, grapevines have a dormant period, usually between November and February. That’s the time to prune your full grown vines. They need to be cut back up to 80% each year. Leave about 12 inches of stem. Be sure to water it regularly and in a few months new life will appear.

Now, the growing of an avocado is a bit more complicated but can be done and can produce a healthy size tree within a couple of years. First, you must be able to afford an avocado (or have a friend who does and will save the pit for you). The best pits come from very ripe avocados. Peel off the brown outer layer a one-eighth sliver from the top and bottom of the pit—this speeds germination. Now insert three or four toothpicks at about the middle of the pit, or slightly above. Set the pit over a glass of water with the top (the more pointed end) exposed to air and with the bottom under water. Change the water often, and be sure to use warm water. In time, a large root will appear and later a green shoot from the top. Cut back the shoot and let another grow. Plant the pit with roots and shoot in a pot, leaving a small portion of the top of the pit exposed. Let it grow and as it grows don’t be afraid to prune it. This insures a tree with lush growth.

Good luck. Don’t be discouraged if not everything you plant grows. Try again. And have a green environment.

Etta L. Worthington was a contributing editor of the Post American when this article appeared.