Buying from the Dying Shelf

Have you ever been to the garden shop and looked over at the "Dying Shelf".  You know, the shelves where plants are typically $1 to $5 but look like their going to die before you even get them to the car?

I have and it's my favorite place to shop!  Look over the plant; does it have some green still on it?  Is it free of mold near the bottom?  Are the shoots of the plant at least 30-50% green?  If so, you're in luck!  You've got the perfect find!

This Year's $1 Find!

Last Year's Find

Commonly know as Hens and Chicks these are a flowering succulent plant.  They grow best in sunlight, planted in well drained soil.  They like to be tucked in near rocks.  

This is my best find so far this year, $1 for 6 plants!  The average price is $2 PER PLANT!  What a deal!  When planted outdoors, they WILL survive the winters and grow in the northern climate of New Jersey. You can also plant them indoors, just be sure to have well drained soil.  In other words, don't water them too much.

The flowering picture was last year's find.  I got a FULL FLAT  for $5 (just a few are pictured), and planted them throughout the rocky areas of the garden bed.  They were very sad looking last year but this year they are thriving and blooming.

$5 Find

These are Chlorophytum Comosum, otherwise known as Spider Plants.  You pretty much CAN'T kill these plants!

Last year, on the same Dying Shelf, along side of the Hens and Chicks, I found ONE pot with 3 of these dying plants for $5. 

The average price is $10-$15 PER PLANT. 

Part of the $5 Find

I simply separated and repotted them into 3 containers and PRESTO, I now have 3, big beautiful Spider plants to enjoy for the price of $1.67 per plant!

  

And finally, my CRAZY plant.  I actually have no idea what this is!  It was marked 50 cents and in a planter the size of a tea cup.  I couldn't resist!  It has easily increased its size 300% over the last year. It grows vertically with horizontal shoots.  Hey, if you happen to know what it is, let me know!

If you know what this is,
let me know!

Share any great Buying from the Dying Shelf finds with us!

7/3/15 UPDATE  Our friends at Our Fairfield Home & Garden were kind enough to identify this plant.  It's a PENCIL CACTUS and unknown to me, is poisonous! It also is stated at growing 12-20 FEET!  Oh my!  Well, since we have both cats and dogs that like to nibble the houseplants, I'll be putting this one on the top shelf for safety and if it does grow to unimaginable heights, we'll be removing it completely.  In the meantime, I'm having fun watching this crazy thing grow!