How to find free plants

[cata5]

I copied this from my Simple Times newsletter. (I hope that's ok)
There are some great ideas here.


1) Spring Clean Up

I always keep my eyes open during spring clean up time.
You know how I love to get great finds in the dumpster.
This time of year "some" people are especially prone
changing their whole garden scheme. If you keep your
eyes open, you'll find tons of discarded plants out by
the curb -- just because someone got tired of having
them in their yard and decided that it was time for a
change. Hey ... change is good, for you that is. ;-)

2) Cuttings

Either from your own plants or from your friend's, small
cuttings are a great way to get some free plants. Just
cut a small piece of the stem of most any plant -- pull
off all but the top few leaves -- insert it into some moist
sand. In no time, you'll have roots and a free plant. Mint,
tomatoes, roses, hydrangeas, holly, and butterfly bush
are all examples of plants that will grow from cuttings.

3) Discards From Stores

Become friends with the person in charge of your local
flower department in the big super centers. When plants
get a little tired looking, they may give them to you free.
All you need to do is give the plants some TLC.

For example, recently in our local grocery super center, they
were selling spring bulbs. In a short while, the flowers had
faded and the plants were no longer wanted by shoppers.
Most folks have no idea that these plants can be planted
outside for spring flowers next year. Just ask if you can have
the "old" flower pots after the flowers fade. Keep your eyes
open for Easter lilies -- outside they can grow up to 4 ft. with
lots more blooms than you see in that little pot.

4) My poinsettia is also still doing great from Christmas!

I pinch back the stems as the red flowers (actually leaves)
dry out. New beautiful sets of leaf buds have budded out
already. I will plant it outside as soon as the danger of frost
is past, then bring it in for a new round of Christmas blooms.
I also broke off a few of the longer stems and stuck them
down in the soil. They have already grown roots.

I know everyone throws out their poinsettia plants after
Christmas, but when I went to Africa some years back, one
of the most amazing memories I have were the huge
poinsettia TREES! So I am going to see how far I can take
this little beauty.

5) Restaurants and Parks

Most businesses replace their plants as the flowers fade.
This year, start a relationship with the businesses in your
area. Let them know that you are willing to take the unsightly
plants off of their hands after they are finished blooming. We
don't mind since we know they will bloom again next year in
our gardens!

6) Greenhouses

While walking around larger greenhouses, I've noticed all of
the large garbage cans throughout the place filled with soil,
clippings, and old plants. Ask for their clippings for your
compost pile, then use what you can to make new plants by
rooting them, and throw the rest into the compost heap!
Remember, as in the case of an African Violet, it may only
take one leaf to start a new plant!

7) Garden Exchange

Get free plants and seeds by trading them for plants that
you already have. You could do this by starting a garden
exchange in your area. Newspapers are always looking for
news to print, and since a garden exchange is an event,
you can even get your advertising free of charge.

[Darster]

thanks for sharing that, it is great advice!