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Houseplants

Learn English with this gardening English lesson.

Date: Dec 10 2012

Themes: Hobbies

Grammar: Contractions and Abbreviations

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Intro

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It’s lovely to have some nice, green houseplants to decorate your home. Unless you have a green thumb, though, it can be hard to figure out how to keep them alive. More light, or less? Soak the soil, or keep it dry?

Some people find it hard even to remember to water their houseplants. They neglect their plants, and one day discover they’re all dried up. Learn about Mason and Jason’s experience with houseplants in this gardening English lesson.

Dialog

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Mason

Jason

Mason: Jason, we’re a couple of dudes. Have you ever been able to keep a houseplant alive?

Jason: They’re not happy, but they’re alive.

Mason: Alright.

Jason: I’ve got three of them, and I’ve had them for two years.

Mason: Wow.

Jason: Yeah.

Mason: I have no houseplants, and I now have a yard, and I’m, like, killing everything in the yard.

Jason: Wow.

Mason: Not on purpose. It just happens because I’m neglectful.

Jason: But houseplants, I mean even though they’re right there in front of you, it’s hard to remember to water them. You just sort of start to take them for granted after a while.

Mason: For sure. You know, because the problem with houseplants is you think, you trick yourself into thinking, “This is a natural thing that normally supports itself,” but because you put it in this little pot, it’s reliant on you.

Jason: Fortunately all mine need to be watered about once a week, so I do them all at once. They’re not on different schedules. I think that helps.

Mason: Definitely. What kind of plants only need to be watered once a week? I need these plants.

Jason: Well, this is proof that I don’t have a green thumb. I actually don’t know what kind of plants I have. I got them from someone else. I think they’re succulents, but I just let them soak. I give them a lot of water once a week, and then when they start to droop, I give them some more.

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Discussion

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Mason asks Jason, as a fellow man, if he’s ever had any luck keeping a houseplant alive. Jason replies that he has a few that are doing OK. Mason is impressed that they’re alive at all. He’s never been good at growing things.

Jason agrees that it can be hard to care for houseplants. It’s easy to forget to water them. Mason thinks that this might be because they seem as if they should be able to take care of themselves.

Jason thinks the key to his houseplant success might be that his plants only need to be watered once a week. He hasn’t got such a green thumb, though; he doesn’t even know the type of plants that he has.

Do you keep houseplants in your house? Do you have a green thumb? What are some tricks you’ve used to keep your houseplants alive?

Comments

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Staisy

Russian Federation

I have read an article about houseplants recently. It says that all kinds of houseplants clean up the air in a flat from harmful elements and everyone who lives in a large city should have some plants at home.

I do so, but not only because of this benefit. I like to care about them and to see them blooming.

SANG891

Hong Kong

mahsa.n

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

good….

usefull for me!

ola33

Japan

Some plants are in the shape of trees. like bansai that have a sacred meaning meaning for us the family tree.

Moriza

Ukraine

Julito,I know that you come on ebaby with a will to get a portion of fun and if you took it from my comment I,m only glad.

julito

Argentina

moriza, (” quote… this is the function of my radio “) so funny.!!!!! jejejeje

Moriza

Ukraine

Houseplants are nice for our sight,soul and as elements of decor for our houses.I like them though don,t sing songs or serenades for my flowers (this is a function of my radio or TV).I just care about them.And it,s enough one my glance to define how do they feel today and whether they need any my help.

ola33

Japan

I agree with Jasen that once a week a good watering will be enough for tropical plants. They’re amazingly resilient to be taken for granted. I like their smart generic name – succulent. Now I know what to answer when asked the name of my tropical stranger that snuggly sits besides the balcony door. Poor one, its leaves are craning to one side, to the light, as though it wants to eavesdrop the neighbors’ stories. I need to turn it from time to time since from too much craning, I’m afraid it can lose its balance despite of the massive pot. I brought it a year ago and was hoping that it would grow faster like its ancestors that made a big family jungle in one room. But not with me. Maybe I don’t have a green thumb :), but one thing as well might the reason for its not growing so fast is the absence of the company. The flowers, like people, love socializing. Always put two flowers together and that compensate for the negletfull treatment. Very nice saying about them, the flowers, being reliant on us. Nice thinking. We’re also reliant on them to some extent, since they make us happy being so beautiful, so rich in crop like my Meyer lemon, so healing like Aloe Vera.

The mother-in-law chair reminded me about the flower of my childhood. It has a similar name but this time not a chair, it’s called Mother-in-law’s tongue :)

Want to have that flower for a company or for collection :))

knuschu

Germany

julito – “the seat of our mother-in- law ” haha, ;) I’ve got a nice exemplar of that cactus at home. It was given to me, when I was … 13 or 14. about 30 years ago! And he still lives!!! But neither my first, nor my second mother in law had to sit on that … “seat” ;-)

Master2020

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

I groe white lilies in my back yeard

ghamartaj

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

hmmmi like them but i dont have time for them..i prefer see plants in streets and parks,coz im sure if i have a houseplant it be droop in my house,hehe

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Yes, they deserve to be respected and treated fairly; after all, they are the makers of our spouses. I’m thinking perhaps their spontaneous visits and meddling habits aren’t always welcome by some couples ;).

Thanks for pointing out such an amusing way of referring to a golden barrel cactus. I’ll be using it sparingly : )

julito

Argentina

snoopy, I googled it and have seen the seat and the slingshot, I am still laughing . poor mothers-in-law , they don´t deserve this.!!!! :)))))))

Jonas_ma

Morocco

in this crazy world.. you don’t find time and energy to caring your kids, how can we care houseplants..

ballin25

United Kingdom

Im alon adont want be alon .

naira71

Azerbaijan

OOh.It is very difficult to keep houseplants.I had some ones earlier but they droopped.I think I havent a green thumb!

snoopyboy

Antarctica

The seat of our mother-in-law, how fitting!

I was unfamiliar with this term, Julito… so when I searched “mother in law chair” on Google I expected to see a nice silk textured bean bag , that vibrates upon contact ; ) but the first image shows a couch attached to the end of a giant slingshot :). I think I got the point.