Understand that they do this because it sells. There must be a lot of disappointed people out there later who though they can't grow plants because of this, or they develop into some thing they didn't want. I think they should post that it is painted on and not permanent and is harmful to the plant. Not a big secret kept from the public. Can you imagine buying a rare variegate plant only to find out someone painted on the leaves?

They should disclose their treatments, Stush, but unfortunately they don't and many buyers are clueless.

I prefer plants that glow in the dark naturally...

Very pretty! I'll have to see if I can get pics of mine.

I also do not understand the theory that novelties & gimmicks are somehow supposed to woo new plant lovers into the fold. I've seen these plants cause anger, embarrassment, disgust, frustration, ridicule, confusion, arguments, and/or feelings of having been cheated, but have noticed so very few instances of new plant lovers "caused" by novelty & gimmick plants over the yrs. Most of the people who thought their plants were genuinely really that color get upset about it, at the store that sold it, the company that provided this impostor to the store, and the person who had the fortitude to tell them it was painted or dyed.

The couple times I saw them @ the store, I was there looking for plants that I did not already have, money in pocket, eager to buy. I would have bought one of each kind without the paint but none were available, so I left with none.

At least people here seem to care and understand that these hideous things are IN THE SPOT where real/regular plants are supposed to be. Clearly the store had to choose one thing to occupy the spot since the laws of nature do not allow two objects to occupy the same space at once. Instead of trying to sell something to us, who always want to buy every plant we don't already have whenever we stop by to see what is for sale, as often as possible... somebody thought it would be more plant-profitable to try to sell those things to impulsive people who don't know they are painted, did not purposely come to the store to buy plants, and do not even have a plant budget or even consciousness that such a concept exists. Impulsive people who did not post on a forum or FB before purposely heading to the store, "I'm hoping to find a plant to buy today..." No, the plan is: To heck with THOSE people, the hopelessly addicted plant lovers. I probably have plants older than the people making these decisions but my concerns have been brushed aside as unimportant and irrelevant when I've taken the time to share them with the creators of these novelty items, even though I have consistently & purposely purchased their products for decades, and my interest has been proven to not just be a single, impulsive occurrence. Show me one person who has spent thousands of dollars on painted plants in any given year & I'll retract every word.

Not that there is anything wrong with people impulsively buying painted plants, I don't even have that thought. People buying things I don't personally like has no affect on me & more power to 'em! It's not the fault of those buying these plants that they were in the spot where something I want to buy is supposed to be.

Kudos to Tiffany! I agree. I have seen people wanting to buy cacti as they said "wow, look all those lovely flowers they have", for fake glued flowers. So, it is a trick intented to fool people, as many of inexperienced people do get buy these plants.Also, those tricks can well hide signs of unhealthy parts very well, so that is another thing to consider. There are more chances of getting a plant that suffers from something if it is hidden under layers of paint! Dried or black leaf edges can be hidden under paint, insect bites on leaves, etc.

One of the sales people at Costa Gardens who put out these plants responded on our other forum site and was not happy with his company decision to do this. He tried to correct this practice but because of sales, he can't. I have to admit they do sell quality plants under that paint and glued on (real) flowers. I thought they were fake but was told they are dried straw flowers. What happens to them after the store over waters them and people who don't have a clue how to take care of them take them home is another thing. Paint and glue giving them a already weak advantage.
I remember K-Marts (before Sears) selling good quality succulents only due to the fact that they were totally neglected and never watered, while there tropical plants were all dead or dying. They would reduce the whole tray and I would pick out the succulents cheap. Even purchased some nice fancy window boxes with soil for a $1 and was asked why buy dead plants. The pot and soil was worth much more than $1. Oh, the good old days. Most K-Marts are gone with the dinosaurs.

When you try to explain to people these are bad to buy

Keith, As long as they know that it's paint and not really the color of the plants. Most don't and I think it is wrong to fool people no matter if the plants are healthy or not. Variegated plants are rare in nature and cost many times the regular price of the plant. How wrong it would be to find out you got dupped with a painted plant. Wrong is wrong. And fake flowers to boot. Why buy plants at all, just buy the artificial ones and never have to water or fuss over.

I was just browsing yesterday and found some cacti I would have brought home had they not been glued down with a fake flower on top.

I can't stand the fake flowers but have been able to remove them with little to no damage to the plants.

True, the flowers can be removed, but the painted ones are more damaging if you try to remove it.

I agree. I do not buy the painted ones. There are so many to buy everywhere without the silly paint.

I just can't understand why they sell crap and not give the consumers the choice of buying the natural ones at the same price side by side. Costa said they sell so that's why they sell them. Give us the choice to pick and then see if those sell more. If you really like the plant, then buy it and nurse it back to regular health. I almost did but just couldn't bring myself to do it. It's like some one giving you a gift but before giving it to you, they break it.

A lot of the cacti here, you can't remove the glue without removing the top of the plant. It's like whoever put the glue on got distracted and they're thick globs.

I just saw this forum. As for these candy colored, glitter ball, neon colored monstrosities they're making out of perfectly beautiful (and healthy) plants I think they should be slapped----hard. As for those who buy them....well, there's no accounting for taste or the lack of it! Good Lord who would want a yard full of this stuff?

As for removing the glue there is a little trick! Take your friend into the bathroom or kitchen and give them some steam. That should help 'loosen' it. Gently use a pair of eyebrow tweezers to pull off the fake flower and glob of glue or at least as much as you can. If it doesn't all come off put some vegetable oil on a napkin and rub it on the glue. That should soften the edges and you should be able to get it off. The vegetable oil won't hurt the plant. Wipe any excess off. You can repeat this process a few times if need be until you are rid of the glue and fake flowers.

I find it harder when the spines get stuck deep in the glue.

My Mammillaria elegans has been blooming and every time I go by it I think of this thread! The little blooms remind me of those little glued-on everlasting flowers - in the color, the size and the configuration of how they bloom. There are a lot of buds still growing. It may make a blossom crown. Here's a couple of photos.

I think I remember reading that's something unique (maybe not unique, but... a characteristic, I can't remember that wording) to Mammillaria, blooming in a ring. I believe that shade of pink is most common, yellow, white, and light pink being more uncommon flower colors.

One of these days this unknown Mamm I have will bloom and maybe I can figure out what it is.