I was in the Neighborhood Market Walmart today. Sitting around the cut flowers were a number of dixie cup size containers each holding a lovely small (2 to 4 leaf) blooming Phalaenopsis orchid with 8 to 10 blooms for $7.45. They were all in very good shape, but I am sure they will be in dire straits by Valentine's Day.

Yes I agree, especially if the cups have no drainage holes and someone decides to water the plants. I saw some grafted cactus in cups like that in Lowes, sitting on a rack outside. I'm sure they'll be mush long before valentine's day.

I have a large collection of geraniums that i have rescued. they are easy to revive and even easier to take starts off of.

>> makes me want to shop for plants at Lowe's in preference to HD.

Always!

>> The clearance rack is a loss leader for me - gets me into the store so I buy all my other garden stuff there as well.

Unfortunately ... also always.

I can't remember the last time I went to HD instead of Lowe's, even though I have to drive right past the HD for several miles to get to Lowe's If I need anything at all related to the house or garden, I will use that as an excuse to check out what Lowe's has marked down.

I'm like you Ibis. DH knows that if we go to either store, he has to drop me off at the garden center so that I can check the clearance racks. Only thing is lately, I'm been finding a bit much on clearance. I can't rescue them all, as I don't have that much room. So, I just try not to duplicate plants.

I don't really ever see much on clearance at HD. None at Lowe's either the last couple of times I was there. Perhaps things aren't getting to be in such a sad state? But, then again, not optimum plant time........

Anna, our stores don't have clearance racks either. I'm so disappointed!

Check for the clearance racks in the summer after the first spring rush of planting is over - I also garden in Salt Lake City, UT and there's nothing there in the cold months, but they have some great bargains if I turn up towards the middle of June or so.

Again in the fall, the big box stores in cold places clear out most or all their remaining stock at 40% off or more - one year when my son was planting his first garden we got three Gala apple trees for $14 each marked down from $59.

Lowe's is the best on clearance. I have 2 Lowe's and both have good clearance racks. On one store, they have a designated lady that clearance plants. If I see orchids with no blooms, I would ask her if she can give me a discount, and she gives me discount of 50% to 75% off depending on the variety. And what I like about their orchids, they are healthy just past the bloom time.

After a morning meeting at least once a week I stop at Lowe's garden section and check out both the indoor and outdoor 'distressed' racks...marked down 1/2 or $1 & $3. Some are too far gone, but many are simply overstock, out of season, or slightly damaged. I rarely lose one of these. My latest prize is a Mexican Palo Verde tree 8' tall that I put in a few months ago. It is now the end of January ( kind of the start of Spring growing here in Southern California ) and we've had some rain after severe drought conditions. This $45 specimen cost $15, has leaved out with 6" of new growth, and soon will be covered with bright yellow bloom. Other equally interesting buys have been Gogi Berry & Pineapple Guava that have survived a cold (for us) winter.

Dickbublit!

and Congratulations on your great finds. Be sure to post progress pictures.

These were clearance succulents $0.50 cents from Lowe's over 2 years ago and has since had a lot of babies repotted.

I rescued a weigela bush a few years ago from Home Depot for $5. It looked pretty sad. But it is a good grower now.

I rescued a split leaf philodendron several years ago from WM.............puny, runty thing that I felt sorry for and brought home. It was "end of season" and marked $5.00. I brought it home, put it in the g'house and told it "ya got 2 choices.........live or die.........it is up to you, I brought you here".

This is that plant now. It took it 2 years to make a decision, tho.

Ok, it doesn't show up REAL good here, but it is probably 5 feet tall.

Nice variety, Gigi. I love going to Lowe's at the end of the gardening season. They mark all of their cactus down to get rid of them, so that they can make room for christmas decorations and such. Certain stores mark them down to .50 cents or $1, while others try to sell them at 50%, then 75% markdown. Guess which ones I go for? Anna, your rescued philodendron looks great. Do you dig it up and place it in your greenhouse over the winter?

It is in a 20 inch pot. The twiney roots that are above the soil line in the pot look like ropes. I would NEVER attempt to put that sucker in the ground. Digging up 5 foot or taller brugs was enough..........that was like digging graves when I exhumed those last fall.

The only way I could afford to landscape my barren new place 3 yrs ago was getting clearance plants, lots of trees and shrubs. Fortunately it was a lovely spring and early summer, unusually cold and wet, (my kind of weather!) and I was able to find some nice stuff. I do not look even at the Wallmart here, they want more for their dead plants than Lowe's and HD want for the unblemished and full price ones. I still look on occasion but am getting filled up with lilies and other plants I have propagated and the weather has been "normal" (toxic) since then so I cannot stand to go out in it....

sallyg said:Jeremy at DG wrote a really funny article that included rescuing plants.

.

I laughed through that whole article! It made me fel a lot better about my "problem" I loved the last bit that I copy and pasted .
Ten Warning Signs You May Be A Gardening Addict:

1. You prune your plants more often and with more care than you trim your toenails. You hear yourself often saying, "There's no need for me to bathe. I'll only be dirty again in a few hours."

2. You hide empty plant pots where your friends and family won't see them so that they won't find out how much you are spending on plants and how often you are buying them. You garden alone and don't care what anyone things about your habit. You sneak outside and dig in the dirt every chance you get. You start gardening early in the day and continue gardening through every available hour. You think about quitting your job so that you can stay home and garden.

3. You can't restrain yourself from pulling a weed, no matter where it happens to be.

4. You show up at work or for an important appointment and realize you are wearing your garden clogs. Your knees are dirty from a morning garden task you just had to do before leaving home.

5. You avoid anyone that doesn't share your love of plants and gardening. You remain mostly silent and pout if a friendly discussion doesn't include talk about plants. You seek out other gardening addicts because they are the only people that seem to understand you.

6. You scour the nurseries for exotic plants just so you can brag about growing them, while also grabbing any plant that comes your way, even if you already have plenty of it. When you go to a garden center, you tell yourself that you will buy "just one plant," but then come out of a daze some time later, wondering how all the dozens of potted plants came home with you.

7. You justify pinching and pilfering cuttings from plants that don't belong to you by saying your propagation efforts are in the best interest of the plants.

8. You have masses of plants in nursery pots waiting to be planted, but still bring home more plants that you may not have room in your yard to plant.

9. You can't imagine going on any trip or vacation that doesn't include visiting some gardens. Your vehicle seems to involuntarily turn into the parking lot of plant nurseries and garden centers, regardless of how mightily you resist with white knuckles gripping the steering wheel.

10. When at a garden center with family, realizing there is not enough room in your vehicle for both your plant purchases and the other people or kids, you pat them on the head and tell them you will return for them (someday). You get so involved with tending to your new plants that you may forget to return for the abandoned family members.


Thanks for sharing this I am still laughing!