Is being green-fingered a natural talent or can it be learned?

[forinborin]

Not sure whether more relevant to the gardening section, but posting here for traffic, although no one is unreasonable here (hopefully).
Threw away a couple of dead orchids today. No matter what I do to the little buggers, they die. Same with citrus trees, potted flowers... pretty much all houseplants. There was an amazing ficus plant someone gave me for my birthday that seemed to thrive against my best efforts, but I found the reason when attempting to repot it, proudly thinking it probably got too big now - it was fake, just very very well made.
I read books on the topic, browsed hundreds of websites, bought additional special grow-lighting (don't know what people must think - it probably looks like a cannabis farm from outside). Not a slightest difference.

Meanwhile, one of my friends grows amazing fruiting lemon trees from lemon seeds, and pineapple palms from the supermarket pineapple tops. Every plant in her care seems to turn into a jurassic version of itself. She swears there's no secret and she never reads instructions or waters on a calendar - she just instinctively feels when she needs to water / feed /replant, and that's all. She is very generous with sharing cuttings / offshoots from her home jungle, but when I ask for instructions, she has no clue other than "stick it in the soil and wait, don't forget to water".

So my question. Do you think one can become green-fingered through study and self-improvement? Because I am inclined to believe now it must be a natural talent, and I am simply beyond any help.

You've picked the absolute worst plants! Orchids and potted flowers? No no no. Spider plants, peace lilies, succulents. These are the plants fir me you. I go to garden shops and say, "give me something bomb proof" and they do!

And I'll killed every single ficus I've been near. Now they just die preemptively.

Yes, pretty much anything can be learned, as long as you have a growth mindset, scuse pun

It's like anything in life, some people have a natural talent for it but most skills are learned and studied throughout life. Lots of good Ted talks about just this topic and "grit", resilience, hard work, or perseverance, whatever you want to call it, seems to be the key.

I think it’s something you are born with too... I was born with it but there are plenty of things I’m completely useless at to balance it out!

The plants you've listed are quite delicate and easily killed, I think if you chose something a little hardier you would be fine.

I am considered green fingered but it's been trial and error finding what looks survives the best around the house and garden locations.

I agree with pp Peace Lilies are easy to keep.
I also have an Areca Palm which is lovely looking and still going strong.

I used to kill all houseplants too, although I am (if I say so myself) an excellent outdoor gardener. I have improved. Do what Mrs T says, choose wisley. Some want sun, some shade, some more water and some dont care. Find ones that match what you can offer them in terms of sunshine and read the watering instructions. Aim for a weekly scan - dont fiddle with them too often but dont forget them.

Anything called ‘succulent’ is a good bet - they are tough, don’t mind drying out, will live happily on an windowsill in the pot they came in for quite a while.

It most definitely HAS to be learnt! I started off trying to grow tomatoes about 2 or 3 years ago. Plants were over watered. I didn't touch dying or damaged leaves. Tomatoes were vile and waterlogged.
next year, cucumbers... I did better, but then I went away and stayed en extra week- came back every one was dead surprisingly.
This year I am so proud. We got a plot on an allotment and have sown about a kajillion seeds. All thriving!
The best tip is to be a finger dipper- not all plants need the same about of water. don't over feed
do you have an outside space?
I have found growing flowers is not for me- but the idea of eating my own grown food makes me remember the plants! DH is loving it too.
Potatoes are hard wearing, easy and make loads, cucumbers too (plus I think the plants look wicked!)
Me and DH are utterly obsessed.

@MrsTerryPratchett

You've picked the absolute worst plants! Orchids and potted flowers? No no no. Spider plants, peace lilies, succulents. These are the plants fir me you. I go to garden shops and say, "give me something bomb proof" and they do!

I killed a peace lily once. Yes, I am THAT bad.

@Macncheeseballs

Yes, pretty much anything can be learned, as long as you have a growth mindset, scuse pun

Ouch, that hurts!

I’m the same OP. My mum is a wonderful gardener and has borders and pots and baskets overflowing with plants yielding bountiful flowers. I have pots that have dried sticks in them and what I think might be weeds but since they’re alive I’m pretending they’re flowers. It’s a skill and an art. I think it also takes time. She genuinely loves messing about with plants and will happily spend hours tending to them whereas I begrudge the hour I have to spend every two weeks (max).

@booksandnooks

It most definitely HAS to be learnt! I started off trying to grow tomatoes about 2 or 3 years ago. Plants were over watered. I didn't touch dying or damaged leaves. Tomatoes were vile and waterlogged. next year, cucumbers... I did better, but then I went away and stayed en extra week- came back every one was dead surprisingly. This year I am so proud. We got a plot on an allotment and have sown about a kajillion seeds. All thriving! The best tip is to be a finger dipper- not all plants need the same about of water. don't over feed do you have an outside space? I have found growing flowers is not for me- but the idea of eating my own grown food makes me remember the plants! DH is loving it too. Potatoes are hard wearing, easy and make loads, cucumbers too (plus I think the plants look wicked!) Me and DH are utterly obsessed.

Ah, outside is OK for me, I grow almost all my veg and most of fruit during the season (and I grew close to the land, so everything is almost automatic). But my vegetable plot is really low maintenance, I tend just to let it be - watering only during dry spells, weeding and manure dressing once a year. Where I struggle is when I need to apply some intelligence to the plant care (ie indoors).

I do think there’s an element of it being a gift. Green fingers run through my mums family, if you look at my family tree were all gardeners, loads of award winning ones too. I guess it’s like sporty families and academic families.

My peace lily died even though everyone says they are easy plants to keep (smile )

If you have a passion for plants and flowers, you can learn how to keep them happy. I have been a gardener my whole life. I think the secret to houseplants is water. Never overwatering is key. It just suffocates them.

This thread has made me think of my late Mum, who always said she could tell how I was feeling by looking at my plants.

My mother used to be very annoyed when people told her she had green fingers. She said to me "It's not green fingers, it's skill, knowledge and experience". I would add to that, interest /motivation. Many of those who say "I don't have green fingers" are whose who like the idea of a garden full of beautiful plants, but aren't interested in them and don't have the motivation to learn about them

I have green fingers for outdoor plants but have always been a houseplant serial killer (including succulents).

However when my fiddle leaf fig started to look really poorly I downloaded the Planta app which tells you when to water things based on the room they're in, and hey presto, it's thriving. Turns out I was overwatering everything. I only use the free version but since I started I have only killed one plant (maidenhair fern, what was I thinking?!) so it's definitely progress.

I think it's bit of both.
I have amazing outdoor green fingers. I am a mass murderer inside😂

I agree with pp. You picked bitch plants! Get pothos! Perfect starter.

Also, stop caring so much. Too much care kills them😂

However when my fiddle leaf fig started to look really poorly I downloaded the Planta app which tells you when to water things based on the room they're in, and hey presto, it's thriving. Turns out I was overwatering everything. I only use the free version but since I started I have only killed one plant (maidenhair fern, what was I thinking?!) so it's definitely progress.
I cannot believe there's an app with a slogan "never kill a plant again" I have downloading immediately!

@SchrodingersImmigrant

I think it's bit of both. I have amazing outdoor green fingers. I am a mass murderer inside😂

I agree with pp. You picked bitch plants! Get pothos! Perfect starter.

Also, stop caring so much. Too much care kills them😂

Yes, I am probably guilty of over-caring, if anything. Overwatering too.

It's probably more to do with the microclimate in your house for plants such as light/moisture/heat and the compost you're using. Orchids are very difficult and the ones people grow would only grow in very specific conditions in the wild so it's a bit daft People take them up. I imagine your friend has a very bright warm room for plants and that's why it seems easy

Its all completely learned.

I am a gardener and I like to think a bloody good one if I do say so myself :)

But houseplants! My god they are a nightmare. I can do it, but it takes far too much time, energy, responsiveness, monitoring. Just ridiculous.

The only thing I grow are orchids (which I water every few months by soaking in a bucket for 24hrs, and then putting them back in the pot sitting on a spacer so they have air underneath), a few citrus plants (a kaffir lime tree and a lime tree) which I dont mind doing because they live next to the condensing tumble dryer and I empty the water into them - they are ridiculously thirsty! And a wall of ivy leaved pelargoniums in the conservatory because they are the only plant I have found which do not instantly denature in the summer heat.

@Flaunch

I do think there’s an element of it being a gift. Green fingers run through my mums family, if you look at my family tree were all gardeners, loads of award winning ones too. I guess it’s like sporty families and academic families.

That rather goes against it being a gift, more that it's shared knowledge, and learning from a very young age.

@forinborin yes! Stop watering! I couldn't believe how long do plants last here without water!
Nor did my mum. Who has green fingers.
She like just looks at a dying plant and it springs back to life🤦

Stop watering until you see them being thirsty and get pothos. 😁

And filter your water
www.instagram.com/reel/CHsvKH7gwiM/?igshid=zc15nz8afyec

(I stuff him everywhere because he is just awesome)