I don’t have a green thumb, I have a black one

[Soubriquet]

Every time I try to grow anything, it dies within weeks. I used to have a beautiful miniature butterfly and bee garden…I watered it every day, I made sure they were ok, and they still died.

Why?! What am I doing wrong? I can’t even keep indoor plants alive!

Am I destined to have a flowerless garden!

Perhaps you are watering too much - pay attention to the soil and how the plant looks.

I don’t water if the soil is wet but thank you.

What do you mean 'miniature bee and butterfly garden'?

What plants did you have? Maybe they were annuals?
Or maybe you had planted in shade?

Some plants do die, come again next year or don't come up again. Evergreens stay evergreen and flower at certain times of the year. Also depends on soil type, some like acidic soil, some like clay, whether they're frost hardy and whether they like shade or sun

I don’t have it at the moment because I’m in temporary accommodation but it was a small amount of purple flowers…I can’t remember their name.

I found a picture of when it was set up. Like I said it was a mini one

Is that a teasle and a lavender?

I know one was lavender but not sure on the other one. Dh bought them home from work one day. He doesn’t work there anymore though

The one at the back is a Celosia by the look of it, it only lasts one year. If the other is Lavender that will need lots of light. You could buy some seeds too, maybe a butterfly mix seeds, just scatter them in and rake over and lightly water. They will come up year after year

Thank you. I’ll do that when I’m in a proper house.

Lavenders don't need watering every day. In fact if in the UK they probably don't need watering at all after planting, unless there is a sustained drought.

Take heart @Soubriquet that even very experienced gardeners sometimes can't keep plants alive, it's just the way it is. You cared enough to create a wildlife garden, so when you get the chance, have a go at creating another one. I absolutely love gardening but I am rubbish at growing annual flowers, I have much more success with growing fruit and veg. Some gardeners find it is the other way around. If you have a small outside space or even a windowsill, you could try growing something like strawberries in a pot, or a blueberry bush. The bees like the flowers, and you get to eat the fruit. Growing some cress is always a quick win! A lot of gardening is down to luck and experience, so have another go and see that green thumb develop after all.

Yeah the one at the back only lives once (we had them one year, called them dog penis plants....) and lavenders like not to be overwatered and like drainage and sun. So not a black thumb at all. How about planting bedding plants (get them from Lidl) and swap them out through the year?