Very interesting article. While I prefer "real" nurseries, big box can be a good deal if you know what you are looking for. I just got several 75% off plants at Lowes this wkd. Of course, cuttings are my favorite, either given/ traded, or even better, stolen at night from an unsuspecting front yard or hanging over a fence ; )

Funny you mention unsuspecting yards at night... I have spotted a few people snag seed off my Ungnadia. Not like its a rare plant...

Yes, but it's the thrill lol.

I like retrieving 'cuttings' from big box floors. Plants like succulents are often right on the edge of the shelves where people knock off pieces. Not that I ever do... :O

I do the same thing! Too funny!

I carry some small fold up scissors in my purse..my husband takes me on "mental health" drives on the weekends ( I don't get out much, lol) Often we stop and admire someones yard, many times I have knocked on their doors and asked for a cutting from their beautiful plant, never have been turned down. Most of us like to be complimented on how hard we have worked to have something more than just desert, lol. And I have picked up bits and pieces off floors and started them..it's fun and a challenge to start with something like that and end up with a big beautiful plant..

I love your method. Methinks I need to take a 'mental health drive' of my own! With scissors, of course.

Since we are confessing.....I once rescued a ponytail palm from an office entryway. That poor, poor plant was hungry for light and thirsty for water and ferts. I had been walking by that plant for weeks and it was breaking my heart. So one day as I walked by, going out the door for home, I just grabbed that baby by the neck and yanked her out. That was about 10 years ago. She rewarded me by growing into a beauty. I've transplanted her several times and am now thinking of planting her in mother earth. When it's light I'll get a picture.

Here she is.....the plan is to plant her pretty much in that spot, maybe out a little. Hubby does not want anything that needs water too close to the foundation.

And if we're talking small budget gardening, we bring 'containers' home from camping in the wilderness. Here's a juniper stump repurposed as a growing container for the bower vine.