HELP! Lowe's rescue!

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

So you all are awesome and I really do not know who else to ask. I visit Lowe's frequently while on break and they were literally throwing ALL succulents in arrangements away except the painted Kosmos ones. I have several very healthy plants and wanted to rescue as many as I could afford because oh yes they still charged me a small fee

The pictures below are all I got. They are all VERY dried out with little soil. I don't know the names of most but am most concerned about the ones on the container. Can someone please give me advice as what to do? I know the general succulent rules but not how to start like this. Thank you so much for your time!

Featured Answer

lisasfbay9b

9 years ago

In case anyone is curious, here's the "why" about this. I worked as a green goods sales rep. for many years, selling plants of all kinds to retail nurseries of all kinds. The growers were my employers, and I served any/all plant nurseries in my given geographic area, Lowe's and Home Depot among many others.

The BBS operate with growers on a "guaranteed sale" basis. Plants are shipped into the store based on the buyers order, and the BBS is billed normally. The grower gives the BBS an RTV credit on anything they throw away. RTV is Return to Vendor, and in the case of hard goods that are defective or otherwise don't sell, they are actually returned to the vendor. But with plants "defective" can mean many things, and it's more cost effective to toss them once you've provided documentation for the RTV. Sadly, this creates a lot of unnecessary waste of plant, plastics etc. Some plants can be returned to the vendor, like for example a deciduous tree that is past prime and won't sell until spring. Still, I have seen many BBS toss naked Japanese and other expensive plants because they don't understand the seasons, or maybe just didn't feel like doing the work to send it back. And don;t get me started on recycling in a BBS:-(

Another reason I love supporting smaller nurseries:-) For the BBS, like so many things that get big, logic and values go out the window when they look at a bottom line that proves that 1/10 a penny saved, times a bagazakabillion makes a lot of dollars, ughuhumm, earned.

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Comments (12)

succulentss
9 years ago
What location do you go to? Thats very sad. Did you find out why they were doing that?
butterflylove050214 thanked succulentss
butterflylove050214
Original Author
9 years ago
Knoxville, they said they were "dead" and we're moving the indoor plants to a different location so as to have too for Halloween decorations. I could have cried. I would have bought every last one.
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luci (CA, 9b)
9 years ago
This is so sad! Glad you were able to rescue a few.

First keep them away from your other plants for two weeks in case they come with pests (e.g. mealybugs).

Water sparingly, only when the soil is completely dry. The string of pearls may need only indirect bright light and more water than the others.
butterflylove050214 thanked luci (CA, 9b)
succulentss
9 years ago
They are definitely not dead. I see at least five that are healthy from what I can tell. Repot into pots with drainage holes with 50/50 cactus soil and perlite. Make sure the pot fits well.
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mesembs
9 years ago
I agree that they aren't dead, and they actually don't look bad either. The soil that succulentss suggested would work well. You will need to get all the old soil off the roots when you repot.

After the repot, you can treat them like regular succulents, but maybe a little higher watering frequency. But remember not to water if the soil is already moist.
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niksouthafrica
9 years ago
They look very far from dead to me. Not in pristine saleable condition but with repotting and a little time, they will be fine
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VTrizz
9 years ago
I got a similar arrangement from Lowes a few weeks back. I unpotted everything and let them dry out a bit, because mine were very wet. Then I potted them all individually in better soil. A couple have since died, but I hope that some will pull through, and I might do a new arrangement once they are healthier.
butterflylove050214
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you all so much! Will do today and let u know how things turn out. Can't say thanks enough! I was freaking out...lol
Roger
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
With good sun light and just enough water, all of those plants should be looking a lot better in a couple of months.

The only one that I might not be as sure is the echeveria on the right in the second pic, but even this one most certainly will get thrive without any problem :)
butterflylove050214
Original Author
9 years ago
I can totally see how that would work with a big store chain... Makes a lot of sense. Well far from actual "sense" but they are gonna make their money. Makes me wish there was a way to know when they were going to do this at the local stores. I sooooo wish I could find a good local nursery or greenhouse here. Thanks everyone

You have been so welcoming and so helpful.
Katherine (SC 9a)
9 years ago
Lisa, or anyone whon may know, is this the time of year when the big box stores stop carrying succulents? The Lowe's right by my hasn't gotten new ones in in at least a couple weeks. They don't have any individual ones right now, only a couple of pots with multiple in it and the a few from the Live Trends brand.