At least light and water if they are amongst the easiest to maintain.
I have a story of a plant, or as it turned out some sort of vine, that has managed to not only survive, but grow by itself, for four years.
But let me start from the beginning.
Four year ago last June, the 2nd to be precise, I made the decision to move abroad, in search of a better life. Spoiler alert, did not go as planned or hoped, and recently returned, no further comments....
Anyway. When I left I had 3 pots with soil, the kind that are short and long and some kind of seed (which is a mystery from where it has come from or what it was of) had managed make some kind of tall, dry looking plant grow, that was nothing too impressive nor exceptionally big.
By that, I mean there were 3 simple, thin, less than a meter tall, stick looking things coming out of the pots.
So by the time I was ready to leave, a few green leaves had made their appearance, but again, the overall picture was this uninteresting, poor looking plant or whatever it was.
Since my move, I would occasionally visit, the first year every 4 months more or less, and the next 3 years, 2-3 times a year. I would always notice the plant was not only alive, but seemed to have some green leaves growing and I would find a ton of brown ones, meaning there were more that had grown at some point.
Now, I had left no one in charge to water it and was expecting it to have simply, completely, die, as the only watering it received was from the rain that was not fully watering it either, as it was under a tent. Sun it would get plenty, but water was minimal, meaning it would go on for months, especially in the summer, without any water at all.
But every time I would come back it was still there. I would water it for the time I visited, but again, it would be without any water for months as I was away and it would only get some rain water occasionally.
So July that has just passed, I decided to move back.
It had been four full months since my last visit, and again, my vine, as it turned out to be (which I discovered with the help of a plant identifier app) was still there, with so many brown, dry leaves and a few green ones.
I decided to look after it a little and so I tried to untangle its branches, which spread out in many different directions, each having many other little branches growing in many different directions, tie it in such a manner it would help it climb and not break, watered it and cleaned all the dead leaves.
As it became apparent, it wanted to climb but had no proper support all these years as it was growing, so I made sure I gave it plenty of water and support.
It has been just over a month and it has started to look 'happier' and healthier. A lot of leaves have started to grow, and it has become taller than I am. Not that, that is a challenge, but in a month I would not have expected it.
So I decided to call this plant or vine or whatever it may be Rambo.
And I started thinking, a lot....
Actually, this plant has made me reflect so much in the past month.
Now, even though there are certain vines or plants that are quite durable, if you like, I thought, how is it possible this has survived with only occasional rain water and twice a year watering from me. Minimal care to say the least....
In a way, it made me think of people and how they can endure conditions or situations that are equally harsh. People who have no nurture or care from anyone in their life and yet manage to survive.
People who only receive some kind of care by chance externally, not their environment, and use it to go on and survive even though they are not able to balance their lives as they stand alone.
I also thought, just like Rambo (which is thriving I am happy to say) who as soon as it received a little care, how much it responded and grew and is becoming full of life, how do people respond similarly when they receive care.
I have only recently started growing plants, flowers and herbs, but I cannot stop thinking how similarly we, humans, respond when nurtured and loved.
How many of you have seen yourself change when you have loved ones close to you or when you feel appreciated and wanted?
We do not respond much differently I think to plants and flowers, and just like they each need a certain balance or oxygen, light and water, we, in the same way need our own special balance from our environment to grow, thrive and reach our full potential.
We too need our light, the one we get from those who unconditionally love us and with them in our lives we are the best versions of ourselves. We do thrive with right care we get from them and we do 'get light' that brightens our days, even the most challenging and difficult ones.
So.....if a plant like Rambo can survive such a harsh, love deprived, environment for such a long time, who says we cannot bear to do so, and be ready to be reborn when the time comes and, love and care, comes our way.
And by love I mean wherever it may come from as there is no greater gift in this life than having love in our lives.
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