Don’t throw out perennial plants that look dead – they’re alive, my gardening hack revives them and saves money
A GARDENER has revealed how to revive plants that look dead after being exposed to cold winter weather.
A potted chrysanthemum that was about to be thrown away inspired her to share the hack.
Jess Zander (@youcandoitgardening) has garnered over 364,000 followers on Instagram, where she shares gardening tips.
She went viral on the app after raving about the longevity of chrysanthemums.
She said the hardy perennials cost $15 at a gardening center and are “amazing” because they flower every year.
The gardener showed that the plant looked dead after being left in a “flimsy plastic pot” during winter.
She recommended breaking off the old stems before dividing and replanting the chrysanthemum in the ground.
She showed a photo of the pink blooms flourishing in her garden in the months following the simple hack.
Jess said not all mums come back as it depends on the temperature where you live.
She said asters are also “great pollinators” and perennials that are native to many parts of the United States.
The post racked up over 24,000 likes and a stream of comments from homeowners eager to try the hack in their own gardens.
“Oh my goodness! I have a pot of dead mums with what I thought were weeds. I guess it’s alive after all [laughing],” one person wrote.
“Dang it! Mine when in the trash can about 2 weeks ago,” another said.
“Omgg I didn’t know mums were perennials!! Noooo, I’ve thrown so many away,” a third chimed in.
“I had some in pots last year, had no expectations for them to survive (because I manage to kill these easily) was shocked to find them green and thriving!” another added.
According to Gardeners’ World, chrysanthemums should be planted out after all risk of frost has passed.
They grow best in moist but well-drained soil and flower late in September and October.
Easy gardening tips to save money, maximize space, and repel pests
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- Banana peels, vinegar, and coffee grounds are often recommended as natural fertilizers.
- Dollar Tree sells four packs of seeds for $1.25.
- Try a vertical planter like Amazon’s Mr. Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Planter, $35 to make more use of a small space.
- Use netting like the Garden Netting Pest Barrier, $8, from Amazon to keep away bugs that eat your vegetables.
- Try sacrificial planting to reduce the use of pesticides and keep pests away from your garden. Deliberately growing certain plants to attract agricultural pests can keep them away from the plants you want to protect. Examples include marigolds, lavender, catnip, and chives.
- For pesky weeds in your garden, the Grampa’s Weeder – The Original Stand-Up Weed Puller Tool with Long Handles, $45, from Amazon is a helpful tool you can use without having to bend over.
The hack for how to revive them follows gardening expert Todor Stoev revealing to The U.S. Sun that they can deter pests.
“These flowers are known to repel roaches, ants, beetles, ticks, lice, fleas, and mites,” he said.
“They contain extracts that can kill insects and are used in residential insecticide products.”