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Avatar for keithp2012
Jan 26, 2016 4:27 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Whether at the garden center or grocery store, I'm always on the lookout for plants I could save for cheap. Reduced plants sometimes are between 50 cents and $2. The funny thing is most with time can be saved. I've gotten a half dead rose for $1 and months later it was an amazing, beautiful bloomer! A hosta for 50 cents with a single leaf that two months later was almost 12 inches wide! And a cactus for $2 that was brown, and months later became a lush green and swelled up inches like nothing was ever wrong!

Who else enjoys saving almost doomed plants? Any before/after photos to share?
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Jan 26, 2016 4:38 PM CST
Name: Cinda
Indiana Zone 5b
Dances with Dirt
Beekeeper Bee Lover Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Cottage Gardener Herbs Wild Plant Hunter
Hummingbirder Butterflies Birds Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Organic Gardener Vegetable Grower
Smiling
I know the feeling you are talking about "rescue " is so rewarding.
Unfortunately I no longer walk by the marked down bin ...out of window space and loosing friends who don't really want a new plant Smiling
I try to keep the indoor plants to 50 or less and some have been with me a long long time (40+years)

Keep up the good work It makes me feel good there is some one out there to Rescue the needy Thumbs up
..a balanced life is worth pursuit.
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Jan 26, 2016 4:56 PM CST
Name: Jean
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier The WITWIT Badge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages
I love the thought Keith, but after so many years, unless it jumps into my cart under its' own steam Rolling my eyes. I try not to bring any new ones home. Sighing!
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Jan 26, 2016 5:03 PM CST
Name: Ibis
Florida, Orlando-ish (Zone 9b)
Region: Florida Tropicals Bromeliad Orchids Container Gardener Foliage Fan
Dog Lover Birds
Keith, I am a clearance rack junkie! I don't have any before pictures, because I'm never sure if I'll keep them alive Big Grin I should start taking pictures though - many of them just need some TLC and some time. I like picking them up because they're cheap, so I don't mind experimenting. Last fall, I picked up 4 African Violets for $1 each, and 2 are still alive and doing well. The other two, well, they didn't make it, but I don't feel so bad because they were just $1. I will also browse for marked-down orchids - I've found some great deals on those, just because they're done or almost done blooming.

Cinda, I have been getting more selective lately, as I also am running out of indoor room for houseplants. However, landscape plants on clearance are fair game nodding
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Jan 26, 2016 5:17 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
Only if it looks like it's almost certainly going to live, and that it doesn't have any pests. I have very little plant budget and any plant that dies isn't a bargain to me and takes away the money I could have spent on a healthy plant. I'd rather have one great plant than 2 or 3 suicidal or abused ones that soon die.
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
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Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
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Jan 26, 2016 6:19 PM CST
Name: Ibis
Florida, Orlando-ish (Zone 9b)
Region: Florida Tropicals Bromeliad Orchids Container Gardener Foliage Fan
Dog Lover Birds
I've been pretty lucky with my local Lowe's, where I've picked up healthy plants that are marked down because a new shipment came in and they have to move some stock. And sometimes, it's plants that have already bloomed and they're not as attractive without the flowers. Or the plant just needs to be repotted. The fun for me is sifting through the clearance rack and finding that hidden jewel Hurray!
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Jan 26, 2016 6:23 PM CST
Name: Caroline Scott
Calgary (Zone 4a)
Bulbs Winter Sowing Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Peonies Lilies Charter ATP Member
Region: Canadian Enjoys or suffers cold winters Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
Yes, I do that!
Some plants like Itoh peonies-I can not afford the high prices, so I wait until the end of season sales. And I check the clearance racks for other plants too.
Many of the big box stores do not care properly for the plants. A little water, a new pot and a new home and they perk right up!
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Jan 26, 2016 6:25 PM CST
Name: Cheryl
North of Houston TX (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Greenhouse Plant Identifier Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Plumerias Ponds
Foliage Fan Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tropicals Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
I saw a shopping cart full of sad looking Boston Fern while at Walmart. I almost asked about them. But then what to do with them when I brought them back to good health? I have to be just as picky of my new plants as I do my sale/rescue plants as i am running out of room.
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love Truly, Laugh
uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you Smile.
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Jan 26, 2016 6:29 PM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Charter ATP Member Frogs and Toads Houseplants Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Region: United States of America Cat Lover Birds
I do love a good clearance plant, but like many have said, have to use your judgement with them. Most of my rescue plants have lived and recovered, a few have not.
Plant it and they will come.
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Jan 26, 2016 6:43 PM CST
Name: Bob
Vernon N.J. (Zone 6b)
Aquarium Plants Bookworm Snakes Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Heucheras
Echinacea Hellebores Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Hostas Region: New Jersey
I also look for the ones that are just there because flowering is past prime, but around here clearance is mostly 50 percent off tops 75 , never really see a plant for a dollar or less. If they were that cheap I might give lesser looking plants a chance.
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Jan 26, 2016 6:49 PM CST
Name: Karen
New Mexico (Zone 8a)
Region: New Mexico Region: Arizona Region: Ukraine Cactus and Succulents Plant Identifier Plays in the sandbox
Greenhouse Bromeliad Adeniums Morning Glories Avid Green Pages Reviewer Brugmansias
Where do you find these plants? I'd love getting plants cheaply, but our big box stores in AZ and NM do not do that. The plants that are bad get sent back to the grower or tossed in the trash. Sad
Handcrafted Coastal Inspired Art SeaMosaics!
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Jan 26, 2016 6:56 PM CST
Name: Cheryl
North of Houston TX (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Greenhouse Plant Identifier Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Plumerias Ponds
Foliage Fan Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tropicals Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Talk to the plant employee and ask what happens to them. Make them an offer you can't refuse for the ones they are going to toss anyway. I have been approached by the Lowe's guy who once told me, "Let me know which one you are interested in and I'll mark it down for you."
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love Truly, Laugh
uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you Smile.
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Jan 26, 2016 6:58 PM CST
Name: Karen
New Mexico (Zone 8a)
Region: New Mexico Region: Arizona Region: Ukraine Cactus and Succulents Plant Identifier Plays in the sandbox
Greenhouse Bromeliad Adeniums Morning Glories Avid Green Pages Reviewer Brugmansias
I'll try that, Cheryl. Our thrift shop is the same way. One day I saw an employee of Goodwill chucking hardbound books and paperbacks in a big trash container. I asked about it and wondered if I could buy them, and she said no! It was against their rules, and they had to toss them. Sad
Handcrafted Coastal Inspired Art SeaMosaics!
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Jan 26, 2016 7:48 PM CST
Name: Jean
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier The WITWIT Badge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages
But unless the dumpster is posted as private do not trespass, you can back later and do a bit of diving Whistling
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Jan 26, 2016 7:54 PM CST
Name: Shannon
Burkeville,Va (Zone 7a)
The House on the Hill Gardens
Birds Seed Starter Sedums Roses Peonies Irises
Hostas Echinacea Dog Lover Daylilies Dahlias Cottage Gardener
I do Hurray! Most of my gardens are as I call " Misfits" I love saving them Hurray! I once got a
whole rack of hydrangea from Lowes for $1.00 Blinking there were about 20 of them .. Got them
healthy and gave them away to friends Thumbs up
The horse is God's gift to mankind. ~Arabian Proverb
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Jan 26, 2016 8:03 PM CST
Name: Rick Corey
Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a)
Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f
Frugal Gardener Garden Procrastinator I helped beta test the first seed swap Plant and/or Seed Trader Seed Starter Region: Pacific Northwest
Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database.
Moonhowl said:But unless the dumpster is posted as private do not trespass, you can back later and do a bit of diving Whistling


Dumpster-Diving Divas! Around thread #2 or #3.

Weezingreen's 'Seed Snatchin' saga Part 1:
http://davesgarden.com/communi...

. . . Part 2 . . . More Seed Snatchin' Part II >
. . . Part 3 . . . Yet More Seed Snatching III >
. . . Part 4 . . . Seed Snatchin' Part IV >
. . . Part 5 . . . Seed Snatchin' Part V >

... if DG still supports forum threads.
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Jan 26, 2016 8:08 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
Yup I do rescue plants too sometimes, it is a good learning process for me. Sometimes they make it, sometimes they don't. But I choose the plants I take, since I do not have a lot of space.

Succulents are really easy to rescue. I try to get my rescues if possible in late Fall. Not so much into winter already, it will just be too much of a shock for the plant during transport, and more frustrating, since most of the plants are on slow down mode already, or more often too dead to revive.
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Jan 26, 2016 8:35 PM CST
Name: Karen
New Mexico (Zone 8a)
Region: New Mexico Region: Arizona Region: Ukraine Cactus and Succulents Plant Identifier Plays in the sandbox
Greenhouse Bromeliad Adeniums Morning Glories Avid Green Pages Reviewer Brugmansias
Moonhowl said:But unless the dumpster is posted as private do not trespass, you can back later and do a bit of diving Whistling

Ha, I've been know to do that on occasion!
Handcrafted Coastal Inspired Art SeaMosaics!
Avatar for keithp2012
Jan 26, 2016 9:16 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
plantmanager said:Where do you find these plants? I'd love getting plants cheaply, but our big box stores in AZ and NM do not do that. The plants that are bad get sent back to the grower or tossed in the trash. Sad


Lowes, Home Depot, Stop & Shop
Avatar for keithp2012
Jan 26, 2016 9:17 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
ShadyGreenThumb said:Talk to the plant employee and ask what happens to them. Make them an offer you can't refuse for the ones they are going to toss anyway. I have been approached by the Lowe's guy who once told me, "Let me know which one you are interested in and I'll mark it down for you."


Wow that's nice! I've tried that and they told me they can't do that. Thumbs down

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