Purpose

What is the reason to garden? What is more enjoyable, the process or the results? I was pondering that today as I was looking at the jade on the right at Ace Hardware.

On the left is the jade I rescued from Walmart 3+ weeks ago for $3.97. I've been nuturing it, chopping off one of the stems that became rotted, and looking forward to the day when it had noticeably grown and was obviously prospering under my care. The one on the right is what I hope the little one will look like in 1-2 years. But I could just buy the one on the right for $8.99 and be that much further ahead. So I did.

I also can't help but notice that the bigger plant is a brighter green than the little one. I haven't used any fertilizer, and won't until spring. Despite being a dingy little runt, the little one still has a home in my office window with Big Brother looming right behind.

The answer to the second question above is "both." If the process was most important, I would raise everything from seed, which with some plants (including succulents) would take years. Jade does produce seeds, but does anyone even sell them? If the result was all that mattered, I would buy cut flowers at a flower shop. Or, since I'm cheap, at Costco.

The bigger pot has at least six stems, compared to the smaller one which has two. If I get more courageous, probably not before next summer, I will try to divide the big pot into separate plants. If that fails horribly, I still have the little one.