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7146 members, 153547 posts, 341 blogs
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 How old is your oldest houseplant?
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Christer Johansson
On The Way Up
Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Location: Västerås, Sweden (Map)
Posts: 118
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| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:07 am Post subject: How old is your oldest houseplant? |
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Hi.
I don't know if you keep track of all your plant, and really know how old they are. I have some really old cacti, but no plant that I have grow by my self that's really old  Maybe I am not the right one to take care of them? 
How about you?
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 14179
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| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:22 am Post subject: |
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I have some plants that are really quite old. My Peace Lily I've had for over ten years and it's still going strong.
The oldest plant I've ever had was a Clivia Lily that was almost eighty years old. I got it form an old lady I used to run errands for as a child. She'd had it for around 50 years and left it to me when she died. It grew well for me and even moved house with me when I got married. It finally got just too big for the house a few years ago and so I gave it to the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens where it may very well still be to this day. 
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Christer Johansson
On The Way Up
Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Location: Västerås, Sweden (Map)
Posts: 118
PlantStew: 217 |
| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:28 am Post subject: |
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70 years old Clivia Lily  That's really old. If I have my way around Edinburgh Botanical Gardens I will look for it
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:30 am Post subject: |
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It's in one of the large glasshouses Christer. I really must take a trip one day to see if it's still going strong.
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
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Location: North Texas (Map)
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| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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Until about 3 months ago I had not had houseplants for over 20 years so my holiday cacti and African Violet are not very old at all.
Eileen, I can't imagine being able to keep a houseplant alive for 50 years like your friend. Mine in the past have usually done like Christer's, they just didn't want to hang around for me.
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stratsmom
Flower Fanatic
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: Southern Oregon (Map)
Posts: 1487
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| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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I was given a start off of an Easter Cactus by a co-worker that belonged to his 83 year old mother. I have no idea how long she had it. Also my lipstick plant came from an old plant that had belonged to my friends grandpa. I guess mine are the 2nd generation Both seem to be doing really well, so far 
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Netty
Chaotic Gardener
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Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Southern Ontario zone 5a (Map)
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:18 am Post subject: |
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I have a China Doll that I inherited before I had any kids (my oldest is almost 15)
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fish_4_all
On The Way Up
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Zone 8-9 Washington
Posts: 116
PlantStew: 34 |
| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:42 am Post subject: |
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My oldest is a Jade plant that is over 12 years old from a single start. Have numerous other starts from it.
My grandmother has a Christmas cactus she has had for over 40 years.
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Jewell2009
Showing Great Promise
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Location: Puget Sound Region of the Pacific NW (Washington State, US) (Map)
Posts: 647
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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My favorite old plants are probably my lady slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum) which I have divided and my son now has also. They are about 15 years old.
Paphiopedilum - Lady Slipper ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
My oldest plant is about 20 years old an is a variegated ficus benjamina that I keep trimmed down to a small size. I had one that was well over 30 years old and 7 feet tall. I got it as a teenager. It was donated to a charity auction when I decided to down-size all my house plants.
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If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb
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cherylad
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Joined: 05 May 2009
Location: Houston Area - Texas (Map)
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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I originally got my African Milkweed back in 1982 when I lived in Albuquerque. It was over 6 foot tall when I moved back to Texas in 2001. I was staying at my Mom's and she said it was too big to keep in the house. So I placed it outside. It did pretty good for a couple of years. I moved it to my place. Just didn't make it through the 2nd winter. I had, however, started another from it. So... I still claim that I've had that plant for 25+ years!
It's only about 2 foot tall... but you can bet I'll never let winter kill it!
African Milk Tree ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
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Jewell2009
Showing Great Promise
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| Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:08 am Post subject: |
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cool looking plant cherylad. Sometimes it is just hard to keep the plants the right size. Looks like your African milkweed is heading for its former height 
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If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb
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Christer Johansson
On The Way Up
Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Location: Västerås, Sweden (Map)
Posts: 118
PlantStew: 217 |
| Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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This is my oldest plant; a cactus
This plant is about 50 years old, but grown by at least 3 different growers, me included.
Pelecyphora strobiliformis
In bloom this summer 
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EJ
Allotmenteer Extraordinaire
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Location: Essex
Posts: 2270
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| Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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And a lovely cactus it is Christer. My oldest plant is a pony tail palm I grew from a seed when I was about 8 so it is about 30 years old. I shall have to take a piccy of it, especially as I am taking it to the village show this weekend.
All of my houseplants are either grown from seed or cuttings, and I haven't 'acquired' a new one for a couple of years.
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Jewell2009
Showing Great Promise
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Joined: 17 Dec 2008
Location: Puget Sound Region of the Pacific NW (Washington State, US) (Map)
Posts: 647
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| Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 2:16 am Post subject: |
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Wow EJ keeping a plant since you were child is impressive.  Christer that cactus is older than a lot of bonsai and to have had 3 owners! Gosh, that would be scary for me. Pressure to keep it doing well no matter what. Good thing it got you and not me.
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If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb
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kaseylib
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 28 Dec 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1041
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| Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:10 am Post subject: |
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Quite impressive to see what you all can keep growing inside. I don't have anything to brag about...all of my efforts go to my outside plants. I have managed to keep one African violet alive for over a year, though, and that's a record for me!
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