Why punish myself, that way? heh

I wouldn't be surprised if my expenditures are like yours some years. But considering all the frills I don't spend money on -- don't smoke or gamble, rarely drink and almost never at bars, and rarely even eat out or get take out -- I don't feel guilty at all for spending on plants.

Stush, I dont keep tract of my spending as much as I keep record of where all my stuff is at, If a plant is missing I'll say, ok where did that plant go that was right HERE! Lol.. :)

And when my children were little they'd all say, I don't know, & later I'd find it hidden somewhere else & the pot was cracked :/

I have to agree with Paul tho, Don't drink, smoke or SMOKE so I never forget what I bought & what I have in my stock, but I would think the price $ is up there too.

Greg

You know, I think people who drink and smoke and party a lot don't have the time or effert to enjoy plants. It takes a special person to enjoy what we can grow and take pleasure in.
The exception is my friend nextdoor. All the while he is gardening in the back yard, he drinks beer. A lot of beer. He's up in age now and it's funny to find him laying in the grass just looking up in the sky. He knows how to enjoy life.

I don't think this question is OT. It's right in line with all those other questions that address our obsessive qualities and the measures we will take to nurture the brood/horde.

I happen to keep all of my receipts for tax purposes and I separate all my plant spending, including soil components, pots, greenhouse materials, fertilizer, pesticide, tags, seeds, books, travel... I even buy plants sometimes! Now, I don't want to say the real number but I will say that it was enough to buy a used car or take a family of 10 on a Caribbean cruise. I also don't spend much money on other things and I justify my plant spending as a business expense in a VERY slow-growing enterprise.

hey guys, I will add that today I had my Queen join me in the garden, she is such a sweet addition to my repoting, she helped me and I kid u not, hers was actually way better than any of the ones Ive ever done. EVER!
But then again, thats why we need them right?

Greg

Stush, I donâÂÂt look at total dollars, itâÂÂs more important to me how cost effective my entertainment dollars are once spent. Your $200 brings you how many hours of enjoyment? If you buy a book and read it only once, youâÂÂve spent about a dollar an hour. (your mileage may vary). Each time you re-read that book, you are cutting your entertainment cost in half again. Going to a movie and a dinner? ThatâÂÂs an expensive way to entertain yourself for 4 or 5 hours. Once youâÂÂre done, youâÂÂre done.
My husband likes to garden, and thatâÂÂs not cheap. But he tills and fertilizes and waters all summer. Hours and hours of weeding and relaxation, and then we get the produce - priceless? Not really, but gardening enriches his life and nourishes his soul. We all find different ways to happiness, here on GW we love our plants.
Lennie in Michigan

I was afraid I was all alone here. Well, I am right at home.
Thanks everyone.
Stush

Greg,
That is a nice picture of your daugher.

"You know, I think people who drink and smoke and party a lot don't have the time or effert to enjoy plants. It takes a special person to enjoy what we can grow and take pleasure in."

I guess im extra special. I both smoke cigarettes and drink on weekends(if im done with all my homework) and I enjoy nature and plants more then anyone I know. I will admit most people my age are too self absorbed to enjoy the finer things in life. In fact my friends still to this day give me crap for stopping dead in my tracks to look at an old beat up and interesting tree or a nice grouping of rocks. I guess im just fascinated by life in general.

As far as my plant expenses go I don't keep track anymore. I try to limit myself to 30$ a month but, that doesn't always pan out.

Sadly my plant expenses pales in comparison to my reptile expenditures. I have kept and reptiles for over 16 years now. I have been breeding them and keeping extensive notes on them for the past 10. For better or worse this thread prompted me to crunch some numbers. In the past two and a half years I've spent well over 2 grand on food for the scaly critters alone. Thankfully I am able to recoup some of the money I spend on them by selling my offspring. Forgive me for the off topic rant.

Regards, Patrick

Whatever the budget will allow. I used to have a job that paid a lot more money, so spent over $2,000 some years, but that did include outdoor plants, and dump trucks full of mulch. It didn't help that the job included visiting garden centers all over OH (and stopping by any I wasn't visiting for business purposes that I passed by.) Some days I came home with expenditure higher than earning. The past decade it's been more like 10% of that at most, annually, on house plants/postage.

Lennie, well said! I share your philosophy about entertainment $$'s! I do love my plants, and futzing with them, watering them, is entertaining to me. Since I'm the only one in the house who gets actual entertainment from plants, I try to keep that in line with what other family members spend on their 'toys.' We try to limit expensive restaurant meals to vacations. Then, since we can't cook anyway, might as well go wherever we want. In that case, I would definitely rather spend more on really good food and service, and memorable experience, great view, than saving a few $'s and having another McBurger. Stay in the inexpensive hotel to have $ for the museum, that kind of thing. We're not hard to entertain and love to go tent camping, which runs about $100 for 2 nights, including gas to get there and back, food & camp site. (Seems like I'm almost getting really OT, BUT...) Although we do the tent thing, most people have RV's these days. I see so many retired people who setup for a whole week or longer, and many of them have - you guessed it! House plants!!! Usually leafy tropicals, hanging baskets, but I've seen some succulents.

Thanks for the interesting convo, Stush!

I keep records of all the plants, including what their names are like, iris: Hemstitched, or Hydrangea: Blue Nikko and when and where I planted and when they bloomed and how long but not the price. I dont even want to know! LOL!

Goodness....

I can't even begin to imagine what I spend moneterily wise, let alone time, although I am very proud of myself that I have not spent a penny in the last week for anything plant related..
But then I think of all the plants just arriving in the mail taking me by surprise that I bought in the dead of winter..Lol Ten boxes last Monday delivered.

The key for me is to stay off this site, stay out of stores and stay away especially from E-bay!

I will ask though why we are such a minority when the rest of the world could care less about plants, including my friends and family..
Wait, it's the ones they can stick in their landscape that excites them, and not the ones in pots to be held indoors..
The only one that knows what the names of some of my plants are is my friend from the Caribbean..Go figure

Between the cost of heat, lights, paying someone to water them when I am away, and all the supplies needed, it's getting too expensive to add anymore plants to my collection..

Stush, hope you are doing well! Since it's still FRIGID outside, let's pray we can get a stable and warm spring..

Time, that I can tell you..At least 1 to 2 hours a day, very early in the morning..
I also spend more than that just keeping them company since there are plants in EVERY room including the shed, garage, cellar and greenhouse, but except the hallway..

This post was edited by meyermike_1micha on Sun, Mar 16, 14 at 15:36

Stush, You just made a new friend today, my wife thinks your the Best!
So how much have you spent today ;)

OMG... today its in the
90ð again :/

Greg

I don't keep track of what I spend on my hobbies,for several reasons,and they are like so many others I never drank,smoked hit the casinos,etc.Also I NEVERpay full price for anything,get it on sale,swap with friends,yard sales,thrift stores etc.Sure I can afford to pay full price,but why should I??

I just told dh the other day how lucky he is to have me,lol as I've always looked at prices and wait for sale,and he is the total opposite,if he sees it and wants it,he gets it.

My other hobbies are sewing and cross stitch,and I'm the same way with those things.

As long as we're happy and not in debt,and have hobbies,then we're doing a good thing.JMO of course.
kathi

Greg,
Your wife is lovely. You'll a lucky guy indeed. Nice house and garden as well. Nice of you showing a Euphorbia that looks like 'Sunrise'. I just purchased from Bob Smoley. A long with Miles to Go, I just spent my whole year's allowance. (again)
Lennie in Michigan,
I used to have turtles and such and boy what an expense. I still have my snapping turtle. Now over 25 years old. Still can't hold him. Also was into fish. Lots of tanks left over to use for terrariums for my Sansevieria. Also toy trains, to make up for none in childhood, and even dappled in photography. Now only plants and a tank full of fancy guppies that will not go away. I can not kill something. Once a pet, always a pet. Unless I can find some one who will give them better care than I can.
Mike,
Good to hear from you. Yes it's starting to get warmer. The cold weather is actually doing us a favor this year. No trees sprouting early. Did not see any tulips up yet.
Tiffany,
I remember going to Ohio along the lake shore and spending over $200 plus hotel and coming home with a van full of plants and trees. It was the best time I can remember. Not to mention looking over Fellows Gardens.
I remember buying my tri-color beech for $125 and getting a deal at that.
Stush

I spend very little on my plants, lately, out of necessity. But the amount I spend or do not spend on my plants is in no way relative to the love I have for them, or the joy they give me...

Christopher

Plants (both garden and houseplants) are my guilty pleasure. I chose not to smoke, I drink rarely and my main hobby is my plants. A home without houseplants to me feels odd and well, almost uncomfortable as something is definitely lacking. I tend not to spend a great deal as I really enjoy growing from seed in the main, but has anyone seen a seed grown Crassula for instance?!
Gill UK

Always enjoy your pics Greg. Great looking plants.

As for my budget, I don't track what I spend which can be a bad thing. For sure I have spent about 600$ already this yr. Blame most of that on high priced agaves. I guess I usually spend around 2K or 3K per yr. But that also includes cost of expanding the gardens.

I am trying to quit the agave habit. I killed about hundreds of dollars worth this winter. I am now only buying the ol standbys that can take it. Lots of A. ovatifolias and going for repetition as in nature. I am changing my focus to things that don't break my heart. I prefer to live in ignorant bliss with only a modicum of guilt leaking out the edges.

The way Agaves pup all the time, I would think you guys traded with each other. When I had my giant Blue Agave, I always gave away pups to anyone who wanted them. The same with Agave vivipara (angustifolia) variegate. Both I finilly sold and don't have any more. I still have Agave lophantha 'Splendida' w/pups and Quada-Color which is giving me some trouble this year.
Stush

The common ones are puppers, but some of the more rare ones are not puppers always and People don't HAVE them so I buy then , Then my winter and cold rain combine and kill them. its a conundrum. Ikilled maybe 20 agave of varying sizes this winter. I had themm in pots outdoors and it rained and then went to 16F . Not a good combo. The A. potrerana did survive in a pot so of the "RARE ones , it is a keeper and will survive outdoors with rain. Ovatifolia is not a clumpier but is a survivalist. I was unpleasantly survived by the montanas. the rain and Athracinose infection got them ALL. boohoo. Garden vanity takes a huge hit. A xylonicantha , burnt burgundy, royal flame, ferdinand regis, blue flame all hit the trash can. sad sad. I saw a name on Xeric world I feel like absconding â¦. "Agavekiller"

On avg for more exclusive succulents I avg 20$ dollars per plant they commonly end up in an avg cost of 10-25$ dollar pots , on the higher safe side I figure an avg of 2 $ per pot for soil

The more commmon plants can have a lower budget some have a lower budget busting price of 33 cents per plant set in a less than three cent pot looking ready to go into a 2 dollar pot with a buk or less of soil. BBSRs have an avg price of 3.99 and suffer the usuall repotting wrath.

Adding the free plant(s) for the fun of it makes my plant growing hobby priceless

Mara,
How sad that must be. I know when I spend more than I think the plant is worth and it dies, Something inside me hates it and don't want another one. For awhile anyway. Then it becomes a challenge to grow it. I know you know the answer to your problem. Too much trouble to dig up and bring in. Living up north in Penn. I used to bring in my Big Blue Agaves and always cut and hurt myself in the process and took up a huge area in my basement. I was glad to finally find a home for it. Just like anything in life, if it's easy, everyone would do or have one.
Also I do spend much more than I previously posted. I am ashamed to admit it.
Stush

I admitted that I am totally addicted to plants. I spent easy over $1000 each year, for plants, expensive pots, soil, and fertilizer.
I love them as they are my second set of children.

Other women buy expensive clothes, I buy expensive plants.

Marie

Yep you can find me at the Salvation army on half price days buying clothes and ordering plants from Plant delights and High Country gardens.

This post was edited by wantonamara on Tue, Mar 18, 14 at 23:03

I just re-covered my greenhouse with twin wall polycarbonate, that ran into a few bucks. Heating it during frijid Wyoming winters racks up the gas bill as well. Otherwise, not much really. I grow most plants from seeds or cuttings at little cost.

Cactus Cowboy,
I just noticed your zone. Wow, after seeing your yard with all those cactus. I guess those are all hardy to zone 4?
And speaking of seeds, I just spent over $200 on Ebay on seeds of different rare plants. Thinking I am saving on the plants. I should have not did nothing and saved even more. Now if I am lucky, and so far I am, what to do with so many plants come next winter. I now you guys will help me out with that problem.
Stush

Did you mean in a day?
I don't want to think what I may be spending in a year!
Kids have all moved out so that leaves me with a few extra
rooms to fill. Which happened quickly....with plants!
I usually purchase planters at yard sales or thrift stores.
The big box stores are now getting in great plants that I've
wanted for a long time but spending $14.99 online for a small pot of
String of Pearls with almost as much for s&h is a bit much. So
I am economically minded. So saving that way enabled me to purchase
2 pots of S o P for $9.00 each!
Also found variegated and regular Hindu rope Hoyas 8" pots for $15.
Ok, yes these were purchased on the same day.
I've have been lucky enough to get a few trades of sans and cacti
from a few on gardenweb. All doing well. Thank you again.
Caution plays a role in what I acquire. The temps of 100 to 115 not
only affects me but can fry a tender plant in no time. The cacti and
succulents love it. But then the freezing temps of winter has DH and
me working hours to get them either inside the house or in the barn.

I do not keep a record for the sake of my sanity, when I do think about it it is very scarey. I just looked and all ready I have spent 234.00 on e-bay since the first and that does not include what I spent at the BB stores so far , YIKES!!!
I have got to stay off of E-bay ! But i so love my plants and I love collecting the weird and unusual. I have my cats and I cross stitch and collect plants!
Ronda

I am a type Z human when it comes to daily financial hygiene. I just finished my annual financial ennema for my accountant which involves entering years worth of checks and reconciling my account and printing reports etc. I get to fast forward through all my garden purchases during the previous year. It is a close up observation on obsession done at lightning speed. After I finish this purge, the only thing that will make me feel right (after swearing I will not be such a impulsive plant spender ) is an out of control splurge at any nursery that I pass by in a days time. I am trying to withstand this urge right now. I am sitting on my hands trying to be real still.

Come on Wanton -- you can do it, we KNOW you can!!! Not that you want to BUT you can!!!!!!

Hi Marie (LTran),

What you might pay in all those gorgeous pots for your COT, not to mention the plants themselves, yikes, the expense, but I am drooling as I type! Tremendous show you give us w/ all those beauties!!! Thanks for sharing/posting them all!

Annie's Annuals just sent me my wish list to taunt me. THEY KNOW I am weak and vulnerable today.

Well weve all heard that time is money $$$ So now how much have you spent? OMG.... Your all a bunch of addicts!!!

Enjoy your time & money, thats what its for :)

Got to go my succulents are calling lol..

Greg

Greg, I did not add it up , I just felt the wash of figures pound fast past my soul like a current of thorns and marginal spines.

Wantonmara, I know what you mean, . Lol.. It was like a FLASH when I first thought of it, " The price of enjoying life" But it's good! Right?! . Were all in a good Vice & were all doing good at this thing called "Garden Lovers"
You know that would make a great Bumper sticker "GARDEN LOVER" :)

Greg

I splurged on 40 gallons of dirt and crushed pink granite today ,

Eh... you don't want to know. I'd guess anywhere from $200-800 per year, whether it be plants or potting supplies. I've dropped hundreds on single plants before.

stush, your doing great. I'll drop your budget in a day at a Huntington plant sale.

Wanton, thank you for understanding....
For example: I paid $150 plus tax for these 2 pots.....
I remembered that day, I bought these 2 and few more smaller ones cost me $294 for about 5 pots.

If the plant is in a nice pot it looks better....

My hard prune for beginning season.

Marie

{{gwi:505555}}

I like the art work on those Marie, breaking it down to a price per inch you got a deal

I paid $35 for these three plus the price of shiping

They are worth every penny to us. But it is only here will you find this support. The outside world thinks we are crazy. But then again, I like crazy people. Those pots make all the difference in the setting. well done.
Stush

I think a more interesting (and sobering) exercise would be to figure out how much money has been lost to dead plants...

x

NO I just threw out three more Agave montanas, TODAY that I had grown from 4" pot to 5 gallon pots. I have thrown out a million agaves this year.

Mara,
Next time you get an Agave montanas, send me a pup and I can always send you one back. I will keep it as a house plant. Do they get as big as the Blue Agave? If so I may rethink that. I think that's were I got plant juice in my blood. If you know what I mean.