Poor Robert

About 3 days after MDH came home from his mission, the day after he kissed me for the first time in two years, and a couple of months before we became officially engaged he gave me a plant. It was a Dieffenbachia plant. We named it Robert - Plant....turns out that's the best plant he could have possible given me - it doesn't die! Even when I forget to water it for a few weeks. He keeps on hangin' on. So 13 years, numerous close calls, a few cuttings (Robert roots so easily), and 3 states later here's Robert. (Part of him is at MDH's office to.)


From here he doesn't look too bad, a little crisp on the tips from me forgetting to water him a time or two but on the whole not too bad. But, if you take a closer look, poor Robert has a problem.

Fruit flies! Nasty, annoying, little vermin and not just one or two but hundreds! Let's take an even closer look. I know that's what every one dreams of every night - getting to look at close up pictures of disgusting flies on a plant.

So we tried to get rid of them by squirting them with soapy water. That actually killed quite a few and if this had been a normal infestation the problem would have been solved. But, desperate times call for desperate measures, this was no normal infestation. I decided to replace all of the dirt and replant Robert Plant.

I bought brand new potting soil. I decided that even though Robert is very strong I'd still pamper him a little. I skipped the cheep stuff and went for the mid-grade soil. I know dirt is dirt but this is Robert we're talking about here. And for me to do that for him is a big deal -- because I'm cheap!

By the way - this was a perfect opportunity for me to wear my new gardening gloves bought by my thoughtful husband just for me, because he's not cheap - he takes good care of me! I love the rubber part, it's perfect for getting a good grip on things. I love taking care of my plants and flowers but I hate getting my hands and fingernails dirty, I always have. So I LOVE+LOVE+LOVE my gardening gloves!

OOPS! As I was dumping out the dirt I accidentally snapped off the main stalk. I hope Robert can survive this one.

I completely washed and scrubbed the pot.

I decided to plant the snapped stalk - he does root very easily after all and I wanted to see what would happen.

My little helper had fun adding dirt to the pot and didn't even seem to mind getting dirt under her fingernails.


She did mind getting dirt on her pretty shoes. She LOVE+LOVE+LOVES these sandals. She was so NOT happy about that dirt but once she got it brushed off she was fine.

All done - now lets go get some water.

A water bucket for each hand and suddenly the focus turned from saving Robert to chasing Sweet Cheeks and trying to get a good picture.

She found the gloves annoying!

Finally I got her to look at me so I can stop snapping pictures of her now.
So far Robert is doing well - yet again he's pulling through - He's quite the trooper. Three cheers for Robert and maybe a prayer or two - he is part of the family after all.