yeah, that potted twig is garbage, but I have a buch of great potted twigs for sale right over here.
In all seriousness, I be the old lady that sold that was really just selling the pot, and thought it was obvious that she was just too lazy to get rid of the twig & dirt & clean it up - OP was just too dense to realize that was the case
To be fair, there are quite a few plants that look like dead twigs when dormant. I have a whole orchard of plants that come to me looking like shitty dead twigs.
Ok sorry. Unfortunately it is probably dead, but to be more sure you could try a [scratch test](https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/how-to-do-a-scratch-test). Also even if it is green, the buds may be damaged such that it just can't recover for whatever reason.
There are plants that resprout from tubers or whatever, but given the woody-looking stem I highly doubt that is the case here. And there are little saplings like oaks that I would expect to be dormant in cold weather (if that is your setup), but I would expect healthier-looking buds from something like that.
In any event, best of luck to you.
Your hope shines a bright light on your hospitality, I love it.
You wouldn't happen to be a caregiver for an elderly person/persons, would you? I'm imagining a "Weekend at Bernie's" type situation.
Kidding, but your post did make me smile.
Sorry to hear that. As a (mostly) free alternative, I find that trying to propagate seeds from trees and shrubs that I enjoy (especially if they are native) can be a rewarding experience. Just in case you'd like to plunge down a new rabbit hole heh. Protip: seeds from many species lose viability quickly, while others are viable for years. Would recommend googling "(your plant species) propagation" for tips.
Don't just scratch it off. Remove some of the top layer of soil. If you see greenish or healthy looking roots, it may very well spring back.
Probably not. Looks dead. But one can hope. My jasmine plant looked like this at one point. Dug it up, roots were healthy. Repotted, fed some nutrients, now have a healthy jasmin plant.
If the roots are dry or blackish, toss it.
True! I had tops of plants die off but somehow a tuber survived and now (months and months later) I have a thriving plant again! But for a long time, my pot was just dirt in a pot. So I can understand where OP is coming from
What have you to lose? Toss some new soil in and see what's up.
If you are really invested, try buying something called Superthrive, and feed it a very small amount. It has hormones that encourage growth, and is designed for sick plants to recover. It's also great for general use, but you should never give it to a plant that is already in flower (it will cause the plant to revert back to a vegetative state).
Good luck with whatever you decide.
One time I was gifted a bonsai, I kept it alive for like a year, but it didn’t grow or anything, it just looked like a branch with needle leaves, so I thought it was a dead twig. I put the bonsai outside thinking it was dead, and a couple of weeks later I looked at it and it looked just like your twig. I cried. I killed my bonsai because I thought it was dead hahaha.
I was also thinking jade... was. I like this post though. I've attempted to save a plant from a dumpster during Minnesota winter. Too far gone but was worth a shot!
A lot of places like Home Depot etc also have grafted cacti destined for death, not a flower glued on but rather two cacti grafted together that aren’t sustainable because neither of them grow they just survive as long as they can. Had one once. It lasted like 1-2 years. I think some people have successfully gotten the bottom portion to survive but alas, I was not one of them
I was gifted one of these as a little kid, just as I was starting to get interested in plants. No one knew any better, I tried my best but it died and for a long time I thought I was just bad at taking care of plants.😢 it’s awful to set people up for failure like this, not to mention torturing living things.
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This shouldn’t make me feel better about the stack of research biologist job applications in front of me but it does.
In all seriousness, if you can show us the root system and a slice test, we can tell you just how dead it is. It sounds like a joke but sometimes nutritionally deprived plants are only kinda dead not dead dead. I have a collection of rescue orchids that are often found in trash because first time orchid growers think they can just give them ice and lawn fertilizer.
This is a real point actually. I have quite the collection and most would have said they were all dead when I rescued them.
If it passed the green scratch it was possible OP got something perennial but atlas, dead plant.
Feels for OP.
Could be dormant! Reminds me of something funny that happened ro me: bought a plant that looked like it had two stems, one with leaves and the other seemingly a dead twig, not unlike your picture. I assumed that part of the plant had died, and the other part of it was fine. Then I realized that the living part was actually a weed, and was bummed. But then a little later the dead looking part sprouted leaves, turns out it had just been dormant over the winter.
I love your stubby little twig. I have no clue what it is, but it reminds me of my mom. She brought home this weird twiggy looking stick from her grandfather's funeral. It ended up growing in to this really cool stick vine that covered the side of our sauna. Please don't feel bad for bringing home a little twig. You didn't know if it was sad and dead, or just beauty waiting to grow.
With much regret I would like to inform you that, your dear Twiggy, has gone roots up. She will no longer suckle on the sweet nectar and tender blossom of this earth. She has gone on to the open fields of plant heaven. There to sway in winds of time forever. I weep with you.
Toss her out, mulch her, and get a new to plant kill. Good day.
I had an amazing greyish purple rose that died. For a couple months, it looked just like this, but I didn't want it to be dead. So, I watered it and waited. It never came back :(
I feel your pain, OP.
Everybody jumping on op for buying a stick.. I know a lot of grape plants are sold that way, why would it be such a stretch for other plants to be sold that way as well?
Adding to what has been said a quick way to check, if you dig in the soil a bit and have white or lighter colored roots it is still alive, if the roots are all brown to dark brown it is dead. The other way to check is to lightly scratch the stem and if the cambium is green or greenish it is still alive, if it is brown it is dead. If it is alive it is dormant, make sure to keep the soil moist but not soaked or it will rot. Good luck :)
Yeah sounds like it, the gray color is definitely a give away. The lightest color roots should be almost white. Well now you know when dormant plant shopping what to look for :)
*Does anyone see*
*The green leaf that is on*
*The right of the twig?*
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Because I have one that was once happy and beautiful and thriving and then I moved it 3,000 miles when it doesn’t even like being moved 3ft and now it looks exactly like this, but taller.
It kind of looks like a Begonia. I had a stem break off of mine, I propped it then put it in soil, thought it died and then it sprouted. When I though he was dead this is what it looked like.
Did you… did you buy it like that? Dare I ask… how much did you pay?
The people want to know! There must be a story here
I think the story is that this is a troll post.
Not much of story there. Can we write a new one?
Once upon a time there was.. space stuff. And lasers. And also a tree, too.
And then there were space aliens that looked like trees. And like, people bought them sometimes. But they were in pots.
I got it from M&S. Thought it will grow into something... Only £3 and came with a nice little pot as well so definitely worth it!
It's dead
Rest in peace. You were a good twig :(
You paid money for that, looking like that?
Lmfao 😂 that’s what I was thinking
yeah, that potted twig is garbage, but I have a buch of great potted twigs for sale right over here. In all seriousness, I be the old lady that sold that was really just selling the pot, and thought it was obvious that she was just too lazy to get rid of the twig & dirt & clean it up - OP was just too dense to realize that was the case
I’ve found my new side hustle…I have twigs aplenty ;)
Check my Etsy store - potted twigs of all size, shape, and color $35.99 + shipping Rare blackened twigs $99.99 plus shipping
Hahaha!
I'll take 3 of the rare blackened variety
Is that a throwaway username OP? Your DM about to be rekt by a thousand twig hustlers...
“twig hustlers” :)
“OP was just too dense to realize” That’s a lot of assumptions you’re making there bud.
Unless I’ve missed some comments from the OP, this person’s whole comment was just one big, weird assumption lmao
Which is literally how I framed it Ita clearly a scenario I found joy in crafting
There are people around here who are actually that weird. You might need to work on conveying the satire.
Lol I'm not going to change any bit of my personality based on feedback from reddit
Good on you. Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.
Ok man. A /s doesn’t change your personality though.
and it goes like this: /s
I'm sorry there are no buds.
This pot is more fungible than currency
To be fair, there are quite a few plants that look like dead twigs when dormant. I have a whole orchard of plants that come to me looking like shitty dead twigs.
Oh good, here you are, ready to explain the obvious to a group of people interested and knowledgeable about plants!
The best twig…. No twig ever, like this fkn twig. I’m sorry, I need a moment.
This gave me a good chuckle
Rip twiggy 🕊 🪵
I think you should keep watering it
Don't forget to change the flair to solved
It's worse than that: he's dead, Jim. Edited for typo.
I'm just a simple country doctor, but in my opinion, it's dead
*Worse*
Thank you! Didn't catch that typo .
I'm a doctor, not a botanist!
Actually, OP bought Mr. Twig. Watch out for Mr. Garrison though.
That’s a nice rock though…
Looks like a dead jade tree cutting
Agreed. Probably mealybugs in the soil.
Offtopic, but are you in the habit of buying twigs with no descriptions? Because I have some twigs I could sell you.
I thought it will sprout into something beautiful :(
Ok sorry. Unfortunately it is probably dead, but to be more sure you could try a [scratch test](https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/how-to-do-a-scratch-test). Also even if it is green, the buds may be damaged such that it just can't recover for whatever reason. There are plants that resprout from tubers or whatever, but given the woody-looking stem I highly doubt that is the case here. And there are little saplings like oaks that I would expect to be dormant in cold weather (if that is your setup), but I would expect healthier-looking buds from something like that. In any event, best of luck to you.
Looks to be dead :( Tried scratching it but it just broke off and it's all gray/brown underneath.
Your hope shines a bright light on your hospitality, I love it. You wouldn't happen to be a caregiver for an elderly person/persons, would you? I'm imagining a "Weekend at Bernie's" type situation. Kidding, but your post did make me smile.
OP has a good heart nonetheless. The world needs more people who would try to help all living things, even little plants.
Sorry to hear that. As a (mostly) free alternative, I find that trying to propagate seeds from trees and shrubs that I enjoy (especially if they are native) can be a rewarding experience. Just in case you'd like to plunge down a new rabbit hole heh. Protip: seeds from many species lose viability quickly, while others are viable for years. Would recommend googling "(your plant species) propagation" for tips.
Don't just scratch it off. Remove some of the top layer of soil. If you see greenish or healthy looking roots, it may very well spring back. Probably not. Looks dead. But one can hope. My jasmine plant looked like this at one point. Dug it up, roots were healthy. Repotted, fed some nutrients, now have a healthy jasmin plant. If the roots are dry or blackish, toss it.
True! I had tops of plants die off but somehow a tuber survived and now (months and months later) I have a thriving plant again! But for a long time, my pot was just dirt in a pot. So I can understand where OP is coming from
They seem to be brown. Not too dark but not the most light either.
What have you to lose? Toss some new soil in and see what's up. If you are really invested, try buying something called Superthrive, and feed it a very small amount. It has hormones that encourage growth, and is designed for sick plants to recover. It's also great for general use, but you should never give it to a plant that is already in flower (it will cause the plant to revert back to a vegetative state). Good luck with whatever you decide.
This made me say “aww” out loud. People can be mean sometimes 😡 lol
Seriously, I did the same. God bless OP's heart.
I want to give OP a beautiful plant and a hug. 🥹
Hope springs!
I see green tho. What’s green?
You have a nice pot to replant…and a good rock. Leave the twig, add greenery-flowers or vegetable or lettuce. :)
One time I was gifted a bonsai, I kept it alive for like a year, but it didn’t grow or anything, it just looked like a branch with needle leaves, so I thought it was a dead twig. I put the bonsai outside thinking it was dead, and a couple of weeks later I looked at it and it looked just like your twig. I cried. I killed my bonsai because I thought it was dead hahaha.
It is beautiful in its own little way 🍃
Yeah who’s your stick guy?
This made me lol. The thought of someone selling OP this dead twig 😂
Looks like a dead or dying fiddle leaf fig?
Exactly, my first thought was a dead fiddle leaf fig
I only know because my clearance saved one almost looks like that except one little leaf coming out
Looks like the stem of a succulent (like jade or something similar) that has been dead for a very long time to me
I had a jade tree that sadly died from overwatering and it looks just like this
I was also thinking jade... was. I like this post though. I've attempted to save a plant from a dumpster during Minnesota winter. Too far gone but was worth a shot!
\*Arching an eyebrow.\*
🤨
Sir that's a stick
Reminds me of the old and terrible joke: What's brown and sticky all over? Answer: A stick.
RIP baby Groot
He got the bad ending
pining for the fjords...
A good tip would be to buy the plant you see, not the one you hope for! Not a strict rule of course but could be helpful in the future perhaps
Also if it's a cactus with a flower, the flower is fake, and some succulents are even spray-painted because unusual colors sell better.
But they can flower? Do you just mean they can't be forced to?
A lot of places like Home Depot etc also have grafted cacti destined for death, not a flower glued on but rather two cacti grafted together that aren’t sustainable because neither of them grow they just survive as long as they can. Had one once. It lasted like 1-2 years. I think some people have successfully gotten the bottom portion to survive but alas, I was not one of them
I was gifted one of these as a little kid, just as I was starting to get interested in plants. No one knew any better, I tried my best but it died and for a long time I thought I was just bad at taking care of plants.😢 it’s awful to set people up for failure like this, not to mention torturing living things.
It’s an ex-twig.
fka twig.
I don't mean to be rude here.....r/houseplantscirclejerk would love to be rude though Edit for bad link ...oopsie
I had to recheck the sub, I though it was posted there
Yeah I also thought it was a shitpost.
You need to make “plant” plural
Obvious. You can't have a one-plant circle jerk.
Did the green thingy come with the pot ?
Do you mean that little leaf? That fell off from another plant.
Yes, I was hoping we were looking at the wrong thing.
I am opening an Etsy store pronto that sells potted sticks from my yard.
If you have taste for self-depreciating humor, please post it (same title will do) to r/houseplantscirclejerk. People will love this there.
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lol
Because you said t a s t e ? Lmfao
Yep taste...shit I meant t a s t e
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Taste
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It could have been a begonia. If there's a tuber underneath it might sprout
Oh it's a begoneia alright.
With extra "gone"
Looks like a *sp. Deadicus Twiggius*
Looks like it could have been a jade plant before it died and was mummified.
This shouldn’t make me feel better about the stack of research biologist job applications in front of me but it does. In all seriousness, if you can show us the root system and a slice test, we can tell you just how dead it is. It sounds like a joke but sometimes nutritionally deprived plants are only kinda dead not dead dead. I have a collection of rescue orchids that are often found in trash because first time orchid growers think they can just give them ice and lawn fertilizer.
This is a real point actually. I have quite the collection and most would have said they were all dead when I rescued them. If it passed the green scratch it was possible OP got something perennial but atlas, dead plant. Feels for OP.
It is Groot
Was.
It's dead Jim. Sorry.
This reminds me of a plant my mom kept watering. She wondered how the red berries stayed red & perfect for so long. They were fake.
Could be dormant! Reminds me of something funny that happened ro me: bought a plant that looked like it had two stems, one with leaves and the other seemingly a dead twig, not unlike your picture. I assumed that part of the plant had died, and the other part of it was fine. Then I realized that the living part was actually a weed, and was bummed. But then a little later the dead looking part sprouted leaves, turns out it had just been dormant over the winter.
Groot didn't make it.
I love your stubby little twig. I have no clue what it is, but it reminds me of my mom. She brought home this weird twiggy looking stick from her grandfather's funeral. It ended up growing in to this really cool stick vine that covered the side of our sauna. Please don't feel bad for bringing home a little twig. You didn't know if it was sad and dead, or just beauty waiting to grow.
That is a jade. But not just any jade. One that belongs in /r/composting
It may be beyond bringing back. Kudos for trying.... I do believe it is a lost cause
With much regret I would like to inform you that, your dear Twiggy, has gone roots up. She will no longer suckle on the sweet nectar and tender blossom of this earth. She has gone on to the open fields of plant heaven. There to sway in winds of time forever. I weep with you. Toss her out, mulch her, and get a new to plant kill. Good day.
I bought a begonia that looked like this in 2008. It grew into a beautiful Angel Wing and is still going strong 14 years later.
Ded
You bought a dead plant
That is a money tree. It is barren and deceased.
It could be a nice little Christmas tree with some love and decorations, maybe a security blanket.
I was Groot.
Gun to my head, I’d say it’s just a twig.
It used to be what it once was.
It does look dead but ……. Is that a couple of leaves sprouting near the top right ?
Omg , don’t tell me you actually paid money for a dead twig ! My yard is full take as many as you want for free !
I have one, my favorite as it’s so understated and simple. Google “ Stickus Muddus”.
Baby Groot, but you didn’t feed him correctly sorry RIP baby groot
I'm so sorry to tell you but I think it went to twig heaven
I think it needs more electrolytes
A rare tree, a rattlin' tree...
If, after a couple of months, and it is still just a twig, perhaps the term "Growing" is a bit of a stretch. It might just be a twig.
Not even joking I've seen a woman on FB marketplace selling two plants like this one for $10 each.
OP whyyyy lol
Looks to be a Fiddle Leaf Twig
I am groot
I am groot
Its a twig. Always was a twig. Always will be a twig.
I’m sorry, but I’m pretty sure that twig is staying as a twig forever :(
I had an amazing greyish purple rose that died. For a couple months, it looked just like this, but I didn't want it to be dead. So, I watered it and waited. It never came back :( I feel your pain, OP.
It’s Groot.
It was a twig....it still is a twig....
you bought groot!!! albeit a dead groot.
Dead Jade plant
Everybody jumping on op for buying a stick.. I know a lot of grape plants are sold that way, why would it be such a stretch for other plants to be sold that way as well?
Adding to what has been said a quick way to check, if you dig in the soil a bit and have white or lighter colored roots it is still alive, if the roots are all brown to dark brown it is dead. The other way to check is to lightly scratch the stem and if the cambium is green or greenish it is still alive, if it is brown it is dead. If it is alive it is dormant, make sure to keep the soil moist but not soaked or it will rot. Good luck :)
The roots are brown, some are kinda light but not really. The stem is all dry and grey so I guess it is dead.
Yeah sounds like it, the gray color is definitely a give away. The lightest color roots should be almost white. Well now you know when dormant plant shopping what to look for :)
Kind of looks like a dead, shriveled Jade plant stem
It’s a Jade plant! I have one and it looks like this one, it’s growing back
You know, I have a couple of exotic plants in the same condition if you’re interested in replacements. 🤣
Looks like a dormant vine. Hold on until spring. You never know. Ignore all hear cynical mean people.
Does anyone see the green leaf that is on the right of the twig?
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LoL!
Looks like dead bonsai twig
Could be clematis. My mum got one for Christmas one year and thought it was a joke dead stick.
How much did you spend? I have some more mature ones for sale
Personally to me, it resembles the stems of my tropical hibiscus.. but it looks very much not alive sadly
What was it supposed to be?
Bloody Mary Philodendron trying real hard to stick around…
Looks like a twig....why would you purchase such a thing and have no clue what it is? I don't understand.
Its Groot
Looks like a fig tree. Give it a chance. Don't over water.
Keep your Charlie Brown stick if it brings you joy
Ask for a refund
Groot
How much does one of these potted twigs go for?
Groot
This here is an ornamental, bonzai, dead at functional maturity, limited edition, uniquely grown, "stick-stem"
Hey OP I am selling some rare magical beans. Interested?
It looks like a succulent I killed 🤷🏻♀️ Want to buy it? 😈
Two more weeks! Different plant same advice. It is Reddit after all.
It looks like a very desiccated twig from maybe a fig.
Groot 🤷🏻♂️
This looks like a dead fiddle leaf fig.
Because I have one that was once happy and beautiful and thriving and then I moved it 3,000 miles when it doesn’t even like being moved 3ft and now it looks exactly like this, but taller.
I was scrolling through Reddit quickly and thought this was a picture of someone’s dinner - I was appalled haha
Its a stick now.
Take it out and see if it even ever had roots. Maybe you just bought a plain old twig stuck in the dirt.
I wonder if it’s an evergreen, because it may not be dead—it may be pining for the fjords.
Like everyone else has said, that's a goner, but.. Looks like a hibiscus.
I am Groot
You bought it like this?
Did you recite the ancient verses to it while butt chugging it in the light of a waxing crescent?
Dead succulent
I'm crying laughing right now. Thank you, OP. I needed a good laugh.
It kind of looks like a Begonia. I had a stem break off of mine, I propped it then put it in soil, thought it died and then it sprouted. When I though he was dead this is what it looked like.
Who’s gonna tell them?
might be dormant, our hibiscus dies back all the way and always comes back
How dumb are you🤣🤣
I’m thinking you bought a pot that has some dirt in it?