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Plants left to die at local supermarkets.

ancientandy1ancientandy1 Posts: 1
in Plants
Hello 
Iam new here so apologies if this topic has been aired before, but there is something that absolutely drives me mad at this time of year......
Our local supermarkets stock up with masses of plants for sale (good looking specimen's too that must have taken a good few years to get to selling size)this should be good news ,BUT! the stores don't care for or water them. Each day I go to shop iam confronted by pallets of dying plants .I have spoken to the manger of ASDA (our worst store offender ) and he said he would see they were watered in future but I have only so far seen staff using a sprayer/mister which is absolutely no use at all.
I also spoke to the manager of another store Wilkinson's which too neglects it's plants ,and they have at least tried to water into the trays there plants are standing in, but there are still sad specimen's wasting away uncared for......BUT! at least SOME  albeit limited success there
This situation doesn't just anger me , but other prospective customers I have spoken to as well.
ASDA are supposed to be a premier supermarket chain ,so it doesn't say a lot for them or the standards they run there stores buy.
Pity we can't get Gardener's World Involved ,maybe that would shake them out of there complacency and laziness.

Anyways cheers
Andy
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    It has been commented on frquently, Andy, but I've found our local supermarkets to be excellent, so I'm afraid it isn't a nationwide problem  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,584
    I agree that there is often a lot of neglect of mass produced plants. I've noticed this at our local B&Q and Tesco on occasions. On the plus side, it means they often have to reduce the prices and with a bit of luck, you can pick up something that might survive with some TLC.
  • Hampshire_HogHampshire_Hog Posts: 1,089
    It just depends if the supermarket has anyone with a little gardening know how and understands that these things need a drink occasional unlike the rest of the stock that can just sit on the shelf for weeks at a time with no attention at all.

    In our area maybe because its semi rural / small towns we don't suffer from this problem and generally the plants are in good health of course we do miss out on any discounted stuff, swings and roundabouts  :)

    "You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,128
    I think they rely on fast turnaround, and chuck out what doesn't sell to make way for the next batch. It's definitely variable from branch to branch, but that applies to the DIY sheds as well as supermarkets.  

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ManderMander Posts: 344
    My local shops seem to be pretty good at watering their stock, or at least they sell them before they die. Perhaps you are just unlucky?
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,547
    I keep on photographing the parched plants and tweet the offending company...such a waste. Our local B&Q managed to even kill pots of mint! Unfortunately due to the relative low value, they treat live plants as a disposable inconvenience.
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • AstroAstro Posts: 425
    Yeah certainly seems odd behaviour to people who care for plants. I have benefited from buying reduced priced plants that have been great after some tlc.

     It is a shame though when a shop has a plant you want at a good price only to find them past the point of return. 
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,016
    It varies hugely - we've had this discussion before, as FG says. All down to the shop manager, rather than the chain
    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,527
    amancalledgeorge said:
    I keep on photographing the parched plants and tweet the offending company...such a waste. Our local B&Q managed to even kill pots of mint! Unfortunately due to the relative low value, they treat live plants as a disposable inconvenience.
    Retailers do treat live plants as disposable.
    Why?
    Because quite simply they are.
    Just think of all the bouquets of flowers and Christmas trees etc that we all throw out once they have finished,yet have taken time,effort,transport to get to the store.
    Live plants are really just the same.
    A supermarket is not a nursery.

    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • deltaflyer235deltaflyer235 Posts: 21
    I've managed to get a couple of plants reduced because they were all crispy and dying. Luckily I was able to revive them. One is a hardy fuschia which is doing brilliantly now and a couple of azaleas which were abandoned after Mother's Day. Also doing well. It's so sad though seeing these poor neglected plants on the racks. 

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