The Benefits of Pruning

I’m good at a lot of things, but I don’t have a green thumb.  While I love the looks of plants, most of the ones in my home are of the beautiful silk variety!  The pictures above are of the only plant I’ve been able to grow.  Would you  believe it’s the same plant?  It is.

This is a ten-year old Peace Lilly, saved from my Dad’s Homegoing.  His spirit is in there!  I talk to him regularly.  After repotting it twice, I realized the plant was not thriving at all.  I called my good friend  Cj, who has a totally green thumb and got her steps to repot–the right way.  So I did.  And—NOTHING.  Daddy’s plant still wasn’t responding.

I didn’t know what else to do, so I just started pruning it.  Cutting off the old leaves.  I figured the old leaves and stems were holding on to old rotted roots, and weren’t doing any good.  So I watered with Miracle Grow, pruned and asked Daddy to come on back to life.  All summer.

Funny thing–once I started pruning back the old leaves that were not producing, NEW leaves started growing.  It was as if after all this time, my plant was saying to me “Time to start something new.  Time to change your position in the pew.”  And, about this time, I brought back my Sizzling After 60 Blog too and I’m loving it!

We’ve all heard that pruning plants can cause new growth, and I have PROOF!!  But also, how many of us apply that concept in life?  Sometimes, I’m finding as I get older I have to prune back people, projects, food, clothing…choices in order to grow.  Everyone can’t be in your life for the long haul.  Some are there for a reason or a season.

As Susan Taylor once told me, “Everyone can’t have a front row seat in your life”.  I’d add, “Everything can’t either”.  So I’m embracing pruning.

Back to my plant.  The healthy plant on the bottom is all totally new.  It’s Sizzling, right?  I just kept cutting it back and new sprouts kept growing until I may have to repot it again soon!  It’s overflowing with vitality.  It’s thirsty, too.  But, I discovered an important lesson.  I don’t over water it anymore.  I just give it what it needs and it grows from there.  Hmmm.  Just give your life what it needs and let it grow from there.   Sounds like a plan to me.

So, Sizzlers…get out those pruning shears and make room to GROW!

Happy Hump Day.   Have a great rest of the week.

Hugs,

Amy