Pilea peperomioides, also known as the Chinese Money Plant

December 3, 2018

Dear diary,

Mom killed one of her favorite plants. Pilea peperomioides is its fancy name. The more common name is Chinese Money Plant. Mom found it at her favorite nursery, Briggs, earlier this year. And now it is dead.

It turns out mom over watered the plant. She found out when see finally googled “how to take care of Pilea peperomioides.” Under “most common error” she found the item: over-watering.

Mom knew the plant wasn’t doing so well. Failure to thrive, I think it’s called. And instead of educating herself, she made presumptions and watered it more. And then some more. And then some more.

When most of the leaves dropped, mom went onto google. Finally. And learned the cold hard truth. Ignorance can kill.

I’m a bit mad at mom. I am mad that it took her this long to ask google. Actually, I’m pissed. So pissed. I AM SO MAD.

Sheesh. Why am I so mad? Because mom did a stupid thing. Yes. But why am I so mad? Because mom killed a plant out of ignorance. Yes. But why an I so mad?

Maybe because if mom can kill her favorite plant due to ignorance, maybe she might kill me off accidentally. I mean I can’t do anything for myself. I need mom to feed me, change my water, change my location depending on the season, and give me love and attention.

The fact that love and attention, like watering, can kill the thing you love—that is scary. What is love? Isn’t all love good? I guess it has to do with context. Like how love has more to do with what the receiver needs, rather than what the giver wants to give.

Mom wanted to give water as a way to care for her plant. Her plant needed light, air, and space. And instead of these things, mom slowly drowned her plant. Poor mom. I hope she doesn’t blame herself too much. I wonder if she caught my “shaming eye.” You know the glance or the cut of the eye, when you tell the person that you think they are so stupid or unworthy. Because, even though mom killed her beloved plant, she still has to live with herself.

I should give mom a hug today. And tell her pole sana. Pole sana means… something like, so sorry for what you are going through in Kiswahili.

Love, Bob