In May, during a walk with some family members in search of lovebirds, my attention was suddenly diverted when a relative excitedly exclaimed, “Did you see the free plant?!” Intrigued, I promptly made a U-turn and headed back to investigate. To my surprise, nestled by a tree, there sat a complimentary gift – a lovely rubber plant!

Initially, the plant seemed to thrive and even exhibited promising growth. But then, a disheartening pattern emerged as it began to shed leaves indiscriminately. Truth be told, I didn’t invest much effort in rescuing it; my primary focus had shifted towards obtaining a generously-sized terracotta pot for free, sidelining the plant’s well-being.

As time passed, I eventually recognized the severity of the situation. Upon closer inspection, it became evident that the rubber plant had fallen victim to rot. My initial guilt was quickly overshadowed by the pace of life, and I moved on with a sense of humor.

Despite this somewhat comical turn of events, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I may not be ready for another rubber plant at this moment. Nevertheless, the short-lived experience had its moments of charm and a valuable lesson in plant care. Maybe one day, I’ll give a rubber plant another shot, but for now, it remains a sad yet funny memory.