Hey Clan!
Ok, so most of you know that earlier in the month I decided to conduct an experiment on Pinterest to save my houseplant. The initial idea was to use Pinterest’s new, innovative tool: Pinterest Lens, to conduct a visual search to identify my plant.
Well, let’s just say it was an epic Pinterest fail.
But Pinterest isn’t to blame!
You see, I ended up doing what many of us in the Pinterest world like to call a “nailed it”. Some of you are familiar with the term.
Aaaand…some of you are scratching your heads right now.
“Nailed it” refers to a popular meme of Pinterest DIY blunders. You know, where people try to replicate those perfect DIY projects, and end up with absolute duds.
When I uploaded the plant image in my previous post: Using Pinterest to Save a Houseplant, I committed one of the classic blunders. We all remember the first, right? Don’t get involved in a land war in Asia? Ok, just wanted to make sure we’re trackin’.
Anyway, I failed to take into account that Pinterest Lens doesn’t focus on one dominate image, but everything it sees in the picture. So Pinterest not only saw a plant…it saw my vase.
Care to guess what Pinterest thought I wanted to search?
Yep! Floral arrangements.
So while I gained some lovely ideas on vase and floral decor, I came no closer to discovering what kind of houseplant I had.
Enter my Facebook and Instagram Community!
As you probably guessed, the experiment wasn’t a total wash. Where Pinterest proved less than beneficial, my community (AKA my clan) stepped up in a big way.
You see, I fell back on the fail-safe of my family and friends on Facebook and Instagram. After the image floated around there for a day, that same wonderful family member who gifted me the plant, was then able to see which plant I was talking about (FYI I’m not always good at describing plants), and offer care instructions.
So what is it?
Well, folks, it turns out I had what most plant-savvy people know as a garden variety Coleus. Fortunately, the Coleus is a hardy little sucker, and as you can see form the picture on the left, it’s thriving again….right alongside it’s new neighbor, the salvaged Geranium. Geranium is still in remission too.
The Coleus also has several new brothers and sisters growing in other vases. Apparently I’ll have a bumper crop of Coleus soon, and may need to give them away or transplant them outside.
Baby Coleus, anyone?
Come on! They’re pretty! You know you want one.
Plants are so happy inside. I usually kill anything indoor, but two have managed to survive me. So happy you discovered what yours is and how to take care of it! And Pinterest…well, it’s good for other things. 😉
Pearl, you too? I’m amazed the houseplants I have are still living. They usually don’t last long. I’m still hesitant to transplant the other Coleus cuttings outside. I’ve read they don’t like cold, so putting them out there might be an immediate “death sentence”. Lol! You are right. Pinterest is good for other things. Overall, it was an experiment that taught me much.