Question
I hope you don't mind. I do have a plant question but I also wanted to know how you developed your love for plants into a lifes work. I myself love plants, the way they look, feel, smell, and evoke great emotion in me. I just don't know how to turn it into something more than just a for lack of a better term hobby. I am 30, have two kids and I'm trying to find a job after being out of work for three years because of a serious injury to my back I recieved at work. I used to work with troubled childern, but am taking a different direction. I have gone to all the nurseries in my area but none of them are willing to hire. Do you have any suggestions.

Now to my plant question.I have a Jade plant, it is in a 10 inch pot. I have had it for almost 2 years. It sits in my living room on a plant stand about ten feet away from the only single paned window in the room and the window faces west. I have city water. I water it about once every two weeks this time of year when it's indoors. Now the problem is that the stems of the jade are rotting out. I put pressure on them with my first fingure and my thumb and they feel hollow. Can you help.

                      Thanks So Much,

                         Christina

Answer
Christina,

Your jade is not receiving enough sunlight. Move it over next to that west facing window and do not water it unles it is bone dry, even if that takes 3 weeks or more. Make sure the soil is very dry before you water the plant again. Jades love the sun and need as much as they can get.

As for your career and mine, this is not my life's work. I wish it was. This is a volunteeer position that I do when I get hom from my regular jobs. I work as a merchandiser for 5 different companies setting up displays and maintaining them and doing inventories in various stores. I would love to eventually write a book on house plant care and get it published. I started by going to Master Gardener classes which I would also suggest to you. They are given by your county extension office and are usually reasonably priced. They teach you where to find the answers to all kinds of gardening questions. You have to do volunteer work answering questions about some type of gardening to maintain your status as a master gardener. For me it is houseplants. With the title of Master Gardener under your belt you are also much likelier to get hired by those nurseries. In our area the classes are twice a week for 8 weeks. If you have more questions about either feel free to ask. Let me know where you live next time so I know the climate. Good luck.

Darlene