Skip to main content

Negotiating with Plants

I recently bought a house after living in crumby apartments for the last decade. And part of owning a house is that you also own some parts of the ground.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American



On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


I recently bought a house after living in crumby apartments for the last decade. And part of owning a house is that you also own some parts of the ground. I have ground! Ground I can plant seeds in and such. But while I have kept several indoor plants healthy for years, I must admit that tending to outdoor plants sounds daunting. This is how I imagine my relationship with my future garden plants.