So here’s a weird one: I bought two lovely plants from Perfectplants.co.uk and they both died within 6 weeks. I followed the care instructions to the letter, and I’m pretty good at looking after plants.
I’ve emailed the merchant three times but no response.
I know plants are not like any other product, and the merchant can’t guarantee they’ll live. But am I being unreasonable in expecting they’ll survive at least 6 weeks with good care?
I can kill plants much quicker than 6 weeks
Did they look in good condition when you got them?
In my opinion plants are very much caveat emptor. Buy at own risk, follow the guides and hope for the best. 6 weeks is quick, but how do you prove it had the right light, temperature etc?
The garden centres are full of plants that have little hope of ever surviving. It’s a dodgy industry and buyers need to be very careful and expect the worst (especially non native species).
The fact it’s two says to me that it’s you, you plant murderer.
What was the weather like when they were delivered?
I’ve had a problem before when the plants were shipped overnight when the temp was below freezing, they were obviously left in the van overnight before delivery.
I got a refund too!
What plants did you get? Some plants genuinely do have a 6 week life span.
My favourite is the peace lily. Impossible to kill and lives for 3-5 years
Dandelion. Nettle. Other 
unwanted growth
I go out of my way to nuke these ***** and they still keep on keepin’ on. Like cockroaches.
Yeah that’s why I’m questioning what to do.
From memory, mid-Jan, when we had that cold snap. But they did look ok when they arrived. Although the leaves on one started dropping almost immediately.
Ohhh nooo. Killing with kindness. They asked for 50ml a week and that’s what they got.
One was a ficus bejamina with a braided trunk and the other was an areca palm. Both are pretty hardy, just need light, small amounts of water and not too hot or too cold.
See, this is where I think we get gardening wrong. We seem to gravitate towards the really high-maintenance plants, but consider certain resilient plants that are evolutionary successes “weeds”. 
Plus they are very much needed, providing vital food for insects, bees etc.
Weeds… Hmmm… you mean like that Rocket stuff my sandwich contained the other day… Instead of lettuce?
I think I’d classify most salad as weeds.
Rocket is those big leaves you find in the lawnmower bin isn’t it? 
