‘Me or the plants’: Boyfriend gives girlfriend with 200 plants she's grown since they were seedlings and clippings an ultimatum, internet sides with the plants

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    "My plants are the one and only thing I have that help me with my mental health..."
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    Boyfriend wants me to get rid of most of my plants... I have nearly 200 I hope this is allowed, I need some advice. I've spent several years building my collection of plants and am right around 200. I currently live on my own and have no need to move other than to be with him. He asked me to move in, I did not ask to live with him. He has been constantly telling me that my collection would overwhelm him, and I had to fight for 3 walls to put shelves. As I look around though, Many of them are lar
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    Many of my trailing plants are entirely too long for shelves but he doesn't want me to hang anything. When I tell him that maybe it's best that I just stay at my apartment so that I can keep my plants, he makes me feel guilty because I'm choosing plants over him. It's not the case, but my plants are the one and only thing I have that help me with my mental health... they got me through recovery from alcohol, and they give me something to do when I'm anxious or depressed. I've told him this, but
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    DCNumberNerd • 14h ago You're not "choosing plants over him" - he's the one creating the "choice" - and in this case, the choice is whether he supports your healthy, reasonable hobby/coping tool or not. Seems like he's not making a good choice right now, so you keep being you in your green space, while he figures out if he's going to grow or not. 5.9K ☐ Reply
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    nikiley 13h ago • Agreed. This feels really manipulative. So you move in and get rid of all your plants. What does he ask you to sacrifice next? And after that? 2K Reply
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    Babbledoodle • 15h ago Nobody worth their salt would make you do this. Your plant seem really important to you. And it doesn't even sound like you actively want to move in with him. I don't know, If I had a friend that was telling me what you're saying, I would ask if this is a deal breaker. But it's kind of crazy to me that he's constantly telling you this. Like who cares.
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    Either keep living by yourself or have him move in with you if you want to live with him. And if he doesn't want to move in to your house, then I'd ask yourself If this relationship can work, if something like this can cause a schism But if you're sick to your stomach, that's awful and I hope it works out in a way that you find your healthiest life 953 Reply ...
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    • Half-Squat-5 15h ago Nobody worth being with will ask you to give up something that brings you joy. ✩ 4.5K 4.5K Reply
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    swirlysleepydog . 14h ago Yes. Keep the plants, ditch the boyfriend. I know it sounds trite but someone with 200 plants isn't doing it just because it's cute. They've spent serious time learning about the different plants, how they grow, and their needs, not to mention the actual caring for them. This is far more than a casual hobby.
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    Your SO should be happy for you. My husband of 23 years is the one who absolutely insists that we continue to pay the $250/mo membership for the community pottery studio that I love. It feels so extravagant to me, but we truly can easily afford it and he loves that I love it. He raves over every single piece I bring home and constantly says he is so impressed that I've worked for 4 years to develop my skills. Get you an SO like that because you deserve one. 1.7K Reply
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    EducationalShelter26 13h ago 100% this. My husband wouldn't let me send my biggest plant to my parents house when we had our baby because he said he would miss it too much. Even though it takes up 1/4 of our living room. 107 Reply ...
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    RaisedFourth • • 15h ago Edited 14h ago "Our future together is more important" is kind of a terrifying thing to hear when someone is trying to get you to get rid of something that important to you, ngl. It's really controlling. Kinda seems like maybe you shouldn't move in with him. I don't know the totality of your relationship, but if one of my friends told me this was happening, I would tell her to leave him and not look back. I know that because I have told friends to leave men that tried to
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    OlympiaShannon • 13h ago 30 years with my partner; he built me three awesome 12 ft long benches for my plants. I have about 500 succulents, and he is glad they make me happy. Never settle, ladies. Wait until you find the one who is supportive, well-adjusted, shares your values, and makes every day special. 86 ☐ Reply ...
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    • yamarashis 15h ago this guy. imagine how crazy it sounds to ask a gamer to get rid of their set up, games, and abandon big $$$$ because its annoying to deal with. not worth moving in with him especially when you mentioned its not a particular priority for you. imo the only reason someone should be making their partner choose between them vs xyz is if its an addiction or otherwise detrimental to their own health. this is a huge red flag on his behalf, sounds like testing the waters for pushing
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    Curlyredlocks • 15h ago Look, plants are your therapy. You have nutured them through what I can only imagine are very difficult times. Would you throw out your therapist? No. Would you do something dangerous drunk? Probably. Your plants are helping to maintain your mental health. It isn't like you have a collection of dead leaves and bugs everywhere. He can go his hand with his ignorance for not seeing the bigger picture. 67 Reply
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    Excellent_Error_4755 14h ago Hey OP. I have 200 plants. And my fiance is not a plant person, not in the way that he hates them. Just that he can't keep them alive. We just moved in together a few months ago. Did he ask me to get rid of my plants? Nope. He bought me and built me an ikea cabinet and other shelves. You don't need someone to take away the things you love. You need someone who helps you fulfill your goals. I can see my fiance being overwhelmed with all my plants but he is not the one
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    illogicalbrowser • 15h ago This is an instant red flag-but I'll start as the devils advocate. 200 is a loooooot of plants and I have over 40 in my 10'x10' bedroom I'd be understanding to an extent if my partner didn't want a ton of plants hanging over his head while he sleeps or engages in his own hobbies (this would still be very hard and may hurt my feelings a bit, lol). The key here is going to be finding a compromise that works for you both, but also there is likely someone out there who wil
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    Resolute Muse 14h ago Edited 14h ago No, just no! • Anyone that would make you get rid of what makes you happy, is making this a loyalty test, "if you really loved me, you would do X" Loyalty tests never stop at just one. Tell us about BF's other ▶▶ because this isn't the only one.
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    You can bet that if you do move in, "oops, it just fell," or they suddenly die, or vanish. And it's not a big deal, why are you overreacting, it's just a plant it's like they are more important than me. I started collecting plants during covid too. My husband does not interfere, merely watches that my plants are well cared for because if they aren't it's because I've slipped in my own self care. Edit to add: I require a plant tax!! 25 Reply
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    Low_Employ8454 • 14h ago This is not the person for you. Please. Let us help as it's easier to say this from the outside: this is a HUGE, GIANT, BRIGHT, CHERRY RED, FLAG!!! If we shared any interest and I was on the same sub as you I would say the same thing. Anything that brings you joy, has helped you find peace, that you truly love and care about should be something the actual person out there that you are meant to be with not only would accept, but support you about. The guy doesn't need to
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    All the time you've spent growing these.. asking you to get rid of them is so inappropriate... but even worse and the real huge red flag is that this man is already emotionally manipulating you! You are NOT choosing plants over him. HE is the one choosing to prioritize his preferences over you. (Only when you make the choice to not comply with his wishes) Furthermore the whole situation is a weird desire for control since it is his idea to move in together, not even something you feel you need t
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    You've even given him an option where you can still be together, each with your own comfortable space, and he is the one choosing to essentially give you a back handed ultimatum by petulantly giving you only the choice of choosing him by choosing to live together and live together in exactly whatever way he thinks that looks like. I'm sorry. You wouldn't give up a pet for this man and you shouldn't give up your plants either. It is the same difference, and again, it could be anything.. Lego sets
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    catsandplants424 • 15h ago My husband is not a fan of all my plants but when he sees me looking at one a certain way in the store and he knows I'd really like to have it he says just get it I know you love it and rolls his eyes. If he loves you he'd at the very least tolerate your plants that you've explained mean everything to you. Time to rethink the relationship. 14 Reply

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