Below is a response by 'New Age Mystic' Aurora Clawson, written on March 26, 2015. Because of a response I received based on my affinity for plants, I did a Google search on 'plants and karma.'
The young lady stated, "There must be good karma around you. I like!"
As I perused through a few pages and stumbled across Clawson's answer to the question:
"How does karma work with living beings like bacteria, plants, etc?"
"Karma is a universal law that accompanies a level of sentient consciousness. Each bacteria does not have a sense of personal self with will and imagination. It has 'hive mind', subject to specific energetic laws governing its species. Its self is its principle. Each aspect of its principle is acted upon by thousands of variants that determine its effect upon those variants. Its species naturally moves along its own evolutionary path without personal choice, Thus, no karma. Since bacteria is acted upon, bacteria causing disease did not maliciously choose to harm human beings. Bacteria is subject to its own energetic design."
"It just so happens we live in a chemically oriented world and some chemicals are harmonious together, and some aren't. If the human system is harmed by interaction with a particular type of bacteria, it is not the bacteria's fault. It has simply, by some means been put together with a human host. It will seek to thrive, feed and survive within a human, as it does everywhere else. Bacteria will just go along doing what it does."
"Its just like wolves. Wolves form packs and kill for food only. They have no will or desire to KILL another wolf. They will fight for dominance, but never to the point of killing another of its species. They only kill for food, adhering to the primitive instincts deeply instilled within them. Ironically enough however, a dove will peck another dove to death. Aren't we humans good at choosing symbols of peace? Just an interesting aside. Still are they subject to karma? No. They are subject wholly to their instinctual natures. They cannot make a choice to deny their natures. There would be zero use for karma."
"Karma is simply a word for how universal consciousness responds to a species with will and imagination, and a species still defining themselves in a wholly limited and delusional way. Such a species is subject to something called the Law of Attraction which is how they are brought into wakefulness. This law is far more complex than the simplified version one hears by those who don't truly study it."
"We human beings have the capacity to choose our responses. Our perceptions create our realities. Self authority and the level of one's Conscious Awareness is what determines whether or not one is still subject to karma."
"When one has transcended their identification of ego as their self, they also transcend karma. The reasons for this would take a great deal of explanation. So I'll leave it at that. As well, there are many other truths about karma that are far more complex. It is never as simple as it seems."
"So the same applies to plants. Something to mention of interest however, is that these life forms can respond with something akin to emotion. When hooked up to instruments that measure their energetic response, they can receive differing types of music and emotions and create specific responses to them.
A plant can respond when its owner lands at an airport. The needles actually jumped at the specific time when measured in one particular experiment."
"Everything is a form of living Consciousness. The laws a thing is subject to depends entirely upon its degree of 'sentience of being' as an identity. Still they can respond with what humans may interpret as emotions to stimulus even if they are not possessing of an individual sense of identity in the human sense. Trees will warn other trees of fires, and the other trees will ooze more sap, which helps to keep them more fire retardant. Nature communicates with itself. None of these communications are determined by the law of karma, which pertains only to human thought."
The official term is the "Dracaena Marginata," aka "Dragon Tree," one of the easiest, most durable houseplants to grow. I've had my Madagascar for 25 years and she has sired at least 10 other Dragon Tree's in that time frame.
Pruning the Madagascar, makes her thicker, fuller, and the 'trained' stems grow it varied directions. The stems are trained based on the way the Marginata is pruned.
The pictures to the right show the stages of rooting (yes, the stems can root in water) the Dracaena Marginata. In 2-3 weeks it start to root. This particular cutting remained in water for about 3 months. The goal was to keep it in water for an undetermined time but today, I decided to send the cutting home, back to its mother - my 25-year old Madagascar.
Caring For the Dracaena Marginata
The Madagascar dragon tree is one of the easiest house plants to grow and takes neglect on the chin - then recovers quickly once the correct conditions and care is provided.
If leaves start dying and coming away at the bottom of the plant, don't be concerned. This is natural and similar to how a yucca tree sheds it's bottom leaves for new growth. You can remove them once you see them deteriorating in look.
Dragon Tree Care
- Temperature: Average room temperatures are ideal between 65°- 75°F (18°- 24 °C) or more. Dragon Tree's will live through much colder temperatures during winter, but keeping them in optimal health requires the room to be no less than 50°F (10°C).
- Light: Bright conditions with shade is suitable for the dragon plant. Direct sunlight will damage the leaves.
- Watering: Keeping the soil slightly moist is the best indicator of correct watering. During the winter, like most plants they need much less.
- Soil: Use an all purpose potting mix.
- Re-Potting: These can be re-potted every two years during spring or later if needed.
- Humidity: Normal household humidity is fine and misting the leaves is advised. They do like fresh air during the summer from a window open, and do not like stuffy hot rooms from central heating systems.
- Propagation: Cutting and re-planting stem cuttings a couple of inches long is an easy method used. Apply root hormones and give it a few weeks for them to begin rooting.
- Pruning: You can remove old leaves that are ready to fall from the bottom of the trunk which will make it look more attractive. And, cut back stems to keep the plant to the size you want.
By Nikki Phipps
(Author of The Bulb-o-licious Garden)
If you’re looking for an easy succulent to grow indoors, opt for the string of beads (Senecio rowleyanus) plant. In addition to its carefree growth habit, this interesting houseplant can provide a unique focal point in the home. Sprawling over the edges of containers or hanging baskets, the string of beads plant resembles a beaded necklace with its fleshy green, pea-like foliage. Learn more about growing string of beads houseplant so you can also enjoy its unique characteristics and ease of care.
What is a String of Beads Houseplant?
Also called rosary string of beads or string of pearls plant, this creeping succulent is an odd looking plant that many people enjoy adding to their indoor gardens. Though the flowers may seem small and unattractive to some people, if they’re even lucky enough to get them, others find the faint white blooms (which smell a bit like cinnamon) quite welcome.
Still, it’s the thin thread-like stems and fleshy round, bead-like leaves that make this unusual houseplant a great addition to the home. Learning how to grow a string of pearls houseplant is extremely easy.
How to Grow a String of Pearls Houseplant
The string of pearls plant grows well in bright light, including sunlight.
You should provide this string of beads houseplant with average indoor temperatures (around 72 F./22 C.) throughout its active growth. During its dormancy, however, you’ll need to provide cooler conditions, generally somewhere between 50 to 55 F. (10-13 C.).
Give this houseplant a well-draining sandy soil, preferably the type most suitable for growing cacti [2] and succulent plants. Pot your plant in a hanging basket so its trailing foliage can hang down.
String of Pearls Care
As with most succulent plants, the string of beads requires little care. However, while there’s little maintenance involved with growing a rosary string of beads plant, you will need to provide it with some care.
This succulent plant is drought tolerant, surviving long periods without water. In fact, the plant’s water-storing abilities allow it to be watered thoroughly one week and then pretty much forgotten the next week or two. Watering too often can increase the chances of root rot. So be sure to let the soil dry out at least half an inch or so between waterings. In winter, cut back watering to about once monthly.
Occasionally, you may find that pruning becomes necessary as part of your string of pearls care in order to maintain its size or appearance. This is simple to do. Trim off any dead stems and pearls, as well as any stems that have lost a lot of their ‘beads.’ Pruning back will help promote fuller, more compact plants.
Even better than its ease of care is the fact that you can share the plant with others. Whenever pruning is in order, you can take advantage of the plant’s easy propagation. Simply place a cutting or two in a pot of soil and they will easily take root.
The string of beads houseplant makes an excellent conversation piece. Your family, friends, and neighbors will love it as much as you will.
Note: Since this succulent plant is considered to be somewhat toxic, it is recommended that care be taken when growing string of beads houseplant in homes with pets or small children.
