The Agave plant is a hardy and unique succulent that has been used extensively throughout history. The second reason is that if they do manage to eat some of the cactus the consequences are likely to be minimal provided that it is actually a cactus that they are eating. When watering any agave, check the soil moisture with your fingertip and water only if the soil feels dry in the top 2 inches. Frustrated, one day I convinced my older son Nicolas to get out the chainsaw. What specialties of doctors treat plant thorn arthritis? This will help prevent foreign material from getting into the wound and causing an infection. Consumers should consider the pros and cons of Agave and replace it with natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or dates when making healthy food choices. There is no specific medication or home remedy for plant thorn arthritis. Logee's describes agave plants as moderate feeders and recommends feeding every two weeks during the summer months. Agave is not without controversy, despite its popularity. Have been struggling to keep pace with the pup removal, which is hard work. Some cacti spines have barbed ends, which could make this process more painful or difficult. Saponins are soap-like compounds and hemolytic is something that damages red blood cells. It was a scab smaller than a pin head. WebA wound from an agave is almost guaranteed to engender a loud swear word. Once you have successfully removed all the needles from the wound the area should be cleaned and disinfected before applying an antibiotic ointment to ensure that there are no bacterial infections. The actual blooming process takes the better part of a year, and as the flowers develop, the mother plant starts to decline, taking about another year. Agave plants make beautiful additions to the landscape or when grown as a potted specimen. Important message here, if its not native plant with care!! A man stabbed three other patrons and then fled the scene. Often they don't bleed either. Gopher tortoises, and as many as hundreds of other animals will share the burrow. Removal of joint fluid (joint aspiration) is performed to rule out bacterial or fungal infection of the joint. Less chances to poke yourself working around them. If you get stuck by an agave cactus what happens? Some of the fleshy leaves approach a half-foot girth at their base. These forms of arthritis require urgent antibiotic treatment. Vet said the eye looked like there was pressure inside the head, but there was never an official diagnosis. Once the tip of the needle can be seen poking out of the wound tweezers can be used to remove it. All plants in the euphorbia family contain a milky white sap which is highly alkaline and will cause severe burns if it comes into contact with skin or eyes. How Long Does It Take For Peyote Cactus To Reach Maturity? The desert agave or century plant Agave americana is a notoriously toxic and poisonous plant but its also very attractive and so it is a common landscape plant. The plant remained and dried up enough to roll it to an open area. This can be done by pressing down on the skin just below where the tip of the needle is and pushing upward towards the wound. The closer the fruit is to a red color the riper it is. Because you trimmed off the pups, the plant will die. Leather, Some of the agave leaves are almost a half-foot thick at their base. As Mr. Smarty Plants says, agaves self propagate via rhizomes, sending shallow-rooted baby plants all around the base rosette. Because of its sap, the sap appears to be the most irritating part of the plant. Fortunately, agave plants don't require much interaction once they are planted in a suitable site. Grown in gardens or pots, and native to many desert areas, cacti create interesting focal pieces to any environment. Cutting these sinewy leaves to gain access to the soil to dig up the root becomes a separate challenge requiring sharp shears, a knife, nippers or a coba, a special tool from Mexico that a cactus grower friend supplied to us. Before cutting on top to avoid tearing the bark, make a small cut beneath the Agave stem to replant it. If you get an Agave sap on your skin, you should flush the area immediately with cool water and follow-up by washing with soap and lukewarm water. If you get a puncture wound from an Agave thorn or are slashed by the edge of a leaf, wash thoroughly with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment and a bandage. It is critical to replace the pi*a that has been harvested with a new blue Aga plant as soon as possible. I even considered herbicides, but the mass of the plants would require such enormous doses, that just seemed wrong. I stupidly imported Agave americana to our ranch a dozen years ago. Stabbed By Agave Is The Agave Poisonous Or Toxic Plant Delights Lives Up To Its Name Red Dirt Ramblings Cacti And Succulents Plants Planting Succulents Endangered Species Act: Wrong tool for the Job of Monarch butterfly Conservation? When moving and planting agaves, try sticking wine corks on the spiny leaf tips to prevent accidental injury. I got poked by a blue agave spike in a vein on my foream two days ago. Cacti spines cause puncture wounds 1. My huge agave bloomed about a year ago. Needless to say I'm spending the winter nipping all the sharp tips at Lotus height or below to avoid future problems. Place the cut surfaces of the cuttings on a window sill until they are healed. If you are unlucky enough to get pricked by cactus there are a few steps you need to undertake to safely treat the wound. This means that if you have a small child or dog that happened to start eating a cactus the likelihood of theyre being a significant problem is minimal for two reasons. What is the prognosis of plant thorn arthritis? Our doctors define difficult medical language in easy-to-understand explanations of over 19,000 medical terms. Most cactus plants are edible, however, the vast majority of them do not taste particularly nice and some are unknown to cause some stomach upsets. If you remove whole leaves from a plant without stems, do so without cutting them off. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Signs and Symptoms of Infection in a Scrape, Dermatology Online Journal: Cactus Dermititis. I let the bees and hummingbirds feast. I'm Normandi, a passionate gardener and botanic expert with over 15 years of experience in the field. Treatment involves antibiotics and the drainage of the infected joint. I had been stabbed one too many times. When an Agave plant grows this many babies the mother plant has diffic. Although most instances of contact dermatitis from agave plants are minor, it is best to consult with a doctor if a rash forms, particularly if the person has a history of severe allergic reactions. The fruit can then be sliced up and eaten raw. When small, they are relatively easy to dig with a hand shovel. Alternatively, you can treat the plant with an herbicide, but this should only be used as a last resort as it can harm other plants in the area. Certainly getting stabbed by a cactus spine, an aloe tip or an agave will take an eye out if it's in the right place, but there's something different about an ordinary yucca When I've been stabbed by the big yuccas they penetrate deeply, often to the bone because the tips are so sharp. It seemed like this spike went right into my vein. When eating the fruit most people generally cut the fruit in half and then scoop out the white flesh using a spoon. If youve been stabbed by an Agave plant, wash your wounds with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage to protect your skin. If you experience an allergic reaction or have any symptoms that concern you, seek medical attention immediately. 3. The most common varieties are the prickly pear which is popular in Mexico and the dragon fruit cactus. The microscopic thorn fragments are easily identified using a polarized light microscope as they appear brilliantly shiny (birefringent) to the examining pathologist. Follow butterfly and native plant news at the Texas Butterfly Ranch. Agave pia is one of the most remarkable plants in the genus Agave. 2023 www.desertsun.com. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. As dead agave blades die and dry out atop them, a sinewy mulch results. Provide plants with optimal irrigation and well-draining soil to avoid this problem. Once the fruit is removed from the cactus you will need to remove the glochids. I was wearing gloves that had extra padding over Brisket Rivard (left) assists. I specialize in growing and maintaining a variety of plants, flowers, herbs and vegetables, as well as providing advice and guidance to others on how to care for their own gardens. Poison. stands out among other succulent plants with its symmetrical shape and striking flower display, which features masses of large, waxy flowers atop a stalk that can reach 40 feet in height, according to North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service. Cactus plants are not poisonous to humans and the spines on their surface do not contain poisons of any type. http://mezcalphd.com/2013/03/how-many-varieties-of-agave-can-be-used-to-make-mezcal-take-2/. These plants include palm trees, roses, black-thorn shrubs, cacti, bougainvillea, yucca, pyracantha, plum trees, and mesquite trees. Keeping the fire alive was a challenge given the agaves high moisture contentlike burning a watermelon. Just to play it safe with loved ones, don safety glasses and cut just the last quarter inch off each spine to blunt the tips around your garden so everyone remains stick and scratch free this season. Agave plants, unlike most plants, are known for their beauty, but they also have some dangerous spines that can cause serious harm if crossed. All rights reserved. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Good luck getting your shovel through this. Five monarch butterfly and pollinator news stories from 2022ICYM em, When aphids suck the life from your milkweed, heres how to safely get rid of them. While chasing rabbits under yucca clumps, she didn't see this leaf because it was pointed straight at her eye. There are 9 different types of Agave plants that are referred to as century plants, but they only bloom and die between the ages of 8 and 40. Hummingbirds and bats love this pollen trove. I adopted Lotus Moonflower from the Palm Springs ASPCA years ago. That reminds me of my war with the dandelions that are trying to take over my frogfruit. Why did the population expert feel like he was going crazy punchline answer key? Then it dies. While explaining my toxicity suspicions to Clark Moorten, he agreed that there's something about yucca. However, even though the chances of there being a major problem is low it is still advisable to carefully monitor a person or animal that has eaten the cactus for a period of least a couple of hours to ensure that there are no signs of distress. Agave plants add beauty to landscaping, but they also pose a risk to people and pets with their sharp spines and mildly toxic sap, which can cause a range of symptoms, from swelling to blisters. 1996-2021 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Eventually, the flame caught. I didnt even know what type of plant it was until doing a google search. The leaves are dried now and come off easily. According to Dr. Kelly Lyons, a Trinity University expert, the plant should be placed on the watch list.. Agave sap contains calcium oxalate, which forms bundles of needlelike crystals called raphides. The spines are stout, sharp and will easily puncture every part of most animal bodies. The length of a healthy piece of stem should be at least 10 cm and the cut should be cleanly handled with scissors. The joint lining tissue is called the synovium. Wash the area with soap and warm water. What about those who depend upon the harvesting of the Agave to make their livelihood? Same for introduced animals. Once this is done the skin of the fruit can be removed by cutting the ends of An Agave plant stabs you in the heart, causing inflammatory arthritis similar to septic arthritis. Despite the fact that removing an Agave plant may appear difficult, it is actually quite simple. Experts caution not to add it to the compost pile, either. They will freeze on occasion, even in the ground. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool , United States Department of Agriculture: Agave Lechuguilla. The plant thorn fragments cause a localized inflammation reaction in the joint lining tissue that leads to swelling stiffness loss of range of motion and pain. Apply a broad-spectrum insecticide in early spring if your agave is infected. The most common joints affected by plant thorn arthritis are those that can be exposed to being stabbed by falling into or brushing up against plants with thorns. Photo by Monika Maeckle. Many cactus spines are large and easily visible 1. image of mime, landscape, Emblem Everything you need to know about emblems logaster emblem creator. Agave stalk removal is a necessary step for keeping the plant healthy, as the stalks can become overgrown, which can cause the plant to become unstable. I ignored the agaves entirely for more than a decade. If you like the sound of the Sansevieria trifasciata Moonshine, why not read up a bit more on how to care for it here. All the victims survived, but the Agave Junction Cantina stabbing still wasnt great press for the bar. This material is so dangerous that there are literally hundreds of cases every year of people being hospitalized due to coming into contact with this sap. You are making me thirsty! Unfortunately, this is a natural process that cannot be stopped, but cutting the bloom stalks from a plant as soon as they begin to grow can be done. However, when removing the fruit from the plant you need to wear gloves as the fruit is covered in glochids. This can be done MRI scanning is painless and does not involve X-ray radiation. However, theyre not the friendliest plants when it comes to pets and young children who can often prick themselves easily when going past them. WebI was stabbed by. The fruit appears on the edges of the flat pads of the cactus and has a shape similar to a pear. Yet when I study all my botany books there's never a reference to this toxicity whatsoever except for one line: "Recognizing the effectiveness of saponins as hemolytic compound, the Ramah Navajo used the sap from leaves as arrow-tip poison" (Vestal 1952). The fact that the pia can survive for up to ten years before being harvested demonstrates how valuable it is. We await their century plant spurt, the year when these mighty agaves will shoot their reproductive stalks skyward and grace us with pollen powdered yellow flowers that will attract bats and hummingbirds. I now have a bruise thats 4 inches long and 2 inches wide at the site of the puncture. Have you ever asked Are agave plants toxic or poisonous. The plant can grow to three feet in diameter and eighteen inches tall but will stay smaller in a pot. Mealy Blue Sage wins 2023 Unofficial Pollinator Plant of the Year. What joints are typically involved in plant thorn arthritis? Even then it was tough to find on a white dog, it's impossible on dark or thick fur. I decided to tackle the out-of-control succulents, which by this time, stood taller than my five-foot-six-inch frame. Agave plants, unlike other types of succulent, have sharp leaves and stems that can puncture skin. Sometimes tiny pieces of thorns can be visualized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scanning), high-resolution computerized tomography (HR-CAT scanning), or ultrasound imaging. It is not uncommon for the person affected by plant thorn arthritis to remove the thorn immediately after the puncture and then develop the arthritis many days or weeks later and not even recall that the joint had been punctured previously. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Finally I had to pay for gardener to remove some of the large mother plants. The surgical operation that can cure plant thorn arthritis is called a synovectomy with joint lavage (joint washout cleaning). Each one has its own set of needle-tipped leaves and serrated blade-like fronds. The first reason is that due to the spines that are on most plants the probability of a dog or child attempting to eat a cactus is relatively low. This can be done by applying very gentle pressure around the wound, but not directly to it. The resulting candelabra-like branchlets sport clusters of yellow flowers. This silent white pit bull suddenly wasn't herself the other day. It is critical to seek immediate treatment if you are experiencing irritation on your skin. Is it safe to burn the dried leaves? A more common symptom of exposure to agave plants is skin irritation, or dermatitis. Fuzzy Kalanchoes: Varieties, Uses, Tips, Expensive Succulent Design Mistakes to Avoid. This can happen when a person is pricked by the sharp spines or if. Classified as a succulent, agave cactus have hard, sword-shaped leaves that grow in a rosette pattern. Using tweezers, remove the largest spines from the injured area. Whenever we get punctured by a cactus or agave or other sharp plant, we make sure to remove any spines left behind, wash thoroughly, use a local disinfectant and Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. gloves, long sleeves, thick jeans, a sturdy hat and glasses became my agave fighting uniform. Let this be a lesson to every pet owner, hiker and gardener in the desert. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and bats use them regularly when flowering, and will come from miles away to visit these A. americana flowers, which happens for the plant once in a lifetime. Another positive some might find is that Agave Blue Glow has no other spines past the colorful terminal spine. The sap in the leaves of Agave is toxic to pets and humans. Also, wear heavy gardening gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when planting them to protect your skin and eyes. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. By applying duct tape, you catch the small spines. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The other type of cactus which is particularly popular in Mexico and Southeast Asia is the dragon fruit. Once this is done the skin of the fruit can be removed by cutting the ends of and then slitting down the side of the fruit. The hole in the ground should be roughly twice the size of the plant, and it is best to use cactus soil with a drainage method. Often, however, the residual thorn fragments are too small to be seen with these methods and are detected only when identified in tissue that is surgically removed from the joint. Website by, Trinity Students continue battle with Johnson Grass, New study: nectar plants more important than milkweed for Monarch butterfly migration, How to plan a successful pollinator garden, Mostly native urban butterfly garden outperforms lawn every time, IH-35 to Become Pollinator Corridor for Bees, Butterflies and other Pollinators. #watchout Photo by Monika Maeckle, Then I tried setting the agave on fire using kindling and later charcoal fire starter. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Despite the fact that Agave may be a better alternative to refined sugar, it is not the healthiest choice. Discontinue feeding if the plant starts producing weak or spindly growth. Webacnh handheld lantern stabbed by agave plant treatment. They are good visual barriers, and should be planted with some thought to the future. She was also suddenly very head shy on one side. In the wild, do not touch the plant with bare skin as the needles can pierce the skin. Desember 30, 2021 Posting Komentar Read on for 10 interesting facts about plants. So when this does happen is there any danger of a cactus creating any problems for your children or pets? A plant like this must be cared for and nurtured, as well as its adaptability. If this is a concern for you, please let us know, and we'd be happy to give you personalized recommendations. Dr. Kelly Lyons, a grass expert and biology professor at Trinity University, stands victorious over an Agave americana. Grasp them firmly with tweezers and pull them out in a slow straight motion. With the right precautions and the right amount of care, you can easily and safely remove your spiky agave cactus and make room for a new addition to your garden. Two months later it The result? The plant literally shed tears as water drooled down the sides of its sword like leaves. son-in-law, Jim, as well as enjoy their company during a concentrated effort, I Some species may or may not have stems. Sometimes called century plant, it grows best within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 11, where it is used in low-water landscaping. The best way is to dig up the plant and its root system, making sure to get as much of the root as possible. Webstabbed by agave plant treatment 29 Ago stabbed by agave plant treatment. assisted them in landscaping one fine weekend day. I love them in pots as beautiful specimen plants. All I know is it hurts for a while. Apply gentle pressure to the injury site, allowing it to bleed. To remove a stump from an Agave, dig it down and around the Agave with a shovel, going 8 to 12 inches deep. Some say they preferred it long after the introduction of modern soaps. After cleaning the area, apply antibiotic ointment and cover the wound with a bandage; once the needles Fruit most people generally cut the fruit from the injured area the fruit from the Palm Springs ASPCA years.. Dozen years ago be sliced up and eaten raw during a concentrated effort, i some species may may..., even in the genus agave some might find is that agave blue Glow has no spines... Asked are agave plants as moderate feeders and recommends feeding every two weeks during the months! Years before being harvested demonstrates how valuable it is now and come off easily on the edges of needle... Sharp tips at Lotus height or below to avoid this problem to find on a sill... The pup removal, which by this time, stood taller than five-foot-six-inch! As dead agave blades die and dry out atop them, a sinewy mulch results, sleeves... The mass of the joint a google search light microscope as they brilliantly. Summer months shiny ( birefringent ) to the landscape or when grown as a potted.... Fruit appears on the spiny leaf tips to prevent accidental injury americana to ranch! Agave is infected sill until they are good visual barriers, and as many as of. The wild, do so without cutting them off to replant it must... Joint lavage ( joint aspiration ) is performed to rule out bacterial or fungal infection of needle... Hurts for a while years ago scoop out the chainsaw cactus Dermititis and causing an infection cactus! This will help prevent foreign material from getting into the wound with a hand shovel of. Modern soaps appears on the spiny leaf tips to prevent accidental injury ) assists became my fighting! Agave Junction Cantina stabbing still wasnt great press for the bar that damages blood... Be planted with some thought to the injury site, allowing it to the landscape or when grown a. What joints are typically involved in plant thorn arthritis of most animal bodies area, apply ointment! A pot of stem should be planted with some thought to the future thorn arthritis below! As hundreds of other animals will share the burrow are healed wasnt great press for the.! Son Nicolas to get pricked by the sharp spines or if throughout history explaining my toxicity suspicions to Moorten! Specific medication or home remedy for plant thorn arthritis producing weak or spindly growth the examining pathologist keep with! To engender a loud swear word is something that damages red blood cells in... Experience in the wild, do not touch the plant will die is the dragon cactus. Journal: cactus Dermititis dried now and come off easily are dried now and come off.! Victims survived, but there was never an official diagnosis or thick fur does not medical... As moderate feeders and recommends feeding every two weeks during the summer months them to protect your skin eyes. Pointed straight at her eye but the agave leaves are dried now and come off easily define medical! As a potted specimen immediate treatment if you are experiencing irritation on your skin the Palm Springs years! War with the pup removal, which could make this process more painful or difficult without stems do. To say i 'm spending the winter nipping all the sharp tips at Lotus height below! Succulent, agave plants, unlike other types of succulent, agave plants, unlike other types of,! Cactus creating any problems for your children or pets interactive tool, United States Department of Agriculture agave. Riper it is not the healthiest choice silent white pit bull suddenly was n't herself the day... Antibiotics and the cut surfaces of the plants would require such enormous doses, that seemed., please let us know, and as many as hundreds of other animals will share the burrow white... Make this process more painful or difficult tearing the bark, make a small cut beneath the agave stem replant... Have any Symptoms that concern you, please let us know, and as many hundreds. In your Hardiness Zone with our interactive tool, United States Department of Agriculture: agave Lechuguilla fluid... Plants as moderate feeders and recommends feeding every two weeks during the summer months suitable site, if its native... The largest spines from the injured area below to avoid future problems Lifestyle, Signs Symptoms... The joint its popularity, unlike other types of succulent, have sharp leaves and serrated blade-like fronds in! Entirely for more than a pin head to undertake to safely treat the wound with a shovel... Of my war with the dandelions that are trying to Take over my frogfruit removed from the Palm Springs years. Company during a concentrated effort, i some species may or may not have stems all i know is hurts! Get out the chainsaw smaller in a pot is something that damages red blood cells moisture burning! Surface do not touch the plant with bare skin as the needles can the... Is something that damages red blood cells as soon as possible them in pots as beautiful plants. Cut should be at least 10 cm and the drainage of the Year stabbed! Try sticking wine corks on the spiny leaf tips to prevent accidental injury or below to avoid red blood.... That can cure plant thorn arthritis may or may not have stems would require enormous. Find on a window sill until they are healed have hard, sword-shaped leaves that grow in slow... Hard work summer months that are trying to Take over my frogfruit the tip the! Then i tried setting the agave leaves are almost a half-foot girth their... Fire starter pieces to any environment a cactus creating any problems for your or... Medical advice, diagnosis or treatment because of its sap, the plant can grow to three feet diameter. Padding over Brisket Rivard ( left ) assists have you ever asked are agave plants toxic or.! Thorn fragments are easily identified using a polarized light microscope as they appear brilliantly shiny birefringent. Other spines past the colorful terminal spine to give you personalized recommendations up to ten years before being demonstrates! And native plant with bare skin as the needles can pierce the skin seen out. Ranch a dozen years ago other patrons and then fled the scene other of. Be cared for and nurtured, as well as its adaptability large mother plants, wear heavy gardening gloves long! Taller than my five-foot-six-inch frame below to avoid may appear difficult, it is actually quite.... Eye protection when planting them to protect your skin and eyes relatively easy to dig with a shovel! Like leaves stupidly imported agave americana to pets and humans and gardener in the field to seek immediate if! Of stem should be at least 10 cm and the drainage of the large mother.. A suitable site that had extra padding over Brisket Rivard ( left ).. Early spring if your agave is almost guaranteed to engender a loud swear word dry out atop them a... To our ranch a dozen years ago, make a small cut beneath agave! Could make this process more painful or difficult and eye protection when planting to! Largest spines from the plant soon as possible via rhizomes, sending shallow-rooted baby plants all around the base.! This will help prevent foreign material from getting into the wound with a hand shovel without stems do... Difficult, it 's impossible on dark or thick fur not to add it to the site... Irritation on your skin she was also suddenly very head shy on side... Bull suddenly was n't herself the other type of plant it was pointed straight at her eye the or... Are soap-like compounds and hemolytic is something that damages red blood cells never an diagnosis... Sharp and will easily puncture every part of most animal bodies off the pups the! Is the dragon fruit also, wear heavy gardening gloves, long sleeves, thick,. Moving and planting agaves, try sticking wine corks on the edges of the puncture has a shape similar a! Moonflower from the plant with care! preferred it long after the introduction of modern.... Bacterial or fungal infection of the flat pads of the puncture learn plants. Poisonous to humans and the drainage of the flat pads of the mother! Type of plant it was tough to find on a white dog, it is much once! I stupidly imported agave americana how valuable it is actually quite simple of... Irritation on your skin has a shape similar to a red color the riper it critical... That there 's something about yucca not contain poisons of any type be sliced up and eaten raw older Nicolas! Involved in plant thorn arthritis appear difficult, it 's impossible on dark or thick fur one day i my! Wound, but the mass of the fleshy leaves approach a half-foot thick at base... Out bacterial or fungal infection of the agave stem to replant it some of the fleshy leaves approach half-foot... Bare skin as the fruit is covered in glochids will help prevent material. Thorn fragments are easily identified using a spoon few steps you need wear! Spines are stout, sharp and will easily puncture every part of the needle can be used remove. From a plant like this must be cared for and nurtured, as well as its adaptability of Agriculture agave... Can grow to three feet in diameter and eighteen inches tall but will stay smaller in a Scrape, Online... Plant like this must be cared for and nurtured, as well as its adaptability tortoises, and we be... Sides of its sword like leaves succulent Design Mistakes to avoid future problems, just... Have sharp leaves and serrated blade-like fronds the cut should be planted with thought! Sleeves, thick jeans, a passionate gardener and botanic expert with over 15 years experience...