You won't believe what was stolen from this woman's veranda
- Replies 12
An Aussie has been left heartbroken and furious after a thief stole a part of something she had been nurturing for years.
The theft, which involved two of a plant's large stems being crudely cut-off, has sparked a heated debate online: is it ever acceptable to take plant cuttings without the owner's permission?
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, had placed second-hand items near the silver torch cactus on her veranda for a local community giveaway.
However, she had explicitly stated in a social media post that the cactus was not part of the items up for grabs.
Despite this, a thief took advantage of the situation, leaving the plant vulnerable to disease and other potential issues.
'I was so upset when I saw it,' she told a news source.
'I felt so let down that a group that I thought of as a good community would contain people that would do this. You can argue that I am naive though.'
‘We figured it was too heavy to steal and didn’t think people would cut it, but I am going to try to get it out of the pot and plant it in the ground now because I worry it’ll get stolen if it's in the pot.’
The incident, which occurred in Sydney's west, has stirred up a storm of controversy online, with many condemning the act as disgraceful.
'Wow! Absolutely disgraceful, how low can someone go? I'm so sorry that this happened to you,' one person commented.
Others shared their own experiences of plant theft, suggesting that this was not an isolated incident.
'Seems like there's a wave of plant thieves going around at the moment,' one person commented, sharing a photo of their garden with a plant missing from a row.
However, some argued that the woman should not have placed the plant near the items she was giving away, as it may have appeared to be part of the free stuff.
'The way the cactus was amongst the other stuff on the porch, I think someone genuinely thought it was a part of the free stuff.'
Landscape Architect Ilona Tar explained that there are numerous reasons why stealing plant cuttings is unacceptable.
'When you don't cut with disinfected sheers at the right angle, you can cause that plant to be susceptible to disease and rot,' she said.
'Worst-case scenario, it can kill the whole plant.'
Beyond the potential health risks to the plant, there are emotional and aesthetic considerations.
For many, plants are akin to pets, and for others, they are grown in a specific way for aesthetic reasons. Cutting in the wrong place can drastically alter the plant's shape.
Tar also revealed that some thieves even target nurseries, which they notice when a plant is damaged or suddenly half its size.
'From a business perspective, we have close relationships with the suppliers, and part of the ethics of buying from smaller growers is that we do not propagate from cuttings. That is bad business practice,' she explained.
Many gardeners carefully plan and cultivate their gardens for aesthetic reasons.
An unauthorised cutting can disrupt the balance and design of a garden, causing further distress to the owner.
In conclusion, while plant propagation is a wonderful way to share and spread the love of gardening, it should always be done ethically and with respect for the plant and its owner.
What are your thoughts on this issue, members? Have you ever experienced plant theft? Share your stories and opinions in the comments below.
The theft, which involved two of a plant's large stems being crudely cut-off, has sparked a heated debate online: is it ever acceptable to take plant cuttings without the owner's permission?
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, had placed second-hand items near the silver torch cactus on her veranda for a local community giveaway.
However, she had explicitly stated in a social media post that the cactus was not part of the items up for grabs.
Despite this, a thief took advantage of the situation, leaving the plant vulnerable to disease and other potential issues.
The woman’s mutilated plant is a silver torch cactus that can take years to reach its full potential. Two stems were stolen from the plant. Image: Facebook
'I was so upset when I saw it,' she told a news source.
'I felt so let down that a group that I thought of as a good community would contain people that would do this. You can argue that I am naive though.'
‘We figured it was too heavy to steal and didn’t think people would cut it, but I am going to try to get it out of the pot and plant it in the ground now because I worry it’ll get stolen if it's in the pot.’
The incident, which occurred in Sydney's west, has stirred up a storm of controversy online, with many condemning the act as disgraceful.
'Wow! Absolutely disgraceful, how low can someone go? I'm so sorry that this happened to you,' one person commented.
Others shared their own experiences of plant theft, suggesting that this was not an isolated incident.
'Seems like there's a wave of plant thieves going around at the moment,' one person commented, sharing a photo of their garden with a plant missing from a row.
However, some argued that the woman should not have placed the plant near the items she was giving away, as it may have appeared to be part of the free stuff.
'The way the cactus was amongst the other stuff on the porch, I think someone genuinely thought it was a part of the free stuff.'
Landscape Architect Ilona Tar explained that there are numerous reasons why stealing plant cuttings is unacceptable.
'When you don't cut with disinfected sheers at the right angle, you can cause that plant to be susceptible to disease and rot,' she said.
'Worst-case scenario, it can kill the whole plant.'
Beyond the potential health risks to the plant, there are emotional and aesthetic considerations.
For many, plants are akin to pets, and for others, they are grown in a specific way for aesthetic reasons. Cutting in the wrong place can drastically alter the plant's shape.
Tar also revealed that some thieves even target nurseries, which they notice when a plant is damaged or suddenly half its size.
'From a business perspective, we have close relationships with the suppliers, and part of the ethics of buying from smaller growers is that we do not propagate from cuttings. That is bad business practice,' she explained.
Many gardeners carefully plan and cultivate their gardens for aesthetic reasons.
An unauthorised cutting can disrupt the balance and design of a garden, causing further distress to the owner.
In conclusion, while plant propagation is a wonderful way to share and spread the love of gardening, it should always be done ethically and with respect for the plant and its owner.
What are your thoughts on this issue, members? Have you ever experienced plant theft? Share your stories and opinions in the comments below.
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