In Space and Materiality, we were told to grow a plant over the duration of the course.
I haven’t grown anything in years, largely because I’m scared that I will neglect plants and let them die. I took this as an opportunity to prove myself wrong.
This assignment followed me around through my tumultuous first few months of living in NYC. The plant and documenting its growth was my one constant through the past few intense months.
Tuesday, September 4th.
Earlier last week, I took two clear plastic cups from the U.C. One became my watercolor cup, the other became a pot for my seeds. I liked the connection that my two creations now share.
I thought my seeds would stay seeds for a while. I complained to my room mate about how my soil was too sandy. I turned my back for 4 days and the seed has already attempted to grow out of the window.
It’s a fantastic feeling to cultivate life, I’m surprised that an unassuming seed can persevere and grow so quickly.
Thursday, September 13th
I need a bigger cup. The plant’s leaves are starting to bend and resemble elephant ears. To grow something that can block out sunlight is inspiring. My room mate is now worried that he will wake up with a sentient plant choking him to death. Let’s hope not. But December is a long ways away, who knows what this thing will look like. I think I should name it, not sure what yet.
Sunday, Sept. 30th
My plant and I have had a New York Odyssey. I moved the plant into an actual pot and I moved to Brooklyn. I have an even bigger window now. The big leaves are getting unwieldy and the leaves’ veins are turning brown. The thing is getting so tall that I might have to build scaffolding for it. It’s relieving to see growth in a new home, although in rather dramatic circumstances.
October 10th
The plant is now reaching to the ground and still getting bigger constantly. The big windows are really helping this plant, even when I forget to water it, I think I’ve been taking good enough care that it is being nice to me and not shriveling.
Later in October, the plant both began to grew a flower and contracted small worms that ate at its leaves.
With time, the massive windows brought new life to the plant’s veins.
But as the weather changed, it seems that the plant’s leaves started to notice.
As it started to loose its leaves, I started to get concerned for its health. However, a week later and I notice why all the leaves are falling off. The energy has been re-directed to grow bean pods! I decided to get another new pot for my plant so I could really watch these bean pods take off.
But as soon as the bean pods came to full size, they began to shrivel up and die.
This assignment was both a testament of my ability to care for life and to document its transformations. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that this transformation actually happened this semester.
