Menu

Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog
Directory
Contests
Magazine
FAQ

Start or end your story with a person buying a house plant.

Posted in Fluff on Oct 25, 2022

Submissions are closed

Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy account.

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook

Or use an email address:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 63 stories

Damaged Rootz

Submitted to Contest #143

I bought a plant today. I sat it right there in her spot. The sun beamed down on the lavender chair near the window, and the television. The sun always shined on her, even when it was dark. This plant reminded me of her. Earthy, sturdy, beautiful, and firm. The opposite of me. I envied her, even though she loved me. How could she love me? How? That is what I would ask myself. Over and over and over again, each day I saw her face. Her smile was bright, teeth were perfect, and the world loved her. The world never noticed me, so how could she? ...

68 likes 65 comments 65
Read story

One Day at a Time

Submitted to Contest #143

“Excuse me, Ma’am, can you help me?” Errol asked the woman wearing a green vest, indicating she was an employee at Spinney’s Gardens. Minutes ago, he had approached two different men asking for help, who were quick to tell him that they did not work there. He was still flushed in mortification from the awkward interactions.The woman turned from watering purple flowers with a hose and faced Errol, a bead of sweat trickling down her cheek. “Yes, sir?” she asked, wiping her forehead with the back of her gloved hand. Errol could smell the scent ...

53 likes 48 comments 48
Read story

The House Plant

Submitted to Contest #143

I clutched a decorative flowerpot, cheap plastic bird feeder, and small bag of birdseed against my light gray three-piece suit. On a whim after work, I’d driven to Shaunders' Warehouse to purchase a house plant. My girlfriend, Alyssa, was always harping on me about the importance of having indoor plants to create a more “inviting environment” in my otherwise “sterile décor.” I didn’t mean to pick out bland colored furniture; it was just what caught my eye. Her delicate voice echoed in my memory. “It’ll give a little color to the dentist offi...

34 likes 18 comments 18
Read story

Muriel Stanley Buys a Succulent

Submitted to Contest #143

She loved saying the name. Echeveria. The scientific name being Echeveria elegans. It sounded like the name of a drag queen. Now coming to the stage to perform “Stand Back” by Stevie Nicks, Miss Echeveria Elegans! Muriel Stanley had heard succulents were difficult to kill, and so she purchased one at the supermarket. When she brought the little plant to the express check-out, the cashier remarked that her cousin loves plants. The cousin’s name was Steve and he no longer comes over for Christmas, because he’s invested in online cons...

33 likes 28 comments 28
Read story

Thumb Of Death

Shortlisted for Contest #143 ⭐️

My eyes shifted between the two potted plants. Both of them beckoned me, teased me, and dared me to buy them. I know they are betting on my failure to keep them alive; but alas, this will be the plant that will thrive under my thumb! Notice, I did not say Green Thumb, as so many plant enthusiasts have. Nope, that is something I do not possess. I have owned exactly 232 plants since I was born. I’ve received one for each birthday, thirteen were given to me as house warming presents, some I bought on a whim, and the rest had the unfortunate luc...

31 likes 17 comments 17
Read story

Peace Lily

Submitted to Contest #143

“A spider plant,” Ma said when she picked me up from school.I was disappointed. Kyra and I had been neighbours since kindergarten. And she had left me a plant! Not a pirate headband or a video game or at least one of the many treasures we had dug out together. That too some…“What plant ma?”“Spy…der plant.” She drawled as she helped me balance myself on the deck of her scooter.“Spy…der plant! Spaay…der plant! SPUDRR plant!!” I rolled the sound of it in my mouth as Ma cruised along the curvy road.“Will you please be quiet and let me ride peace...

24 likes 11 comments 11
Read story

Snake Plant

Submitted to Contest #143

I lost my best friend to war. I'm only twenty years old and my best friend died. That feels like all anyone needs to know about me, because since the day I heard the news, it's consumed everything. I miss him. Never got to tell him how much he meant to me. Never said goodbye. The best I can do is visit the memorial in the park, which I do every night. Always at midnight so I'll be alone surrounded by the dark trees whose branches, like twisted ghoul hands, stretch out towards me.Tonight I see the shadow of a man, silhouetted by the orange gl...

24 likes 21 comments 21
Read story

You're an Idiot

Submitted to Contest #143

You’re an Idiot Circling the display of brightly coloured orchids and tulips, Danny ponders his options. His friend Thomas anxiously checks his watch and suggests the pink ones. “I don’t know. Pink?” Danny picks up the flower and inspects it carefully before putting it back. “It’s not right. I need a colour that says: I’m happy you’ve moved on. Congrats on the new house but, I hope it’s haunted.” “So, maybe yellow?” Thomas suggests impatiently. “Dude, I don’t get why you’re even going. Kathy only invited you out of social etiquette.” ...

20 likes 7 comments 7
Read story

Crown of Thorns

Submitted to Contest #143

Jan wanted so much to be a plant person as she walked the aisle of the local plant shop. Row after row of lush green house plants in all shapes and sizes. There were two tone plants that purified the air, plants for beginners, low light plants, plants who need water every day, low maintenance plants, and trendy plants. It was like a tropical jungle in here between the big leaf palms, cascading ivy’s, and big bushy ferns. So much life. It was calming. Something about having a healthy house plant elevated a person from cold and uncaring to mo...

18 likes 11 comments 11
Read story

Obvious Plants

Submitted to Contest #143

Obvious Plants“I need a plant!” The meticulously dressed, fiftyish woman leaned over the counter and spoke in a low murmur.Lily smiled encouragingly. Sometimes the first visit was a little disconcerting.“Well, as you can see,” she indicated, waving her arm, “we’re all about plants here.” She waited.“I’ve been told this is the place — ” the woman’s voice dropped further, to an almost inaudible but urgent whisper, “to obtain a ‘plant’.” As she mouthed the last word, she brought her hands discreetly in front of herself and wiggled her...

16 likes 4 comments 4
Read story

Ms. Glen's Garden

Submitted to Contest #143

Community service sucks. Community service sucks even more when you're sixteen and this was supposed to be your spring break. Community service sucks, even more, when you're assigned to slaving away in some random old woman's garden all day while your friends get to do things like chill out on the beach and stay up all night. But the part that sucks the most? Knowing I'm only having to do it because of my own mother, to begin with. Apparently, I smoke too much for her to handle anymore (which I think is a little bit dramatic, but whatever). ...

15 likes 7 comments 7
Read story

Devil’s Ivy

Submitted to Contest #143

The plant sat dormant on Oliver’s doorstep for three days until he reluctantly brought it inside. At its arrival, he had chalked it up to be a simple error with a delivery driver. People mistakenly drop off packages at the wrong address frequently, so he naturally assumed an annoyed neighbor would be around to collect it after a day or two.  When no annoyed neighbor had come his way, Oliver began to consider the possibility that a friend of his had dropped it off at his door as a kind gesture. A gift, perhaps. This thought was quickly ...

13 likes 17 comments 17
Read story

Happiness comes in Fiddles

Submitted to Contest #143

You feel like you’re drowning on dry land.  You try to push past that growing lump in your throat, the pain that wraps around your voice box and expands like a disease.  It takes and it demands and it knocks the breath out of you.  The tears collect within your eye socket like a flood waiting to break free.  You’ve been here before.  Like a door, your eyes slam shut.  You try to reject this, this thing labeled attack and breakdown and you choose to put no labels on it.  You force yourself to break out of th...

13 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

Leaf.

Submitted to Contest #143

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been alone.Actually, that’s not entirely true; There’s always been others near me, several in fact. But I had always felt - alone.Don’t know if it’s just baseless paranoia or if there was something to all those whispers and rustlings around me. Maybe not. Maybe it’s just me.I never really gave much thought about what kind of person would bring home a houseplant. An ambitious botanist looking for a cure to some awful disease? A supervillan looking to procure some poison? Perhaps some stoner wanting to add s...

13 likes 6 comments 6
Read story

The Gardener

Submitted to Contest #143

Chi-ching! Another plant sold. This one is an Orchid that I have named Steve. I can't help it! I need to have something to do for the three hours I'm here every day! So… I name the plants. Stupid, I know, but I get bored easily. I look up from the homework I resumed and notice the Woman who bought Steve staring at me expectantly. She is probably in her 70s, with gray hair, thin lips, and wrinkles. "Have a great day," I say in a not-so-cheery tone. She stands there and glares at me. I don't know what she wants until I look down and see Steve ...

12 likes 6 comments 6
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in the woods or on a campground.

Summer – 82 stories

Write about a character who loves cloud gazing.

Fluff – 53 stories

Write about a trip to see a natural sight that’s usually only ever seen in photos.

Adventure – 9 stories

Write a story involving a friendship between two different species.

Vampire – 43 stories

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

How to Write a Novel