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Plant lover's 'creepy' find in old lady's potting mix: 'Am I cursed?!'

A plant lover has received the shock of their life after discovering what looks to be a clump of human hair in a plant they’d purchased from an ‘older lady’.

Lisa Maree, from QLD, took to a Facebook group to share her surprise over the ‘creepy’ find hidden within the potting mix of her new caladium plant, which is also known as elephant ear.

A plant lover has shared their 'creepy' find in a plant they bought off an old lady. Photo: Facebook (supplied).
A plant lover has shared their 'creepy' find in a plant they bought off an old lady. Photo: Facebook (supplied).

“Ok, ok... I bought some beautiful caladium from an older lady today,” she wrote in her post.

“When I went home and repotted them there was CHUNKS OF HUMAN HAIR IN THE POTTING MIX!!! I mean CHUNKS!!!

“Now understandably I'm a little (a lot) creeped out by this... is this an old wives tale? Or am I now cursed? And no, its not coconut husks or anything... it's hair...”

As evidence, Lisa Maree included a photo of the suspected hair clippings mixed into some soil.

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Her fellow Facebook users were equally squeamish about the light brown locks, with one simply writing, “Nightmares.”

“This is creepy and actually makes my stomach turn, throw it out, remove any and every speck of it and start again,” another added.

One user, however, wasn’t quite so wigged out by the hairy surprise.

“Well my hubby shaves his head and our son’s hair in the backyard all the time. The hair just ends up in the garden,” they wrote.

Hairy plant puzzle solved

Elsewhere among the 900+ comments, several green thumbs piped up to reveal the truth behind the strands.

Human hair apparently has multiple, ahem... fringe benefits for plants such as retaining moisture in the soil to adding protein and nutrients and preventing leaves from yellowing.

“Hair is the only natural or ex-living thing that doesn’t break down and holds its moisture. It’s actually what we should be adding into our gardens to stop having to water so often,” one Facebook user explained.

“I put any hair from my hairbrush in pot plants. I’ve heard its good for nutrients and moisture retention in the soil. They seem to be doing well so...” admitted another.

A photo of Caladium, aka elephant ear, plant taken in Chiang Rai, Thailand
Caladium, aka elephant ear, comes in many different colours. Photo: Getty Images.

One user suspected that it was a gardening tip passed down from older generations such as her own grandmother.

“Lol yes you put hair in pot plants to stop your plant going yellow. That's what my Nan always said and I'm guessing she's around the same age of the lady who's plant you bought,” they suggested.

It’s not just human hair that does the trick, either.

“A lady I know started a compost worm business after looking for an environmentally friendly solution to dispose of her clippings from her pet grooming business!

“They bred like crazy she had too many so started to sell them lol. The hair is great for garden organisms. Not sure what use it would do in a pot though because the environment isn't really ideal for natural composting!” a user shared.

A few hairdressers and barbers added their own hairy tales to the discussion.

“I'm a hairdresser and put in around my fruit trees! Yes it sounds creepy and my clients and I laugh about it but its great mulch and has heaps of other benefits! Better than going into landfill also!” one wrote.

“I had a barbershop and one of my customers used to come in and collect hair for his rose bushes. Magnificent colours and so vibrant. It's the protein in the hair apparently,” said another.

Others were just there for the funny puns.

“Why do I find this gross yet ‘Hair-larious’,” joked one.

“Wow what a hair raising experience,” quipped another.

One commenter encouraged the woman to look on the bright side.

“Count yourself lucky its hair from head. Could have been worse,” they wrote.

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