But many gardeners admit going to extraordinary lengths to coax their plants to bloom.
This can involve chatting to them, singing, playing soothing music, polishing their leaves – or even giving them a massage.
More than a fifth of 2,000 gardeners told a survey they talk to their plants for an average of four minutes and eight seconds a day.
The practice has been endorsed by green fingered royal Prince Charles. A sixth admit having more conversations with their greenery than their friends, while a third seem to prefer to chat to their geraniums, chrysanthemums and roses than to their neighbours.
We believe this is one of the reasons why more and more adults are resorting to increasingly wacky ways of trying to keep their gardens in full bloom
Others indulge their plants in different ways. One in eight plays them music, generally from the classical repertoire, with the favourites being Brahms, Beethoven and Il Divo.
The study found one in 10 people polishes leaves, with five per cent going one step further and actually giving them a gentle massage.
Simon Moore, spokesman for Wilko’s home and garden stores, which carried out the research, said talking to plants is “perfectly normal”. He believes some gardeners, especially those starting out, don’t trust their knowledge and abilities and get “frightened of waiting for something to grow”.
He went on: “We believe this is one of the reasons why more and more adults are resorting to increasingly wacky ways of trying to keep their gardens in full bloom.”
When the worst comes to the worst, one in four gardeners gives up and a third ask for help from parents or grandparents.