NPR Story got it wrong, living proof provided

I listen to NPR for several reasons, classical music during the day, other lively mixes of jazz, blues and poetry, short stories and of course, dreaded news. I have to stay ahead of my work so it helps. I was making dinner one night and a lady was reading her short story, 0f how she brought in her plants and no matter what she did they died. It was a depressing tale and I gave my own plants (a gift from D) a side glance and worried a bit as they were they same variety as described in the story, however a wise woman told me she has seen them 50 years old.